Lanai Four Seasons back on AAA award list
The 2008 AAA Hawaii Four Diamond award list has added Four Seasons Resort Lana'i at Manele Bay. It has been absent from AAA lists going back as far as 1999.
It was rebranded a Four Seasons property in 2004, but didn't make AAA's four diamond list or the competing Mobil four-star list last year at this time.
However, following millions of dollars in renovations, the spa at Manele Bay made Mobil's four-star spa list in May.
Eleven hotels and 11 restaurants made this year's AAA Hawaii Four Diamond list.
In addition to the Manele Bay, the hotels include: the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa; Halekulani, the Kahala Hotel & Resort and the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa on Oahu; Hotel Hana Maui; the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa and the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui; and Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows and the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island.
This year's AAA Four Diamond restaurants are, on Oahu, Azul, Bali by the Sea, Chef Mavro, Hoku's, Orchids and Tokyo Tokyo; Sarento's on the Beach and Banyan Tree on Maui; and Pahu i'a and Hualalai Grille on the Big Island.
One hotel and one restaurant receiving four AAA diamonds last year are not on this year's list -- Princeviille Resort on Kauai and Spago at the Four Seasons Resort Wailea.
It is unknown if the two moved up or down, but the AAA Five Diamond list will be released Friday.