Hawaii hogs list of places families will see in summer
Hawaii’s beaches are among the top summer destinations for families, according to a Travelocity booking data review released in advance of Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer.
That’s sure to be music to visitor industry players’ ears and bottom lines.
Orlando, Fla., and Cancun, Mexico, were ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, but Travelocity explains that Honolulu, at No. 3, was only one of the four Hawaii destinations in the top 10.
Travelocity points out that "getting to the world-famous Waikiki (is) a breeze" since direct-to-Honolulu flights can be had from many mainland markets. (it calls them "U.S. cities" as if Hawaii is not part of the U.S. Doesn’t the Roaming Gnome remember that, after his trip here?)
Maui is ranked the No. 4 summer destination for families, despite it being known as a famous honeymoon spot.
The No. 5 spot on the Travelocity summer-travel-for-families list is occupied by Kauai, which it describes as the "perfect island choice for active families and nature lovers."
The fourth Hawaii destination is Kona, at No. 7. Travelocity informs readers that Kona is "an excellent destination from which to explore … the state’s most diverse" island, with an active volcano and snow-capped mountains. "Yes, there’s snow in Hawaii!" it parenthetically exclaims.
OK, we in the 808 state all know that’s true, but your columnist feels the need to point out that Mauna Kea rarely, if ever, bears a snowy head lei in the summer.
The rest of the top 10 is composed of No. 6, the Bahamas; No. 8, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; No. 9, Turks and Caicos; and No. 10, the Dominican Republic.
The Travelocity list also cites average daily room rates for each destination, with Orlando, Fla., bearing the lowest at $87 and Turks and Caicos the highest at $248. Travelocity reports Hawaii’s ADRs as $136 for Honolulu, $181 for Maui, $154 for Kauai and $141 for Kona.
The trouble with such popularity rankings is that not everyone is a trend or popularity follower, and some are in fact crowd-averse to the point of steering away from things "everybody else" is doing.
———
On the Net
News addiction
Dan Dennison is leaving the employ of the largest conservation area in the United States, with possibly the longest name of any in the world, to dive back into the news business.
Dennison will start his new job June 20 as news director of WDBJ-TV Channel 7, the CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Va.
Dennison was busy with movers Friday but said he would be keeping his home here and renting it out to cover the mortgage. "My intent is to return to Hawaii on a full-time basis at some point in the future."
Parting with Hawaii will be sweet sorrow for the Colorado native, who has had two professional stints in Honolulu.
Dennison arrived in Hawaii for the news director gig at KHON-TV in 2003, then after a time on the mainland landed the same job at KHNL/KFVE-TV in 2006.
After he and others were downsized out of their jobs at KHNL/KFVE by corporate restructuring in December 2008, he joined the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as media coordinator. He made a transition last year into the job of constituent outreach and partnerships coordinator.
It is "really tough leaving here a second time, but the opportunity was just to good to pass up," he said.
———
On the Net:
———
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Advertiser. Reach her by email at erika@staradvertiser.com.
