I just read through this whole thread once again and realized there was a question about Ming. I'm not really sure where she is right now. She was to open a new room on soi 18. Then that changed to soi 11. As far as I know, she still has not opened her room anywhere. There were some problems she had to iron out first.

Re: date... maybe we should stick with Aug 26???? What say you??? Sorry guenmai... would love to see you there, but maybe it is the best date to consider???

Carol

well, after sleeping on it last night, i came to the same conclusion as carol. lets just keep it at 8/26. we already have eight committed to attend.

sorry guen, :-( just didn't remember about sep being a better month for you, but now we know.

as far as the location, its at seoul garden on kapiolani.

kuranosuke
Thanks for picking a date and setting it in stone. Now I can go shopping for airfares, etc.

See you in HNL in August, unless some unforeseen event keeps me away.

Carol

See you in 2007..... Kathie...Why don't you plan a GTG in Seattle? I've always wanted to come to Seattle? Happy Travels!

Guenmai
Sorry you can't make it. But I will catch up with you in Boston in Oct.

We'll think of you in HNL.

Carol

Guenmai, when my schedule calms down, let me think about when would be a good time. There are a number of people who post here who are from Seattle, and it would be great if you could fly up here.

Sounds great to me, Kathie...I'll get my rain boots ready!! Oh, that's right, I remember you saying that it really doesn't rain in Seattle as much as people think. But,I'll get them ready just in case. Happy Travels!

If it's any time during the Seattle Rain Festival (October - May), do bring your boots!

kathie, if its not too much trouble, try to schedule it when the mariners, or seahawks, or huskies are in town.

guen, sep 2007 sounds good to me. we will miss you.

OK, Kuranosuke...I'll just have to wait another year. I was really looking forward to Hawaii this year, but since it took me 35 years to get back to Hawaii when I finally got there last year, well, I guess I can survive waiting two years before returning again. Who knows, if I find a cheap flight at some point during the year, I may just zip over there. I could then post to see if anyone's in town and wants to do lunch or dinner...not a GTG...just a quick meal. I wouldn't mind coming during low season for a restful get away. And now that I've just moved about 15 minutes away from the small Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena Airport, I can do more get-aways. No more spending an hour in traffic to LAX. I used to live about 25-30 minutes from the Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena airport. Happy Travels!

Kathie...You won't believe this, but I have a LOT of umbrellas. I have an umbrella obsession. Smiles. Most of them have never felt rain water.I use them as sun umbrellas. It was 100-degrees yesterday. I even bought a new umbrella at Shanghai Tang when we were in Hawaii at last year's GTG. I went over to the Ala Moana Shopping Center several times. So, it would be SO much fun to finally use the umbrellas for a RAIN purpose. How cold does it get in Seattle in Oct/Nov? I'm not too keen on cold, but I could take out my one heavy coat...an Eddie Bauer 1988, full-length, down coat that I bought to take to Denmark when I went to visit a sick friend back in 1988. It's ankle length and I can barely move in the awkward thing.You won't miss ME coming! Smiles. Happy Travels!

Fares on United LAX-HNL for that weekend were way too high to book during the last few days of the double miles promotion that ended yesterday. Coach awards aren't available. If the fare doesn't come down (from $1136) significantly I won't be able to make it this year. BUT I did book a FC award in case I changed my mind.

mrw, it would be great if you could make it. i have been checking the ua site, and yes, the fares are up there.

its cheaper to fly from ord.

well, if you can't make it this year, perhaps plan on sep. 2007.

aloha fellow travelers....

when a date has been determined, i would love to attend this year.

again, august is still busy...i work for
expedia.com and just ck'd end of august airfares and they are still considered
high season...

let me know what you all decide..(aug 26
is my b-day so that would be great for me)

a hui ho

I had the same price problems last August. I could have flown to Bangkok for less than what United was charging last August. I got a package through, I think it was Travelocity, but that wasn't cheap either. Happy Travels!

Flts from ORD to HNL are under $900. It gets expensive when I then add the HHV for one week... YIKES! I don't plan on flying all the way to HNL and then stay only a few days (unless I take Bob's suggestion and include HNL in a BKK trip). Nothing booked yet. I notice that prices fluctuate by day. Gotta catch it on a "cheap" day... LOL
Carol

hhv is a premier property, so it doesn't surprise me that it is pricey. perhaps look at off beach properties and see the diff in prices. btw, the hhv is about 5 min. from seoul garden. let me know if i can help on this end.

Kuranosuke
I've stayed at HHV twice (so far) and really love it there. It has so much to offer, right on the grounds, so I don't have to venture very far if I don't want to. Plus, the tour buses all make a stop there (or very nearby).

I've also stayed at the Outrigger Reef on the beach, and it is a nice place also. Years and years ago (mid 60's) I stayed at a place a couple of blocks in from the beach, just across the street from the Int'l marketplace area. I'm sure the name has changed several times since then. I have no idea what it is now called, but it was also a decent place 40 years ago... lol

Do you have any suggestions for me for off-beach but close to shopping and the tour bus stops? I'd sure listen.

Carol

I just got a whiff of this GTG from Carol's post on the US Board. Kuranosuke, do you want me to post an announcement there for any other fodorites who might want to come? and it's OK if I attend this event, right?

I've never been to SG but I did go to Femme Nu on a dare once. I woke up sick with a cold the next morning--who knows what kinds of viruses are flying around that place!!

If anyone is in town on September 15, 16, 17.....here are some things happening since it's Aloha Festival time:
Sept 15 - Downtown Ho'olaulea (block party)
Sept 16 - Annual floral parade in Waikiki
Sept 17 - Ukulele contest at Aloha Tower Marketplace featuring local artists & amateurs, and a Japanese superstar

I'll also have the Hawaii Woodshow going on, on the second floor. Check out exhibits by local artists using only wood that has been planted & grown in Hawaii. You might even be able to buy one of their pieces!

~shameless plug from Melissa~

hi mellisa; of course you are most welcome to attend. i was hoping you would see this and be able to make it. also, pls do post this on the other board, all are welcome. just need a head count.

carol, i took a lazy sunday drive to waikiki today and went on kuhio ave.(parallel to kalakaua ave.) to look for a few good off beach hotels. i have never stayed in anyone of these, so i don't know what the inside looks like, but they are in a good location, and look good from the outside.

ohana malia: i think guen stayed here last year.

ohana west, and the ohana east. the west and east are in a central location. i don't know if the tour bus goes to these hotels, but they are about a 5 min. walk to the hyatt, and i know they are alot of tour buses there. the east and west are also close to the kings court market place and the international marketplace.

the hotels are also on the city bus line, so catching the bus to town and the ala moana center should be no problem. also, they are quite a few trolleys around that will take you around waikiki, to the shopping center, to downtown hono, chinatown, and other locations.

here is the website for the ohana properties:

http://ohanahotels.com/

current attendees:

peter and linda
isis and russ + their two friends
ken and jackie

does anyone have a suggestion for a starting time?