updated April 1, 2008
Airline NewsAloha Airlines announced that Monday, March 31, 2008, was its last day of passenger operations. Only momentary disruption is expected as other interisland and transpacific airlines have the capacity to accommodate Aloha ticket holders. If you have an Aloha Airlines ticket for a flight after March 31, code-share partner United Airlines as well as Hawaiian Airlines and other carriers are prepared to assist and accommodate Aloha’s passengers. Travelers are advised to make their travel arrangements
prior to going to the airport. Please allow for additional processing time at the airport. For more information visit
www.gohawaii.com/alohaairlines.
Interisland flights - Hawaiian Airlines 1-800-367-5320 www.hawaiianair.com
- Island Air 1-800-323-3345 www.islandair.com
- go! 1-800-435-9462 www.iflygo.com
Transpacific flights - American Airlines 1-800-433-7300 www.aa.com
- ATA 1-800-435-9282 www.ata.com
- Delta Airlines 1-800-221-1212 www.delta.com
- Continental Airlines 1-800-523-3273 www.continental.com
- Hawaiian Airlines 1-800-367-5320 www.hawaiianair.com
- Northwest Airlines 1-800-225-2525 www.nwa.com
- United Airlines 1-800-241-6522 www.united.com
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.
Kauai Explorer Website Adds Hiking Section The website that provides daily ocean reports, safety tips, beach guides and water activities, preservation and conservation tips has added a new section on hiking. It includes information on the location of trails and their difficulty, what to bring, suggested footwear, safety tips, trail conservation and native plant species. For more information, please visit
www.kauaiexplorer.com.
National Tropical Botanical Garden Offers New Membership The new $20 Discovery Membership includes two passes for self-guided tours of McBryde Garden, Limahuli Garden, or Kahanu Garden; The Bulletin, a magazine published for NTBG supporters; a 10 percent discount at Garden shops; and special invitations to local events, workshops, and lectures. For more information call (808)332-7324 x246 or visit
www.ourgardenourworld.com/join_today.html.
Some Airlines now offering non-stop flights to Lihue United Airlines offers daily flights from L.A., San Francisco, and Saturday departures from Denver. American Airlines offers a daily flight from L.A. US Airways offers daily flights from Phoenix. ATA Airlines offers flights from Oakland on Weds., Fri. and Sun. only. Alaska Airlines now offers daily flights from Seattle.
NCL Announces Loss of Second Hawaii ShipNorwegian Cruise Lines recently announced that the Pride of Aloha ship will leave the islands on May 11th. The ship will sail in Asia under Star Cruises after it leaves Hawaii. NCL’s Pride of Hawaii left the islands last month for renovations and will be deployed to Europe as the Norwegian Jade. This leaves the Pride of America as the only NCL ship sailing the islands and about 1,000 workers out of jobs.
