ALOHA AIRLINES has exited bankruptcy with the help of new investors and a self-proclaimed low-cost structure, according to Aloha President and CEO David A. Banmiller. The lead investor behind the reorganization is The Yucaipa Cos., a private equity investment firm.
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THE KAPALUA WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL will take place July 6 to 9 at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, part of the Kapalua Resort marketing partnership in Maui. Fred Dame, master sommelier, will once again host seven sommeliers and three chefs who will demonstrate and mingle with attendees throughout the weekend. For details on the festival, click here.
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Before Captain James Cook was killed on the Big Island more than 200 years ago, he amassed a collection of artifacts from his voyages to the Pacific islands. Many of those items go on public display for the first time on Thursday.
The exhibit is called "Life in the Pacific of the 1700s," and it goes on display at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Many of the items were commonly used by the native tribes of New Zealand, Tonga, Tahiti, and Hawaii. Wooden head rests served as pillows. Tattoo instruments that look very painful. There are mats and pieces of clothing like grass skirts, fragile items that have stayed in pristine condition for over 230 years.
"As if they were made yesterday. That's the amazing thing, you don't see things like this very often," says Steve Little.
Museum director Steve Little says the items were either given to Captain Cook or he traded for them. They've stayed in great shape because they haven't been handled much, just stored at a university in Germany. There are some ornate pieces, like a mourning dress worn by a kahu, or priest, when a royal family member dies. There's a sacred image of the Hawaiian war god Ku, with feathers still a vibrant orange and yellow.
"It's extremely rare to see Hawaiian feather work preserved like this. It's an amazing powerful image," says Little.
Little says the exhibit is not meant to glorify Captain Cook, but to give a snapshot of life in the Pacific islands in the 1700s. Speaking of snapshots, there were no cameras so Captain Cook brought along an artist in each voyage to paint the scenery, which fascinated the western world.
The museum would like as many people to see the artifacts as possible, so the exhibit is free and on display through May 14.
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Mokulele Airlines, a Hilo commuter airline, will offer direct flights to Honolulu for $59.95 each way starting in March.
The company has ambitious plans to become an interisland carrier and has filed such a request with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Meanwhile, the air carrier has begun adding interisland services from Hilo to increase its outreach and customer base. At present, it offers flights connecting Hilo to Maui, Molokai and Lanai for $49.95 each way.
Mokulele Airlines operates a twin-engine, turbo-charged aircraft and has increased its fleet to six planes.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES inked a letter of intent to acquire four wide-body 767-300 planes, thus expanding it’s trans-Pacific fleet of aircraft to 18. Each plane will be modified to Hawaiian standards, which includes 18 first class seats and 242 coach-class seats.
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THE WAIKOLOA BEACH AND GOLF RESORT will host the 2006 Big Island Film Festival from May 18 to 21. In its debut year, the festival will include movie screenings, music events, parties, actor and filmmaker awards, a symposium and a golf tournament. There will be three venues for movie screenings. For more information, visit www.bigislandfilmfestival.com.
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The American Culinary Federation Inc. wrapped up its 2006 Western Regional Conference Monday at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.
Established in 1929 and based in St. Augustine, Fla., the federation has 18,000 members and 240 chapters nationwide.
Hosted by the ACF Kona-Kohala Chefs de Cuisine Inc., the four-day event featured chef-focused seminars on chocolate, growing and harvesting Hawaiian tea, tropical fruits, and how to prepare foods for an imu, the traditional Hawaiian underground oven.
Aloha Airlines said it expects to emerge from bankruptcy in mid-February, following a bankruptcy court judge's Feb. 2 approval of Aloha and Aloha Airgroup's amended reorganization plan.
"We've cleared all the hurdles and we are hopeful we will have our new funding in mid-February," said David Banmiller, Aloha's president and CEO.
Under the amended plan, The Yucaipa Cos. agreed to increase its investment by $10 million, to $43.25 million. Aloha Aviation Investment Group would contribute $16.82 million and Aloha Hawaii Investors would kick in $2.2 million.
