Some recent figures released this week bode very well for anyone interested in booking a vacation or honeymoon in Hawaii this winter or spring. Visitor industry inside sources in Hawaii are reporting that hotels are experiencing, on average, a 12.6 per cent drop in occupancy.

You know what that means – Hotel prices are dropping and vacation booking values are here!

Hawaii’s visitor industry ended the year on a sour note, with statewide hotel occupancy down 12.6 percentage points to 66.4 percent.

There’s quite a bit going on in Hawaii this winter, and in case you weren’t lucky enough to book your vacation there yet, don’t worry. All these goings-on are only helping to increase Hawaii as a hot vacation destination for 2009. Luckily, though, the economic downturn has still kept Hawaii vacations and resorts affordable.

Perhaps the biggest news to increase Hawaiian Tourism in 2009 is President-Elect Barack Obama’s vacation in Hawaii this week. A veritable cottage industry surrounding all things Obama has sprung us this week. CBS News reports that narrated tours of Obama’s childhood, costing more than $40, are now big business in Honolulu. They stop at the apartment building he grew up in, a favorite lunch hangout and the local ice cream store. The fact that he’s been golfing there all week can only help the local links attract more vacation golfers.

The University of Hawaii Warrior football team earned its third straight bowl bid with a 24-10 win over Washington State Saturday night at Aloha Stadium, and now we’ve heard from several sources that Notre Dame is heading to the Hawaii Bowl.

Only the “final blessing” from the NCAA, as one person put it, stands in the way of the Notre Dame Fighing Irish playing the University of Hawaii Warriors football team in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl will take place December 24, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. (HST) in the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Roxy Pro Hawaii got underway yesterday at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu, with 6 to 8 foot waves and great conditions for the first day of the women’s competition. Stop No. 7 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Roxy Pro Hawaii at Sunset Beach also marks the second event of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the solid surf at the infamous break saw Hawaiians and big-wave specialists dominating the competition. With the 2008 Women’s World Tour Champion still undecided, the Roxy Pro Hawaii is a critical contest, with Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) holding a slight ratings lead over Roxy pro-surfer Sofia Mulanovich (PER) and Layne Beachley (AUS) before the start of the competition.

To celebrate the day here are some local resources to let you know what’s going on in the islands this holiday.
How to say Happy Thanksgiving in Hawaiian:
Happy Thanksgiving – Hau’oli La Ho’omakika’i (pronounced how-oh-lay la ho-o-ma-key-kah-ee) 
History of Thanksgiving in Hawaii
Here’s a great site with lots of info on the history of Thanksgiving in Hawaii.
Christmas Parades begin on Oahu
Right after Thanksgiving beginning this week, Hawaii has lots of Christmas parades to celebrate the holidays, here’s a list of their scheduled dates.
How to cook Thanksgiving Dinner, Hawaiian Style
This Honolulu Star Bulletin article …

Two restaurants in Honolulu have been named among the top 40 eating establishments in the United States by the Gayot Restaurant Travel Guide.
Chef Mavro, located on 1969 South King Street in Honolulu, has been named this year among the Top 40 Restaurants in the United States by Gayot for the third time.  The restaurant is known for its dedication to local Hawaiian food and culture, and is a must-see for anyone visiting the island wishing to get a true taste of good, authentic Hawaiian cuisine.
According to owner Chef George Mavrothalassitis, …

The Pacific Business News reported today that Disney has announced the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Disney Hawaii family resort will be held Nov. 19, 2008.
The formal Hawaiian blessing and groundbreaking will be held on the future resort’s 21 beautiful oceanfront acres at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina in West Oahu.
Readers will remember our Hawaii Vacation Guide originally blogged about the Disney Hawaii Resort a couple weeks ago.  We know the resort won’t be open until 2011, but we also know it’s going to include all kinds of cool amenities, such as a lush …

A baby Orca killer whale was found floundering off the shore today in Brennecke’s beach in Poipu, Kauai.  Hundreds of spectators came to watch as the poor whale struggled but was eventually beached on the sand. Federal wildlife officials had to put her to sleep, but not after people tried to save her and push her back into the water.  Unfortunately, she kept washing back ashore.
Orca whale (more commonly known as Killer Whale) sightings are actually very rare in Hawaii.  This 18-foot female suffered from shark bites and whale lice, …