News

Updated July 23, 2008

New Kauai eBook Travel Guide Available
The Explorer's Guide to Kauai, a 70-page Ebook guide, offers tips on how to have an island-style travel experience safely and with eco-awareness.  It features over 30 pages of original maps and highlights to island towns as well as an extensive Resource list to important Kauai websites.  Best of all, the guide, which was put together by the Hawaii Explorer team, all of whom are long-time island residents, is available for immediate download for only $15.  Proceeds from the guide go to support the www.kauaiexplorer.com project.  For more information and to purchase the paperless guide, go to www.kauaiexplorer.com/kauai_guide_books/.

Airline News
Alaska Airlines will no longer accept cash for onboard purchases, effective Aug. 5. The airline will accept, however, all major credit or debit cards.

Hawaiian Airlines will begin charging customers $17 for a second checked bag on interisland flights. The fee goes into effect for tickets purchased on or after July 8 for travel on or after July 15. The airline said the new baggage charge is because of higher jet fuel prices. Hawaiian Airlines customers exempt from the fee include first-class travelers; those with child car seats, strollers and carriers; and those needing wheelchairs, walkers, canes or crutches.

go! Airlines will begin charging a fee of $10 for the first checked bag. It has also reduced its fee for a second check bag to $17. The second checked bag fee applies to tickets bought on or after June 25 for travel after July 15. Exempt from paying the $10 fee include passengers who bought their tickets for travel prior to July 10; corporate members; customers traveling on government fares; and customers flying on the same reservation as someone with exempt status, except for groups of eight or more. Child car seats, carriers, strollers, wheelchairs, walkers and other personal assistance devices are exempt from the fee.

Member News
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa and Dondero’s Restaurant recently received the 2009 AAA Four Diamond awards. They were the only hotel and restaurant on Kauai to win the honor, with only 26 other establishments in the entire state of Hawaii. The AAA Diamond rating system measures dining establishments and hotels by objective criteria on a yearly basis. It is the only hotel and restaurant review system in the nation that uses specially trained full-time field representatives using objective, detailed rating procedures. Unannounced, anonymous inspections include ratings for grounds and public areas, décor, ambiance, amenities, guestrooms, housekeeping and maintenance, staff and management, and guest services. This is the 18th time the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa has received the award since opening in 1990.

Monk Seal Volunteers Wanted
More volunteers are needed to help track and monitor sightings of endangered Hawaiian monk seals, especially along the south shore. To volunteer, please call 651-7668 or e-mail hawaiianmonkseal@msn.com. Please also report all monk seal sightings to the same phone number.

Permits Required For Beach Weddings
Effective August 1, 2008, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will require permits for all commercial beach weddings taking place on state beaches and unencumbered lands. DLNR, which manages state marine and freshwater resources, parks, forests, beaches, harbors, leases, conservation and unimproved lands in the state, has been pursuing greater compliance with its permitting requirement for commercial activities on State unencumbered lands for several years. Current application forms for right-of-entry permits are available at all DLNR district offices and on the Land Division website at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/land/forms-1/forms. An applicant for a right-of-entry permit must identify the location and size of the area being requested for the event, the county tax map key number for the site, provide proof of liability insurance coverage, and pay a fee. A map showing the requested location must also be attached to the application.

Protecting Monk Seals and their Habitat
The Hawaiian monk seal is considered the most endangered seal in U.S. waters, with only about 1,200 left. Hawaiian monk seals, found in the northwest part of the Hawaiian Islands, spend a lot of time at sea, sometimes as long as a month. Every year, usually in May or June, females find sandy beaches and give birth to a single pup. Mothers take care of their pups for six weeks, and during that entire time, they do not leave the beach - even to eat. Human disturbance has been identified as the primary factor in the decline of the species. In fact, if humans come too near a mother seal too often, she will abandon her pup and go out to sea. Unfortunately, this usually means death for the pup. It is now against the law for people to come within 100 yards of a seal on a beach to prevent abandonment of pups. The following are some hints on what you should and should not do if you encounter a Monk seal:

Keep your distance. Use binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras with zoom lenses to get a closer look. If wildlife approaches you, stay calm and slowly back away. When closer encounters occur, do not make sudden moves or obstruct the travel path of the animals – let them have the unhindered right of way.
Hands off. Never attempt to approach, touch, ride or "play" with monk seals. Touching wildlife can injure the animal, put you at risk and is illegal. Monk seals may bite, body slam or even pull you underwater if startled or threatened. Cautiously move away if you observe any of the following behaviors: Rapid movement away from a disturbance and toward the water, sudden awakening from sleep on the beach, female attempting to shield a pup with her body or by her movements, vocalization or "growling" at a disturbance.
Wildlife and pets don't mix. Please remember to keep your pet on a leash at all times. Monk seals can injure and spread diseases to pets, and in turn, pets can harm and disturb monk seals.
Lend a hand with trash removal. Human garbage is one of the greatest threats to marine wildlife. Plastic bags, floating debris and monofilament line pose the greatest risk to wildlife. Clean your debris before leaving the beach and clean up any mess that could be a threat to marine life.
Help others to become responsible. Speak up if you notice other viewers or tour operators behaving in a way that disturbs the wildlife or impacts sensitive habitats. Be friendly, respectful and discrete when approaching others. Violations of the law should be reported to local authorities.