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Photos by Ingrid Barrentine, Alaska Airlines Marketing Photographer
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Spring break is just around the corner and, for most of us, you might be ready to lounge by the pool or enjoy some nightlife or a cozy knitted blanket with that book you’ve been meaning to read.
Your family might be looking for more structured bonding time with a guide, water activities and kid-friendly adventures, while single travelers and couples could be looking for culture and a little adventure. Whichever venture speaks to you, Alaska Airlines can get you there.
Here are six places to have fun in the sun:
Looking to spend long, lazy days in perfect year-round weather? Look no further than San Diego.
The “finest” city, perched on the Pacific Ocean, is an ideal locale for tourists of all ages, culture seekers, beach bums and surfers alike. Its food and bar scenes are bursting with trendy eats and drinks, including some of the best Mexican cuisine north of Baja. It’s also one of the only places in the U.S. you can find desert, surf and snow all in a day.
What to do: Legoland, the San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld, San Diego Seal Tours or an Old Town Trolley Tour.
Packing tip: San Diego has some unrivaled surf spots and charming beach towns. If you have a surfboard or some boogie boards — it’s only $30 to check sports equipment on Alaska Airlines.
Getting there: Fly Alaska Airlines nonstop to San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Escape to the dry heat for serene desert gardens, art museums, natural wonders and more.
What to do: Camelback Mountain, Papago Park, Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, Grand Canyon Day Tour.
Get a sweet selfie: Sweeties Candy of Arizona in Chandler has endless aisles of candy you can enjoy & capture for the gram. From nostalgic treats to today’s sweets, this 13,000-square-foot shop has your sweet tooth covered.
Bring the pup: Spoil your fur baby at pet-friendly places in Phoenix, including, Gilbert’s 17-acre Cosmo Dog Park, with agility structures and a swimming lake with a dock.
Pro-tip: Shake out your shoes. Arizona has a ton of little critters that love to bite and sting, like the scorpion. But don’t let that stop you from fun in the sun just be sure to check your shoes!
Getting there: Fly Alaska Airlines nonstop to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
If you seek adventure, the islands of Hawaii are perfect for you. From the volcanoes to the sea and everything in between, there’s something for everyone!
Where to stay: Resorts like the Kauai Beach Resort in Lihue offer great rates, with waterfront views, earth tone decor and white crisp sheets ready for you to fall into vacation-mode. Also, if you have a drone, the view above the pool is a must-see!
Looking for a charming, romantic, instagrammable hotel to stay? Paia Inn, located on Maui just steps away from the stunning North Shore, is worth it. From its thoughtful aesthetic touches, decadent food & service to all the sprays and necessities one needs to wash the worries away in the onsite shop.
Fly home gold: You can bring home a box of pineapples for FREE on Alaska Airlines. But leave the lava rocks where you found them. Trust us on this one.
Getting there: Alaska Airlines offers daily service to Maui (OGG), Lihue/Kauai, Oahu/Honolulu and Hawaii Island (Kona).
Soak up the sun in Cabo San Lucas—part of Los Cabos, right on the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.
The beaches are pristine, the weather is hot and spring break draws many partygoers, families and jet setters.
What to do: Snorkel with tropical fish, try your hand at deep-sea fishing, eat delicious seafood or take a guided camel tour. Dive Cabo also offers whale shark swimming – with the world’s biggest fish – a sighting happens nearly 100 percent of the time from September through May.
Did you even go to Cabo if you didn’t take a picture with El Arco? The Arch of Cabo San Lucas is a beautiful rock formation that can be seen by boat from the water – keep an eye out for sea lions at its base. Two beaches also lie nearby called Lovers’ Beach and Divorce Beach – take your pick!
Take a hike: See where the desert and the ocean meet at the top of Mount Solmar – time it at sunset & you won’t be disappointed.
Getting there: Alaska Airlines has direct flights to Cabo San Lucas (SJD). We also fly to Cancun, Loreto, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Guadalajara, and Ixtapa-Zihuataneho.
Pack up your inflatable swan and head to southern California for the best pools, stylish hotels, golf courses and more.
What to do: Admire midcentury modern homes, explore a national park where all trees are named Joshua, take a mountaintop tram ride, shop at vintage boutiques, interior design shops and restaurants.
Coachella (other than the music festival): Coachella Valley offers hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. Take a classic canyon-hugging gondola ride that showcases the entirety of the Coachella Valley below.
A waterfall in the middle of the desert: It’s true. See for yourself, on a two-mile loop to a 50-foot waterfall tucked into Tahquitz Canyon. The falls require a $12.50 admission fee, which goes toward keeping the trail looking nice, as its part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation. Guided hikes are also available.
Have a T-riffic time with dinosaurs: Stand next to a 100-ton Brontosaurus and T. Rex sculpture that guard the entrance to a Creationist-themed dino museum and check out the gift shop inside the belly of “Dinny” the Dinosaur.
How to get there: Alaska Airlines flies Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). Up for a drive? You can also fly into Ontario (it’s about an hour & some change from Palm Springs).
From walking along the renowned Golden Gate Bridge to spotting sea lions at Pier 39, San Francisco is a city full of amazing places to visit and tons of cool things to do.
What to do: Lose yourself in Magowan’s Mirror Maze, take in the fresh air of Golden Gate Park, escape from Alcatraz Prison, or hit the colorful town to see fortune cookies being made.
Get into the swing of things: Grab a friend to give you a push and snap a photo of you swinging in front of an awe-inspiring view of the San Francisco Bay and downtown San Francisco. There are about 7 famous swings around the city – triple check they’re not down, if so, don’t worry the ropes go back up again soon after!
Eat cookie dough (without the risk of salmonella): Sugar addicts rejoice! Doughp (pronounced “dope”) serves eggless scoops of batter in fun flavors, flavored waffle cones, and hundreds of different toppings at Pier 39.
Where to fly: Alaska Airlines offers seven nonstop daily flights to San Francisco (SFO). Want to see more of the Bay? Fly to Oakland or San Jose.
Bonus tip: Alaska Airlines is offering more ways to venture around the world with our 16 Global Partners and relationship with American Airlines and joining oneworld – giving our guests seamless access to 1,200 destinations around the world. Learn more.
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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced its decision to temporarily suspend its five-times-weekly nonstop service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Incheon International Airport (ICN), beginning March 2 through April 30, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in South Korea.
“We believe a temporary service suspension is prudent given the escalation of COVID-19 in South Korea and the impact the illness has had on demand for leisure travel from that country,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines. “We will continue to closely monitor the situation and extend our support for public health efforts to contain the virus. We apologize for this inconvenience and are working to support impacted guests.”
Flight 459 is scheduled to depart HNL at 1:10 p.m. on March 1 and arrive at ICN on March 2 at 8 p.m. Flight 460 will depart ICN at 10:00 p.m. on March 2 and arrive at HNL at 11 a.m. the same day. Service is scheduled to resume on May 1 from HNL and May 2 from ICN.
Hawaiian is assisting impacted guests by offering re-accommodations on alternative flights or providing refunds.
Hawaiian has also issued a travel waiver for guests holding tickets on Hawaiian Airlines codeshare flights departing to/from/connecting via South Korea (KR) airports. More details can be found at https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/coronavirus.
For further information, please visit HawaiianAirlines.com or call Hawaiian Airlines' reservations department at 1-800-367-5320.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
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When Peter Tizzard defines the top requirements for providing good service, he has a lengthy list: “Being genuine and sincere is important,” says the 32-year commercial-aviation professional who has worked for more than 12 years combined at Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. “Paying attention to details, being humble, listening and making positive connections with our guests are crucial, too.”
All of these goals come down to one thing, Tizzard says: “Bringing joy to people. It’s just the right thing to do.”
Tizzard, a San Francisco–based flight attendant who lives in Las Vegas, has, in multiple roles, provided great service to flyers over the years. He started out in ground operations in 1987 at a regional airline in Florida. Eventually, he became a flight attendant, and he was one of the original teammates at Virgin America in 2007. A multitalented employee, he has helped hire and train flight attendants over the years, and has worked as a catering operations analyst, an inflight service instructor and an air transportation supervisor.
Being a flight attendant was his original dream, Tizzard says, explaining that, since childhood, he’s had a passion for travel and learning about other cultures.
His parents instilled this, says Tizzard, whose father worked for 38 years for British Airways, and whose mother worked as a travel-agent manager. Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Tizzard feels fortunate and blessed to have traveled “all over” while growing up.
According to co-workers, Tizzard brings great positivity to his work and is respected for being encouraging and uplifting with other flight attendants, as well as with airline guests.
“I try to lead and make others feel comfortable,” Tizzard says. “This work is my passion, and there’s no greater thing you can do with life and work than to follow your passion in a way that serves you and the world.”
What do you like most about your job?
There are never two flights alike. And the connections I make with guests can change my perspective—and theirs.
What are your interests outside work? I’m very outdoorsy. I like hiking and biking, at home and when I travel.
Where do you most like traveling? Throughout Asia and Europe, for the food and culture and history. Places I’ve returned to include Osaka and Kyoto, Japan; Krabi, Thailand; and Madrid, Spain. And anywhere with a beach equals sun and fun.
Do you have any travel tips? At least once a year, pack “one way” and donate clothes, shoes and jackets at your destination. Take it as a chance to refresh your wardrobe. There are great places to shop for new clothes while you’re traveling.
What advice do you have for new hires? It’s never about the destination. It’s about the journey.
“Peter welcomes guests and starts a conversation, and he captivates them for the entire flight. And even after the flight. It’s a gift that only some people have.” —Ludi S., Flight Attendant, San Francisco
“He just makes you feel good. He makes you feel smart; he makes you feel comfortable; he makes you feel welcome. He makes you feel like you’re the only person in a room when he’s talking to you, because he’s so intentional, and so present. There aren’t a lot of people like him.” —Molly C., Flight Attendant, San Francisco
“He is really level about how he treats everyone. Everyone’s treated really, really well.” —Elmer T., Customer Service Agent Trainer, San Francisco
“Guests are always ecstatic with Peter’s personalized service. Everybody loves Peter when they walk off the aircraft.” —Michael G., Captain, San Francisco
Alaska Airlines employees such as Peter Tizzard are the reason for our excellence. Join us in creating an airline people love. Visit alaskaair.jobs.
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When Hawaiian Airlines commits to aloha in everything we do, we must also commit to supporting the language and culture from which aloha came. Our ‘ohana was honored to support the travel of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Hawaiian Theatre Program to bring its historical epic, ‘Au‘a ‘Ia: Holding On, to New York City.
After performing five (mostly sold out) shows at the New York Theatre Workshop’s Reflections of Native Voices Festival, the cast of 50 students returned to Hawai‘i last month. Their success marked a moment of pride for Hawai‘i, and many throughout the community, including myself, were curious to hear about their journey to share Hawaiian culture on the U.S. East Coast.
In recognition of ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language) Month this February, I reached out to Dr. Kaliko Baker, assistant professor at the UH Mānoa’s Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language and husband of ‘Au‘a ‘Ia: Holding On founder Hailiʻōpua Baker to learn more about the play.
After immersing myself in the story of the production, I was humbled (once again) as a speaker of a thriving Hawaiian language and culture today. Because of my kumu (teachers) and the efforts that they’ve put forth to pave the path before me, I have the privilege of sharing in new knowledge with those around me – from a thriving people. Inspired by the play, I am reminded of an old saying:
“Ua lehulehu a manomano ka ‘ikena a ka Hawai‘i.”
Great and numerous indeed is the knowledge of the Hawaiian people.
Those who cherish the land carry everything – lineage, culture and language – with them. Performing arts helps us pass this knowledge on to future generations, as it has been done by those who came before.
Dr. Hailiʻōpua Baker, director of the UH Mānoa’s Hawaiian Theatre Program, created ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On as an account of her commitment to learning the Hawaiian language and to unearth what it means to be Hawaiian in modern-day Hawai‘i. The play was given life by students who, through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, expressed appreciation for their past.
ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On made its debut at the UH Mānoa in September 2019 with more than 50 acclaimed cast members.
According to UH Mānoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance, the production is “a faithful account of Hawai‘i’s past, from the perspective of the four haumāna. Tasked with a daunting research project for class, they embark on a journey that takes them into the repository of 19th-century Hawaiian language archival materials. They connect with their kūpuna (ancestors), explore the meaning of mana (divine power/authority), and interrogate the histories of Ko Hawai‘i Pae ‘Āina (the Hawaiian archipelago).”
The play, Dr. Kaliko further explained, “was created for our people, so that we may come together with a shared responsibility to the land. In that sense, a lot of people came to experience it. They watched, they listened and it struck a chord within them. Our audiences were touched, and it was evident in the outpouring of emotions each night. It is such a beautiful thing, the tales of our people.”
Dr. Kaliko and his wife Dr. Hailiʻōpua Baker’s tale began during an era when students were fighting for the survival of Hawaiian culture in college curricula.
“It was a different time back then. We were students following in the wake of the pioneers who were spearheading the Hawaiian language revitalization movement in the 70s and 80s,” recalled Dr. Kaliko. “It was a revolution because the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was looking to cut Hawaiian language studies in order to save money. We vigorously resisted and the university promised to not cut ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi again at Mānoa.”
The duo has been dedicated to sharing Hawaiian language and culture ever since. He pursued his master’s and doctorate degrees and helped found the UH Mānoa’s Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, which encompasses Kamakakūokalani, Kawaihuelani, Kānewai, and Native Hawaiian Student Services. Their story established a path for future students and cultivated enthusiasm and support for all things Hawaiian.
“There was so much positive change,” said Dr. Kaliko. “It’s rewarding to see that these Hawaiian resources are now readily available. We need to continue to push forward, because, like our great chief once said: ‘There’s no turning back.’”
Dr. Kaliko believes Hawaiians must remain rooted in their culture and all that makes them Hawaiian. This passion was the foundation upon which ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On was created. “[Our people] are what will continue to make things ‘Hawaiian’ in this evolving world around us, and so our commitment to truly understanding this responsibility is of utmost importance to ensuring that Hawaiʻi remains Hawaiʻi.”
As the play continues to grow in popularity, Dr. Kaliko and Dr. Hailiʻōpua remain focused on savoring the moment. He takes the most pride in creating new opportunities for the Hawaiian language to thrive. “This means of enjoyment is like the salt that perfectly seasons the food and satisfies your craving,” said Dr. Kaliko.
“The next goal is to take ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On to the other Hawaiian Islands. While it was such a rewarding experience to take the play to New York, ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On […] is a reminder to remain steadfast in our responsibilities to Hawaiʻi” he said.
Featured image credit: ‘Āina Paikai
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HONOLULU, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ("Hawaiian"), announced today that it will webcast presentations to investors to be given by Hawaiian's leadership team on March 9, 2020. The webcast will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
The webcast will be open to the public through a live audio webcast accessible in the Investor Relations section of Hawaiian's website at HawaiianAirlines.com. For those who are not able to listen to the live webcast, the presentations will be archived for 90 days on Hawaiian's website.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.
Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-holdings-announces-investor-day-presentation-webcast-301010106.html
SOURCE Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
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It’s no secret the Hawaiian Islands are home to dramatic, often breathtaking scenery. From jagged mountain ranges carved by cascading waterfalls to the gradient turquoise ocean, most locals would agree the most spectacular panoramic views come from the air.
Over nine decades ago, we launched our first sightseeing tours over O‘ahu using the Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker under our former alias Inter-Island Airways, Ltd. These flights were a part of the company’s strategy to get locals comfortable with flying before the launch of regularly scheduled flights between the Neighbor Islands in 1929.
As operations evolved in the subsequent decades, our crewmembers remained focused on transporting guests between the Neighbor Islands safely while also giving them the travel experience of a lifetime. It wasn’t unusual for captains to modify their flight path – before the days of air traffic control – to allow for a more dramatic view from the cabin.
In the wake of the Kīlauea eruption in February 1955, we officially added sight-seeing tours over the Island of Hawai‘i to our schedule using the Convair 330s.
The flights proved so popular that we eventually retrofitted several of our Douglas DC-3 with huge, five-foot-wide "viewmaster" windows. These planes were nicknamed “Gooney Birds,” and were used extensively for tours well into the 1960s.
We eventually retired the DC-3 and transitioned to an all-jet fleet in 1966 with the DC-9 – a plane too large for sight-seeing trips. As a result, sales for the special flights were halted and wouldn’t be relaunched until the 1980s when we received the smaller de Havilland Dash 7 turboprops. The aircraft, used primarily on Neighbor Island routes, enabled us to start a series of “Islands in the Sky” tours that were operated (almost) daily until 1993, when we retired the Dash 7s from our fleet.
[Editor’s note: These flights operated daily, so long as the majority of the aircraft’s seats sold.]
While sight-seeing tours operated by Hawaiian are rare today, our regular flight paths still offer guests a striking view of Hawai‘i’s famous landscape from the comfort of their seats. Guests on our flights will often get a “guided tour” from our flight attendants who name their favorite spots as our aircraft flies over the Hawaiian Island chain.
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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiʻi's hometown carrier for more than 90 years, remained the nation's most punctual carrier in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, marking the 16th straight year its guests have enjoyed the best on-time performance in the U.S. industry.
Hawaiian's flights averaged an 87.7 percent on-time rate in 2019, exceeding the U.S. industry average by 6.1 percentage points.
"Our more than 7,400 employees know how important it is for our guests to be on time, whether they are starting a family vacation in Hawaiʻi, or traveling between our islands for business or to visit their ʻohana, and I couldn't be prouder of their accomplishment," said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. "We recently observed our 90th anniversary and this 'Sweet 16' is definitely another achievement worth celebrating."
Hawaiian has extended its on-time performance streak, which began in 2004, as it grew into a global airline that today offers a robust network of over 240 daily international, transpacific and neighbor island flights. The airline's modern fleet of more than 60 jet aircraft provide nonstop service between Hawaiʻi and 13 gateway cities in North America – more than any other carrier – as well as an unparalleled flight schedule between the Hawaiian Islands. The airline also serves Australia (Sydney and Brisbane), American Samoa (Pago Pago), Japan (Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, and Fukuoka), New Zealand (Auckland), South Korea (Seoul), and Tahiti (Papeete).
Last year, Hawaiian launched five-times-weekly service between Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye (HNL) and Boston Logan (BOS) international airports. A fleet of fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo enabled Hawaiian to also start new nonstop flights between Maui's Kahului Airport (OGG) and both Sacramento (SMF) and McCarran (LAS) international airports, as well as expanded service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and HNL.
Next month, the airline will introduce its third daily nonstop flight between Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) and the Hawaiian Islands, several months ahead of the 2020 Olympic Summer Games.
The U.S. DOT's monthly Air Travel Consumer Report ranking the nation's 16 largest air carriers is available online at www.dot.gov/individuals/air-consumer/air-travel-consumer-reports.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.
Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.
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Photos by Kim I. Mott
There’s more to Fiji that meets the eye than just powdery beaches and crystal-clear reefs. Here are six things that will sweeten your travel experience to the South Pacific island nation:
Sheltered from the outside world until just two centuries ago, Fiji’s rich cultural traditions – including community-wide meke “spirit dances” reenacting ancient stories – remain a large part of daily life.
No tradition weighs more heavily on Fijian consciousness than the art of the kava ceremony, which is typically a mandatory part of being invited to any village. If lucky, you’ll have the opportunity for kava many times during your visit (and not only one set up by a resort).
Many tours and treks arrange visits to villages and kava ceremonies. Any visitors to a town must begin by asking to meet the turaga-ni-koro (village headman), who can make introductions to the ratu (chief). As visitors, you should offer a gift, or sevusevu, to get permission to visit. Unless you happen to have a whale’s tooth (a highly prized and rare, offering), powdered kava root that’s been aged four to seven years is a perfect option.
The chief will invite you into his home or into a community center where males sit cross-legged and women sit with legs to the side, as a headman (usually) mixes the kava powder with water in a wooden turtle-shaped bowl called the tanoa. It’s a slow process, and you should remain quiet (and not take photos) until the first round of drinking has been done.
The drink – which sort of resembles muddy water – is served in a bilo cup made from a coconut shell. Clap once before receiving it, drink it fully, hand the empty cup back, and clap three more times. Kava tastes like grassy water and offers your tongue a slight tingle. It’s not alcohol but is known to be relaxing if you have many rounds.
The ritual is known as wai ni vanua, or “water of the land,” indicating the village and the village welcomes you to visit. Things are casual and social after the first round. Generally, it’s OK to take photos after the first round but always ask.
It’s nice to explain who you are and why you’re visiting – the villagers will be interested to hear! For extra cultural-sensitivity points, keep your head lower than the chief’s, and never turn your back toward him, even when exiting. Visitors should wear a sulu sarong and refrain from wearing anything on ones’ head, like a hat or sunglasses. (But don’t worry if you make a mistake; locals are very easy-going with first-timers.)
Any local will tell you; you haven’t visited Fiji until you visited one of Fiji’s nearly 1,200 koro (or villages) — where populations tend to be defined not by individuals but by mataqali (family groups). Visiting one begins by asking permission (and often a kava ceremony, see above). High-end resorts often offer village excursions (including kava, dances, handicrafts demos and a chance to buy local). It’s well worth arranging a trip to more far-flung places less used to seeing daily visitors.
Navala in Vitu Levu’s Nausori Highlands is a village must-see. Reached from Nadi in a few hours via a snaking road that turns to gravel and weaves past sugar cane farms and along mountain ridges that envelop you slowly. Navala is Fiji’s last village made up of traditional bure thatch huts. About 200 of them line across a valley surrounded by green peaks.
For F$25, visitors can visit without prior arrangement, but you’re better off coming with a guide such as Tui from Bulou’s Lodge, a modest accommodation on the Ba River just outside town. Tui is a resident who can help set up a kava ceremony in the chief’s bure and lead you on river walks or to hidden waterfalls fed by natural springs.
Another option to get here is a multi-day trek with village homestays via Talanoa Treks, which includes a visit to Nabutautau.
You don’t have to travel far in Fiji to see a lot. Within the 50-acre Sleeping Giant Garden, just north of Nadi Airport, you’re able to walk past a series of lifelike orchids shaped like antelopes, angel wings and dancing ladies. Near a pond where dozens of frogs sit on lily pads, and shrouded in giant green leaves, loom bunches of pink bananas (or musa velutina), a self-peeling fruit found around the South Pacific.
Fiji may be known for its blue water, but often it is green that stands out. Tussles of trees, brush, shrubs and vines tangle up mountainsides in a seemingly impenetrable canopy of varying greens that sprout from the islands’ volcanic-rich soils.
Amidst the lush landscape are 800-some species of plants found nowhere else, making for rewarding hikes (fortunately, the mongoose population handles most snakes).
Locals use many plants as traditional medicines. Some resorts, including the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savusavu, offer traditional medicine walks, where you learn many common remedies. Pounded kalabuci damu (copperleaf) mixed with water helps sore throats, chewing mokomoko fern leaves aid healthy skin, while guava leaves can calm digestive issues.
The heart of green Fiji is without a doubt Tauveni Island. Known as the “Garden Island,” it’s rimmed with low-key resorts and crisscrossed with steamy hikes through the immense national park that occupies over three-quarters of the island. The best hike hugs the coast, the 5km Lavena Coastal Walk, which takes in waterfalls, black-sand beaches, mushroom-like coral pedestals, snorkeling spots.
Locals also dream of visiting Tauveni to see Fiji’s elusive national flower, the tagimoucia: a crimson and cream flower that’s inspired pop songs and has been described to “hang down in clusters like a chain of ruby raindrops.”
The modern cuisine of Fiji is surprising. Meals are refreshingly fresh and healthy. And, diverse. Local homes are happy to incorporate styles from Indo-Fijians, Fiji citizens who are fully or partially of Indian descent, so you’ll find plenty of curries and roti flatbreads as part of the daily diet.
Islands have also concocted their own ceviche, a seafood dish originating in Peru typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices and spices.The seafood here is legendary – imagine fresh filets of wahoo, marlin or barracuda served in coconut milk, plus giant lobsters and prawns — especially a spicy bowl of kokoda. Sometimes served in an open clamshell, this delicious mix of raw fish is marinated in lime juice and served with coconut cream, onion and chilis.
Another must-try: lovo. A dish, wrapped in foil and banana leaves, then set overheated river stones and left to roast over a pit for a few hours slowly. It’s the South Pacific’s version of an underground BBQ, made with any protein you prefer (fish filets, pork or chicken cutlets, or even rourou taro leaves). Most resorts offer lovo, and it’s still a special banquet-type method used in villages for weddings, birthdays, funerals and other special occasions.
Visiting a Fijian market is a colorful way to see what tropical staples make up a regular part of local farming and local diets. Walkthrough one and see often artfully stacked displays of pineapple, kumula (sweet potato), taro and uto (breadfruit), nama (sea grapes) or powdered kava root sold in small paper bags. You’re sure to find tavioka (or cassava) on your plate, as the starchy root is so common it’s been called “Fiji’s rice.” Meanwhile, coconuts come from the “tree of life” and play a big role as curries, bread, even as cups during kava ceremonies.
Fiji’s gorgeous color-coded dollar bills are adorned with tropical animals and traditional details like the intricate designs seen on masi bark-cloth wall hangings. But none compare to the glory of Fiji’s $7 bill, which celebrates the nation’s first (and only) Olympic medal after Fiji took gold in 2016 in seven-on-seven rugby.
Rugby has been big here since the English introduced it in the 1880s. Now, it’s said you can only choose a village site once you have found a field to play rugby. Fun fact: the first televisions appeared here only in 1987, so locals could watch rugby. If a ball’s not around, locals are known to play using empty bottles, lemons or wadded-up shirts.
The official season for professional teams is from April to September – and the youth competition during April’s Coca Cola Light Games is also popular – but you’ll find rugby played all year, particularly on Saturdays. In towns like Ba on Vitu Levu, an hour’s drive from Nadi, gets busy on Saturdays, when locals line the field with lawn chairs to watch game after game of teams pouring in from the Nausori Highlands.
Make your getaway to Fiji even more rewarding with Alaska Global Partner, Fiji Airways! Book before the end of Feb., and pick your path: Use Alaska miles to get up to 50% off award travel, OR earn DOUBLE the Alaska miles! Terms apply.
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Hawaiian Airlines and HawaiianMiles members donated 35 million miles to 13 local nonprofits in 2019 via the carrier’s member giving program. Each organization received an average of 2.8 million miles to support services aligned with Hawaiian’s corporate pillars of culture, education, environment and health and human services in Hawai‘i. The 35 million gifted miles constitutes the largest annual donation since the program’s inception in 2005.
“Our HawaiianMiles members achieved an incredible milestone and their record-breaking generosity is a testament to how truly special Hawai‘i is,” said Bryan Kapeckas, managing director of loyalty and travel products at Hawaiian Airlines. “Each donation of airline miles – no matter the size – resulted in an impactful investment back into our community, and we couldn’t be more thankful.”
Hawaiian, the state’s hometown carrier for over nine decades, encourages HawaiianMiles members to participate in the yearlong giving program by donating miles to a selection of Hawai‘i-based nonprofits. The airline matches up to a half-million miles of the total donations made annually to each nonprofit.
Last year, HawaiianMiles members donated 28 million miles – more than doubling the 10.4 million miles given in 2018. Hawaiian contributed a company match of 7 million miles that resulted in a record year-end total of 35 million miles.
Benefiting organizations include:
In addition to the HawaiianMiles member contribution, the carrier gifted 19.2 million miles to over 150 Hawai‘i nonprofits in 2019 via its Team Kōkua Giving Program. To learn more about Hawaiian Airlines’ corporate giving and responsibility initiatives, click here.
Nonprofit quotes:
“The American Cancer Society is a grateful partner in the HawaiianMiles giving program,” said Lani Almanza, manager of hospital systems and mission delivery for the American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific. “The miles donated help us provide critical access to care needed by cancer patients who have to travel away from their home island to receive their life-saving cancer treatments and ease the financial burdens that they face. In 2019 we were able to provide over 77 round-trip flights for Hawai‘i cancer patients, with some of those to treatment centers in the continental U.S.”
“The HawaiianMiles giving program provides wonderful community support for Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. As a youth-serving organization with a statewide presence, our staff and the youth we serve use the donated miles to travel for specialized training opportunities in Honolulu and even mainland locations,” said Dennis Brown, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. “We’ve also provided air travel for youth to participate in leadership seminars, college campus visits, and other experiences they couldn’t otherwise afford.”
“The Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawai‘iloa are most grateful for the HawaiianMiles giving program, for it has afforded us a greater ability to reach out into our community and share the voyaging traditions and canoe building skills of ancient Hawaiian culture,” said Billy Richards, president of Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawai‘iloa.
“We are deeply grateful for the generous gifts of HawaiianMiles that allow us to raise funds that go directly to providing services for O‘ahu’s homeless animals. These services include complex medical treatments that give pets a new lease on life with loving families,” said Daniel Roselle, director of community relations at the Hawaiian Humane Society.
“Our partnership with the HawaiianMiles giving program allows Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project to put more dollars towards on the ground endangered species management and forest restoration,” said Dr. Hanna Mounce, project coordinator at the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. “Every flight that we are able to cover with miles for interisland meetings, exchanges of volunteers, survey work, and collaborations within Hawaii and beyond helps us put more funding into the conservation work we do.”
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
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For Alaska Airlines guests, the world is getting closer – and easier to reach.
We’re expanding our relationship with American Airlines and announcing plans to join oneworld, the highly rated global airline network – two moves that open the world for our guests. We see this as an exciting West Coast international alliance, which includes:
In addition, we’re seeking full membership into oneworld, expected in summer 2021. Together, this new alliance and oneworld membership will give guests seamless access to 1,200 destinations around the world.
“This alliance opens the world for Alaska Airlines guests, whether traveling for business or pleasure,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska’s executive vice president and Chief Commercial Officer. “And importantly for our employees and the communities we serve, this West Coast international alliance enables Alaska’s continued independent growth.”
Once Alaska’s membership is approved by oneworld, guests traveling on Alaska, American or a oneworld partner will feel like they have one connected travel experience – no matter who or where you fly.
At the same time, agreements with our current valued Global Partners will continue uninterrupted.
The reach of our expanded global network means we can give our guests what they want most – access to a huge international portfolio, seamless reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, lounge access and more choices to experience the world.
Our new alliance will let members earn and redeem miles on even more domestic and international destinations. This includes today’s announcement by American Airlines for the first nonstop flight from Seattle to Bangalore, India, starting October 2020, along with new service from Seattle to London, starting in spring 2021.
Effective immediately:
Starting spring 2020:
Starting summer 2021:
This is just the beginning. We will share more details with you as these benefits become available.
Enhancing our relationship with American Airlines by forming a West Coast international alliance and joining oneworld opens the world to our guests. This means traveling on Alaska, American or a oneworld airline will feel like one connected travel experience––no matter who or where you fly.
We’ll be able to connect guests to more than 1,200 destinations worldwide when we are a full member of oneworld.
Correct. Alaska and American will continue our domestic codeshare relationship uninterrupted.
Our 16 Global Partners are very valuable and we’ll keep them as long as they continue to provide a unique value to our guests.
The Admirals Club in Terminal 2 at SFO is closing in March. However, you’ll have access to a new 8,500-square-foot, top-floor lounge at San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 2 when the new Alaska Lounge opens in 2020.
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Many of us have lives that go nonstop, so it’s essential to prioritize the solacing self-care activities that bring us the most joy and put us in the best headspace. And if travel’s on that list for you, then you’ve landed in the right spot (and flight spot!). This year, we want to help you approach your time spent in the air with health and wellness in mind, from relaxing destinations to onboard meditations, and everything in between.
Sometimes anything goes when you’re on-the-go––pizza for breakfast, airport martinis for lunch, a package of gummy bears for dinner. (No judgment!) But if you’re sticking to a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier, no matter where in the world you’re headed, then we’re making sure you don’t just have to wing it. Our onboard menu is already known for being the healthiest in the sky, but we recently partnered with Evergreens to continue bringing local, healthy, and fresh ingredients to your tray table. The Beets So Fly Salad is available now on select longer-haul flights until March 16, followed by the Go Fig or Go Home Salad, available through the spring. Don’t forget to pre-order yours on the Alaska app––which happens to be our favorite kind of meal prep.
It can be tough to quiet the mind when you’re jet-setting and preparing for a long-awaited adventure, which is why we’re proud to partner with Headspace to offer FREE inflight meditation 
sessions. We’ll help you be kind to your mind––from takeoff and touchdown to pre-flight nerves and inflight naps! If that sounds good, then look for Headspace in our entertainment portal the next time you’re on board, and get ready to let go, on the go.
You can always sit with us! But we know sitting for too long can leave you restless in your seat at 35,000 feet, so the next time the seat-belt sign is on, why not try your own version of in-seat yoga? Flexing, pointing and rotating your feet, side-to-side neck stretches, wiggling your fingers and toes, and crossing your arms and legs can help your body feel like it’s in motion. (Just be conscious of your seatmate’s space!) And of course, everyone loves long walks down the aisle — especially after sitting for a few hours — so be sure to take advantage of those stretchable strolls to the lavatory. Booking a Premium Class seat with extra legroom (and complimentary cocktails!) is also an easy and valuable way to elevate your self-care game right out of the gate.
Some other ideas to help make your flight as pampered as possible? Hydrate. Bring your own water bottle and #FillBeforeYouFly. (We’ll also make sure you’re served water as soon as it’s safe for our flight attendants to walk through the cabin.) Keep calm and pack a sheet mask in your carry-on. (Your skin needs hydration, too!) Order a nice, hot cup of Teavana® tea. Watch a classic, feel-good film from our selection of the Most Movies in the Sky.* Do the crossword puzzle in the back of Beyond. Make a soothing travel playlist for the exact amount of flight time. Before you know it, you’ll be landing refreshed, ready to go BIG or go home — or wherever your travels may lead!
We know opportunities for mindfulness exist in varying degrees and forms, subjective to timeframes and lifestyles, but we hope you find it, if even briefly, in your travels. (Yes, our Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter is a form of self-care!)
Need travel ideas for finding nonstop zen on a long weekend? Treat yourself to these retreats.
