FareFinder: Thursday, March 5

Sceptre Tours offering 6-night Ireland getaway at Blarney Golf Resort for as little as $599, including airfare.

Ridiculous Hawaii travel deals from Blue Sky Tours include four nights for two at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa for under $1,200.

Did you miss JetBlue's one-day sale? Here are some alternatives from Continental and Delta.

Speaking of JetBlue, they've just discounted some of their vacation packages with the new "Beachy Keen" promotion.

And while it's not a FareFinder, I pass along this contest: If you're looking for a vacation home on the cheap while helping the non-profit Veterans Retreat, check out this raffle for a 850-sq-ft Miami condo overlooking Star Island.

Hawaiian Air scoffs at economy

Called it shrewd or call it stupid, but Hawaiian Air is continuing to make huge investments in an already shaky industry.

Hawaii's largest airline is getting another big-boy Airbus to add to its fleet after already purchasing two, which are to be delivered in 2010. These big-boys will be able to fly non-stop from the Big Island to every major airport in North America and parts of eastern Asia, making the inevitable layover in Los Angeles a soon-to-be thing of the past.

Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's president and CEO, said, "These commitments to
increasing the size of our fleet and to bringing the new aircraft to Hawaii two
years earlier than planned deepen Hawaiian's already substantial investment in
our home state and its economy."

Now only if that home state economy would cooperate. According to recent reports, the state experienced a 10% drop in visitors during 2008, and those that are coming are spending less. That same report, offered by the state's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (that's a mouthful), predicts further drops in '09.

As long as Hawaiian can weather the economic storm next year (no sure thing with airlines nowadays), it could be putting itself in a great position for the future. If the new big-boys can help the company reduce costs (and they just might with increased seating capacity and improved fuel efficiency that the Airbus is supposed to provide), the company could come out looking like geniuses. Currently, Continental is the only airline to fly non-stop to The Land of Pineapples.

Now only if they could do something about that 9.5 hour flight time from PTG v.2 HQ. Maybe a Mad Max triple feature?

Image from Hawaii Magazine

Hawaii Congressman Calls Out Tourism Board in a Political Fashion

A travel blog generally isn't the ideal place to talk politics ... so we're not going to. However, it is kind of interesting to see the latest news that the good U.S. Representative from Hawaii, Mr. Neil Abercrombie, is none too pleased with his home state's [in]ability to promote themselves in the wake of a native Hawaiian, Barack Obama, landing a gig in the Oval Office.

Abercrombie said Obama is an instantly recognizable world celebrity and being from Hawaii should be enough reason for the state and the tourism authority to promote Hawaii during the inaugural week. "It will be amazing, and we are missing out on it," he said.

Naturally, the tourism board is greatly appreciative of this; after all, they've had their hands pretty full lately, having to pay their former president $290k for forwarding offensive emails to friends from his work account and then trying to counter a poor economy by stepping up their advertising dollars and drawing more visitors. But hey, at least it's comfortable under those bus wheels.