Kayakers test the water at Manele Bay Resort on Lanai. Kamaainas makes up 20 percent of summer travel at the Lodge at Koele and Manele Bay.
Kamaaina deals
going fast
A surge in summer travel has filled Hawaii hotels and made it more difficult for kamaaina to get last-minute promotional deals, but savvy local travelers might find that it can pay to stay closer to home.
Despite increased air fares and a dearth of available bargains, the visitor industry has reported that kamaaina are joining the pack of travelers who are eyeing Hawaii as a vacation destination.
A SAMPLE OF KAMAAINA DEALS » At the Outrigger Waikiki and Outrigger Reef hotels in Waikiki, kamaaina enjoy a 50 percent discount off regular published rates.
» Hilton Hawaiian Village offers a kamaaina special starting at $130 a night for a room, including free parking and a free in-room movie.
TIPS FOR GETTING THE BEST KAMAAINA SPECIALS
1) Plan vacations ahead, especially during peak travel periods.
2) Always ask destinations for a kamaaina special.
3) Since kamaaina rates can vary widely, make sure to ask the travel provider if the quoted special represents the best value or if another travel date would yield more savings.
4) Consult the Internet and travel wholesalers to find the best kamaaina rates.
5) If a property doesn't have kamaaina rate availability, don't be afraid to negotiate. Some destinations will offer kamaaina coupon books, dining credits, free parking or in-room movies.
It's not just Hawaii's domestic and international tourism markets that are rebounding; this summer, kamaaina are also adding to the boost, said state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert.
"All segments are heating up," Wienert said. "People are going to really have to plan ahead if they want to take advantage of kamaaina specials, because all indications show that summer travel is going to be really strong."
Kamaaina who choose to vacation in Hawaii might need to plan ahead to get the best deals on their summer getaways. Persistence and flexibility are the key to finding the best value, said Nanya Goodin, owner of Tangea Travel International.
"Tourism right now is so strong," Goodin said. "It's not like before. When the availability is tight, hotels and attractions don't offer rates like before."
Occupancy at Hawaii's hotels is running among the highest in the country. The Travel Industry Association of America's Summer Travel Forecast has named Hawaii as one of the top 10 destinations for leisure travelers, a market that is expected to grow by 3.2 percent this summer, almost a full percentage point greater than last summer.
"We've got a greater demand but no increase in supply," said Jim Austin, public relations director for Outrigger Enterprises Inc., which offers kamaaina up to 50 percent off the rack rates at some Outrigger and Ohana properties.
"Getting bargains is going to be a little tougher, but the savvy traveler who does some shopping around can still find a pretty good deal," Austin said.
While the cost of getting away could discourage some kamaaina travelers, others will take advantage of Hawaii's booming economy to satisfy their pent-up travel demands, said Paul Brewbaker, chief economist for Bank of Hawaii, as he glanced over the busy streets of Lahaina.
"The streets are packed," Brewbaker said, via cell phone. "That's not surprising since travel demand is almost always a function of how well the economy is performing, and Hawaii is in good shape."
Strong employment conditions and income growth, as well as a strong real estate market with plenty of refinancing options, may have put money in kamaaina pockets, encouraging them to travel, Brewbaker said.
Unfortunately, kamaaina who don't plan ahead will find that they aren't the only ones on a travel kick, Goodin said.
Strong summer demand for Hawaii could make it more difficult for kamaaina to get the hotel price they want on the night they want, she said. They might also find it more difficult to get the right flight at the right price, Goodin said.
"Everything is so expensive," she said, especially purchasing last-minute interisland air fare, which can raise ticket prices by as much as $100.
At times, courting the kamaaina market has kept Hawaii's visitor industry in business. Following Sept. 11, 2001, hotel occupancy rates plummeted across the state, and cheap hotel deals flowed freely as the visitor industry begged for kamaaina business.
Sightseers on Lanai gaze at the sun.
A recovery in Hawaii's domestic and international markets has made it more difficult for the tourism industry to make room for kamaaina specials, but it's important to remember that some of tourism's best supporters and advertisers live in the home market, said Marty Milan, director of sales at the Ala Moana Hotel.
"Sometimes hotels will try to fill an immediate need by offering low rates and then (say) 'aloha,' but the kamaaina remember," Milan said. "They know that we are here for them in the good times and the bad. It could be easy to extend large room blocks, but I always leave space for the kamaaina."
Even though Hawaii's travel and tourism industry has experienced a real rebound in the number of domestic and international visitors, there's no question that the kamaaina market, especially in the summer, is still important to the local economy, Wienert said.
"The summer months are showing a strong kamaaina market, especially for the smaller islands like Lanai and Molokai that have really put an emphasis on this market," Wienert said.
"It's an important market for us, and the good news is that it's doing well," said Matthew Hart, executive vice president for Castle & Cooke Resorts, the private company that owns most of Lanai.
Kamaaina business, which makes up about 20 percent of summer travel at the Lodge at Koele and the Manele Bay Resort on Lanai, rose about 12 percent last year overall. And there are signs that the positive trend is continuing into the summer, Hart said.
"In a normal week on Lanai, about 160 room nights would be a good booking," Hart said. "Last week, we booked 417 room nights."
Hart attributes strong bookings to rising mainland air fares and an increased kamaaina marketing campaign. Through the end of July, the resorts are offering kamaaina room rates from $225 per night with a $25 general credit included.
"We value our kamaaina business, and we do a summer special every year," Hart said, adding that the resort e-mailed the special to about 7,000 former kamaaina visitors.
Kamaaina business is also good on Oahu where hotels like the Ala Moana Hotel, the Alana Doubletree and the Outrigger and Ohana properties report strong showings.
"We have a very healthy percentage of local business," Milan said. "It's good and it's growing."
