Jaunted

Hawaii Travel / Airline Safety Videos / Safety / Travel Safety / Ocean Travel / → All Tags

Flights to Hawaii Ponder Adding a Downer PSA to the In-Flight Safety Video

You’re probably familiar with the airline safety video, as it does its best to describe the importance of seatbelts, oxygen masks, and a timely exit in case of an emergency. Now there might be an additional safety briefing for those heading over to Hawaii, as some state officials want to reiterate the importance of staying safe in and around the water.

Since the ocean isn’t exactly a swimming pool, there are obviously risks involved due to waves, swells, and riptides. Drowning deaths aren’t a statistic that anyone is especially fond of, and that’s especially the case on the island of Kauai, where drownings have spiked this year. Now some lawmakers are proposing some rules and regulations that would encourage airlines to play some additional safety videos during the flight.

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Food Festivals / Spring Travel / Food Travel / Hawaii Travel / Spam / → All Tags

Spam Burgers, Spam Tacos, Spam Popsicles! Get Them Before They're Gone at the Waikiki Spam Jam

If you're already in Waikiki or your are just headed to Honolulu this weekend, then we have a suggestion for you that’s a little different than Hawaii’s usual surf, sand, and sun. On Saturday the city’s main drag, Kalakaua Avenue, turns into a street scene dedicated to one of the island’s favorite foods—SPAM.

It’s time for the eleventh annual Waikiki Spam Jam, and at this point you can kind of assume that they’ve really got things figured out. Basically it’s a street festival for one and all, and plenty of the area’s best restaurants stop by to serve up spam and other canned meat delicacies. There’s a pair of stages with free entertainment and music, and of course there’s plenty of arts and crafts so that you can bring home a souvenir.

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Allegiant / Hawaii Travel / Budget Travel / Allegiant Air / Airlines / Airline News / New Routes / → All Tags

Why You'll Find Fewer Cheapie Summer Flights to Hawaii

When we first heard about Allegiant Air and their plans to grab some Boeing 757s for flights over to Hawaii we were pretty darn excited. After all, who wouldn’t want to head off to paradise while saving a few bucks in the process? Of course things are pretty budget-oriented with Allegiant, so your discount fare is complete with a side of fees, charges, and other extras. However, if it’s between paying for a bag or two—and not going to Hawaii—we’d gladly pay for the bags.

Anyway, it looks like not long after the first flights took to the skies it’s already time to change things up. Allegiant Air is cancelling a whole bunch of flights to and from the islands, as they figure out what to do with their planes for the summer travel season.

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Hawaiian Airlines / Hawaii Travel / Airlines / HNL / Airline News / Checked Baggage / Luggage / Baggage / → All Tags

Hawaii Says 'Aloha' to DIY Checked Bag Tagging

There’s a new fun activity to try on your next trip to Hawaii, and you won’t even need to leave the airport. It’s do-it-yourself baggage tagging, and it’s a brand new option thanks to Hawaiian Airlines. We’re sure you now want to visit the Aloha State now more than ever—right?

Seriously though we kind of love the idea, and imagine that it should be a pretty slick process for those checking their bags back to the mainland, other countries, or just over to one of the neighboring islands. Passengers at Honolulu International Airport will be able to weigh and tag their own bags, and Hawaiian Airlines is quick to point out that they’re the first carrier in the US to go all in with this process at one of their hubs.

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Tax Refund Vacations / Hawaii Travel / Beach Travel / Island Travel / → All Tags

Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Hawaii, Duh.

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

You’ve always dreamed about heading to Hawaii. It’s been close to happening a couple of times, but we know how it is—something else has always gets in the way. Well thankfully you just got a decent tax refund—the internet says the average should be around $2800—so we say it’s time to head off to the paradise.

It’s not as expensive as you might think, but it is far away. At least that’s the case for those of you heading to the Aloha State from the eastern side of North America. Thankfully the new nonstop flight between New York-JFK and Honolulu from Hawaiian Airlines has made things seem a little bit closer, and the new nonstop service has added a little bit of competition to that market.

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Island Air / Airlines / Airline News / Airplanes / Hawaii Travel / Larry Ellison / → All Tags

Larry Ellison Buys a Hawaiian Airline to Match His Hawaiian Island

Last summer we heard about Island Air and their plans to refresh their fleet, and to add some snazzy new colors and style to the sides of their fleet. Since then the planes have been heading back and forth doing their business as usual; however, behind the scenes things must have been getting hot and heavy. That’s because this week we found out that Island Air has been sold, and it’s been sold to the owner of Lana’i.

In case you haven’t been keeping up on your rich dude business news, last year Larry Ellison—CEO of Oracle—shelled out some big time cash in exchange for the property rights to pretty much all of Lana’i. Not only is he now the proud owner of his own tropical island, but he’s the proud owner of his own tropical island in Hawaii—like could it get any better?

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Hawaiian Airlines / 'Ohana / Airlines / Hawaii Travel / Airline News / New Routes / → All Tags

New Airline Alert: Hawaii Says Aloha to 'Ohana'

It’s been a little bit of time since we heard about Hawaiian Airlines and their plans to expand inter-island service with a new carrier of their own. They’re eager to get in on the smaller markets that aren’t as well served within the islands, so they’re ordering some new planes—smaller turboprops—and they’re almost ready to go.

The new subsidiary of Hawaiian Airlines will be known as ’Ohana, and they’re looking to get things up in the air as soon as this summer. Technically they’re contracting out the flying fun, as Empire Airlines will be the ones behind the controls. Flights over to spots on both Lanai and Molokai will be some of the first destinations, as a pair of ATR42 turboprop aircraft will handle the quick flights between the different islands and destinations.

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Travel Cat / Hawaii Travel / Animals / Oahu Travel / → All Tags

The Adventures of Travel Cat: Oahu, Hawaii

Kitty cats. They rule the internet and, whether we realize it or not, pretty much the world too. Ever noticed how cats sometimes stake out the coolest spots in a city? This new feature—Travel Cat—focuses on exactly that. Submit a photo to be featured by tweeting or Instagramming it to us (details below).

Travel Cat spotted in: Lanikai, Oahu, Hawaii

This week's Travel Cat comes from reader Mark Bailey, who says of this chill feline:

A fine friendly cat showed up at our rental in Lanikai, Oahu and lightened the morning. She loved her belly rubbed and had the silkiest fur but sadly, she has yet to return.

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Jaunted Awards 2012 / Travel Awards 2012 / The Jauntys / Airlines / Hawaii Travel / New Routes / Hawaiian Airlines / → All Tags

The Best New Airline Route of 2012 is...

It's that time of the year again, the time when the year just plain ends. Alas, we can't just let 2012 go that easily, especially since travelers spent it both up in the air and up in arms over a crazy range of topics. Needless to say, we're ready for 2013, but first we're taking a brief look back at the best of 2012 with the Jaunted Travel Awards,—or as we fondly refer to them—The Jauntys.

There were so many great new airline routes this year that we figured we should pick one of them as our favorite by adding this award to the bunch. However, there’s so many good ones that the decision was a difficult one. Non-stop between New York-JFK and Palm Springs was a recent favorite, plenty of 787 flights to here and there launched, and who could forget the new option between Denver and Grand Forks, North Dakota. Sure we might be kidding about the last one, but when it's about new routes we love ‘em all.

As for the very best, we’re going with the start of the new non-stop option between New York-JFK and Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. Sure there was (and still is) a non-stop option with United over to HNL from Newark, but a little competition has brought fares down. Not to mention the fact that JFK is just so much more convenient to those who call New York home.

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Hawaiian Airlines / Travel Contests / Hawaii Travel / Facebook / → All Tags

Win 30 Things in 30 Days from Hawaiian Airlines

We all feel a little down on the Monday after Thanksgiving as the overindulgences—both food and financial—seem to really set in. Lift your spirits today by dreaming of Hawaii and, thanks to Hawaiian Airlines and their latest contest, your trip to paradise might just be around the corner.

The airline is giving away 30 prizes in 30 days, and some of them will definitely brighten your holiday spirit way more than the lights and decorations on the neighbor’s house. Hawaiian Airlines is doing all of this to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, so now’s a good time for you to join in on the celebration as well. It’s a Facebook contest, so you know the drill—you’ll need to “like” them to begin—but after that you can easily be in the running for some freebie goodies.

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TV Travel / Mad Men / Hawaii Travel / Celeb Travel / Jon Hamm / → All Tags

Don and Megan Draper Head to Hawaii for Mad Men's Season 6 Premiere

The Drapers are ready to say Aloha to Hawaii.

According to Deadline, Mad Men is planning a secret two-day shoot on the islands early next week.

The scenes are reportedly for the show's season six premiere and will only involve Jon Hamm and Jessica Pare (a.k.a. Don and Megan Draper) and a small crew.

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Airline News / Airlines / Alaska Airlines / Hawaii Travel / Airplanes / Livery / Boeing / Travel Contests / → All Tags

Alaska Airlines Calls on the Kids of Hawaii to Paint Their Next Plane

Once again it’s time to bust out the colored pencils, crayons, and markers, as it’s time for another airline coloring contest. You might remember that ANA was looking for a few good artists to design their latest livery, and now it looks like another carrier is also recruiting some nifty designs.

Alaska Airlines just announced their own “Paint the Plane” contest, but unfortunately—or fortunately—this one looks to be designed just for the kiddos. The carrier is asking for a little help from the school aged kids over in Hawaii to sketch something that represents the culture, the beauty, and the unique characteristics of the Aloha State.

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