40 - Sunday, September 24, 1989 - North Shere News Lahaina becoming a real tourist town LAHAINA — It used to be refugees from the Van- couver winter could fly to Honolulu, then on to the lit- tle airstrip at Kaanapali by Royal Hawaiian Air Service. The pilots of the Cessna twins wore Aloha shirts and had some good fines, like ‘“‘no smoking in rows 75 to 90” but they were not joking when they asked foz drinks orders. travel talk David Wishart Passengers who knew the routine would order a Bloody Mary and the pilots would radio the tower at Kaanapali, which would phone downstairs to the Woodstock Lounge where High School Harry would have the drinks ready on arrival. Regrettably, the airport, the var, the airline, and even old High School himself are gone (hopefully St. Peter had a stiff one waiting for High Sckool} and it’s all in the name of the Hawaiian national bird, the building crane. Maui is booming, with billions being spent, a lot of it by Japanese investors, on new condiminiums and hotels. What was once the sleepy old whaling port of Lahaina has biossomed into a tcurist town that threatens to become like tacky cruise ship superport St. Thomas. Driving through Lahaina is now a nightmare, and the Kaanapali road is going to be a constant traf- fic jem now that a four-lane high- way is under construction. In the meantime, visitors should consider their vacation plans carefully. One option is to fly into Maui via the main airport at Kahului, rent a car (Dollar gives a good ser- yice) and make the easy, 20-minute drive to Kihei or Wailea. The Stouffer Wailea Beach Resort is hard to beat for location and style. Rooms are big, the views go on forever, and the 15-acre site is so well groomed with tropical plants, pools and lawns that guests easily get the impression of being ting an extra touch of privacy and luxury should check out the beach club rooms, which have the best amenities I’ve seen, including a mini-clothes brush ideal for removing liut from dark clothes. I also like Stouffer’s policy of not charging guests for making collect calls, credit card calls and dialing 800 numbers. Right behind the hotel are the two Wailea golf courses and not far away is Makena. In the mean- time, three new hotels are going up at Wailea, including a Four Seasons, and when they are in business the golf courses are going to be a littie slow. Bring your clubs and a copy of War and Peace. Over at Kaanapali, the old pineapple plantations keep soaking up new hotels, the latest being the Embassy Suites, billed as Hawaii’s first all-suite, full-service luxury hotel. Guests at this pink palace on the beach get a two-room suite for the price of a good hotel room (U.S. $175), including a queen-size sofabed in the living room, which means that two couples or a family of four stay for half price. There’s also a free breakfast every morning (and very good it is too) plus free drinks for two hours every evening, which is a dandy incentive to socialize with other guests. Suites have huge bathrooms with two sinks, big tub and separate shower, plus kitchen with micro- wave, Amenities here include foul-weather distractions such as a full music system, VCR and 35- inch TV. The road to Lahaina is tolerable in the evenings, when you should seek out the Avalon, a remarkable restaurant in Mariners Alley on Front Street. Try a KGB Cooler and delight your palate with what they call ‘‘Pacific Basin cuisine.”” The old Pioneer Inn, sad to say, has degenerated into loud, electronic The good news is that there is a replacement for Kaanapali airstrip in the new West Maui airport, which sits on a hill just five minutes by shuttle van from the Embassy Suites. Aloha Island Air flew me out there in a Canadian-built Twin Ot- ter and ably handled my connec- tion to a United Airlines flight to Seattle and Vancouver. It was super smooth all the way. Looking back, I don’t know if the airport hill has a name, but High School Harry Heights sounds about right. THE EMBASSY Suites Resort in Kaanapali is billed as Hawaii’s first all-suite, full-service luxury hotel. ‘I™ wy Travel TRAVEL CONSULTANTS i Asa result of a significant increase in 4 business we are seeking 2 full time travel consultants. Qualifications: ® 1 yr. industry experience * Reservec * Matrix (an asset} * Attention to detail © Cruise knowledge & experience We offer an attractive employment package and ongoing training and development opportunities are available. Please contact Shamin Sharitt PARK ROYAL 922-9307 KENYA SPECTACULAR SAFARIS - NEW FOR 'S0 25-day luxury safari and beach vacations * enjoy 3 nights on the paradise island of LAMU ... and much mere * Escorted by former Kenyan resident Barbara Sutherland x* Departs Jan. 10 & March 7, 1990 Cal Barbara now at Leisure Connection Tours 644-7843 ie (And; aside ofbeef. ) Ok, we're stretching it a bit. It’s not a side of beef. It’s actually a steak on the side. Tender and juicy and broiled to ® order. The perfect j compliment to all the “7 crispy, golden shrimp "you can eat. And though that may sound too good : to be true, it’s no exaggeration. And if that’s not enough, you'll also get your choice of baked potato or rice. So bring your family and friends along with a big, big appetite. Because this is one All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp offer with a lot of meat to it. Offer ends September 30th, 1989. Tired of eating in the kinds of restaurants where your meal is prepared days before you’re prepared to eat it? The Sizzler now offers you a Fresh Experience. Simply start by driving up to the brand new Sizzler Steak. Seafood. 3 on a private estate. music; David Faquette is sadly Honeymooners and others wan- missed. TRUST TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL for CUSTOMIZED VACATIONS aoe ocr peat foe yO eet EE will design a Salad. Restaurant on the Upper just : of the world you want to visit. No longer do you have Levels Highway between Lonsdale to take the usual “organized” bus tour that deprives of the sights you really want to see. iat deprives you and Capilano. Call Jack Small at 926-1692 and we will design an in- dividual tour that meets your individual tastes and ° requirements. ° You tell us what you want and we will desi your vaca- A yh vesh expertence. prepare 2 personalized itinerary, which will include Steak & All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp $9.99 tion, dates, times, Suggested sightseeing, recommended Westview Shopping Centre hotels and restaurants ... the best news is that we provide this service without obligation! Upper Levels Highway at Westview Drive Give us a call now and TRAVEL WITH TRUST TRUST TRAVEL 1528 Marine Drive INTERNATIONAL VAN, 926-1692