THE ULTIMATE GETAWAY - WINTER WINE ESCAPE

HAPUNA BEACH PRINCE HOTEL
62-100 Kauna'oa Drive
Kohala Coast, Hawaii  96743
(800) 882-6060 or (808) 880-1111

November 9th - 11th, 1995


If you are looking for an excuse to go to
Hawaii (and who isn't?), the WINTER WINE
ESCAPE provides the perfect justification. 
Hosted at the beautiful Hapuna Beach Prince
Hotel in Kona, every effort is made to offer
you consummate escapism while indulging in
healthy, delicious cuisine complemented by
fine wines from the Pacific Coast.  What a
way to eliminate the winter doldrums!

The setting for this event is sublime. 
Located on the Kohala Coast of the Big
Island, the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel extends
gracious hospitality and plenty of pampering. 
Lush tropical vegetation and flowers surround
this 500-acre resort, and each of the 350
rooms and 36 suites have a private lanai and
an ocean view.  Rooms range from $325 per
night/double occupancy for a spacious
accommodation to $5,000 per night for the
8,000 square-foot private suite with over $1
million worth of furnishings and art.  

Sister-hotel of the renowned Mauna Kea Resort
just down the road, two award-winning golf
courses are available to guests, as well as
tennis, watersports, and a fitness center. 
And, if that's not enough, the beach at
Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea has been rated one
of the best beaches in America.  In addition,
there are six dining establishments at Hapuna
Beach Prince Hotel offering a sumptuous
variety of local and international cuisine;
and the Reef Lounge serves up a wide array of
international coffees and signature tropical
drinks to the sounds of live musical
entertainment.  You may find that you never
want to leave this idyllic resort.

The WINTER WINE ESCAPE will provide even more
temptation to linger.  The theme of this
year's event was "Celebrating the Enjoyment
of Healthy Cuisine and Fine Wines," and
participants celebrated in grand style.  The
event kicked off with an outdoor Winter Wine
Escapade where Mauna Kea's Executive Chef
Corey Waite and visiting super-star chefs
prepared magnificent tasty dishes.  Over 30
vintners were available to pour their wines.

The second day offered participants a once-
in-a-lifetime experience as they visited awe-
inspiring Waipi'o Valley.  An adventurous
trip to the bottom of the valley produced
visits to taro fields, breath-taking scenery,
and a dining delight.  Visiting chefs Beverly
Gannon of Hailiimaile General Store, Russell
Siu of 3660 on the Rise, Mark "Mako" Segawa-
Gonzales of Roy's Poipu Bar and Grill, and
Glenn Alos of Kona Village Resort prepared
healthy entrees using local produce and
seafood.  Delectable items, such as Seafood
Taro Cakes and Tangy Lobster Salad, were
paired with some of the finest wines of
California.  As diners reveled in the
experience, Sarah Beth King of Bon Appetit
and Master Sommelier Larry Stone of Rubicon
led a lively discussion of the "Food
Laboratory."  Later that evening participants
were treated to a Jordan Winery Dinner
prepared by Chef de Cuisine Thomas Oden. 
Vintage Jordan wines flowed freely and
perfectly topped off a distinguished day.

Day Three began with The Estate Cabernets of
Chateau Montelena where Master Sommeliers
Peter Granoff and Larry Stone led the
discussion of Cabernet Sauvignons.  Basking
in the Glow of Healthy Cooking featured a
mouth-watering luncheon of Grilled Hawaiian
Swordfish, Rare Tuna, and Roasted Pheasant
prepared by California Chefs Michael Mina,
Traci Des Jardins, and Charles Saunders. 
Collio Pinot Bianco 1994, Rubicon Niebaum-
Coppola 1990, Geyserville Ridge 1987 and 1993
were the accompanying wines.  

The Grand Finale Wine Reception, "A Return to
the Past for the Future," was grand indeed. 
Held on South Pointe at Mauna Kea, more fine
wines and foods were bountiful as
participants returned to the glorious Mauna
Kea to view the newly-renovated site slated
to re-open December 1995.  Gourmet farmers,
aquaculturists, seafood experts, artisans,
and master craftsmen displayed their products
and wares as the now-familiar and greatly-
appreciated chefs prepared exquisite dishes
and vintners poured their wines.  This was
truly a memorable experience tainted only by
the awareness that the WINTER WINE ESCAPE was
coming to an end.

No need to despair if you missed this event. 
Roy Cordeiro, Director of Sales and
Marketing, assures us that plans to make next
year's WINTER WINE ESCAPE even better and
more unforgettable are already in the works. 
So start planning now to be there.  Gourmet
cuisine, fine wines, luxurious lodgings on
one of the most beautiful islands in the
world, all enhanced by the "Aloha" spirit of
friendly people - where else would you want
to be?

-               Laurie Lawson-