Biz Quickies: Aston, Aqua, Small Cruise Ships and Bloody Marys

Aston Parent Acquires Aqua Resorts
If the deal goes down as planned, Honolulu-based Aqua Hospitality will be managing the Naniloa Hotel come Dec. 18 when new owners, developer Ed Bushor and marine artist Wyland, take over. Yesterday Aqua Hospitality itself was acquired by Interval Leisure Group, a publicly traded corporation (NASDAQ: IILG) that also owns Aston Hotel & Resorts, said an ILG release Thursday. Aqua manages 20 properties in Hawaii and Guam. Interval is a management and leisure services provider with 4,000 employees worldwide.

Small Cruise Ship Sails Hawaii
Seattle-based Small Ship Safaris‘ culture and nature cruises added Hawaii to its list of destinations in October. Seven-night “Hawaii Seascape” voyages sail from Kailua-Kona and Molokai on the 36-passenger Safari Explorer with stops at Honomalino Bay, West Maui, Lanai and Molokai. Activities include snorkeling with manta rays and sea turtles, exploring coral gardens and cruising the Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary. Costs $3,595 per person, double occupancy. Call (800) 414-3090.

Bloody Mary Beach Brunch
Lava Lava Beach Club at Waikoloa Resort’s Anaehoomalu Bay has begun a Bloody Mary Beach Brunch with a fun selection of Bloody Marys to complement a new a la carte brunch menu. Bloody Mary Beach Brunch is available 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, with tasty items on the new menu like Hapa Laka Loco Moco, an island favorite with a Portuguese sausage twist. DJs mix tunes for Lava Lava Beach Club’s casual, toes-in-the-sand vibe. Bikinis and board shorts are welcome.

Hawaiian Vacation Rentals
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2014, Patti Freeman of Hawaiian Vacation Rentals is offering a seventh night free with a six-night reservation until July 1 (excluding Christmas and Spring Break). HVR offers beach and ocean view homes, cottages and condos in Puako, Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea resorts, and several estates at Kohala Ranch.

Ohana Fuels Gives
Ohana Fuels, a Top Tier brand of Hawaii Petroleum Inc., donated $5,811 to the non-profit Neighborhood Place of Puna to provide services to families that help them raise healthy children. Hawaii Petroleum President Kimo Haynes said the company “is committed to supporting the communities we serve.” HPI distributes fuel and lubricants with 25 employees on the Big Island.

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