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Hawaii’s venerable
travel experience
speaks for itself

IF you're critical of Hawaii-centric reporting, read no further. The visitor bureau in Phoenix sent out a national press statement boasting that seven area resorts ranked among the Top 50 in the United States in this year's readers choice ranking in Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

So how does Hawaii measure up? We're not exactly chopped liver, after all.

The magazine's November issue includes several lists where Hawaii features prominently, but Conde Nast did not count Hawaii in its U.S. resort rankings. Instead, Conde Nast placed the state in a separate Pacific Rim category, where Hawaii is home to 22 of the top 30 resorts. The other eight are in Moorea, Bora Bora and Australia.

Hmm, seven of 50 versus 22 of 30.

Is Phoenix on the list of Top 10 U.S. cities? Nope, but Honolulu is No. 7.

The top 10 Pacific Rim islands include No. 1 Maui, No. 2 Kauai, No. 4 Big Island, No. 6 Lanai and No. 7 Oahu.

Among the top 10 airlines serving domestic routes, Hawaiian Airlines is at No. 5.

The overall, who's-your-daddy list of Top 100 travel experiences includes the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island at No. 8; the Four Seasons Wailea on Maui at No. 31; the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Big Island at No. 42; Halekulani on Oahu at No. 71; the Lodge at Koele at No. 82 and the island of Maui at No. 84.

The number of Phoenix-area anything on the overall list? Zero.

Nanny nanny boo boo.

Auction, day 2

Hawaii figured prominently during day two of a Federal Communications Commission auction of 288 new FM radio licenses.

Yesterday's highest bidder, with more than $1.5 million on the table, is Wyoming-based Kona Coast Radio LLC. Most of its money has been thrown down for two licenses in Nanakuli and Wahiawa.

The only Hawaii-based broadcaster participating in the auction, John Detz, president of Visionary Related Entertainment, is still in the running for at least two of the 10 licenses up for grabs. With $148,000 on the line, he has the highest standing bids for licenses in Captain Cook and Honokaa on the Big Island.

Five of the 10 Hawaii licenses up for grabs are still among the top bid-getters in yesterday's action, netting a combined $2.8 million thus far. The auction will resume today.

Marquee enlightenment

The story about the brand-new, high-tech yet nostalgic Hawaii Theatre marquee in yesterday's Star-Bulletin "Today" section prompted a reader to ask why the work wasn't awarded to a local sign company.

The contract was awarded to Young Electric Sign Co. of Las Vegas.

Sarah Richards, president of Hawaii Theatre Center, said the theater needed more than a sign company.

"We needed someone with great experience," she said. Theater officials were unaware of a capable local manufacturer.

Neon is just part of it. There's also other lighting, air conditioning for the sensitive equipment and programming for the verbiage. "It's much more complicated than just a sign," Richards said.

Young Electric will have representatives on hand when the giant new marquee is fired up officially tonight at 7:30.

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