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[ ISLAND HOPPING ]

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Wired on the Big Isle ...

Some people are incapable of getting away from it all, and even on the Big Island's relatively remote Kohala coast, visitors can stay wired to the rest of the world at Waikoloa Beach Marriott, which is offering high-speed access in all its rooms.

Aside from relishing in the surrounding tropical landscaping, lava fields and golden-sand beaches, guest can hook up their PDA devices, laptops or I-pods to download in real time for $9.95 a day. The Marriott partnered with Oceanic Time Warner to wire its 545 guest rooms, suites and cabanas.

For reservations, call 800-922-5533.

... and the North Shore

Guests at the Turtle Bay Hilton can also experience wireless high speed Internet access anywhere in the resort, now that a $60 million renovation is complete.

To entice guests to take a look at the changes, the resort is offering group packages of $299 per person, double occupancy, until June 1. With the group deal, guests receive a flower lei greeting, round of golf or spa treatment daily, three meals daily and one free upgrade to the Pikake Suite. The package is only available with a minimum 20 rooms for three nights, which must be used by Nov. 1.

Meeting planners might also be interested in the resort's business offerings. Up to 800 can attend conferences, banquets or receptions in the resort's 31,000 square feet of meeting space in the newly built Kuilima Ballroom, Kahuku Ballroom, Sunset Room and six smaller conference rooms.

For reservations or information, call 1-800-203-3650 or visit www.turtlebayresort.com.