Aloha,

Sponsored by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA), Mele Mei partner organizations, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the 2nd annual Mele Mei, a month-long celebration of Hawaiian music, will run from April 27, 2012 – May 29, 2012.  It encompasses over 20 events, including workshops, live concert performances, awards ceremonies including the 35th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, a hula competition and other activities. The live concert performances will feature Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners and nominees, and will be held at Halekulani; Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort & Spa; The MODERN Honolulu; The Royal Hawaiian; and Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa.

See below for the full schedule of events. For more information, please visit www.melemei.com. 

Mahalo

You barely survived hell, and clawed your way out of limbo. Now: Paradise. Look to the sky and fly away with your other (or other other) lady to an off-continent utopia where no one knows your name, face or familial affiliations: Hawaii. Having put not just miles, but nautical miles, between yourself and real life, you can focus on the present and finally relax in the arms and legs and everything else of your dame du jour.

Hotel Renew is a gem of a boutique hotel. Set amidst a sea of grand-stand resorts on Waikiki beach, Renew hones in on individual comforts. You’ll never go without a chair on the beach—itself something of a private affair—and drinks flow freely, beginning with the complimentary cocktail you’re handed upon arrival. The hotel lives on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki beach, nice and close to some of the best dining on the island. Not that you’ll be leaving your suite.

Make your reservation here.

Posted from : Playboy.com   Life & Style Travel Guide
Author : TANNER CORMIER

On February 16, 11 local artists exhibited pieces curated by John Koga and Lawrence Seward at Hotel Renew. If you missed it, the artists will discuss their art every Thursdayfrom 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Hotel Renew.

l hope 2012 is off to a great start for you! There are a lot of exciting events happening on Oahu over the next few months and we hope you’ll consider coming back to visit us soon. Hawaii is a wonderful place to visit for Mid-Winter and Spring breaks to avoid the crowds and to enjoy a slice of paradise that you can call your own. We’ve been spotting humpback whales all over the island and they should be here for another couple of months. If you haven’t been here to see them, it is something very special. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance in helping you book your next trip to the islands. I hope to see you soon.

Mahalo,
Daniel Howery
General Manager

Dreaming of sunshine and palm trees? Escape the winter blues and visit us at
Hotel Renew. With rates starting at just $159, now is the time to plan your next vacation.

 Honolulu Festival – March 2 – 4
Hawaii’s premier event promoting cultural understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region. The Festival kicks off at the Hawaii Convention Center, and will feature a variety of events at different Oahu venues. The Festival will culminate with a grand parade down Kalakaua Avenue.

Half Marathons – March 11 & April 1
There are several fitness challenges coming up in Honolulu including the Hapalua – Hawaii’s Half Marathon– 13.1 miles through paradise.  Half the distance – twice the fun!  The starting line is a two-minute walk from Hotel Renew and ends in our back yard!

Diva’s Wahine Half Marathon – This half-marathon for the ladies starts in Ala Moana Beach Park and finishes there with a big “diva” dance party. Feather boas and pink t-shirts are provided!

Hawaii’s Annual Lei Day Celebration – May 1
A beautiful event sponsored by the Dept. of Parks & Recreation at Queen Kapiolani Park, Waikiki, 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. honoring the day with a queen and court a well as an adult lei contest, a children’s lei contest and entertainment with many hula halau participating. See some of the most exquisite leis in the world exhibited in a variety of colors and methods. Free.

For more information call (808) 692-5118.

Photographer: Monica and Michael Sweet/Getty Writer: Joe Yogerst

Oahu: Slack Key Guitar Festival

August 19

Hawaii’s homegrown acoustic guitar fest is a moveable musical feast that makes its second stop on the island of Oahu. Festivalgoers gather in Kapiolani Park to listen to Grammy-winning guitarists strum “slacked key” (loose-string) instruments and sing; slackkeyfestival.com.

While you’re here: Duck into the Bishop Museum for a glimpse of old Hawaii, including kahili (feather standards) once carried like scepters by Hawaiian royalty.

Where to stay: Base your stay at the chic little Hotel Renew, a block off the beach and a five-minute walk from Kapiolani Park. Rates start at $148; hotelrenew.com.

NEW YORK (AP) – JetBlue Airways and Hawaiian Airlines have formed a partnership that will allow passengers to fly on both carriers’ flights on a single ticket.

The deal, which is expected to be formally announced later Monday, follows Hawaiian Airlines’ announcement of plans to add New York service direct from its home base in Honolulu starting in June. Customers on both airlines will be able to connect with those flights through JetBlue’s base at New York’s JFK.

In the meantime, passengers can connect through Los Angeles International Airport to Hawaiian Airlines one-stop service from Hawaii to New York.

Besides added flight options, travelers will also be able to earn or redeem frequent flier miles on each other’s flights, starting with the New York service in June.

Partnerships like this allow airlines to expand their service without spending more money to add flights on their own. Hawaiian Airlines already has similar partnerships, called codeshares, with major U.S. airlines including United-Continental, Delta and American. JetBlue has deals with a number of international carriers, including Ireland’s Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Emirates.

Source:  USA Today article

Leave behind the winter weather with a mai tai in your hand. — Published by Jon Meyer in Seattleite.

As the temperature drops and Northwesterners begin their annual hibernation, it should be noted that the Hawaiian Islands remain balmy and active throughout the winter season. If you want – or need – to escape the frigid Puget Sound, here’s just a taste of the fun-filled getaway that awaits you in our nation’s 50^th state.

The Chic

If you’re young and hip (or just hip), then you should stay in a hotel that suits your style. Sifting through the cookie-cutter madness of Waikiki’s major chain hotels can be difficult. Luckily, there’s Hotel Renew, which is located near the beach but lacks all the schtick of its neighbors (except the pineapple juice at check-in).

Inspired by Japanese design, this hotel provides all the comforts one could desire after a day of paddle-boarding, as well as contemporary demands such as Wi-Fi, energy-efficient lighting and breakfast on the house. The hotel also offers complimentary beach gear. Wait…Japanese-inspired, you say? Yes, each room includes designer kimono bathrobes.

The Excursion

Wild Side Specialty Tours and their 50-foot yacht, The Nautilus (or “Naughty”), have you covered if you want to play in the ocean. The vessel has room for 24 anxious passengers but to keep the experience as intimate as possible, only six are allowed on board. This allows for one-on-one time with the knowledgeable crew, as well as fellow participants.

“What’s great about our tours is that they’re fully customizable,” said crew-woman Kimberly James. Crowd-pleasing activities aboard The Nautilus include deep-sea fishing, whale-watching and snorkeling with dolphins. The crew’s experience is key to getting as close as possible without disturbing the wildlife. They aren’t too bad at restaurant recommendations either.

The Class

There are only so many Iron Chefs — and Masaharu Morimoto is one of them. Located at the luxurious Modern Honolulu hotel, his restaurant, Morimoto Waikiki, provides the freshest of ingredients, all handled with the chef’s signature touches. For instance, the broth in his oxtail soup ($15) melts the meat off the bone, and is seasoned with cilantro and garlic ginger rice.

Morimoto also keeps it real for locals with chef’s loco moto ($22): wagyu beef, fukujinzuke (Japanese pickle), rice, hayashi gravy, and a fried egg, served with miso soup. The restaurant boasts an impressive selection of more than 30 sushi and shashimi offerings, including five kinds of caviar. Even better, the menu runs the gamut of dining expenses, from drinks that won’t bust the bank to the epic meal your vacations demands.

The Hustle

Based on Kauloa Farms, Bike Hawaii is the acme of all-you-can-consume activities on Oahu, such as mountain biking, exploring waterfalls, kayaking to nearby islands and snorkeling in lush reef. Most of the activities are offered in a combination form, with a complimentary lunch to boot. In addition to beautiful views and a decent workout, those who enlist in Bike Hawaii will be treated to an informative island experience, courtesy of the the quirky guides.

The Luxury

Open for just a year, the elegant Modern Honolulu is posh without being pretentious – it says something that I, a hostel-lover, felt comfortable walking about the premises – and provides uninterrupted relaxation. The luxury hotel offers 353 stylish guest rooms with spectacular views of the glittering skyline and yachts moored in the harbor. Many rooms include a terrace for observing your beautiful surroundings (i.e. people) or outdoor iPad-ding. On hot afternoons, take a dip and visit the poolside bar for a cool cocktail.

The High Flyer

If you’d like to see the ocean from above, North Shore-based Honolulu Soaring – in the glider business for more than 40 years – is happy to oblige. You can keep it simple with a high-altitude cruise – but if you crave adventure, barrel rolls and hammerhead stalls are available upon request. Act appropriately, and you might even get to fly the small craft. All that’s left for you to do is come up with a call sign.

The Pinch

At Tacos Ricos, $20 gets you all-you-can-eat tacos — good tacos. I easily put away 13, with meat options that ranged from barbacoa to sea bass. The menu is simple and the staff is thin, but the food and service are of the highest quality. Fun extras include horchata, a regional drink that consists of rice milk, vanilla, and cinnamon, as well the opportunity to purchase a luchadore wrestling mask.

The Hotspot

A few years ago, The Sheraton Waikiki spent millions to renovate its lobby and guest rooms. At that time, the hotel added an adults-only infinity pool (with a swim-up bar) and great new restaurants, including: RumFire, offering one of Waikiki’s best happy hours and gorgeous views of the sunset; Kai Market, a buffet that features local recipes and ingredients; and Ingredients, for delicious take-out when the beach calls one more time.

The Local

“Real good, not pretentious, nice and chill,” is how one local described Uncle Bo’s, a popular restaurant and bar in Waikiki. This sounded just right, and he didn’t lead us astray. The menu is a venerable list of offerings from the local fish market, prepped with fresh spices and plated with care. My crab-crusted opah ($21) was larger than a Frisbee, and served upon a bed of green beans and squash. For overkill, a bowl of marinara-topped pasta was included on the side.

Hotel Renew has been the talk of the town since it opened its doors. From its contemporary elegant design to its eco-conscious initiatives, Hotel Renew is Waikiki’s newest sensation in the boutique hotel industry. Read the latest news, press releases and articles on Hotel Renew, and discover the ultimate hotel experience in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.