Maui Find Rooms &

Hyatt Regency Maui Sign In | Register | Customer Service Rooms & Rates Special Offers Dining & Entertainment Activities Guest Services Meetings & Events > Photos > Virtual Tour Hyatt Home Hotels & Resorts Hyatt Regency Maui Find Rooms & Rates Select check in month and year Check-in Date Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 Dec 2006 Jan 2007 select day of month 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 Select check out month and year Check-out Date Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 Dec 2006 Jan 2007 Select check out month and year 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 Adults per room 1 2 3 4 5 Kids per room 0 1 2 3 4 Number of rooms 1 2 Special Offer Code Group/Corporate # Rate Type Best Available Rate Government Rate AAA/CAA Member Rate Senior Citizen Rate CHECK AVAILABILITY Need Help? Award Reservations 1 Please note the Best Available Rate search does not include affiliation or senior rates. Hotel Overview Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina, Hawaii, USA Tel: 808 661 1234 Fax: 808 667 4498 Maps & Directions Travel Packages: Hotel, Air & Car Book all your travels together and save. Rooms & Amenities Wireless High Speed Internet Available Luxurious, Spacious Guestrooms Separate Seating Areas & Private Lanais Regency Club Available Guest Services Reliable Internet Service Valet Parking $10/Day Babysitting Available Business Center Dining & Entertainment Spat's Trattoria Weeping Banyan Caf & Lounge Cascades Bar & Lounge Cascades Grille & Sushi Bar Activities Royal Ka'anapali Golf Courses Spa Moana - Refresh and Revive Camp Hyatt Maui for Kids 3000 Square Foot Keiki Lagoon Local Attractions Horseback Riding Snorkeling and Scuba Diving Volcano Tours Helicopter Tours Meetings & Events Catering Wedding Planning Meeting Special Offers Business Facilities Maui hotels Located on 40 acres of oceanfront property on Ka'anapali Beach, the Hyatt Regency Maui hotel plays a big part in Maui's position as the top Pacific Rim island. This standout Ka'anapali Beach hotel offers six tennis courts, tropical waterfalls, a half-acre pool, four restaurants and two bar/lounges to take advantage of the Maui evenings. HOTEL NEWS AND EVENTS Current Renovations Honeymoon Reception View All News & Events HOTEL SPECIAL OFFERS Whale of a Sale Take advantage of a whale of a sale... Receive a $50 Hyatt Gift Card. Stay at Hyatt and pay with the American Express Card. View All Special Offers Email Newsletter Sign-up to receive monthly e-mails from a selected group of Hyatt Hotels. Each selected hotel will provide information on their latest news and offers. Sign Up Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: Careers About Hyatt | Press Room | Diversity | Careers at Hyatt | Travel Agents | Vacation Ownership Privacy Policy - Your Privacy Rights | Terms & Conditions | Site Map © 2005 Hyatt Corporation

Lahaina Outrigger Kahana Papakea

Maui Vacation Rentals - Puamana Lahaina and Hana Kai, Hana : Island Home Vacation Rentals Home Hana Kai Puamana Lahaina Outrigger Kahana Papakea Resort Masters at Kaanapali Kahana Vacation Home Hawaii Activities Reservations Maui Vacation Rentals from Island Home Vacation Rentals. Island Home is dedicated to assisting you with your Maui accommodations. We offer privately owned condominiums, corporate run condominiums, luxury homes, hotels and various resort vacation rental properties all over the Island. We work with several Property Managers and Travel Agents in order to find the vacation property that best fits your needs. Call us toll free anytime and allow us to help you plan your next visit to the number one destination - the Island of Maui. If you plan to visit other Islands we can assist you with those accommodations as well. We can arrange all of your Hawaii Activities . For your pleasure, Island Home Vacation Rentals has partnered with Hawaii State Fun Planner to offer you a knowledgeable staff to make your activity choices simple. Have Fun! With Much Aloha, 1370 Front Street Lahaina, Maui Hawaii 96761 Toll free 1-866-West Maui Our Maui Vacation Rentals ... East Maui - Hana Hana Kai - Located right on the Legendary "Popolana Beach". in Hana, Maui, these 17 Studio and One bedroom Vacation Condominiums are located on Beautiful Hana Bay. Hana Kai has a quiet retreat- like atmosphere, so there are no TVs in the rooms. Many of the units have spectacular ocean views and the others have lush tropical garden settings. The Sunrises are as magnificent as the West Side Sunsets. West Maui - Lahaina Puamana - Located in Lahaina, these af fordable two bedroom Maui vacation rentals have access to 3 magnificent pools, tennis courts and an exquisite large clubhouse. Located in a lush, tropical setting, the grounds at Puamana have breathtaking views of the ocean and the islands of Lanai and Molokai. Located near the world class golf courses of Kaanapali and Kapalua . West Maui - Kaanapali / Kahana The Masters at Kaanapali Hillside has spectacular sunset, ocean and golf course views from the windows and lanai. The Masters is a secluded peaceful gated community situated above the Kaanapali resort, between Kapalua and Lahaina. This great location offers easy access to world famous beaches, shopping, and fine dining. Kahana Outrigger is located on the choice west shore of Maui, between world acclaimed Kaanapali and Kapalua. This quiet, low profile resort has only 16 units total and is just minutes from Kaanapali and Kapalua resort areas in West Maui. Fantastic sunsets, outstanding views in all directions, romantic moonlit nights and whale watching (in season) are all to be expected at our Kahana Outrigger vacation condominiums. Papakea Resort located on North Kaanapali Beach. Two large swimming pools, two jacuzzis, four saunas, two shuffleboard courts, three lighted tennis courts, or the twelve gas barbecues, are all yours for your enjoyment. It has the smallest number of units on one of the largest acreage of any resort in Kaanapali. We offer a two bedroom that sleeps six. Kahana Vacation Home - We have a stunning, private, large home located accross the street from the ocean. You can enjoy paradise without all of the hustle and bustle of large tourist filled resorts. Vacation in your own private, gorgeous 3 bedroom 3 1/2 bath house. We believe the essence of island life is infused throughout our home with exquisite tropical furnishings. This is a lovely home that is fully stocked for all your vacation needs. Home Hana Kai Puamana Lahaina Outrigger Kahana Papakea Resort Masters at Kaanapali Kahana Vacation Home Hawaii Activities Reservations Looking to buy Real Estate on Maui? Call us toll free 1-866-West Maui or 1-866-937-8628 Local number: 808-662-8611 Cell: 808-344-3900 or send us an email at info@mauivacationrentals.net Travel Directory

Hawaii Vacation

Hawaii Vacations Guide: Tourism Planner for the Hawaiian Islands, State of Hawaii Hawaii Vacation & Travel Guide Island Divers Hawaii Join us for some fun and exciting scuba diving in Oahu! Outrigger Kanaloa at Kona Deluxe condominium rentals along Keauhou Bay Best Western Plantation Hale Suites Situated in a charming garden setting Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation Oceanfront vacation condo rentals on the famous Poipu Beach Maui for Less Accommodations just steps from the famous Black Rock Beach Maui Princess - Take an Adventure in Lahaina Harbor, Maui, Hawai'i Outrigger Kanaloa at Kona Deluxe condominium rentals along Keauhou Bay Consisting of six tropical islands in the South Pacific, Hawaii is a picturesque visitor destination for people worldwide. Here, travelers can enjoy the tranquility that comes with strolling along the beach at night or the thrill of outdoor activities like hang gliding and surfing. On the Big Island of Hawaii visitors are treated to the United States ' only rainforest zoo, the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo . Oahu , the most populated of the islands, features the world-class resort city of Honolulu and several well-known beaches like Kailua Beach and Waikiki Beach . The island of Maui is another popular spot, harboring two dormant volcanoes and boasting activities that range from biking to whale-watching. Enclosed by more than 100 miles of Pacific coastline, Maui's destination towns include Kahului , Kihei and Kapalua . The remaining islands Lanai , Molokai , and Kauai offer many other exciting activities including scuba diving, snorkelling and boat tours. Travel Destinations Location: Home > United States > Hawaii Arrival Date: 2006 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 Dec arrival = 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 Departure Date: 2006 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 Dec departure = 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 Rooms: 1 2 Adults: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Children: None 1 2 3 4 5 6 Enter city Enter name of hotel (optional) Review My Reservations Pickup Date: 2006 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 Dec arrival = 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 Pickup Time: 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 12:00 PM Dropoff Date: 2006 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 Dec departure = 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 Dropoff Time: 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 12:00 PM Preferred Car Type: Economy Compact Mid Size Standard Full Size Premium Luxury Convertible Enter city January 25, 2006, 5:11 am See our the weather network . WorldWeb.com travel guide is the world's leading provider of online travel information. Since 1994, we have helped millions of people plan their vacations and market their businesses online. For more information, click here Accommodation Hotels & motels , inns , B&Bs , resorts , cabins & chalets , hostels , extended stays , vacation homes and more . Tours & Activities Online reservations , golf courses , rafting , kayaking , sightseeing tours , fishing trips , trail rides , whale watching and more . ................. ................. Local Attractions Museums , galleries , historic sites , parks & gardens , towers , science centres , amusement parks and more . Transportation Airlines , airport transfers , cruise lines , public transit , taxis , shuttle services and more . ................. ................. Restaurants & Bars The Restaurants & Bars Guide contains a list of local eating establishments organized by type of cuisine. 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Hawaii Travel

VirtualTourist.com - Hawaii (State of) Travel Guide - Pictures, Tips and Reviews Hawaii (State of) Travel Guide. Tips, Reviews & Photos plus Hotels, Restaurants, Activities & More in Hawaii (State of) member log in | join for free! | help Home Travel Guides Hotels Flights Deals NEW! Members Meetings & Events Do It Yourself Guides Forums HAWAII (STATE OF) Travel Guide Overview | Hotels | Forum | Things To Do | Top Member Pages | Deals | Members | Meetings & Events Home » Travel Guides » North America » United States of America » Hawaii (State of) Destinations Members Keywords Sponsored Links for Hawaii (State of) Hawaii Car Rentals Always Low Prices on SUVs, Cars & Minivans at Dollar Rent a Car! Hawaii Car Rentals Discount Jeep Wranglers, cars, vans SUVs National Companies.Age 21 up Car Rentals Find Alamo, Budget, Thrifty, and More. Book Rental Cars at ORBITZ! Hawaii Car Rentals Same car, same agency but much lower rates. Cars from $16.95/day. Luxury Hawaii Home Rental Beach front Hawaii home rentals Private homes from $950-$6500/nt. Hawaii (State of) Hotel Rates City: Check-In Date: Check-Out Date: Guests: 1 2 3 4 Hotels by OneTime.com Hawaii Forum Join a Discussion Recomendations for Honeymoon in Hawaii (3 replies, 1:43 AM Jan. 25, 2006) Planning a trip, don't know where to begin... (6 replies, 3:58 AM Jan. 24, 2006) Diving Outfitters for Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii (3 replies, 4:25 AM Jan. 25, 2006) Be the first to reply to these questions Where to stay in Maui or Kauai (no replies yet) New Years Eve....Oahu/Waikiki (no replies yet) New Years Eve....Oahu/Waikiki (no replies yet) » All Hawaii Discussions » Post a Hawaii Discussion Travel Resources Car Rental Cruises Vacations Luggage NEW! Hawaii Deals Get Warm in Hawai'i this Winter (0 comments, 6:19 PM Jan. 6, 2006) $149 Fly to Hawaii (each way), in Jan-March '06 (0 comments, 6:58 PM Nov. 16, 2005) » All Hawaii Deals » Post a Hawaii Deal FREE VT Deals Newsletter great deals, inside tips & no spam Hawaii (State of) Flight Rates From: To: Departure Date: Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Midnight 01:00 AM 02:00 AM 03:00 AM 04:00 AM 05:00 AM 06:00 AM 07:00 AM 08:00 AM 09:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 01:00 PM 02:00 PM 03:00 PM 04:00 PM 05:00 PM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Return Date: Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Midnight 01:00 AM 02:00 AM 03:00 AM 04:00 AM 05:00 AM 06:00 AM 07:00 AM 08:00 AM 09:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 01:00 PM 02:00 PM 03:00 PM 04:00 PM 05:00 PM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Passengers: 1 2 3 4 Flights by OneTime.com Hawaii (State of) Local time: 5:21 am Wednesday, January 25, 2006. TravelPro Sale - LuggageGuru.com Hotels in Hawaii (State of) Flights to Hawaii (State of) Map NEW! Members living here: 1,077 Member tips: 8,818 Member pictures: 13,700 Popular Destinations in Hawaii (State of) Honolulu Kailua-Kona Waikiki Lahaina Hilo Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hana Haleakala National Park Wahiawa Haleiwa Kihei Kaanapali Poipu Volcano Pearl City Waimea Kaneohe Waipio Anaehoomalu Laie Kapaa Lihue Hanauma Bay Kailua Kapalua » More Destinations in Hawaii (State of) Regions in Hawaii (State of) Hawaii (Big Island) Kauai Lanai Maui Molokai Niihau Oahu Top Pages About Hawaii (State of) 1. Hawaiian Islands ~ Go Virtual by TropicGirl77 38 Tips 91 Pictures 2. A Month In Paradise by deecat 24 Tips 35 Pictures 3. Puinsai!! Howzit Brudda? by sargentjeff 40 Tips 52 Pictures 4. Hawaii This Beautiful Place We Fell In Love With. by Waalewiener 31 Tips 74 Pictures 5. Bluecollar's Hawaii by BlueCollar 49 Tips 116 Pictures » View all rated pages (200) » View newest pages » Build your own Hawaii (State of) page Popular Hawaii (State of) Hotels In: Honolulu Royal Grove Aparthotel Waikiki Aston Waikiki Beachside Hotel Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Park Shore Waikiki Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa Kailua-Kona King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel Hale Kona Kai Condominiums Kona Bali Kai Royal Kona Resort Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort Waikiki Aston Aloha Surf Hotel Breakers Hotel Polynesian Beachclub Hostelling International-Waikiki Lahaina Royal Lahaina Resort Lahaina Roads Condominiums Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas The Plantation Inn Tips and Photos about Hawaii (State of) in General Overview General Tips Tips: 436 - Pictures: 279 Restaurants Tips: 205 - Pictures: 84 Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 222 - Pictures: 122 Things To Do Tips: 652 - Pictures: 512 Nightlife Tips: 79 - Pictures: 42 Off the Beaten Path Tips: 216 - Pictures: 171 Tourist Traps Tips: 90 - Pictures: 31 Warnings or Dangers Tips: 113 - Pictures: 59 Transportation Tips: 121 - Pictures: 56 Local Customs Tips: 81 - Pictures: 50 Packing Lists Tips: 74 - Pictures: 37 Shopping Tips: 32 - Pictures: 17 Sports Travel Tips: 21 - Pictures: 16 » See tips about a specific place in Hawaii (State of) More Sponsored Links for Hawaii (State of) Thrifty Car Rental For a special online rate head to our site. 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Hawaiian Clothes

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Business — ADVERTISEMENT — Sunday, October 17, 2004 DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Yoshi Takahashi amuses his friends Kimi Toi and Michi Ogino with a wetsuit that's a little too small at the Xcel store in the Ward Village Shops. Hey! Big spenders New research shows just where tourists drop their money during stays in Hawaii By Allison Schaefers aschaefers@starbulletin.com ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRYANT FUKUTOMI / BFUKUTOMI@STARBULLETIN.COM China / South Korea travelers » More than 50 percent of these Asian visitors are first-timers and about a quarter of them come as part of a package tour. » Most come to visit friends or family (more than 28 percent), on business, or as part of a stopover, as stringent Visa requirements and a lack of flights has made Hawaii a difficult vacation destination. » In terms of activities, they are statistically similar to Americans, but plan to spend more money. » Most plan to attend a luau and 30 percent intend to play golf, the most of any other group surveyed. United States travelers » American travelers plan to stay longer and spend the least amount of money on retail and souvenirs. » They are most likely to engage in sports like running, scuba or going to the gym, but have the smallest percentage of people who planned to swim or sunbathe. » Americans are more likely to attend a luau, go to a Hawaiian history or cultural event and buy Hawaiian clothing and souvenirs than Japan or other Asian travelers. » They enjoy shopping at convenience stores, malls or hotel stores. They are also the most likely to go to a museum or art gallery or eat in high-end restaurants. Japan travelers » More than 60 percent of Japan travelers come to Hawaii as part of a package group. » These visitors plan to stay the least amount of time and spend the most money. » They are most likely to come to Hawaii to celebrate a wedding or honeymoon than any other group. » They are most interested in going to the beach and shopping while in Hawaii, but few plan to do any activities or eat in high-end restaurants. » They enjoy shopping across the board from outlet and discount stores to designer boutiques. While tourists from Japan and the mainland still pump plenty of money into Hawaii's retail stores, a more global mix of visitors is at the heart of Hawaii's improved tourism outlook, and their preferences are worlds apart. A new cross-cultural study from the University of Hawaii is available to help retailers take stock of what tourists buy, so local stores can match merchandise with spending habits. University of Hawaii marketing professor Mark Rosenbaum and travel industry management professor Dan Spears randomly surveyed more than 1,000 Waikiki tourists to determine cultural differences regarding their reasons for coming to Hawaii, their desire to shop and what purchases they planned to make during their stay. "Not all tourists are alike," Rosenbaum said. "Your target market should greatly impact how you merchandise and what products you stock." Hawaii's retail history gives businesses strong reasons to diversify their customer base, said retail analyst Stephany Sofos. "In the 1980s, the Japanese people came fast and furious and those who didn't cater to them were left out. Now it's changing, and as visitor groups change, retailers are having to figure out what their market is from one day to the next," Sofos said. The University of Hawaii study can help tourist-dependent businesses identify how to best keep their customers happy and how to increase spending from other visitor groups, Spears said. Their research showed that Japanese tourists plan to spend $1,400 on gifts and souvenirs during their stay in Hawaii, which is substantially more than all other visitor groups. According to the study, Chinese and Koreans spend about $750 on retail items and Americans spend around $600. They also found differences when it came to purchasing local foods, clothing and engaging in outdoor activities as well as differences in why these tourists groups were coming to Hawaii. For example, Americans and Japanese came to Hawaii primarily to vacation, while the Chinese and South Korean visitors were in Hawaii primarily to visit family members. Chinese visitors can only travel for leisure to a few designations, which does not include Hawaii. "Most Japanese will spend their vacation shopping at both high-end and discount retailers," Rosenbaum said, adding that data also confirmed the love-affair Japanese have with designer items. Nearly 60 percent of the Japanese visitors surveyed planned to visit Hawaii's designer boutiques; in contrast, only 35 percent of Americans planned to do so. However, the number of Japan travelers who plan to purchase products made in Hawaii, such as coffee, food and clothing, is lower than other groups. "The Japanese are the answer to our luxury business - not our economy," Rosenbaum said, adding that purchases of locally made products create more jobs and ultimately bring more benefit to the state. Visitors, who spend about $3 billion annually on retail goods in Hawaii, make up about 15 percent of the state's $19 billion retail market, said Carol Pregill, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. The islands drew 6.4 million visitors last year, about two-thirds of them from the mainland. "Shopping is the third largest expenditure, next to food and lodging, for visitors," Pregill said, adding that about 20 percent of visitor expenditures can be attributed to shopping. "That's huge when you consider that shopping is a discretionary expense," Pregill said, and is an important part of a visitor's experience. But to make Hawaii shopping attractive to visitors it has to be distinctive, said Frank Haas, marketing director for the Hawaii Tourism Authority. "You can shop in Hong Kong and Las Vegas; what we need to know is what's distinctive about shopping in Hawaii," Haas said. As Oahu's visitor market stays strong, many retailers are going to take advantage of more visitor-based opportunities, said Jeffrey Hall, senior director of research at CB Richard Ellis. "There's huge amount of interest in redoing resort retail, especially in Waikiki," Hall said. According to market reports, Waikiki has a high number of retail vacancies, but in three to four years the sector will be more bullish as Waikiki renovation projects come to fruition, Hall forecasts. "The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is rapidly changing. The Beach Walk and the International Market Place projects are just getting under way," Hall said. "Expect that in a few years Waikiki will be an entirely different place." Any shift in visitor demographics changes the way businesses advertise their products. "It's important to know who is coming and what you need for inventory," Pregill said. "Inventory is a huge expense and no one wants to be stuck with goods that no one want to buy." That's where the Rosenbaum and Spears study comes in, said Anne Murata, marketing director of the Festival Cos., which manages the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. Murata said she purchased the study because it's the first retail survey in Hawaii that breaks data into small categories such as visitors' reasons for traveling to Hawaii, ability to spend and where they spend their money. Retailers are especially interested on the data about Chinese and South Korean visitors, she said. While Chinese and Korean visitors have more in common with Americans in terms of overall spending, their spending habits are very similar to the Japanese visitor market when it was new, Murata said. In the 1990s, when the Japanese tourism boom to Hawaii was growing, the state's largest industry went to great lengths to cater to their needs. Japanese signs ruled Waikiki marketing; but then the bubble burst and retailers had to regroup to stay in business. "We've been trained to think only in terms of U.S. westbound and Japan travelers," she said. "But our retail market is becoming increasingly global and we're starting to see more travelers from China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the U.S. East." Japanese visitor arrivals to Hawaii, which peaked at 2.2 million in 1997, fell to 1.3 million last year in response to a weakened Japanese economy and geopolitical troubles. Retailers say the market has rebounded, but it's time for those eyeing Hawaii's improved market to use the isles' changing tourist patterns to help determine what's in store. Although the China travel market to Hawaii is small, representing less than 1 percent of Hawaii's total visitors in 2002, state officials have identified it as a market with enormous potential. New research shows that Chinese tourists are now the biggest spenders in the Asia-Pacific region by average credit card transaction size, according to a study released by Visa. The report, published last week in the Financial Times, said Chinese cardholders on average spent $253 per transaction while traveling. The World Tourism Organization has also estimated that China will produce 100 million outbound tourists by 2020 and members of Hawaii's public and private sector want their share. "Just like we geared retail to the Japan market in its heyday, someday I expect we'll see retail signs in Chinese and Korean, too," Murata said. According to the Rosenbaum and Spears survey, the Chinese, enjoy participating in new activities, but look for familiarity in restaurants - characteristics similar to Japanese visitors before Hawaii became a common destination, "They only want to eat in Chinese restaurants," Rosenbaum said. But, more important for retailers is that the Chinese also appear to have a taste for luxury goods. "The Chinese, like the Japanese, also want to purchase luxury goods as gifts to take home," Spears said. While retailers need accurate data to capture their audience, there is one sure plan that works across cultures, Murata said. "One thing you can always sell them is the aloha spirit - that's an approach that works with visitors from China to Lithuania," Murata said. BACK TO TOP | The Hawaii experience A new University of Hawaii study of tourist spending habits raised some interesting questions. For instance, do Japan travelers, who planned to spend $1,400 on gifts and souvenirs during their stay in Hawaii, really contribute the most money to Hawaii's economy? While Americans, who planned to spend about $600 on retail, and Chinese/ Koreans, who planned to spend about $750, lagged behind in overall spending, the data showed that these groups spent significantly more on made-in-Hawaii products. The percentage of visitors planning to buy each product: Items USA / Canada Japan China / South Korea Hawaiian coffee 53.1 38.4 70.8 Macadamia nuts 66.8 52.2 75.5 Pineapples 37.4 7.3 30.2 Hawaiian candies 35.7 12.3 35.8 Hawaiian clothing 47.3 21.7 43.4 Hawaiian souvenirs 60.9 41.1 58.5 Source: University of Hawaii marketing professor Mark Rosenbaum and travel industry management professor Dan Spears Where it all goes Percentage of visitors doing the following activities: Activities U.S. Japan China/Korea Honeymoon/wedding 6.8 18.2 4.7 Visit family/friends 13.4 3.8 28.3 Part of Packaged tour 15.8 61.3 25.5 Buying designer clothes 29.2 34.9 37.7 Golf 16.0 5.6 30.2 Tour bus 30.9 25.2 37.7 Beach 77.4 78.3 84.0 Fine dining 58.2 8.5 49.1 Culture/History 64.2 27.3 43.4 Luau 59.7 16.1 62.3 Designer boutiques 35.1 59.2 41.5 Mall 65.4 74.5 75.5 Characteristics of visitors' stays: Visit U.S. Japan China/Korea Planned Expenditures $644 $1,416 $745 Length of Stay in Hawaii 12 days 7 days 11 days Source: University of Hawaii marketing professor Mark Rosenbaum and travel industry management professor Dan Spears — ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS — | | | PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION E-mail to Business Editor BACK TO TOP Text Site Directory: [News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!] [Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor] [Feedback] © 2004 Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- http://starbulletin.com -Advertisement-