FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2010

HAWAI‘I WILL EXCITE BAY AREA RESIDENTS’ FIVE SENSES WITH ISLAND FUN THROUGHOUT MARCH

– Hawai‘i’s Sights, Sounds, Fragrances, Flavors, and Aloha Spirit Showcased –

HONOLULU – Hardly a day will go by in March without Bay Area residents

experiencing a touch of Hawai‘i’s familiar aloha spirit, fascinating culture, charming

beauty, and distinctive music right in their own backyard.

Under the playful theme, Perfect Moments in the Islands of Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i

Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), along with its Island Chapters (Kaua‘i, O‘ahu,

Maui, and Hawai‘i’s Big Island), and industry partners will charm Bay Area residents

with a new month-long Hawai‘i campaign aimed at awakening their senses with exciting

island-style experiences and motivating them to book a vacation to Hawai‘i.

“The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the Hawaiian Islands will be front and

center in our promotion throughout the Bay Area with high touch events and activities for

everyone to enjoy,” said John Monahan, HVCB president and CEO. “We’re here to remind

people of that perfect moment they’ve had or dreamed of having in Hawai‘i and invite

them to return on vacation to relax, recharge their batteries, and take advantage of the

exceptional travel deals available now.”

Each week in March will feature a theme specific to an island and reflective of its

destination appeal, as follows:

• February 28 – March 6 O‘ahu – Town and Country • March 7-13 Kaua‘i – Relax and Rejuvenate • March 14-20 Hawai‘i’s Big Island – Adventures of a Lifetime • March 21-27 Maui – Experience Maui’s Magic

A complete listing of Hawai‘i events happening in the Bay Area throughout March

can be found on HVCB website at gohawaii.com/perfectmoments.

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Hawai‘i Will Excite Bay Area Residents Five Senses With Island Fun Throughout March Page 2 Aloha Friday Pau Hana Concerts at Gordon Biersch

In the celebrated island-style tradition of “work over, hang loose”, Hawai‘i’s music,

cuisine, and Aloha Spirit will be showcased in Aloha Friday Pau Hana Concerts being held

at Gordon Biersch restaurants in San Francisco (6:00-8:00 p.m.), Palo Alto (6:00-8:00 p.m.),

and San Jose (5:00-9:30 p.m.).

Each Friday in March, some of Hawai‘i’s top entertainers will perform their musical

magic, including Amy Hänaiali‘i, Keli‘i Käneali‘i, Brother Noland, Taimane Gardner,

Mailani Makainai, Cyril Pahinui, and Brittni Paiva. Patrons will also enjoy a special menu

of Hawai‘i-inspired cuisine and can win trips to the Islands.

Explore Hawai‘i Book and Music Tour at Borders

Take the family on a journey to the Hawaiian Islands through books, music and

culture featuring some of Hawai‘i’s most celebrated musicians, authors, illustrators and

cultural practitioners. HVCB and Banana Patch Press of Kaua‘i bring the Explore Hawai‘i

Book and Music Tour to Borders locations in the Bay Area and beyond each weekend.

Enjoy readings by popular Island authors, while being serenaded with the music of

Hawai‘i from award-winning recording artists. Their books and music span a wide range

of subjects and styles, including Hawai‘i’s rich history, surfing, food, cultural values, and

more. The tour visits six Borders locations as follows:

• Sand City – March 6, 2:00 p.m. • Sunnyvale – March 7, 2:00 p.m. • Sacramento – March 13, 4:00 p.m. • Pleasant Hill – March 14, 3:00 p.m. • Stonestown – March 20, 1:00 p.m. • Union Square – March 21, 2:00 p.m.

Brew Hawai‘i Coffee Sampling at Fida’s Café

Start the day off right every Friday at Fida’s Café (350 California Street) with a cup

of freshly brewed Island coffee from Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, and Hawai‘i’s Big Island.

Throughout March, customers can experience the unique flavors of Hawai‘i and a little aloha

in your cup! The special Hawai‘i coffee sleeves on the cups are also redeemable at all

Gordon Biersch locations throughout the month on Fridays for a complimentary order of its

signature Garlic Fries.

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Hawai‘i Will Excite Bay Area Residents Five Senses With Island Fun Throughout March Page 3 Discover Kaua‘i

Escape to a lunchtime getaway to the beautiful Garden Isle of Kaua‘i on March 12

and March 13 (locations below). Relax to Hawaiian music performed by Kaua‘i’s own

Nick Castillo and the graceful hula of one of the island’s top talents, Noelani Kau‘i. Enjoy

delicious Kauai Coffee, Kaua‘i Kookies, and the Kaua‘i Made products on display. Best of

all, enter a drawing for prize giveaways highlighted by free trips for two to Kaua‘i,

including airfare and accommodations. Presented by the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau,

Hawaiian Airlines, Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages, and Aston Kauai Beach at

Makaïwa, Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa, and Princeville Ranch Adventures.

Friday, March 12, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – One Market Plaza (1 Market Street)

Saturday, March 13, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Stoneridge Mall (Pleasanton)

Also, on the evening of March 12, relax and rejuvenate with the music and hula of

Kaua‘i at Gordon Biersch (2 Harrison Street) from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Be one of the first 50

guests to say “Discover Kaua‘i” and receive a free drink. Enjoy the falsetto singing of Nick

Castillo and the graceful hula of Noelani Kau‘i, while sampling Kaua‘i Made products,

and having fun with the prize giveaways.

Hawai‘i’s Big Island: Earth, Sea and Sky

On March 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and

the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center bring the concepts and values of the ahupua‘a system

(an ancient Hawaiian land division system containing strips of land that extend from the

mountain to the sea) to The Tech Museum (201 South Market Street, San Jose).

Utilizing elements of Hawaiian culture, language and history, the program will

actively engage visitors in understanding the connections between earth, sea and sky, our

place in the cosmos, and our influence upon the environment. Visitors will also be able to

enjoy “From Earth to Universe,” an exhibit provided by NASA. Hawai‘i Volcanoes

National Park is Hawai‘i’s only World Heritage Site and home to the state’s active

volcanoes. The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center connects the rich traditions of Hawaiian culture

with the groundbreaking astronomical research conducted at the summit of Maunakea.

-more-

Hawai‘i Will Excite Bay Area Residents Five Senses With Island Fun Throughout March Page 4 Experience Maui’s Magic

Chocolate aficionados, fanatics, buyers and journalists can experience the finest in

artisan, gourmet & premium chocolate in one of the world’s great culinary metropolitan

areas at the 4th Annual San Francisco International Chocolate Salon on March 20 from

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Come to the Maui Visitors Bureau booth and enter to win a trip for two to the

Magic Isle of Maui. Enjoy a five-night stay at a fabulous Destination Resorts Hawai‘i

property with airfare provided by Hawaiian Airlines. Stop by to enjoy Hawaiian music

and hula, along with fresh flower lei and samples of chocolate delicacies from Ali‘i Kula

Lavender, including lavender truffles, fudge sauce, chocolate bars, chocolate brownies,

and chocolate gelato.

Then on March 22 and 25, come experience Maui’s magic at Four Embarcadero

Center (One Maritime Plaza) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Enjoy the “sights, smells and

sounds of Maui” with Hawaiian music, hula, and lei. Maui information will also be

handed out.

Perfect Moments in the Islands of Hawai‘i Campaign

In addition to the consumer events, Bay Area residents are likely to see and hear

Hawai‘i everywhere throughout March. The HVCB campaign will be seen in print,

broadcast, and online advertising; bus shelters, tower kiosks, and on ad walls on

prominent buildings in the financial district; on coffee sleeves at independent coffee shops

in the city; on the TriVision billboard at Oakland Airport; and in Bay Area television

shows, including The View From the Bay.

Travel trade activities in the market will also bring further Hawai‘i visibility to

travel agents and wholesalers in the Bay Area via incentive promotions, e-marketing

initiatives, agent training seminars with key suppliers, sales calls, and webinars.

Bay Area residents are encouraged to visit gohawaii.com/perfectmoments,

a new HVCB microsite that will engage them with interactive promotions, offer

information about Hawai‘i events in the Bay Area, and help them plan their vacation.

For more information about Hawai‘i, the Islands of Aloha, visit gohawaii.com.

-pau-

Hawai‘i Will Excite Bay Area Residents Five Senses With Island Fun Throughout March Page 5 For Hawai‘i photos, please visit the HVCB Image Library at HVCB.org. Special note to media: The Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) recognizes the use of the ‘okina [‘] or glottal stop, one of the eight consonants of the (modern) Hawaiian language; and the kahakö [ä] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawai‘i such as Läna‘i). However, HVCB respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses. The Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau is contracted by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state of Hawai‘i’s tourism agency, for marketing management services in North America. The HTA was established in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawai‘i tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the state of Hawai‘i’s economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs.

Media Contacts: Darlene Morikawa Nathan Kam Director, Public Relations/Communications Vice President Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau McNeil Wilson Communications dmorikawa@hvcb.org Nathan.Kam@MWC-Anthology.com 808-924-0259 808-539-3471