Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly

ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel - Honolulu //-- Customer Support | Member Sign In Book Online or Call Toll Free: 1-888-782-9722 Mon-Fri 9:00am - 12:00am EST • Sat-Sun 9:30am - 11:00pm EST BookIt.com Member Sign In BookIt.com Members sign in here to view booking details, print vouchers, make changes and more. Booking ID: Email Address: You know what to do: Check In Enter your arrival date. '; Cal.ArrivalId='ARR_DATE_HM'; Cal.DepartureId='DEP_DATE_HM'; gDivId='CalDiv'; Cal.OpenCal(this);" onclick="Cal.Desc=' Enter your arrival date. '; Cal.ArrivalId='ARR_DATE_HM'; Cal.DepartureId='DEP_DATE_HM'; gDivId='CalDiv'; Cal.OpenCal(this);" Check Out Rooms 1 2 3 Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Children 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Room 2 Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Children 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Room 3 Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Children 0 1 2 3 Book On-line or Call Toll Free (888) 782-9722 - or - (866) 276-8861 ( en espanol ) BookIt.com™ Travel Guides Hawaii Travel Guide Hawaii Attractions Hawaii Restaurants Hawaii Shopping Hawaii Nightlife Hawaii Articles ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel Across the street from world-famous Waikiki Beach, where surf and play are steps away! BEST BUY! Hotel room standard with FULL BREAKFAST BUFFET DAILY for up to four in a room $152! Hurry! Expires March 31! Star Rating User Rating Formerly the Aston Waikiki Beach, same great company, new name! The ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel Is the hottest new Waikiki hotel. ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel is the trendiest hotel in Waikiki & features a retro Hip Hawaiiana theme. From the surfboard showers to the tattooed front desk, everything is fun and funky. Experience Hawaii regional cuisine by renowned chef Fred DeAngelo and live entertainment nightly at Tikis Grill & Bar featuring the sounds of contemporary island music. Check out Wolfgang Pucks Express or Cold Stone Creamery. This is the new hotspot in Waikiki! Complimentary Breakfast on the Beach served daily from hot and cold breakfast stations with take-home souvenir cooler bag. 85% of rooms have an ocean view and all rooms have a refrigerator that you can load up with your own refreshments! Located across the street from Waikiki Beach, this property enjoys an unobstructed view of the beach, as there are no other hotels in front of it and sweeping views from many rooms all up and down Waikiki from Diamond Head to the International Marketplace and beyond. Well located and a great value! Location Across the street from world-famous Waikiki Beach, where surf and play are steps away! Address 2570 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu HI 96815 Toll Free Bookings (888) 782-9722 (866) 276-8861 ( en espanol ) Quick Links Photo Gallery Specials Rooms & Rates User Reviews Maps & Directions Amenities • Air Conditioning • Refrigerator • Non-Smoking Rooms • Ironing Board • Hair Dryer • Ocean Front • Ocean View • Connecting Rooms • 25 inch T.V • Cable • Data Port • In-room Safe • Lanai • Elevator • Outdoor Pool • Restaurant (nearby) • Valet Parking • AAA Approved • Free Breakfast • Free Morning Paper • Gift Shop on Property • Kids Stay Free • On Site Check In • Retail stores (nearby) • Dry Cleaning Service • Parking (Nominal Fee) Details • # of Floors: 20 • # of Rooms: 644 • Built in 1968 • Renovated in 2002 • 03:00 PM Check In • 12:00 PM Check Out BookIt.com Photo Gallery of ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel Prev ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel Next Click on thumbnails to enlarge. Back to top BookIt.com Specials at ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel BEST BUY! Hotel room standard with FULL BREAKFAST BUFFET DAILY for up to four in a room $152! Hurry! Expires March 31! Hurry! Space Limited! Expires March 31, based on availability at time of booking. Children travelling with parents are free up to a total of four persons per room. Extra Adult Person charges for more than two guests of $25 per person, per night, up to max four. Free Breakfast Buffet - ALL Rooms, All The Time! Complimentary Breakfast on the Beach served daily from hot and cold breakfast stations with take-home souvenir cooler bag. Maximum 4 persons per room receive full buffet breakfast daily, excludes room category called "Mauka Tower". Back to top BookIt.com Rooms & Rates at ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel Freedom Rate - Partial Ocean View w/ Breakfast Hotel Room Partial Ocean View with Breakfast has bedding configuration of 2 doubles, 1 king, or 2 twin beds. Average room size is 225 square feet. Freedom Rate - Ocean View w/ Breakfast Hotel Room Ocean View with Breakfast has bedding configuration of 2 doubles, 1 king, or 2 twin beds. Average room size is 225 square feet. Ocean View w/ Breakfast Hotel Room Ocean View with Breakfast has bedding configuration of 2 doubles, 1 king, or 2 twin beds. Average room size is 225 square feet. Ocean Front w/ Breakfast Hotel Room Oceanfront - directly overlooking Waikiki Beach! Includes full Breakfast daily. Two doubles or one king bed. Average room size is 225 square feet. Partial Ocean View w/ Breakfast Hotel Room Partial Ocean View with Breakfast has bedding configuration of 2 doubles, 1 king, or 2 twin beds. Average room size is 225 square feet. Junior Suite with Breakfast Junior Suite Ocean View with Breakfast has bedding configuration of 2 doubles or 1 king bed and a sofabed. Average room size is 300 square feet. No Room Photo Available. Ocean Front w/Breakfast - 3rd Night Free! Hotel Room Oceanfront - directly overlooking Waikiki Beach! Includes full Breakfast daily. Two doubles or one king bed. Average room size is 225 square feet. No Room Photo Available. Hotel Room Standard with Breakfast Hotel Room Standard/Main Tower w/Breakfast has bedding configuration of 2 doubles, 1 king, or 2 twin beds and can accommodate up to 4 persons; rate is good for 1-2 guests. Average room size is 225 square feet. Back to top Recent User Reviews of ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel Overall Guest Ratings: Overall Experience: Quality: Value: Cleanliness: Staff Efficiency: Staff Friendliness: Will Return: Yes 100% No 0% Scores are based on a 1 to 5 rating system,with 5 representing an excellent experience. Write a Review User Review by: Jamin Finlaw from Panama City Beach, FL Absolutely incredible!!! Breakfast was amazing, view was fantastic and the people and staff were over the top helpful. If you go to hawaii, stay here!!! Overall Experience: Would Return: Yes Posted: Mon, Sep 20, 2004 User Review by: A Finlaw from Panama City Beach, FL Beautiful hotel. The rooms were nice and bright and added a touch of retro. Very cool, close to beach, lots of stuff to do and close to some good restaurants. Highly recommend. Overall Experience: Would Return: Yes Posted: Tue, Mar 16, 2004 User Review by: Jenny Forrest from Normal, Illinois We had a fabulous time during our stay at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. We enjoyed Breakfast on the Beach, and spent our nights at Tiki's. The bartenders were great! I was surprised how close the hotel is to the beach. We chose a room with a partial ocean view and it was absolutely beautiful. The view was better than we expected it to be. We would love to go back to Hawaii and stay at the hotel again. Overall Experience: Would Return: Yes Posted: Mon, Dec 01, 2003 Overall Experience: 1 2 3 4 5 Quality: 1 2 3 4 5 Value: 1 2 3 4 5 Cleanliness: 1 2 3 4 5 Staff Efficiency: 1 2 3 4 5 Staff Friendliness: 1 2 3 4 5 Will Return: Yes No Your Name: City: State: Email: Comments: Back to top BookIt.com Maps & Driving Directions to ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel formerly Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel [Content for browsers that don't support iframes goes here] Driving Direction From Honolulu International Airport: Exit Airport Terminal and access H-1 Freeway East, exit freeway via Nimitz Highway and follow WAIKIKI directional signs, Nimitz Highway transitions to Ala Moana Blvd, midpoint on your drive as you pass the port of Honolulu on your right and the Honolulu business district on your left, Ala Moana Blvd merges with Kalakaua Avenue at the Southwest entrance to Waikiki, proceed onto Kalakaua Avenue, the ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel is the first building on the right after the intersection of Kalakaua and Paoakalani. From Honolulu International Airport: Exit Airport Terminal and access H-1 Freeway East, which will merge into Nimitz Hwy., which turns into Ala Moana Blvd, which will merge into Kalakaua Ave. Back to top More BookIt.com Oahu (Honolulu, Waikiki) Hotels ResortQuest Waikiki Circle Hotel formerly Aston Wa... Waikiki Parc Hotel Aston Honolulu Prince Aqua Marina Hotel ResortQuest Waikiki Sunset formerly Aston Waikiki ... 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Hawaiiana Hotel ResortQuest Waikiki Circle Hotel formerly Aston Wa... Holiday Inn Waikiki ResortQuest Waikiki Sunset formerly Aston Waikiki ... Holiday Surf Hotel - 2 Blocks from Waikiki Beach Royal Garden At Waikiki Marc Diamond Head Beach Hotel Royal Hawaiian Marc Suites Waikiki Sheraton Moana Surfrider Marc Waikiki Royal Suites Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Ocean Resort Hotel Waikiki Sheraton Waikiki Ocean Tower Hotel at Waikiki Beach The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel OHANA East Turtle Bay Resort OHANA Islander Waikiki W Honolulu Diamond Head OHANA Maile Sky Court Waikiki Gateway Hotel OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel Waikiki Marina Resort at the Ilikai OHANA Waikiki Malia Waikiki Parc Hotel OHANA Waikiki West Waikiki Sand Villa Hotel Back to top About Us | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Add Your Hotel | BookIt.com Cities © 2006 BookIt.com. All Rights Reserved. | Florida Seller of Travel Registration #ST33468 Your Booking ID was provided to you via email when you completed your booking and also appears on your BookIt.com Lodging Voucher. Please enter the email that you used when you made your booking. 3.5 Star Rating Thoughtfully designed featuring modern comfort, deluxe amenities and services.

Hawaii Vacation Package Deals

Hawaiian Airlines: Hawaii Starts Here Help/FAQ Sitemap Membership #: Password (Need Help?) : Roundtrip One-Way Multi-City From: Oahu - Honolulu Big Island - Hilo Big Island - Kona Kauai - Lihue Maui - Kahului ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ HA MAINLAND U.S. ~ Las Vegas, NV Los Angeles, CA Phoenix, AZ Portland, OR Sacramento, CA San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA Seattle, WA ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ HA INTERNATIONAL ~ Sydney, Australia Pago Pago, Samoa Papeete, Tahiti ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ALL OTHER CITIES ~ Fresno, CA Juneau, Alaska Monterey, CA San Luis Obispo, CA Santa Barbara, CA Spokane, WA To: Oahu - Honolulu Big Island - Hilo Big Island - Kona Kauai - Lihue Maui - Kahului ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ HA MAINLAND U.S. ~ Las Vegas, NV Los Angeles, CA Phoenix, AZ Portland, OR Sacramento, CA San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA Seattle, WA ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ HA INTERNATIONAL ~ Sydney, Australia Pago Pago, Samoa Papeete, Tahiti ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ALL OTHER CITIES ~ Fresno, CA Juneau, Alaska Monterey, CA San Luis Obispo, CA Santa Barbara, CA Spokane, WA Depart: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Anytime Before 9am 9am - 12pm 12pm - 3pm 3pm - 6pm After 6pm Return: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Anytime Before 9am 9am - 12pm 12pm - 3pm 3pm - 6pm After 6pm Adult(s): 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Children (age 2-15) : Restrictions 0 1 2 3 4 5 Infant(s) (under age 2) : Restrictions 0 1 2 3 4 5 Detailed rules on unaccompanied minors Baggage Check-In Service Flight Tracking/Status Flight Schedule Route Map Hotel & Car Vacation Packages Activities, Tours & Dining Hawaii Destination Info > “Just for You” $55 Interisland Fares We're celebrating with $55* each way interisland fares. Why? No, it’s not our birthday… (After 75 years, we've stopped counting!) We're celebrating "You, our HawaiianMiles members" — Hurrah! Book: Now – Jan 12th | Travel: Now – March 9th | Learn More -- > Enjoy Live Hawaiian Sights & Sounds NOW Download the free “Hawaii Anytime” portal for a virtual vacation to everyone's favorite islands! | Learn More > WINTER FARES January 9 - March 15, 2006 Starting at $298* Roundtrip | Book Now > MELE FARES Starting at $298* Roundtrip Book: Now – January 31, 2006 | Learn More > Low, unadvertised fares. Receive email announcements of exclusive interislandand mainland fares. | Learn More > Hawaii Vacation Package Deals Exclusive Offers on All Islands Starting at $564 pp/dbl from the West Coast Limited Time Offer | Learn More * Fares are subject to seat availability during the travel period shown and may change at any time without notice. Additional cost of $3.30 ZP tax per segment, a $2.50 per enplanement September 11th Security Fee (not to exceed $10) and PFC surcharge of $3-$4.50 where applicable will be applied to each ticket purchase. Taxes, fees & other restrictions apply. Hawaiian's Quality of Service Tops All Carriers Department of Transportation October 2005 Air Travel Consumer Report Learn More Contact Us Privacy Policy © 2005 Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Barbecue (626) 583-4960

HAWAIIAN RESTAURANTS in Los Angeles, CA on Yahoo! Local. Search for: Address, City & State, or ZIP Search Tips My Locations Make this my default Yahoo! location Los Angeles City Page > Food & Dining > Restaurants > Hawaiian Local Results Results 1 - 10 out of 14 total results for Hawaiian Restaurants in Los Angeles, CA ( About this page ) Save to My Web Printable Version Sorted by: Top Results | Distance | Name | Rating (1) Write a review L & L Hawaiian Barbecue (626) 583-4960 319 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 8.02 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save ...It wouldn't be a Hawaiian restaurant if it didn't serve Spam. L&L serves it up at least 3 different is as good as you'll taste anywhere and their own version of Hawaiian BBQ beef or chicken are great values... more See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - Restaurants - Barbecue Restaurants (7) Write a review The Loft Hawaiian Restaurant, South Bay (310) 375-4051 23305 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 16.16 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save ... You definitely get a big bang for your buck. The food is delicious and the portions are enormous - save it for a later meal. The hawaiian fried chicken, kalbee and chicken katsu are so tasty. Any of the sandwiches for lunch... more See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - Restaurants www.thelofthawaiianrestaurants.com/ (10) Write a review King's Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant (310) 530-0050 2808 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 15.29 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save ... chocolate sauce, and it looked so delicious, I thought about it for a week! the food and services were good Kings Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant is the most authentic hawaiian food i've tasted since being on the... more See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - Restaurants - Catering Services www.kingshawaiian.com/ (3) Write a review Sully's Restaurant & Tavern (310) 375-9158 22735 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 15.79 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save "We really love going to Sully's. Friendly staff, great food, excellent drinks and a really great..." more See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - Bars & Pubs - All Bars, Pubs, & Clubs - Restaurants - American Restaurants (7) Write a review Back Home in Lahaina (310) 374-0111 916 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 13.98 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save ... lettuce wraps and the beef sticks------to die for!!! Good food but extremely cold in the restaurant . You will feel like you are in Lahaina. Small bar. Hawaiian bakery inside. Very relaxing, reasonably priced and you... more See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - Restaurants backhomeinlahaina.com/ (3) Write a review Chez Melange (310) 540-1222 1716 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 16.84 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save ...attentive service generous portions heavy desserts Chez Melange is the best restaurant in the South Bay! The food is always superb, and the service is always great! Thank you for continuing in such excellence for all these years!... more See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - International Restaurants - Californian Restaurants - Restaurants - Southeast Asian Restaurants chezmelange.com/ Rate it Hong Kong Bakery & Deli (310) 328-8353 21720 S Vermont Ave Ste 120, Torrance, CA 13.98 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - Fast Food - Carry Out & Take Out - Restaurants - Bakeries http://ca.local.yahoo.biz/hongkongbakerydeli (1) Write a review Aloha Cafe (626) 728-9110 1944 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 6.28 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save See all: Hawaiian Restaurants (1) Write a review Mahe (562) 431-3022 1400 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach, CA 21.19 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save ... hardware now. Mahe 1400 Pacific Coast Hwy Seal Beach, CA 90740 (562)431-3022 CONTACT US surfing movie desktop image Welcome to Mah Restaurant . All you can eat sushi! Everyday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. All night on Wednesdays. If... more on web site See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - Restaurants - Seafood Restaurants www.maherestaurant.com/ Rate it Bright Entertainment (310) 318-2229 Redondo Beach, CA 13.74 mi Map | Directions | Send to Phone | Save See all: Hawaiian Restaurants - Dancers - All Entertainers - Event Planners - Catering Services www.hulashows.com/ Results Page: 1 2 Next Business Owners: Add your business to Yahoo! Local for free! Refine Results: You have refined by: Hawaiian Restaurants [ undo ] Show results within: 1 mile 1 miles 3 miles 3 miles 5 miles 5 miles 10 miles 10 miles 15 miles 15 miles 25 miles 25 miles 50 miles 50 miles of the center of Los Angeles view larger map Category: Top 5 Categories: Restaurants (12) Californian Restaurants (3) American Restaurants (2) Catering Services (2) Japanese Restaurants (2) Seafood Restaurants (2) Southeast Asian Restaurants (2) Sushi Restaurants (2) All Bars, Pubs, & Clubs (1) All Entertainers (1) Bakeries (1) Barbecue Restaurants (1) Bars & Pubs (1) Burgers (1) Cajun Restaurants (1) Carry Out & Take Out (1) Chinese Restaurants (1) Dancers (1) Eclectic Restaurants (1) Event Planners (1) Fast Food (1) Filipino Restaurants (1) French Restaurants (1) Fusion Restaurants (1) International Restaurants (1) Irish Restaurants (1) Italian Restaurants (1) Korean Restaurants (1) Pizza (1) Sandwiches (1) Vietnamese Restaurants (1) hide categories show all 31 Categories Rating: ( rating key ) User recommended ( what's this? ) 5 Stars (7) 4 Stars and above (12) 3 Stars and above (12) 2 Stars and above (12) 1 Star and above (12) Price: ( price key ) $$$$ (0) $$$ (2) $$ (3) $ (7) Atmosphere: Romantic (2) Family Friendly (7) Casual (5) Elegant (1) Fun (3) Name: 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z On | Off Recent History ( what's this? ) Recently Viewed: No recently viewed pages Recent Searches: No recent searches Clear Recent History Search for: Address, City & State, or ZIP Search Tips My Locations Make this my default Yahoo! location

Lahaina Hideaway Where to

Adventure : Lahaina Hideaway : Fine Living « Home | Adventure | Every Day | Personal Space | Transport | Favorite Things | Practical Living Get FINE LIVING today On TELEVISION • What's On Now? • Monthly Guide • A to Z Show List • Specials Online Special Features Message Boards Inside FINE LIVING: Wine, Cocktails and Travel Picks Lahaina Hideaway Where to Stay in Maui: The Plantation Inn A gorgeous view of The Plantation Inn; Maui, Hawaii RELATED LINKS Back to Maui City Guide In the 1800s, Lahaina was an important port of call for Pacific whaling ships, and several generations of crusty mariners knew it as a bawdy and sometimes violent place for shore leave. More recently, tourism has transformed the town into a busy collection of bars, restaurants, galleries and souvenir shops, with several small hotels and condominiums that make Lahaina an atmospheric alternative to the manicured beach resorts of nearby Kaanapali. Tucked away in a relatively quiet garden near Lahaina's central waterfront, the Plantation Inn has 19 elegant rooms and suites in two Victorian-style buildings, with modern sound-proofing, air conditioning and bathrooms. Some rooms have private verandas overlooking a cozy pool, and one family suite features a fully equipped kitchen. While it's possible to walk to the beach, you'll probably want to rent a car and hit the road in search of more attractive sand and surf. One of the best reasons to stay at the Plantation Inn is Gerard's, an exquisite French restaurant on the ground floor that is generally ranked among Maui's finest dining rooms. Chef Gerard Reversade's kitchen turns out impeccable meals that marry formal French culinary techniques with fresh local seafood and produce. Significant discounts are available to guests of the inn. Published double rates, including breakfast and free parking, range from $157 to $255, though lower rates may be available for bookings made directly with the inn or through discount hotel reservation services. The inn also offers value-added packages that combine accommodations with car rentals, activities or meals at Gerard's. The Plantation Inn 174 Lahainaluna Road Lahaina, Maui HI 96761 800-433-6815 or 808-667-9225 www.theplantationinn.com RELATED ARTICLES: • Leeward Luxury • Seaside Studios • Beach on a Budget • Historic B&B Home | About Us | Questions | Advertising | Site Map | Privacy | Legal DIY | Food Network | HGTV | Shop At Home | Great American Country | HGTVPro | Living | Video On Demand Comparison Shop for Home Gifts & Patio Furniture at Shopzilla © 2006 Scripps Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hawaiian Cruise

Cruise Ship Profiles Cruise Lines - American Hawaii Cruise Home Photo Gallery Cruise Talk Cruise Search Cruise News Search -- Search CruisePage -- Book a Cruise - CruiseServer - Search Caribbean - Search Alaska - Search Europe - 866.469.4733 Forums Cruise Talk Rail Talk Air Talk Destination Talk Hotel Talk Buy Stuff Evolution of the Ocean Liner Poster Reviews - Ship Reviews - Dream Cruise - Ship of the Month - Reader Reviews - Submit a Review - Millennium Cruise Community - Photo Gallery - Join Cruise Club - Cruise News - Cruise Survey - Cruise Jobs - Special Needs - Maritime Q & A - Sea Stories Industry - New Ship Guide - Former Ships - Port Information - Inspection Scores - Shipyards - Ship Cams - Freighter Travel - Potpourri Shopping - Shirts & Hats - Books - Videos - Reservations - Vacation Specials - Web Deals Contact Us - Reservations - Mail - Feedback - Suggest-a-Site - About Us Travel Resources Reservations Destinations Hotels Air Travel Cruise Travel News/Weather SHIP PROFILE American Hawaii SS Independence TravelPage.com Rating : Submit your review here Operator: American Hawaii Cruises Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1951 / 1994 Length / Tonnage: 682 / 30,900 Number of Cabins / Passengers: 406 / 872 Officers / Crew: American / American Operating Area: Year-round Hawaii Telephone / Fax: Tel 150 2244 / Fax 150 2244 Review by Mark H. Goldberg, TravelServer.net, Cruise Editor Hawaii captures you, soothes and enchants you, she lets you hangloose and envelop yourself in the bright colors of her land andsea. Sail the INDEPENDENCE and it won't be long before you'redecked out in a loud, colorful Hawaiian shirt and enjoying lifethe Old Hawaiian Way. Simply because the State of Hawaii iscomprised of islands, the ideal way to approach them is from thesea and the best way to see them is by this wonderful old cruiseship. Able to produce a maximum of 55,000 shaft horsepower at 150rpms, her steam turbines geared to twin screws are a sight tobehold. When she was new the INDEPENDENCE showed how powerfulthat is when she steamed at just over 26 knots on her trials offCape Cod. By international rules, when new, the INDEPENDENCE was theeleventh largest liner in the world and certainly one of thefastest. The big question was...would anyone care? For spoken intones of a flat declaratory to a shrill protest the cry "No onetravels in an American ship!" was heard in steamship agencies andsmart parties the world over. Experienced travelers and neophytesalike looked upon American ships with a bemused condescension,secure in the "knowledge" that in terms of food and service,those "Yankee" liners just couldn't produce - the foreign linerswere better. American ships had a severe image problem. Yet theAmerican twins INDEPENDENCE and her identical twin CONSTITUTIONsoon proved themselves extraordinarily popular, hostingglittering rosters of notables intent on sailing under the "Starsand Stripes". Movie producers were drawn to them. Cary Grant andDeborah Kerr starred in "An Affair to Remember" costarrinq theCONSTITUTION. After United States Lines stodgily rebuffed Desilustudios, American Export sent plenty of material and film footageof the twin liners to Hollywood. Who among us can ever forgetLucille Ball "landing" by helicopter on the after Bridge Deck ofthe CONSTITUTION? And yes...THIS is the INDEPENDENCE the agent onthe pier mentioned when he told a distraught Lucy that she couldget to Europe on the following sailing... So great was theirpopularity that in 1958 American Export Lines sent both ships formajor overhauls. Fitting additional First Class cabins, theforward ends of their superstructures were massively altered. Forall that, against the ANDREA DORIA and CRISTOFORO COLOMBO andlater the LEONARDO da VINCI and the superliners MICHELANGELO andRAFFAELLO on the "Sunny Southern Route", the American liners justcouldn't compete. The results of a projected trio of 20,000 ton express liners forthe Mediterranean route, these ships began to take shape as farback as 1940 when American Export Lines, Inc. planned for thefuture. It would be YEARS before any such ships were built andwhen they were, there were two, not three. And bucking anAmerican Export Line tradition, the two ships were not givennames beginning with "EX" but were instead named for historicU.S. Navy frigates. Had the intended third sister been built, shewould likely have been named CONSTELLATION. Asking for inputfrom many quarters, it is Gustavo Pulitzer, famed Italianinterior designer who should be given first initial credit formany of the pleasing touches in the ultimate form of theseclassic liners. Noted American industrial designer Henry Dreyfussin collaboration with the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporationdeserves credit as the designers of the INDEPENDENCE and hersister CONSTITUTION. With the help of mail contracts and buildingsubsidies to pay the $25,000,000 each ship cost (that's over $150million each, in TODAY's dollars!) two ships were laid down atBethlehem Steel Company's Quincy, Massachusetts yards at thevery end of the 1940's, the INDEPENDENCE on March 29, 1949, theCONSTITUTION on July 12th. Their plans included many eventualdefense and military needs so safety provisions, fire proofing andrapid convertibility to trooping requirements took first place inthe design of the pair. And the INDEPENDENCE is still a very safeship today! Debuting with a 53 day cruise to the Mediterranean, Red Sea andIndia in 1951, the INDEPENDENCE got into service before theItalian postwar liners came out and captured the cream of theItaly trade. And even had the competition been less, theINDEPENDENCE and CONSTITUTION would have been hard pressed tomeet the enormous costs of operating under the American flageither on their regular Atlantic service or on cruises throughthe Mediterranean or to the Caribbean. By the late 1960s theseAmerican liners were desperate for money and American ExportLines entered into an agreement with Diner's Club/Fugazy to jazzup the twin ships. Only the INDEPENDENCE was actually updated toappeal to a "mod" generation and when she appeared with Harlow'seyes peering out from her halo of a "mod" sunburst on her whitehull, eyes rolled in contempt. Before the ship lover knew it, sheand the CONSTITUTION were gone from our lives. Withdrawn by 1968,the CONSTITUTION went into idleness at Jacksonville, Floridafollowed a few months later by the INDEPENDENCE which was laid upat Baltimore with their fleet mate ATLANTIC. Reports of a sale ofone or both of the sisters to Chandris came to naught. A plan tooperate the INDEPENDENCE on charter by Wall Street Tours, aManhattan based travel company also went nowhere. Should theyfind buyers willing to operate them, they would be but shadows oftheir former selves. The ships were idle for years until 1974 when fabled Chineseshipowner C.Y. Tung came to their rescue. Buying the pair with anobligation to return them to the control of the United Statesgovernment in time of war, he had each ship's twin funnelsrepainted with his signature livery, a red chrysanthemum on buff.Prefacing each ship's name with "OCEANIC", he sent them to HongKong. Some work was found for the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE but nonefor her sister which now rode at anchor in the shadow of VictoriaPeak. For a while in 1975 the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE shuttledbetween Lisbon and Angola carrying refugees, mostly civiliansfleeing Angola to Portugal Lisbon. Then, despite several goodintentions, she was again retired and returned to lay up. When Matson and later Pacific Far East Line went out of thepassenger business leaving the piers at Aloha Tower bereft ofpassenger tonnage save the occasional cruise caller, C.Y. Tungsaw possibilities where others saw problems and investigated thepossibility of operating his beautiful OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE as acruise ship among the Hawaiian Islands. But since Congressthought to protect American ship owners and shipbuilders as earlyas 1886, any ship operating Hawaii cruises would have to haveAmerican registry. American ships sold abroad are ineligible toreturn to U.S. registry except in time of war. Though Americanbuilt, the ship was now registered abroad and THAT could havebeen a big problem for the proposed weekly cruises through theHawaiian islands. Unanimously approved by both the U.S. Senateand House of Representatives in 1979, an Act of Congress broughtthe OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE back under the Stars and Stripes andallowed American Hawaii Cruises to go into business. The pleasanttask of refurbishing the graceful vessel for modern cruisingbegan. Eliminating class distinctions, upgrading cabins on thelower decks and altering the decor to include the soft atmosphereof the Hawaiian Islands, the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE was ready tobegin a new life. Wearing a traditional Hawaiian lei at her stemas she arrived off Honolulu for the first time, she paused offPearl Harbor long enough to drop a wreath in memory of Americanforces killed in the surprise attack there on December 7, 1941. But after that, at least since her maiden sailing on her 7 daycruise circuit of the major islands on June 21, 1980, the gentleHawaii of the tradewinds reigns supreme aboard this wonderfulship. In the meantime American Hawaii Cruises has changed handstwice and the newest owners, who also own the wonderfulMISSISSIPPI QUEEN, AMERICAN QUEEN and DELTA QUEEN decided toupgrade and substantially improve the INDEPENDENCE. In 1994 theship was withdrawn from service and sent to Newport NewsShipbuilding and Drydock Company where she was extensivelyrefitted and prepared to last another forty five years! Conceived to be an example of luxurious modernAmerican living at sea the INDEPENDENCE still offers relaxedelegance in a bright and airy modern decor reflecting the naturalbeauty and colors of Hawaii. The INDEPENDENCE has acres of deck space and both open andcovered promenades. The design of the ship includes a pair ofwings over the old Sea Isle Club, once the First Class pool. Fromthere you have an eaqle's view of the festivities on the afterdecks. It's also a great place to see and not be noticed...Justbeyond the former Sunlane Club, now called the Ohana Lounge isthe big swimming pool and its surrounding lido is the scene ofmany a party. The main public rooms are the semicircularCommodore's Terrace...aft on Kamaa'ina (formerly Promenade) Deckwhere evenings are welcomed with a cocktail and a tune from thetalented pianist. Next is the Hoi Hoi Showplace where sightlinesare mostly good and the efforts of the cruise staff and twoHawaiian dance troupes are shown during nightly shows.Centerpiece of the INDEPENDENCE's public rooms, though, is theKama'aina Lounge...newly thought out and opened up during herrecent refit...so it now extends to the floor to ceiling windowsof the former glass enclosed promenade. Tropical in decor it'sworth a visit if only to write a postcard home...if you can evenremember you had a life before you came to Hawaii. One deck below are the Ohana Lounge and the Ohana Buffet...theformer providing seating for people feasting from the buffet aswell as offering a venue for some late night entertainments. Waydown deep in the ship is a cinema while in spaces once occupiedby Tourist Class public rooms on Maui (formerly A) Deck are thegym and a conference center. There are generally two sittings at dinner, mostbreakfasts and lunches are served in open sittings. Down in the420 seat Hibiscus Dining Room on sailing night there's a buffet.The more intimate 110 seat Orchid Dining Room doesn't operate onSaturday night...it opens for breakfast on Sunday morning. "Aha!"you'll think if you are skeptical of American tonnage - the hotdogs. "There must be something fishy here...Is this an Americanship? This is a sumptuous set up and it looks good," you'llthink. That's what I thought the first time and every time I'vesailed since as I pile on enough shrimp, roast beef and assortedfoodstuffs to choke a pig. A steward brightly garbed in an Alohashirt will escort you to a table and your culinary adventurebegins. For a change I cannot say enough about the food in theINDEPENDENCE. Maybe it's because my expectations were low ormaybe because the food is so good...in fact the food is usuallybetter than good and I'll spill the beans...one feisty old lady,a Mrs. Gottrocks in her own right...and something of a cruiseship reviewer proclaimed the only cruise ship to serve betterfood than she ate on the INDEPENDENCE was the SEA GODDESS I, anaccolade I surely second.... You will eat so well aboard this ship I'd be surprised if you'reable to muster up the curiosity to investigate the midnightsnack. If the lunch buffet doesn't tempt you and the menu in the DiningRoom does, GO...even if you feel less than hunger pangs. Iremember sitting down and thinking "Drat!, foiled again! No HotDogs" - but for simple meals there are great burgers assembled asyou like them, a big sandwich and several choices of hot dishes. Every brochure in the business trumpets the praises of the shin'scuisines so loudly that few can really deliver. American HawaiiCruises has always underplayed its claims to wonderful foodthough the food aboard the INDEPENDENCE is a treat. Somewherebehind the scenes in this American operation must be a Jewish orItalian grandmother demanding that all hands be overfed! Underlining the contemporary American way of living, there was solittle cleavage between First and Cabin class spaces it seemedthat most cabins were interchangeable between the two. And therewas a lot of truth in that for 40% of the 1,003 berths in eachship were interchangeable among classes. Only 205 berths werepermanently graded First Class, 109 always Cabin Class and 258full time Tourist Class. That flexible passenger arrangement gaveAmerican Export Lines tremendous leeway in following marketdemands. Highlight of modern American living were cabinsconvertible to sitting rooms by day. Most cabins are still soequipped and that sofa you use in the afternoon is a verycomfortable bed - because it's not a pull out...the sofa back folds down to reveal a thick comfortable mattress. TheINDEPENDENCE is a one class ship now offering a dazzling 13different varieties of private quarters from tiny Category GBudget Cabins (both inside and outside available) to a CategoryAAA Superior Suite...Category D is the lowest grade for two lowerbeds but for this cruise...your cabin is not where you will wantto be. Take a look at an outside cabin on A deck forward. Decorated withHawaii in mind, it has a Hawaiian name as well as a number. It'sbig enough to sleep four comfortably and the round portholereminds you you are aboard ship. Once you unpack you will bepuzzled by the surfeit of storage space for there are enoughclosets for a dowager and enough drawers for an apothecary. What is small, though, is the shower...but that good Americanplumbing is happily in evidence. American Hawaii Cruises is very"INTO" Hawaii...so much so that one of the most popular employeesaboard ship is the KUMU, the Hawaiian story teller....whose jobit is to tell the visitor as much as possible about Hawaiianlore, customs and culture... Around twilight time on Saturdayevenings, passengers gather in the Hoi Hoi Showplace for aHawaiian Show, one show aboard ship I'm glad I saw. Thisextravaganza of Hawaiian music and hula dancing and memories ofthe "Aloha" that evening will remain with you long after theINDEPENDENCE stops sailing. With the full range of usual cruiseship activities enhanced by some like lei making and ukelelelessons apropos in these parts, it's not hard to imagine how mostpassengers spent their day at sea. I saw some at breakfast in theDining Room where the extraordinary personalities of friendlystaff broke the ice of a first morning at sea. I saw others atthe breakfast buffet while I was on my way to stock up withlogoed souvenirs in the ship's signature shop. But a visit to theNavigation bridge of THIS ship always gets me and I alwaysvisit...even if only for another look at the framed noticeinstructing the officer on watch to take the ship immediately tosea in the event of a nuclear attack. My favorite Hawaiian island is always the one I'm on and I thinkI'd like to keep with the INDEPENDENCE until I have done everyshore excursion the line offers... and at last count there are 56of them. Getting ready to board the INDEPENDENCE I grin like ahyena even before a lei is placed around my neck and I pause forthe obligatory mug shot cruise lines like to sell boardingpassengers. Even before sailing the INDEPENDENCE offers a lot ofthe Hawaii experience but for me one of the best is the moment ofdeparture on this unique American flag ocean liner. Once out ofthe harbor the ship turns to port and is soon off Waikiki. Sunday - It's not far from one island to the next but Sundays are spent at sea and for most of the day from nearly anywhere outon one of her 23,000 feet of open dock space, you can look outand see islands, Kahoolawe, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, depending uponthe circuitous route the Captain chooses to navigate. An activesort, I spent usually spend Sunday afternoons aboard theINDEPENDENCE in a deck chair outside the Surfrider Bar, hardlyable to pause later for some fresh popcorn. When Monday morning comes...be ready for a wonderful time onKauai, the Garden Island. There should be time for a drive out toHanalei Bay. If there is a prettier spot than that end of Kauai,its not on this planet. It's vaguely around the corner from theNa Pali coast, a formation of lushly covered steep cliffsshrouding pretty beaches accessed only by boat orhelicopter.Compelling is the word for the helicopter trip theline offers for a look at those cliffs which rise majesticallyfrom the sea. It's a toss up as to which is lovelier...Kauai orMaui but since the ship arrives at Kahului, Maui on Tuesday foran overnight call, you have plenty of time to check it out anddecide for yourself IF YOU CAN! Maui, so deservedly popular withvacationers, exudes a charm of her own. From the jumbled strandsof spaghetti paved into a road called the Hana highway, a 55 milecourse through landscape inordinately compelling to the majesticIao valley, Maui is a sensual delight. Never mind that AmericanHawaii brings a fabulously rousing Hawaiian show to entertainpassengers here. It's during the Maui call that American Hawaiioffers a shore excursion like no other. Uncommercial in theextreme, it's Tour 32 (at least it USED to be), not a trip forthe queasy or the debile. Leaving the ship's side at 3:30 AM,participants follow a tour leader and bike down the slopes fromthe summit of Mt. Haleakala, 10,000 feet above sea level.MAGNIFICENT! On Thursday the INDEPENDENCE calls at Hilo on the Big Island ofHawaii where you can pick up another rental car and drive it toAkaka Falls, catch another look at Volcano National Park, drivedown the Chain of Craters Road and maybe have lunch in town.(Whatever you do...DON'T bother with the buffet at VolcanoHouse...) To me it is near Hilo, sleepy, rainy little Hilo, wherethe air is gentlest and the breeze softest. Kona on the bright,dry side of this big island is the next port and the INDEPENDENCEanchors there on Friday mornings and the tender gives youflawless views of the ship as it pulls away, runs alongside andcuts across the liner's gently raking bows. Coffee plantations,macadamia nut farms and the Parker ranch are on this side of theBig Island. After the INDEPENDENCE clears Kona on Friday evening, my leiwent into the sea from the after deck. I know that it washedashore and will bring me back...A week in the INDEPENDENCE speedsby like an hour, drawing all to soon to a close. This graciousGRANDE DAME really does turn on its ear for all time must be thatabsurd old saw, "No one travels in an American ship" for here inthe waters of Hawaii the INDEPENDENCE is deservedly popular, anAmerican ship that wins the hearts of most who sails with her. The "who's who" of who has sailed in the INDEPENDENCEor CONSTITUTION at some point in the ship's career really doesread like "Who's Who" for so many names in that book have been onthe ships' passenger lists. It was President Reagan who happilysigned the bill to bring the CONSTITUTION back under Americanregistry. He was familiar with these ships and had been aboardthe INDEPENDENCE for a Governors' conference back in the 1960'swhen he was Governor of California. A framed photograph of himand Mrs. Reagan hangs in the ship's wheelhouse. It is said thatwhen he took the helm the ship veered slightly to the right... People demanding nonstop 24 hour a day loud action accompanied bypulsating bass may not enjoy a cruise in this ship (though I'd besurprised if there is ANYONE who doesn't enjoy a 7 nightINDEPENDENCE cruise). This ship is particularly popular withpeople over 40 who seem to enjoy the sock hop, pajama party andother events calculated to please us aging "boomers" but there isa lot here for everyone - from toddlers to great grandpa!. The first time I set out for Honolulu to takethis ship I hoped for the best and expected the worst. Visions ofplastic cups, paper plates and hot dogs, motel modern style andindifferent American service filled my dream track the nightbefore my first sailing in this ship. Well I needn't haveworried! That cruise was marvelous. Now, after a multi-milliondollar refit and plenty of attention to detail, the ship exudes awarm, friendly Hawaiian air. In a nutshell...this ship and her 7night Hawaii cruise is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 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