Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

If the other 4 veteran Hawaii teams are the other pending spots, I wonder who the final one is? West Coast, East Coast? What happened to team 103? This will really be a week 5 regional to watch! Just look at the list!

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

i just checked the plane tickets again. for the week of the competition, it is super expensive.
about $580 after all the security fees etc. are added on.

If we call them, I wonder how much the price can go down by.
and
Have anyone heard back from Jim Beck about the Hotels?

edit:// i searched fromt mroe travel companies and the cheapest i found was 529 from oakland to honolulu

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

When I tried calling the prices were actually higher.

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

oh wow... what happened to group rates.....
well I did more research from various travel agencies. the cheapest I found was $528.

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

Just a quick update!

The prices from coming back on Sunday the 30th was getting ridiculously high (and very booked) so we called everyone that signed up for Hawaii Regional from my team to see if we can stay an extra day. Most didn't have problem with it.
After called various airlines, we got a price of just below $400 (tax and everything included and getting there and back in San Jose!! first time in many years! we always had to go up to SFO) for 26 people!! yay!! Happy Ending for the Airfare!

We also called a couple hotels . So far only got number back from Hilton.
They are willing to give us rooms for about $200 /room/day (we need 12 rooms)

It's a bit to expensive for us and not exactly necessary .I mean the point of planning is to bet the best value. Right now we are budgeting about ~$250 (average per person for 5 nights in max of 4 people per room, not everyone's room will be filled up just cuz we always have an odd random numbers of girls going ^_^ last time i had to sleep on the floor for 3 out of the 4 nights)

and average out the car rental price probably getting 2 vans to shuttle
possibly add in 2 team dinners. ( all the other meals the students get for themselves.... we often get lazy and end up at fast food places hehe)

We are hoping to keep everything under $800 per student

With the extra day (the Sunday) we are thinking about planning a team trip.
So far on our possibility list, we have:
-Pearl Harbor
-Diamond Head

I never been to Hawaii before so what other close by places can we go to?

Last question: There IS going to be a team social on the last day right?

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

:D Hanauma bay
North Shore Beaches
Basically, go around the island and check it out.

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

Those are all great places to check out. We went to Hanauma Bay on July 4th and it was simply epic. We also went to Todai to fill ourselves up, not a bad way to spend your day:p. We were playing pasoi at the north shore. Pearl Harbor was our last stop, and it was a bit depressing. You can also go kayaking. We rented some and went out to Mokulua and had lunch there. It was a part of this bird sanctuary, so it was pretty cool.

For hotel we got the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Cost wise it's going to be quite for a bit for everyone, with $1000-$1200 per person for the week, not including any meals which might get expensive. Hopefully we can go to Todai more for the one meal a day fill yourself up in 2 hours :D.

So all in all, you can check out Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head, North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Mokulua, and Todai.

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

sweet!!! there is a Todai around?
Nice!!! maybe that's where we should make one of our team dinners.

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

There's one across the street from the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

While the Hilton is quite nice, I'd say it's definitely not the place for most teams to be looking at. Airfare is already so much that there's no reason to add more costs by staying at an expensive hotel.

My theory is we aren't going to be spending any time in our hotel, except for crashing at night, so as long as it's safe and clean, it doesn't matter how cheap it is.

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

I'm not a student anymore. LOL! So if I only had 1 extra day to spend, it wouldnt be at Pearl Harbor...hehe. Adult stuff.
Its Mokuleia by the way. Its way out in the boonies where our school is. :D
Hanauma bay is neat. When you go swimming, the fishes will come right up to you to feed off your hand! This isn't some pond or something. Its a bay right off the ocean. I dont know of anyplace where fishes are unafraid to come right up to you.:D
Todai is a great place to eat. Eat there every night if you can!!
Walk around Waikiki too, its great!

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

The Regional Planning Chair has been trying to secure hotel rooms for the incoming teams and was able to get 100+ rooms at $180 a night or so. This is a bit much for many teams, but with it being the peak season, this is all that could be secured. Details are still being worked out as to who to contact, etc., but when they are finalized, your team will be officially notified.

As for a team social, yes a luau is being planned for Friday evening. The University of Hawaii College of Engineering is also planning on a student/parent meet and greet with food on Thursday evening - not quite certain of the size of this 'event' however (for planning team dinner purposes on Thursday that is). They will be sure to announce more later.

As for other things to do, Diamond Head is nice and cheap (just make sure everyone can handle the trek up and down in the heat). Pearl Harbor is rather somber, but the Swap Meet (Flea Market) at Aloha Stadium is within walking distance on Wednesday or Sunday to buy things you won't find elsewhere for quite cheap.

Right in Waikiki are the Honolulu Zoo and Honolulu Aquarium (the Aquarium is quite small and the Zoo is, well, not something people come to Hawaii for).

As mentioned before, Hanauma Bay is quite impressive, but closed on Tuesdays and parking often fills fast.

If you want to go to some of the less touristy beaches, consider going to Kailua town. If you make your way through the mountains, you can stop at the Pali Lookout for a great view. If you go around the island instead, there is also Sea Life Park to consider which is like a mini Sea World.

If you head to the North Shore, you can consider the Polynesian Cultural Center, but it's a little pricey and not open on Sundays.

You might also consider the very easy hike to Manoa Falls for the nature lovers which is at the back of the valley where the competition is being held.

Other than that, hope everyone making their way here is able to have a great time during their stay!

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

these are all good suggestions for those planning to come to Hawaii.

Side note for diamond head- i hope you like climbing stairs.

If you have the chance, visit some of the neighbor islands, the flights are relatively inexpensive (even more so if you can get in on a special air fare war offer), you could visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or the Imiloa Astronomy Center on the Big Island <<*Hint Hint*. i believe it may have been posted earlier but these are both closer to Hilo, flying in from Kona to visit the national park gives you the scenic route.

Re: Getting to the 2008 Honolulu Regionals doesn't require breaking the bank
 

its been awhile since ive lived on oahu, but if any teams do make it out to kailua, make sure to go to island snow. best snow cones ever.