Today the Hawaii Superferry resumed passenger service to Maui from Oahu and was met by a crowd of environmental and community protestors at the Maui Kahului Harbor. The protestors were on surf boards, in a canoe, and on land. Passengers were met with shouts of, "We don't want you here." The Coast Guard and other law enforcement officers were on-hand to ensure the safety of protestors and passengers.
The Hawaii Superferry had been banned from using the Maui Kahului Harbor through an injuction by Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cordoza in October. Because of the injuction the ferry service had to shutdown until an environmental assessment of the harbor had been completed.
Through a special session of the Hawaii Legislature and a bill signed into law by Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, the ferry service has been allowed to continue while the environmental assessment is being completed.

Sammy Hagar, of Van Halen fame, will open a new restaurant at the Kahului Airport on Maui in 2008. Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill will have a casual island-style atmosphere offering classic American cuisine. Hagar's personal rock memorabilia will be part of the decor along with rock and surf music. Profits from the restaurant will be donated to charities supporting children's organizations.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) fined Delta Airlines $115,000. on Monday for failing to properly provide its on-time arrival performance data to consumers who requested the information. Through the DOT Enforcement Office, its staffers posed as consumers who made reservations over the telephone.
Delta Airlines is the third airlines to be fined this year for violating DOT regulations that involve providing on-time arrival performance data to consumers. In October, JetBlue Airways was fined $30,000. and Hawaiian Airlines was fined $50,000.

Today Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cordoza lifted the injuction that he imposed on the Hawaii Superferry. The injuction had banned the Hawaii Superferry from using the Maui Kahului Harbor until an environmental assessment was completed to study changes made to the harbor to accommodate the vessel.
Last week Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed into law a bill passed by the Hawaii Legislature during a special session that addressed the injuction that banned the Hawaii Superferry from using the Maui Kahului Harbor. The law sets up an oversight task force.
Issues vary surrounding the pros and cons of the Hawaii Superferry service. Some residents are concerned about the environmental damage to the islands' eco-systems while some farmers want to ship their produce by refrigerated truck to other islands.

Members of a checked luggage theft ring operating out of the Jakarta Airport were arrested last week. The theft ring members were baggage handlers who worked for Garuda Indonesia, Air Asia, Lion Air, and Batavia Air. Jewelry and electronic items were stolen from the checked luggage of domestic and international passengers. An investigation into the thefts were prompted by complaints from passengers.

Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) Pride of Hawaii passengers fell ill to nausea, vomitting, and diarrhia this week in Hawaii. Of the 2,500 passengers, about 6% of them developed a stomach virus. The cruise ship left Honolulu Harbor on Monday and by Wednesday passengers were reportedly ill. NCL asked the ill passengers to remain in their cabins for 24 hours. The cruise ship, and other modes of transportation that the passengers used, was sanitized. NCL stated that they would offer the ill passengers a $200. onboard ship credit and would notify future passengers of the outbreak.

Actor Daniel Dae Kim, 39, of ABC TV show "Lost," was arrested Thursday, October 25, 2007, at 2:30am, for suspicion of driving under the influence in Hawaii. Mr. Kim was "cooperative and respectful" to everyone involved according to Honolulu Police Department Captain Frank Fujii. In November, 2005, "Lost" actresses Michelle Rodriquez and Cynthia Watros were arrested, in Hawaii, for failing field sobriety tests. Ms. Rodriquez was sentenced to time in jail and Ms. Watros was fined.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel (Oahu) will close on June 1, 2008, for seven months to complete multi-million dollar upgrade.

Health Alert: The Centers for Disease Control and The Pan American Health Organization reports that Latin America and the Caribbean are facing one of the worst outbreaks of dengue fever (a mosquito-borne illness) in decades. The flu-like symptoms include severe pain in the joints, high fever, and nausea.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) fined JetBlue Airways ($30,000.) and Hawaiian Airlines ($50,000.) for failing to properly disclose their on-time arrival performance data on specific flights when the information was requested by DOT staffers posing as consumers during telephone reservation inquiries. Under DOT regulations, airlines must disclose their on-time arrival performance data to any consumer who requests the information during the course of a reservation.
The DOT Enforcement Office added that in two of its calls, the airlines' reservation agents put the DOT staffers on hold and failed to return to provide the information. In their defense, JetBlue Airways and Hawaiian Airlines stated that their noncompliance was unintentional.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts plans to build a resort on Oahu, Hawaii. The Resort is set to open in 2011 on 21-acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort and Marina. This mixed-use family resort will be minus a theme-park.

Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza ruled this week that the Hawaii SuperFerry must cease operations until an environmental assessment is completed of changes made to the Maui Kahului Harbor to accommodate the vessel. The judge also ruled that the Hawaii Department of Transportation's operating agreement with the SuperFerry's owners was not valid.

Haleakala National Park officials declare moratorium on bike tours down Mount Haleakala (Maui). Three tourists have died this year while biking down Mount Haleakala.

New US Passport rules began on October 1, 2007, require US citizens to show passports when re-entering the US by air from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region.