NAASS 2007
Hotel and Travel Planning
Travel Planning | Hotel | Transportation | Weather | Dress Attire
TRAVEL PLANNING
Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau:
Information about the other scenic islands in Hawai‘i.
www.gohawaii.com
Maui Visitors Bureau:
Information on activities, accommodations, travel tips, and more.
www.visitmaui.com
HOTEL
The official conference hotel is the:
- Sheraton Maui Resort
- 2605 Ka‘anapali Parkway
- Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761
- Reservation Phone Number: 866.716.8109
- Hotel General Number: 808.661.0031
- Fax Number: 808.661.0458
- Website: www.sheraton-maui.com
Situated on a beautiful wide stretch of the white sands of Ka‘anapali Beach, the 23-acre Sheraton Maui Resort is just three miles from Lahaina, a historic whaling capital, and within walking distance of Whalers Village. The hotel resort is nestled against historic Black Rock and its beach has one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. The Resort has a 142-yard lagoon style pool and offers a daily series of complimentary guest health and fitness activities (e.g., yoga; aquacise; pilates; culture and history walks; etc.) and a wide range of family-based activities (e.g., scavenger hunts, raft races; hula and Haka warrior dance lessons, coconut husking and weaving, ukulele lessons; etc.) The activities available during the conference will be listed on the Hotel website on their Calendar of Events.
Reservations can be completed online by going to the Sheraton's NAASS Reservation page. There are a limited number of rooms reserved at the conference rate and reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis so we encourage you to make your reservations as soon as possible. The last day to secure an available room at the conference rate is Saturday, October 6, 2007. You also make hotel reservations by phone (1-866.716.8109) but make sure you mention that you will be participating in the NAASS Conference to get the special room rate. The Sheraton Maui Resort requires an advanced, two-day lodging fee deposit to reserve a room.
The NAASS Conference rate at the Sheraton Maui Resort is $199.00 USD per night for a Garden View room and $210.00 USD per night for a Partial Ocean View room. There is also a conference reduced rate resort fee of $10.42 per night and applicable state taxes of 11.41%.
The resort fee covers high speed internet access from each hotel room, wireless internet access in public areas of the hotel, daily self parking in the hotel parking garage, access to the fitness center, daily cultural activities and lessons, and entertainment and a shuttle service to and from the Ka‘anapali Resort to the nearby city of Lahaina.
Early Departure
Guests will be charged one night's room and tax for checking out before their scheduled departure date. To avoid this fee, advise the Hotel at or before check-in of any change in the length of your stay.
Reservation Cancellations
Cancellations must be made at least seven days before check-in, or the reservation deposit of two day's room and tax will be kept by the Hotel as a cancellation fee.
Extending Your Conference Stay
The conference room rate is being made available to all conference participants three days prior to the conference and three days after the conference. If you wish to extend your stay at the Sheraton Maui Resort, the full $20/night resort fee will apply. Rates are based on availability and reduced room rates are also available to conference participants at any of the other following Starwood Hotels in Hawai'i, but resort fees for these other Starwood hotels vary by location:
- Sheraton Waikiki on O‘ahu
- Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort on O‘ahu
- Sheraton Princess Ka‘iulani on O‘ahu
- The Royal Hawaiian on O‘ahu
- The Westin Maui Resort & Spa on Maui
- Sheraton Kaua‘i on Kaua‘i
- Princeville Resort on Kaua‘i
If you are want to make reservations and take advantage of the reduced room rates at other Starwood Hotels, call 1-800.782.9488 and ask for the rate plan EXTEND.
Sheraton Maui Resort Business Center
The "Business in Paradise" center is located on the 3rd floor of the hotel, near the conference meeting rooms. It is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday – Sunday from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Pre-paid computer time is $20 per hour and photocopying is $.25 per page.
TRANSPORTATION
Air Transportation
The Island of Maui is served by three airports. Kahului (airport code OGG) is Maui's largest airport and accommodates 95% of the flights in and out of Maui. Located on the north-central coast of Maui, Kahului Airport has many daily direct flights to and from U.S. and Canadian west coast cities. Air carriers servicing Kahului Airport include Air Canada; Aloha; American; ATA; Delta; Hawaiian; Northwest; United; US Airways; and West Jet airlines.
If you cannot find a direct connection from the U.S. or Canadian mainland to Kahului, you can first fly to Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on the island of O'ahu, and then take a 30-minute interisland connecting flight to Kahului (OGG). There are three interisland airlines that serve the Kahului Airport:
The two other Maui airports are Kapalua Airport (airport code JHM) and the Hana Airport (airport code HNM). Kapalua is Maui's smaller airport and of the three airports is located closest to the Sheraton Maui Resort. However, the Kapalua Airport is serviced only by commercial service propeller air carriers and commuter/air taxi aircraft. There are fewer flights to and from the Kapalua airport and they tend to cost more than those to Kahului Airport. The Hana Airport is a single runway airstrip on the east coast of Maui and is generally used only by people who wish to vacation in Hana for an extended period.
Ground Transportation between Kahului Airport and the Sheraton Maui Resort
The conference hotel is 31-miles from the Kahului Airport. If you are traveling with colleagues or friends, we recommend coming together and arranging for ground transportation together.
Shuttle Services
Advance reservations with shuttle service companies are required and can be completed online. The shuttle services take approximately 1 hour to go from the Kahului Airport to the hotel and for the return trip. Pick up at the hotel is generally made about 3-hours prior to scheduled flight departure. The cost of the shuttle varies, depending upon the number of passengers. For details, contact the following companies directly.
- Speedi Shuttle (1-877.242.5777)
- Maui Executive Transportation (1-800.833.2303):
Taxi Services
The Maui Airport Taxi (1-808.877.0907) provides service between Kahului Airport and Ka‘anapali with a cost of approximately $90.00 one-way (estimated cost does not include gratuity).
Automobile Rental Companies
Many of the major rental car companies (Alamo; Avis; Budget; Dollar; Enterprise; Hertz; National; and Thrifty Rent-A-Car) service the Kahului Airport. Advance reservations are highly recommended. For a list of the rental car agencies and reservation phone numbers, click here.
Maui Bus Service
The Maui Bus is now operating in different areas of the island. The current bus schedule can accommodate travelers who arrive at the Kahului airport by 12 Noon or by 6:00 PM. Currently, the bus ride from the airport to Whaler's Village costs $3 one-way, but two transfers and an approximate 2-hour ride (depending on the schedule) are involved, plus a short walk from Whaler's Village to the Sheraton Maui Resort. If you are considering this option, all baggage and carry-on items must fit and be placed under the passenger seat or on the passenger's lap. For more information on the Maui Bus, please go to their website www.co.maui.hi.us/bus.
WEATHER
Average temperature
www.weatherbase.com/weather
Ka‘anapali's average temperature for the month of November is 75°F and ranges between 67-86°F. Maui is notorious for its variable weather conditions across the island. Ka‘anapali's and Lahaina's locations on the western, or leeward, side of the island make them generally warmer, drier, and sunnier than the rest of the island because they are somewhat shielded from the northeast trade winds. However, cool afternoon breezes are common at the Sheraton Maui Resort. Precipitation in Lahaina during the month of November averages 2.15 inches.
Dress Attire
Appropriate conference attire can best be described as "Hawai‘i resort casual," which means dressing comfortably for a tropical environment, while looking nice. Aloha wear is the standard choice if you have it. For men, slacks, khakis, dress shorts (if you have the legs for it…ahhh who cares, bring the shorts anyway, you won't be the only one with shark-bait legs), along with short-sleeve, sport, and/or polo shirts…they all work well. While you will definitely want to pack your swimsuit, leave the dress suit and sport coat and tie at home unless you plan on eating at the toniest of restaurants. For women, anything goes, so bring what you like. If you have anything that's colorful or has floral print, you will fit right in. All attendees should bring a sweater or light jacket, in case the air conditioning is cranking in the meeting rooms, or if you are planning to explore upcountry Maui. A hat and sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher will do the trick for most people) are recommended and comfortable shoes are a must. Dress sandals, loafers, and walking/tennis shoes all fit the bill.
One last thing…for men: If you are going to wear shorts, pair them with either sandals, loafers/no socks, or tennis shoes/athletic socks. Do not wear shorts and knee-high black socks as this look will identify you as a tourist from the mainland and provide much amusement for the local populace.
