[ SUNDAY TRAVEL ]
Oahu hotels offer It is your civic duty to take a little vacation right now.
kamaaina deals
go ahead, live a little, take a
mini-vacation and help the stateStar-Bulletin staff
Business is down in tourist town, the economy is tanking, you and your wallet are needed. Buck up. Be a soldier. Go lie by the pool at a luxury hotel for a couple of days.
The world will be better for it.
Further incentive: Many Oahu hotels are offering kamaaina specials that include such amenities as free parking or breakfast. Traffic is lighter in Waikiki these days. You can take a minivacation without getting on an airplane. And remember all those improvements the city's made to Waikiki? You've been meaning to check those out, right?
And finally: Being a nontourist tourist means you don't have an obligation to do anything useful, such as visit a historic site or buy omiyage. Lie around your air-conditioned room and watch free HBO if you want. Be glad someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning for a day.What follows is a summary of the deals out there, compiled by the Oahu Visitors Bureau. All may be subject to restrictions -- the room you get at a discount rate might not be oceanfront, for example, or certain blackout dates may apply.
>> Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel: $65 a night, through Dec. 23. Call 800-321-2558.
>> DoubleTree Alana Hotel: Starting at $79 a night, includes valet parking, room upgrade, local calls and the hotel's signature chocolate chip cookies, through Dec. 27. Call 941-7275 or 800-222-TREE.
>> Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki: $110 a night, includes complete breakfast for two or car rental, through Dec. 27. Or, a two-night package is $150. Call 956-1111.
>> Hilton Hawaiian Village: $139 a night, including in-room movie and parking. Call 949-4321 or 800-HILTONS.
>> Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa: $89-$119 a night through Dec. 26. Call 923-1234.
>> Ihiliani Resort and Spa: Starting at $199/night, includes breakfast for two, through Dec. 25. Call 679-0079.
>> Kahala Mandarin Oriental: $150 a night with complimentary parking, shuttle to Kahala Mall and discounts at some shops, through Dec. 17. Call 739-8888 or 800-367-2525. Kahala for Even More Package includes free fourth night (based on published rates), $150 food and beverage credit, use of fitness center and lounge.
>> Marc Resorts Hawaii: Two nights for price of one on packages starting at $76 a night, through Dec. 21. Call 922-9700 or 800-535-0085.
>> Outrigger East: $69 a night, through Dec. 18. Call 800-OUTRIGGER, or 800-688-7444.
>> Ohana Hotels & Resorts: Starting at $49 a night, through Dec. 18. Call 800-462-6262.
>> Outrigger Islander Waikiki: $75 a night, includes parking, breakfast for two, through Dec. 18. Call 800-OUTRIGGER, or 800-688-7444.
>> Outrigger Reef on the Beach: $99 a night, includes parking, local calls, through Dec. 18. Call 800-OUTRIGGER, or 800-688-7444.
>> Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach: $109 a night, includes parking, continental breakfast for two, discounts for Society of Seven show and 10 percent off at participating shops, through Dec. 18. Call 800-OUTRIGGER, or 800-688-7444.
>> Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki: Starting at $89 a night, includes four passes per night to Ultrazone, 37 percent off food at Canoes at the Ilikai and parking. Through Nov. 30. Call 949-3811 or 800-245-4524.
>> Royal Hawaiian. Starting at $125 a night, through Dec. 25. Call 800-782-9488.
>> Sheraton Moana Surfrider: Starting at $115 a night, through Dec. 25. Call 800-782-9488.
>> Sheraton Princess Kaiulani: Starting at $79 a night, includes parking, through Dec. 25. Call 800-782-9488.
>> Sheraton-Waikiki: Starting at $109 a night, includes parking, through Dec. 25. Call 800-782-9488.
>> W Honolulu Diamond Head: Starting at $125 a night, through Dec. 25. Call 800-782-9488.
>> Waikiki Terrace Hotel -- Castle Resorts: Starting at $72 a night, includes car rental, through Dec. 15. Call 955-6221 or 367-5004.
>> Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel: $75 a night through Dec. 25. Call 922-4646 or 800-622-4646.
>> Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort: $70-$149 a night through October. Call 922-6611 or 800-367-5370.
>> Interisland travel: Roberts Overnighters offers air-room-car and fly-drive packages starting at $99.50 per person, based on double occupancy, through Dec. 15. Call 523-9323 or (800) 899-9323.