An unauthorized APEC website mentioned in this column Monday has been taken offline by California-based InMotion Hosting Inc. A message on the page instructs the account holder to contact customer service and also indicates InMotion Hosting "cannot disclose any information regarding this account if you are not its owner or authorized party."
The APEC 2011 Hawaii Host Committee told TheBuzz Tuesday that it was aware of and reviewing the fake website, but it was unclear whether official APEC action was responsible for the site’s demise.
The bogus @2011APEC Hawaii Twitter feed is still up and running, with a stream of unflattering posts about visiting heads of state and the summit in general.
Meanwhile, the bogus 2011 APEC Hawaii Facebook page that was up earlier this week with a link to the now-suspended website could not be found Thursday afternoon.
Garden Isle scores 2 in Fodor’s 100
Two very different visitor accommodations on Kauai are the only two Hawaii hotels on the Fodor’s 100 list of top hotels for 2011.
Waimea Plantation Cottages was named a "Local Flavor" category winner with its "unique, homey lodging" and two-of-four dollar-sign rating ($$).
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, no stranger to lists of top-rated Hawaii hotels, was noted for its "fabulous pool, excellent restaurants and Hawaiian ambience" in Fodor’s "Trusted Brands" category. Its rating uses all four dollar signs.
Fodor’s, a well-known old-school travel guide that predates the Internet and became known for publishing its information in these things called books, also notes listed properties’ downsides.
For the Grand Hyatt Kauai, they were a "poor swimming beach during summer swells" and "small balconies."
In the case of the Waimea Plantation Cottages, the "cons" were that it doesn’t have a white-sand beach and that the rooms are not luxurious, but one could discern that from the "homey" description in the "pros" column.
Fodor’s editors disclosed that the rooms have no air conditioning or Internet but did not list those among the "cons."
Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com, or on Twitter as @erikaengle.