Press Release

Preview Hawaii is the premiere online resource for planning travel and events to the Hawaiian Islands. The site’s streaming video database of hotels, activities and more provides users with an unmatched experience in planning their Hawaii vacation online.

Kapaa, HI (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) January 25, 2005 -- Preview Hawaii is the premiere online resource for planning travel and events to the Hawaiian Islands. The site's streaming video database of hotels, activities and more provides users with an unmatched experience in planning their Hawaii vacation online. For those planning a destination wedding in Hawaii, a Hawaii vacation package or a Hawaii honeymoon, Preview Hawaii is the most comprehensive resource available on the web.

One of Preview Hawaii's premiere resort partners, the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, is celebrating 50 years of hospitality this year. The hotel was built in June of 1955; on the location of Ainahau Estate - once home to Hawaii's beloved Princess Kaiulani. In tribute to this storied princess, the resort is offering a fabulous value packed package for visitors this year. The yearlong celebratory Hawaii vacation package will include:

•    With a four night minimum stay, the fourth night is only $50.00
•    Receive a commemorative historical Princess Ka'iulani book
•    50th anniversary keepsake gift
•    Dinner show for two at the on-property "Creation-A Polynesian Journey"

This great Hawaii vacation package in Waikiki is offered for all rack rated booking that are partial ocean view category and above. Room rates start at $315.00 per night. To learn more about the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, visit their listing on Preview Hawaii at:
http://previewhawaii.com

The hotel will celebrate their actual 50th anniversary on the day of their opening, June 11, 2005. This celebration in Waikiki, Hawaii will include a Time Capsule Ceremony, cake cutting and an Aloha Festivals Court appearance. The annual free hula festival, which honors Princess Kaiulani, will be from 10/9-10/15, 2005. Throughout this week, the hotel will offer complimentary hula lessons, fresh flower lei making, ukulele lessons and cooking demonstrations. The climax of the weeklong celebration is its signature hula event, the Princess Kaiulani Keiki Hula Festival in the Ainahau Showroom. This popular festival showcases performances by keiki (children) ages 5 to 12 years old from local halau (hula schools) on the island of Oahu. This non-competitive hula festival is open to everyone- visitors and locals alike, and admission is free.

The beautiful Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is a 1,152 room resort that is in an area that was once known the Ainahau Estate. This 10-acre property was an oasis with lush gardens, ponds and an elegant Victorian style home. Princess Kaiulani’s father, Archibald Cleghorn, Governor of Oahu and renowned botanist, planted many varieties of trees and flowers and built Japanese bridges over lily ponds. The beautiful gardens were a sanctuary for the young princess, where she enjoyed riding her pony and feeding the 50 or so peacocks that roamed the estate.

As the daughter of Cleghorn and Princess Miriam Likelike, Princess Kaiulani was the only child born to the Kalakaua dynasty. She was the Heiress Apparent to the Hawaiian throne, at her birth occupied by her uncle, King David Kalakaua. Hawaiians rejoiced in celebration of her birth in 1875 and the newborn was given the full name of Princess Victoria Kaiulani, Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kawekiu I Lunalilo. All knew her as Kaiulani, which meant “royal sacred one.” She was educated in Europe, and spoke Hawaiian, English, French and German. The gracious princess returned to her monarchy from her studies abroad to find her monarchy in turmoil, and was later overthrown as Hawaii became annexed to the United States. Sadly, the princess died at the young age of 23, due to chronic illness and some say a broken heart over the collapse of her kingdom. Princess Kaiulani’s legacy lives on and the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani was given its name in honor of Hawaii’s most beloved monarch.

Preview Hawaii is the most comprehensive resource for planning travel to Hawaii on the web. With information on every major island, the site is committed to featuring unique companies and properties throughout the islands, especially those who have made a commitment to retaining the cultural and environmental heritage of the beautiful islands of Hawaii. To contact Preview Hawaii, please visit our website at: http://www.previewhawaii.com.

Contact:
Carrie Riley
Director of Travel Services
Preview Hawaii
http://www.previewhawaii.com
phone: 808-823-1133
email: e-mail protected from spam bots

Preview Hawaii -- Hawaii’s Dolphin Quest “Dolphin Liko”- One Very Lucky Dolphin

Waikoloa, HI (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) November 24, 2004 -- An expert team of marine mammal veterinarians, medical researchers, cosmetic surgeons and dolphin trainers recently joined forces to apply the latest advances in human regenerative medicine in an attempt to restore a bottlenose dolphin’s damaged dorsal fin.

Liko and George

“Liko’s story is a story of medicine with a big heart,” said Dr. Rae Stone, a Dolphin Quest veterinarian and co-owner. “It shows extraordinary voluntary cooperation across several human medical and veterinary disciplines that has involved numerous experts with cutting-edge technology and specialized experience. Liko is one very lucky young dolphin.”

The procedure on Liko, a three-year-old male dolphin at Dolphin Quest on Hawaii’s Big Island, took place on July 30 and marked the first-ever marine mammal application of extracellular matrix tissue repair. Liko (pronounced Lee-ko) continues to undergo pioneering veterinary LED (light emitting diode) therapy to stimulate tissue growth and regeneration in his injured fin.

Liko sustained a tear at the base of his dorsal (top) fin, likely in a game of “chase” with his dolphin cohorts. While wild dolphins have been observed with similar and more severe lacerations that can result in eventual loss of the dorsal fin, Dolphin Quest veterinarians organized the groundbreaking procedure in an effort to keep as much of Liko’s dorsal fin intact as possible. A dolphin's dorsal fin consists of soft, cartilage-like tissue.

FIRST-EVER DOLPHIN ‘ECM’ …

“Liko’s progress has been fantastic and he’s well on his way to healing completely,” said Dr. Steve Badylak, the University of Pittsburgh tissue engineering expert enlisted by Dolphin Quest. “The things we’ve learned working together to save Liko’s dorsal fin will help other dolphins in the future and many, many other animals of all kind, as Liko’s story helps introduce the concept of regenerative medicine to the veterinary field.”

The use of extracellular matrix for the repair of soft tissues was developed by Dr. Stephen Badylak, research professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of the Center for Pre-Clinical Tissue Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh’s McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Once in place, the matrix, a 3-dimensional scaffold void of cells but with structural and functional proteins still intact, serves to recruit the appropriate cells for tissue remodeling without producing scarring.

The extracellular matrix used in Liko’s procedure was derived from pig urinary bladder and provided by ACell™ Inc., which Dr. Badylak and his team at the University of Pittsburgh custom-designed for Liko in consultation with veterinarians Dr. Stone and Dr. Jay Sweeney, Dolphin Quest co-owners.

A major challenge the team faced was keeping the application in place on an active dolphin in a saltwater lagoon environment. The medical team employed a specially-designed sling custom-made by Otter Bay Wetsuits to protect the extracellular matrix patch.

Drs. Stone and Sweeney led the team that performed the procedure, which included Dolphin Quest veterinarian Dr. Gregg Levine, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul Faringer of Kona, Hawaii, veterinary technician Abby Simmons-Byrd, research and development manager for ACell, Inc, Dr. Melyni Worth of Thor Laser & LED Therapy, and George Biedenbach, Director of Animal Management at Dolphin Quest Hawaii.

LIKO IS ‘LED’ THERAPY LEADER…

Liko’s Light Emitting Diode (LED) therapy treatments began in September with equipment donated by Dr. Worth. LED wavelengths are longer than laser light and penetrate deeper to increase energy metabolism at the cellular level. Liko is the first known marine mammal to receive LED therapy for tissue regeneration and the results to date are promising.

“His recovery since the start of LED work is excellent,” said Dr. Worth. “It was a big turnaround for him. Before the LED work he was looking a little worrisome.

“Liko’s story absolutely holds promise for other dolphins and other species, and most of all for humans. In Europe, LED/laser therapy is fairly well appreciated for the treatment of wounds in humans, but has been fairly slow coming to the U.S., and has only just been given any kind of clearance for human use here,” she continued.

Though LED light is three times brighter than the sun, the medical treatment wands are cool to the touch, highly portable to use and do not damage skin of dolphins or humans. Thermal imagery revealed patterns of increased vascular development in Liko’s dorsal fin and more rapid healing following application of localized LED therapy.

Human cosmetic surgeon Dr. Faringer performed the initial procedure in July that prepped Liko’s wound for the sequence of fin-saving treatments to follow. But all agree the most important member of the dolphin’s expert medical team is Liko, himself. The young dolphin’s calm comportment in human care allowed the initial surgery and weeks of groundbreaking intensive regenerative therapies.

“An important part of our animal care and training is building a relationship of mutual trust and conditioning our dolphins to being touched and treated by their veterinarians and trainers,” said Biedenbach, Liko’s training director at Dolphin Quest Hawaii. “Liko’s cooperation makes him a key member of his own medical team and has gone a long way to improve his chances of a successful recovery.”

‘OPTIMISTIC’ LIKO’S FIN WILL BE FINE…

Liko’s dorsal fin continues its remarkable healing as the young dolphin continues to participate in his pioneering regenerative therapies in a quiet lagoon alongside the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort. Veterinarians are excited by his progress, but caution that Liko still has a ways to go on the road to recovery.

“When we first put Liko’s medical team and treatment plan together, we were outwardly hopeful, but harbored some serious doubts that we would be able to save this dolphin’s dorsal fin,” said Dolphin Quest veterinarian Stone. “But Liko surprised us all. Today we’re optimistic that his fin will eventually be fully restored and strong enough to stand up to the rigors of a robust male dolphin lifestyle.”

Couples Planning Destination Wedding in Hawaii Can Conduct Online Site Inspections
Preview Hawaii allows couples planning destination wedding in Hawaii to conduct online site inspections by viewing streaming video of Hawaii resorts, Hawaii activities and Hawaii wedding locations.

(PRWEB) December 8, 2004 -- This streaming video guide is a state of Hawaii resource for all you traveling romantics out there. Using this website, you can plan a destination Hawaii wedding for just the two of you and a group of two hundred. Our list of professional Hawaii wedding planners on each island can provide expert support every step of the way to the big day. Using our directory of Hawaii wedding suppliers, you can find professional Hawaii wedding photographers, Hawaii wedding videographers, stunning Hawaii florists, talented Hawaii musicians and unique Hawaii wedding venues, from simple beaches to lavish Hawaii resorts. Using our unique Hawaii Event Planner software, send your personalized Request For Proposal (RFP) to one or many of these suppliers with a simple email. A qualified Hawaii wedding professionals will reply to your request within three days, and provide you with the best possible prices for your Hawaii wedding or Hawaii event.

Preview Hawaii is the only Hawaii travel guide that features streaming video for all partner listings. This innovative site takes much of the stress out of planning your Hawaii wedding from thousands of miles away. In addition, the site is a wonderful resource for high quality non-commercial content on travel to Hawaii.

Contact:
Carrie Riley
Preview Hawaii
808-823-1133/phone
808-821-8143/fax