Oahu Vacation Planner Vacation

Oahu Vacation Planner Home Travel Directory Vacation Planner Win a Trip! Discount Card Maps Insider's Guide Big Island Vacation Planner Kauai Vacation Planner Maui Vacation Planner Oahu Vacation Planner Vacation Planner Service Love Stories Contest Free Newsletter Discount Card Special Offers Site Map Maps Scenic Tours Calendar Insider's Guide Island Insights Oahu Travel Directory Accommodations Activities Dining Entertainment Health & Wellness Meetings & Conventions Real Estate Shopping Travel Services Transportation Weddings Exploring: Oahu Oahu Vacation Planner The Oahu Vacation Planner is part of the Hawaii State Vacation Planner network and provides complete travel and vacation rental information for Oahu, Hawaii. This excellent vacation and travel planner includes complete listings of most hotels and activity businesses plus Oahu weddings and marriage information. This complete Oahu travel guide also has information on Oahu vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, and activity services including golf, scuba, wedding planners, fishing, hiking, camping and boating. To fully explore the magical Hawaiian island of Oahu, click on any of the photo categories listed above. Within each section you will find complete and useful travel information. If you would like to receive even more personalized travel and tour information, just fill out the Oahu Vacation Information Request. Within a few days you will receive a variety of travel information designed especially to fulfill your individual and personal needs. The Oahu Vacation Planner contains valuable vacation information both for the tourist as well as the business traveler. In addition to listings and website connections to hotels, bed and breakfast operations and beachfront vacation rentals, the Oahu Vacation Planner is an excellent resource for the visitor and tourist planning to get married in Hawaii. If a Hawaiian wedding is not on your agenda you might want to check out scuba diving, horseback riding or possibly deep sea fishing. All of this and much more (helicopter tours, zodiac and boat excursions, snorkeling, hiking, camping etc.) can be found in the activity section contained within the various sections listed above. For the golfer, Oahu has a wide variety of unique, challenging, and absolutely gorgeous world class golf courses. This comprehensive Oahu travel guide also features a selection of beautiful maps and a calendar of events to help you plan your dream Hawaiian vacation. Sheraton Best Rate Guarantee If you find a lower rate anywhere, we honor it & give you an extra 10% off or 2,000 Starpoints. Click for details. Hawaiian Rental Vacations Princevilles' newest and most elegant, condominiums! See what the buzz is all about ! © Best Places Hawaii , 1995-2005. All rights reserved. Contact Us | Marketing/Advertising | Email this Page to a Friend

Hawaii Honeymoon

Maui, Hawaii Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Guide - Honeymoon: Brides choose a quick link ----------------- accessories bouquets bridesmaid dresses budget cakes ceremony destination weddings dresses favors flowers food guest lists hairstyles honeymoons invitations jewelry makeup message boards music photos real weddings receptions registry veils wedding dresses Find all your wedding vendors near you select region: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas CA - Central CA - North CA - South Canada Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida GA - Atlanta GA - Other Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico NY - Hamptons NY - Metro NY - Upstate North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon PA - Central/West PA - Philly Area Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee TX - Austin TX - Dallas/Ft.Worth TX - Houston Texas - Other Utah Vermont Virginia Washington DC Washington State West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Select another destination: Hawaii - Big Island - Kauai - Lanai - Maui - Oahu Caribbean Domestic U.S. South Pacific Maui Visitors Bureau Maui, the Magic Isle, is perfect for your tropical romance. Maui offers everything you need for a romantic, tropical wedding or honeymoon. First Class Weddings, Inc. The most reputable wedding planners on the island of Maui. When you select First Class Weddings in Maui, Hawaii you are choosing experience and leadership backed by a superior reputation. Kaanapali Beach Hotel Princeville Resort, overlooking Hanalei Bay and the famed "Bali Hai" on Kaua'i's north shore, is a place of romantic harmony, it quietly defines the meaning of "forever". Naplili Kai Beach Resort As special as your first kiss! The intimate ocean front ambiance of this luxurious resort will awaken your dreams of paradise. Call about our special wedding packages. Royal Hawaiian Weddings, Inc. Let yourselves enjoy the romance and intimacy with a Maui wedding. Noelani Condominium Resort Let yourselves enjoy the romance and intimacy with a Maui wedding. Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort Located on the sparkling white sands of Mokapu Beach, theRenaissance Wailea Beach Resort combines luxury with an atmosphere thatis both intimate and inviting. Brides.com Home | Fashion | Beauty | Wedding Style | Etiquette & Planning | Registry Ideas | Honeymoon | Real Brides Local Planning | Shop Online | Prizes and Offers | Newsletter | Privacy Policy | -- Advertise With Us | Contact Us Brides magazine In This Issue | Subscribe | Customer Care | Media Kit | Bookstore Fairchild Bridal Group Wedding Planning Sites: Brides.com | ModernBride.com | ElegantBride.com Prom Planning Site: YourProm.com Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy .© Fairchild Internet, Inc. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Fairchild Internet, Inc.

Hawaiian Food

Hawaiian Food: Luau Recipes: Luau Food & Drinks: Planning a Luau Party: Hawaiiian Luau Party Ideas: Summer Party Ideas copper fire pit What followed the invention of fire? The party. That's because once man had a warm, inviting place to gather, everyone wanted to congregate in his cave. Not much has changed today except the quality of the fire pit. This one is made of heavy-gauge solid copper by artisans in Turkey. Earthenware Servers with Scrolled Wirework Stands Summer Barbeques @ lillianvernon.com Summer Bright Placemats and Napkins Galvanized Tin Tub and Stand A great cooler or planter! Watertight oval tub is tarnish- and rust-resistant, has brass handles and base, holds oceans of ice. Name or saying custom-engraved to 15 letters per line, 2-line limit. Bright Plastic Goblets-Set of 12 Light Up Multi-Color Lei A fun and festive way to accessorize for those nighttime luaus! See Luau Costumes & Accessories Inflatable Palm Tree Beverage Cooler 6 ft Perfect to match your luau party decorations! Westbury Folding Bar ON SALE NOW! Effortless entertaining on a portable teak bar. It sets up for outdoor drink making and serving with built-in countertop and sectional shelves. Bar folds up when not in use. More Garden & Patio Furniture Planning a Luau: Luau Recipes return to Planning a Summer Party: Main Index Luau Recipes Featured Cookbook Alan Wong's New Wave Luau: Recipes from Honolulu's Award-Winning Chef Chosen Best Regional Chef for the Pacific Northwest in 1996 by the James Beard Foundation, Wong is a master of multicultural cooking. Called Hawaiian Regional Cuisine, his dishes fuse local ingredients and traditions with foods and techniques from Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Taking the succulent meat from whole Kalua Pig, pit-roasted luau style, he uses it in a risotto dotted with corn and crunchy water chestnuts, then enriched with truffle butter. He also features this smoky pork in nachos built on crunchy taro chips, topped with chile-spiked guacamole. His Surf and Turf, for example, features grilled beef tenderloin and a Kona lobster tail wrapped around a scallop. They are served with a roasted potato topped with wasabi-spiked mashed potatoes. This potato sprouts leaves of tat soi, an Asian green, and spiraling antennae of fried linguini. Grilled marinated mushrooms and asparagus add to the plate, which is drizzled with a sauce combining cream, truffle butter, and soy vinaigrette. Then it is ringed with shining dots of basil oil and finished with a sprinkling of chives and diced tomato. Lest this strenuous cooking intimidate you, it is easy to make Wong's Asian Guacamole flavored with ginger and sake, Five Spice Risotto rich with shiitake mushrooms, and Asian Ratatouille, unexpectedly enhanced with oyster sauce and sesame oil. Each adds immeasurably to a meal of grilled fish or store-bought roast chicken. Anyone with an ice-cream maker must try the recipes for tropical Guava, Lychee-Ginger, and Mango Lime ice cream, and a quartet of memorably exotic, liquored sorbets. More Hawaiian Cookbooks Luau Recipes & Food Ideas Pineapple Serving Bowl If you are planning a Luau Party for kids, a Luau wedding reception or bridal shower, luau birthday party or luau graduation party, of course you are going to want to serve great luau food to get everyone in the tropical mood. Here you will find Hawaiian luau recipes (some featuring traditional luau food, some more experimental but still with the luau theme) to help you plan a luau menu that is truly exceptional. Luau party recipes can vary depending on what kind of a party you are hosting, so we've included luau food recipes that cover all tastes and sizes, and luau drink recipes too. Kids luau recipes, luau party food for adults, easy luau recipes for those who get hives just thinking about the kitchen...we've done out best to see that there's at least one luau food idea in here to suit just about everyone! Most people aren't going to roast a "kalua pig" in an imu, usually the centerpiece of a traditional luau menu, but fortunately, there are many other luau food options that are less time consuming and totally delicious. For appetizers, consider creating your own pupu platter, which is basically a platter of hors d'oeuvres, island style. Tropical Flower Plates Consume your canapés on these porcelain plates embossed with florid colors and colorful flowers. Each savory snack will be all the tastier atop the lilies and hibiscuses of these practical plates. Dishwasher and microwave safe. To make sure your guest are well fed, and keep with the spirit of the luau experience, include a few traditional luau foods such as poi, papaya, pineapple and sweet potatoes in your menu. Poi is a thick, purple-colored paste made by pounding taro. Poi can be bought fresh or "day-old," which will have a more sour flavor to it. Slice fresh pineapple in half, cutting out the inside of the fruit (you can cut this into pieces and serve this separately), then fill with tuna or chicken salad. Even if you purchase a prepared salad from a local deli, throw in some fruit and nuts, like pineapple, papaya, mango, mandarin oranges, grapes, slivered almonds or walnuts for a truly tropical experience. Below are some luau recipes featuring some traditional luau dishes, and some that would just go with a luau theme. Vegetarian and vegan Hawaiian recipes are also included in this selection. Hawaiian Luau Recipes: Appetizers This section is new for July 2005. Please note, if a recipe you want is not up yet, send email with your request, and that recipe will jump to the front of the additions list, and probably be up in a day or so. Macadamia Nut Ahi Poke with Furikake Crisp Kalua Pork Dumplings (Gyoza) with Pineapple-Tomato Salsa Hawaiian Curried Avocado Poi Char Sui (Chinese Spare Ribs) Kalua Pork Spring Rolls Traditional Laulau Chicken & Pumpkin Lau Lau Vegetarian Lau Lau Table Skirt-Natural Raffia w/Flowers Not Eating Enough Leafy Greens?Drink Them! From $1 per day! Tiki Citronella Candles Main Course Hawaiian Luau Recipes Macadamia Nut-Crusted Mahi Mahi Beurre Blanc Huli Huli Grilled Chicken Hibachi Mahi Mahi with Pineapple – Papaya Salsa Hawaiian Salad with Sauteed Shrimp Chicken 'Ono Nui Chicken Luau Hawaiian Shrimp Kebabs Hawaiian Grilled Fish With Papaya Relish Chicken Katsu Hawaiian Roasted Pork (Kalua Pig) Chicken Macadamia Hawaiian Shepherd’s Pie Mango Hawaiian Chicken Salad Hawaiian Curry Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken or Beef Summer Flower Deals at 1-800-Flowers (Thru August 31st.) Save 10% on Birthday Flowers & Gifts Use code 5BD at checkout! Summer Rose Sale!! Save up to $50! Buy 24 Sweetheart Roses, Get 24 Free! (while supplies last) Hawaiian Luau Side Dish Recipes Ginger Coconut Fried Rice Portuguese Sweet Bread (Hawaiian Bread) Macadamia Nut Rice Pilaf Green Papaya Salad Hawaiian Sweet Potato Packets Chicken Long Rice Banana Bread Mango Hawaiian Bread Papaya Coleslaw Mashed Taro w/Lemon Grass and Ginger (Vegan) Lomi Lomi Salmon Aloha Sweet Potatoes Luau Dessert Recipes Luau dessert recipes be something along the lines of a traditional Hawaiian dessert or a dessert with a tropical theme. Of course, accompany your dessert with some Kona coffee. Here are some of my favorite Luau dessert ideas just to inspire you, but feel free to get creative using Hawaiian ingredients and invent your own: Kulolo Pineapple Upside Down Cake Coconut Cream Pie Miniature Macadamia Nut Tart White Chocolate Sweet Potato Cake Pineapple Tea Cakes Hawaiian Mango Cream Pie Chamorro Style Bread Pudding with Fresh Bananas and Macadamia Nuts Sam’s Big Island Macadamia Nut Brownies Pineapple Haupia Hawaiian Sweet Potato Cake w/ Pineapple Ice Cream & Coconut Crème Fraîche Coconut Cake Haupia (Coconut Pudding) Vegan Mango Upside Down Cake Macadamia Nut Phyllo Sticks Organic Kona Coffee (100%) Fresh-roasted and direct from the plantation in Kona, medium roast, whole bean 16oz. As featured on the Food & Wine Radio Network. See More Coffee Organic Acai Juice The Acai Berry, has 2x the antioxidants of blueberries and high levels of omega fatty acids, and an almost perfect complex of amino acids and vital trace minerals, is also considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit. Oh, and did I mention they taste just like blueberries? Luau Drink Recipes Tiki Bar Sign More featured luau party decorations More Tropical Cocktail Recipe Books Hawaiian cocktail recipes and non alcoholic luau drink ideas are generally things with a tropical flair such as a Mai Tai , Blue Hawaiian , Hawaiian Cocktail or Scorpion . Basically any drink that uses fruit juices and rum will pass as a Hawaiian cocktail, and many of these tropical drinks you may think of as Hawaiian are actually inventions of the 1950's Polynesian Hollywood kitsch club scene. If you prefer to set out a punch bowl for your luau guests, a Hawaiian Punch is always a sure-fire fruity hit. Some non-alcoholic luau drink ideas are still drinks that pack plenty of fruity taste, but just do it without the alcohol, like a Banana-Mango Smoothie or a Virgin Strawberry Colada .

Hawaii Wedding Invitations, Hawaii

Party & Wedding Invitations in Hawaii example: Miami Disc Jockey Need Help? Click Here and The Professionals Will Come to the Rescue! Party Themes Party Vendors Letter to Editor Vendor Registration Greeting Cards Party Tips Budget Calculator Seating Arrangement Message Boards Bridal Shows Address Book We Recommend Contact Me Please Vendors by Region Link to Us Wine Member Registration Popular Searches Search results for Party & Wedding Invitations in Hawaii . Invitations & Printing > Party & Wedding Invitations Local and National Listing of Suppliers of Wedding Invitations, Party Invitations and General Invitations for Weddings, Birthday Parties, Corporate Events, Special Events, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Announcements, Etc... Results 1 - 20 of 78 listings in Hawaii Invites Galore - Party & Wedding Invitations Serving Nationwide 561-790-7719 Fill The Room - RSVP Service Serving Nationwide 800-470-7209 25 Free Wedding Invitations - Win a Dream Cruise Bakersfield CA 800-200-9935 Spitfiregirl.com Serving Nationwide 818-997-1700 Seating Arrangement.com Serving Nationwide 877-996-6600 The Message in a Bottle Shop Serving Nationwide 714-441-3442 Invitations 4 You- Wedding and Party Invitations Serving Nationwide 714-396-1803 Event Wizard-Occasionals - Custom Invitations Serving Nationwide 714-731-1540 Marketing in a Bottle - Invitations in a Bottle Serving Nationwide 949-218-7333 Everafter-Bridal.com Serving Nationwide 800-660-0693 20 - 30 percent DISCOUNT on ALL wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations and announcements. Up to 20 percent OFF Wedding Accessories, favors, cake toppers, jewelry, headpieces & much more. Decodent Dezigns - Art Deco Invitations Serving Nationwide 877-777-5151 World of Wonderment Serving Nationwide 425-329-3483 Wedding Invitations Etc. Serving Nationwide 425-327-8184 Impressions in Print Serving USA Canada, 800-804-1960 DVD Wedding Invitations Serving Nationwide 800-894-7033 Deluxe Print - Wedding & Party Invitations Serving Nationwide 866-351-1714 Courtney Dale Serving Nationwide 931-249-6695 Personally For You, Invitations Serving Nationwide 877-239-8419 You're invited to browse this line shop or schedule an appointment if you live in the Madison, WI area to view personally the large selection and great discounts on Invitations, Accessories and Favors Sandstone Invitations Serving Nationwide 920-206-0615 Your Web Source For All Your Wedding Needs Serving Nationwide 920-206-0615 Page 1 2 3 4 At any special event you need guests and of course the guests have to know they're invited and where to attend your gala occasion. Certainly you want the Invitation to be something the guest would remember and hopefully it will become a permanent fixture of their mantle. Wedding Invitations, Party Invitations and any type of Printable Invitations are a way to show the guests they are the most important people in the world to you. Of course the invitation can come in many shapes, sizes, colors, designs and so forth, so it's important to communicate to the Printing Company what you are looking for from your Wedding Invitation or Party Invitation. What feeling do you want to evoke from the invitation? Hopefully the Invitations will mirror the feeling of the event, and show a bit of your own personality through the Wedding Card. If the Printing Services don't have any stock Wedding Cards or Invitations that suit your needs, there are Custom Printing Companies that can tailor make invitations to your exact specifications, down to the color, texture and printed message. Custom Made Invitations are beautiful, hand crafted cards and certainly if you have it in the budget, then a Custom Made Invitation is the best way to go. PartyPop.com has local and National listings of Suppliers of Invitations for Weddings, Birthdays, Announcements etc. These listings can also be found under the following search phrases: Hawaii Wedding Invitations, Hawaii Wedding Invitation, Hawaii Party Invitations, Hawaii Invitation, Hawaii Invitations, Hawaii Wedding Invitations, Hawaii Party Invitations, Hawaii Printing Service, Hawaii Printing Services, Hawaii Anniversary, Hawaii Bachelor, Hawaii Bachelorette, Hawaii Baby Shower, Hawaii Baptism, Hawaii Bar Mitzvah, Hawaii Bat Mitzvah, Hawaii Birthday, Hawaii Bridal Shower, Hawaii Briss, Hawaii Christian Holidays, Hawaii Confirmation, Hawaii Corporate Event, Hawaii Dinner, Hawaii Engagement, Hawaii Quinceanera, Hawaii Reunion, Hawaii School Festivals, Hawaii Prom, Hawaii Sweet Sixteen, Hawaii Party, Hawaii Sweet 16 Related search phrases: Party Invitations Wedding Invitation Wedding Invitations Related Message Boards: Anniversary Planning Bar Mitzvah DJ Birthdays Corporate Events Party Tips Graduation Invitations Wedding Favors Prom Dresses Quinceanera Wedding Planning Download a free evaluation copy of the award winning Seating Arrangement event and wedding planning software . click... click... done! Categories: Event & Wedding Photographers , DJs , Video Productions , Wedding Bands , Inflatables & Moonbounce , Limousine , Wedding Coordinators , Clowns , Party Rentals , Caterer , Male Strippers , Party & Event Planners , Exotic Female Dancer , Magic Show , Children's Party , Casino Party , Caricature Artist , Minister , Chocolate Fountains , Celebrity Look-Alikes & Impersonators , Balloon Bouquet , Corporate Events , Linen Rental , Portrait Studios , Florists & Flower Shops , Belly Dancing , Party Invitations , Audio Visual & Sound Equipment , Party Tents , Party & Wedding Favors , Make-up Artist , Entertainers , Event Producers , Wedding Dresses , Bachelorette Party , Entertainment Agencies , face Painter , Coffee Bar , Food Servers , Jazz Bands , more... Planning a party? Planning a wedding? Planning an event? Simply fill in a few details and the professionals you need will contact you directly. Anniversary | Baby Shower | Bachelor | Bachelorette | Baptism Bar Mitzvah | Bat Mitzvah | Birthday | Bridal Shower | Briss | Christian Holidays Confirmation | Corporate Event | Corporate Picnic | Engagement | Family Reunion | Quinceanera School Prom / Graduation | School Reunion | Sweet Sixteen | Wedding Send This Page to a Friend Your Name: Your Email: Friend's Email: Are you a vendor? Add your listing to our Party & Wedding Invitations Directory Regions: Alaska , Alabama , Arizona , Phoenix , Bay Area , California , Inland Empire , Los Angeles , Orange County , Sacramento , San Diego , San Francisco , Santa Barbara , Southern California , Colorado , Denver , Connecticut , Hartford , New Haven , Washington DC , Delaware , Florida , Fort Myers , Jacksonville , Miami , Orlando , Pensacola , Tampa , Atlanta , Georgia , Savannah , Hawaii , Iowa , Idaho , Chicago , Illinois , Indiana , Indianapolis , Kansas , Kansas City , Kentucky , Boston , New England , Worcester , Baltimore , Bethesda , Maryland , Maine , Detroit , Grand Rapids , Minneapolis/St.Paul , Minnesota , Missouri , St. Louis , Montana , Raleigh , Manchester , Atlantic City , New Jersey , Newark , New Mexico , Las Vegas , Nevada , Brooklyn , Long Island , Manhattan , New York City , Rochester , Cincinnati , Cleveland , Ohio , Oklahoma , Canada , Ontario , Oregon , Portland , Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Providence , Rhode Island , Nashville , Austin , Dallas , Houston , San Antonio , Texas , Utah , Arlington , Richmond , Virginia , Vermont , Seattle , Washington , Milwaukee , more... Party Links | Wedding Links | Event Links | Top Vendors | Top Categories | Popular Searches Home | About | Contact | Wine | Regions | Impersonators | Links American Wedding Album Party Invitation 800-428-0379 Provides beautiful wedding invitations, thank you notes, and other accessories for weddings. Choose from a wide selection of different sizes, themes, colors, and wording of your choice. Lci Paper Co. Wedding Invitation Paper 888-488-0120 LCI Paper - manufacturer of blank wedding invitations, wedding envelopes and specialty card stock for printing your own wedding invitations. DIY Invitations with Handmade paper & translucent paper. Everafter-Bridal.com Party Invitations Orange County 800-660-0693 20 - 30 percent DISCOUNT on ALL wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations and announcements. Up to 20 percent OFF Wedding Accessories, favors, cake toppers, jewelry, headpieces & much more. Personally For You, Invitations Party Invitations 877-239-8419 You're invited to browse this line shop or schedule an appointment if you live in the Madison, WI area to view personally the large selection and great discounts on Invitations, Accessories and Favors American Wedding Album Party Invitation 800-428-0379 Provides beautiful wedding invitations, thank you notes, and other accessories for weddings. Choose from a wide selection of different sizes, themes, colors, and wording of your choice. Lci Paper Co. Wedding Invitations 888-488-0120 LCI Paper - manufacturer of blank wedding invitations, wedding envelopes and specialty card stock for printing your own wedding invitations. DIY Invitations with Handmade paper & translucent paper. Everafter-Bridal.com Party Invitations Orange County 800-660-0693 20 - 30 percent DISCOUNT on ALL wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations and announcements. Up to 20 percent OFF Wedding Accessories, favors, cake toppers, jewelry, headpieces & much more. Personally For You, Invitations Wedding Invitations 877-239-8419 You're invited to browse this line shop or schedule an appointment if you live in the Madison, WI area to view personally the large selection and great discounts on Invitations, Accessories and Favors American Wedding Album Wedding Invitations 800-428-0379 Provides beautiful wedding invitations, thank you notes, and other accessories for weddings. Choose from a wide selection of different sizes, themes, colors, and wording of your choice. Lci Paper Co. Wedding Invitations 888-488-0120 LCI Paper - manufacturer of blank wedding invitations, wedding envelopes and specialty card stock for printing your own wedding invitations. DIY Invitations with Handmade paper & translucent paper.

Hawaii Cruises American Hawaii

American Hawaii Cruises: Maritime Matters MARITIME MATTERS Ocean liner history and cruise ship news [Home] [Table of Contents] [Shipping Mall] [Index of ships] American Hawaii Cruises American Hawaii Cruises (1980-2001) American Hawaii Cruises, AHC, was formed in 1979 and revivedAmerican-flag cruising around Hawaii. The company bought the laid up 1951-built linerOCEANIC INDEPENDENCE (ex INDEPENDENCE, American Export Isbrandsten) from C.Y. Tung's AtlanticFar East Line. A special act of congress was needed to return the US builtship to American registry. Refitted in Taiwan, and then Japan, she entered service on a slowsteaming economical seven day interisland schedule in June of 1980. As the venture was sucessful, the former sister ship of INDEPENDENCE waspurchased. The 1951-built CONSTITUTION was refitted and began sailing a similar itineraryin June of 1982 following a gala christening by Princess Grace of Monaco that April. These two ships became the only American flagged ocean-going ships in the passenger trade. Briefly, AHC also operated the 1958-built former Moore McCormack Liner BRASIL (later Holland America line's VOLENDAM) on seven day cruises out of Papeete, Taihiti, as the LIBERTE in 1986/7. Due to poor air lift, this venture was a failure and the LIBERTE was sold to present owners, Commodore Cruises, who are presently chartering her to World Explorer Cruises and the Seawise Foundation as the UNIVERSE EXPLORER. In 1994 the INDEPENDENCE was extensively refitted at Newport News, VA. The CONSTITUTION was to follow, but after estimates for the work skyrocketed, she was laid up in Portland, Oregon in July 1995. Two years later, she was stripped of spare parts for her sister and sold for scrapping in India. She mysteriously sank on November 24, 1998 while under tow in the Pacific, 700 miles north and west of Hawaii enroute to the scrap yard in Japan. AHC made the announcement that new US Built ships would be added to thefleet and Ingalls Shipyard at Pascagoula, MI has won the contract for two 1,900 passenger ships for service in hawaii in 2003. In the meantime, another shipwas bought as a stop-gap until the first of the newbuilds is delivered. On October 18, 2000 American Classic Voyages (parent company to Delta Queen Steamboat Cruises and American Hawaii Cruises) revived a famous name in American shipping -- United States Lines -- when it purchased Holland America's 1983-built NIEUW AMSTERDAM and renamed her the M.S. PATRIOT . USL acquired the ship for $114.5 million and the transfer occurred at sea, approximately 14 miles off Portand, Oregon. At the same moment she changed registry to Honolulu and nowshe sails under the U.S. flag. A christening event on December 8, 2000 in Hawaii kicked off the new service beginning the following day.Under the "Project America" initiative, (which allowed this foreign flagged vessel to become US registered) the parent company American Classic Voyages Co. is constructing two 1,900-passenger ships scheduled to begin cruises around the Hawaiian Islands under the United States Lines name beginning in early 2003 and 2004.The two 72,000-ton vessels, under construction at Ingalls Shipbuilding (a division of Litton Ship Systems, Pascagoula, Missippi) will be the largest ocean-going cruise ships ever built in a U.S. shipyard, and the first in more than 40 years. In September 2001, American Classic Voyages Co. reached an agreement, endorsed by theU.S. Maritime Administration with the support of U.S. Secretary of Transportation, thatwould enable the uninterrupted construction of two 1,900-passenger cruise ships in the US. Rumouredto be named UNITED STATES and AMERICA the two vessels under grouped under the title "Project America" whichis a pilot project aimed at reinvigorating U.S.-flag cruise ship construction and operation. The two shipswere in the early stages of construction at Northrop Grumman's Ingalls Operations. The cruise ship delivery dates wereextended by 12 months, to February 1, 2004, and February 1, 2005. Sadly this was not to be, as on October 19, 2001, one year after United States Lines had been announced, American Classic Voyages, Inc. announced that it filed for bankruptcy court protection and would cease operating all but one ship. the SS INDEPENDENCE and MS PATRIOT stop sailing on Saturday, October 20 after completingtheir cruises. The Delta Queen Vessels AMERICAN QUEEN, MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, COLUMBIA QUEEN and CAPE MAY LIGHT werelaid up within three days. Only the historic DELTA QUEEN, continued to operate its Mississippi River voyages. American Classic claimed that half of its bookings had fallen off since the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001.Rumors the company was in financial trouble had circulated for for some time and Nasdaq officials halted tradingin American Classic's shares after they reached a new low of 46 cents each. AMCV hoped to work out a deal with Los Angeles based Northrop Grumman Corp., owner of the shipyard, and the U.S. Maritime Administration to keep the ship-building projects underway, however the project was suspended on October 25, and cancelled on November 1. SS INDEPENDENCE now the property of the US Maritime Administration sailed past Pier 39 in San Francisco at 10:30 AM, November 8, 2001 into lay up at the former Alameda Naval Station adjacent to the museum ship HORNET while she prepares for longterm layup within the reserve fleet at Suisuin Bay possibly in February 2001. S.S.INDEPENDENCE , S.S. CONSTITUTION , SS LIBERTE United States Lines vessels: M.S.PATRIOT United States Lines page References: AMERICAN PASSENGER SHIPS, Emmons; Passengers Liners American Style; William Miller [Home] [Table of Contents] [Shipping Mall] [Index of ships]