Goin’ to the Chapel…in Waikiki

One of my favorite hotels in Hawaii has recently opened Waikiki’s first beachfront chapel at the Moana Surfrider, a Westin resort and spa.

The chapel is located on the hotel’s first floor in the Diamond Head wing and is now open for business! The $3.5 million chapel is forecast to bring in 1,200 wedding couples per year, generating over $10 million in annual sales.

To date, the Moana Chapel already has over 420 confirmed wedding bookings throughout 2010. The couples are mostly overseas visitors (Japanese couples likely making up a large percentage), and the chapel plans to reach out to local couples as well.

A wedding salon has also been constructed on the second floor of the hotel, and specialized wedding banquet facilities have been built on the resort’s first and eight floors.

I love the idea of getting married on Waikiki Beach and can’t wait to check out this venue on my next visit! What do you think? Is Waikiki too touristy for a wedding? Or perhaps the ultimate Hawaii wedding experience?

**Image courtesty of About.com**

Hawaiian Friday

Do you subscribe to TrendCentral? The Intelligence Group sends out some great information on trends via email every day, on a wide range of consumer-focused topics.  This week, the team at IG called out that Hawaii is having a moment here on the mainland. From nightlife to fashion, the Polynesian vibe is infiltrating culture faster than you can down a Mai Tai. Perhaps it's the awful weather on the mainland?  Or maybe the fact that Hawaii rocks!  Some 'trends' they focused on were:

1. Tiki Bars
2. The comeback of the Ukulele (Pam @ Nerds Eye View - this should make you happy!)
3. Tropical prints

Want to learn more about the Intelligence Group and sign up for TrendCentral newsletters?  Visit their website, or find them on facebook and twitter.

Get Rid of Jet Lag!

If you have ever done any long distance travel, it’s likely that you have suffered from jet lag at some point. The worse case I have had was when I travelled from Sydney, Australia, to Seattle, WA, via Hawaii, all in a 24 hour period. It literally took me 24 hours to recover, because I didn’t prepare and plan accordingly! I have just booked another long distance haul to Australia, and this time, I’m not taking any chances when it comes to jet lag. Here are my top three tips to help you recover quickly next time you travel:


1. Break Up Your Trip – If you are planning a long trip (i.e. to the other side of the globe), you may want to break it up with an overnight stay half way. Better yet, why not do a mini-vacation on the way to your destination?

2. While Travelling – Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine and drink plenty of water – there is nothing worse than being drunk on a 12-hour flight.

3. Upon Arrival– Stick to the local time zone. If you arrive in the afternoon, get outside and enjoy the sun, and stay up as long as you can to adjust to the time zone. If you need to nap, make sure it’s only for an hour or two, otherwise you will be out of whack for a day or two.