Strong Australian Dollar sends Tourists on Hawaiian Spending Spree

The combination of a strong Australian dollar and very competitive air fares and holiday packages has resulted in a new wave of Aussie interest in Hawaii - and it is not just the sun and surf of Honolulu and the neighbouring islands that are driving the latest surge in bookings. Increasingly, Australians are heading to Hawaii to go shopping.

"The USA has always been a great destination for Australians to buy big brand items at bargain prices," said Sherilyn Robinson, Sales and Marketing Manager, Australia, for Hawaiian Airlines.

"With the Australian dollar currently sitting between US$ 0.90 - US$ 0.95 cents, conditions are proving perfect for bargain shopping," said Ms Robinson. "And with the range of competitive air fares and holiday packages available, travellers are realising they don't need to go all the way to the mainland to shop for bargains - all of the big brand stores of America can be found in Honolulu."

Perhaps the best-known shopping location in Hawaii is the Ala Moana Centre on Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, a short distance from the centre of Waikiki. Here, shoppers have more than 250 retail outlets to choose from, ranging from the Macy's and Neiman Marcus department stores to big-brand designers and boutique stores. The centre is open from 9.30am - 9.00pm Monday -Saturday, and 10am-7pm on Sundays.

Next door to the ala Moana Centre is the Victoria Ward Centre, offering another 120 stores and a Farmer's Market.

And 30 minutes from Waikiki, near Pearl Harbour, is Hawaii's only outlet centre, Waikele Premium Outlets, with over 50 big-name stores including Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Jeans, Banana Republic and Max Mara. Waikele is open from 9.00am - 9.00pm Monday - Saturday, and 10.00am -6.00pm each Sunday.

Hawaiian Airlines offers three weekly nonstop flights from Sydney to Honolulu, and connecting service with Virgin Blue from 19 other Australian destinations.

Hawaiian's Boeing 767-300ER services depart Sydney mid evening, cross the international dateline, and arrive in Honolulu mid-morning the same day, enabling travellers to check into their hotels and hit the shops by early afternoon, or to connect with onward Hawaiian flights to the neighbour islands of Maui, Kauai and The Big island of Hawaii, and do their shopping in Honolulu on the way home.

Passengers travelling from destinations other than Sydney can check their luggage all the way from their home destination to Honolulu, and on arrival in Sydney can take a free shuttle from within the Virgin Blue terminal to the international terminal for their Hawaiian flight.

Hawaiian is also a partner in the Virgin Blue loyalty programme, Velocity, enabling members to earn or redeem points on all Hawaiian Airlines flights.

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