by Tracy Bee

Created on: September 21, 2009

I L.O.V.E Hawaii. There's something about that place. It's more than simply the sand, sun and ocean, although all of those aspects of Hawaii are wonderful too. I think it is the Hawaiian spirit that keeps me returning to those magical isles, or "The Spirit of Aloha," as the locals refer to it. When I am back on the mainland, I really do miss it.

I also love Hawaiian Airlines. I love that I need only step foot on one of their aircrafts to feel as though I have already been transported back to the Aloha State. I have flown a lot, and on some of the world's top ranked airlines (Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, etc), and yet Hawaiian Airlines remains one of my all-time favourite airlines. The customer service is unparalleled. They always wear a smile and their assistance always feels genuine. Hawaiian Airlines is also one of the few airlines to still offer complementary meals on fairly short flights. Most Hawaiian airlines flights are less than 6 hours. Yet, free meals are standard. What is also standard is that they are fairly delicious. It is not your standard flight meal fare on Hawaiian Airlines. The meals are designed by one of Hawaii's own celebrity chefs, Beverly Gannon.

What is also great about Hawaiian Airlines is that they have the BEST deals to Hawaii. I rarely pay more than $400 return, with taxes to fly to Hawaii from the west coast. Their inter-island fares are also incredibly cheap, at less than $100 return. During a recent trip to Hawaii, I was able to book a flight from Honolulu to Kona, return, with taxes AND a 4 day car rental for little more than $160, including taxes.

How did I snag such a bargain? It was one of Hawaiian Airlines' HotDeals. While I think Hawaiian Airlines hospitality is great, it is the deals that really get me. I am a devoted Hawaiian Airlines customer (and, of course, Hawaiian Miles collector).

If you want the deals I am referring to here, you'll need to know where to look for them. You need to go straight to the source. Hawaiian Airlines' deals are generally not advertised. You must go directly to the Hawaiian Airlines site to find them. They are also not flashy and obvious on the site. To find out the current fares (often not available through the major flight booking sites), you must search for them on the site. You'll also get a better idea of all the fares available by looking at the "fare calender." If you have flexible dates, you'll get the best deals.

If you want to find great "flight + car" deals,

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