PO‘IPU — Roberts Hawai‘i is the operator of the Sunny Po‘ipu express, a shuttle designed for visitors bound “from the airport to paradise” on Kaua‘i’s South Shore. The service was launched on Nov. 1. The shuttle offers visitors to Kaua‘i’s
PO‘IPU — Roberts Hawai‘i is the operator of the Sunny Po‘ipu express, a shuttle designed for visitors bound “from the airport to paradise” on Kaua‘i’s South Shore. The service was launched on Nov. 1.
The shuttle offers visitors to Kaua‘i’s Po‘ipu resort area an easy way to get to and from the airport and is a broad-based collaboration between Roberts Hawai‘i, Green Car Hawai‘i, the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, Koa Kea Hotel plus the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa with the blessing of the County of Kaua‘i.
Coming on the heels of conversations about the need for more South Shore and Koloa shuttles at the county’s inauguration, Roberts Hawai‘i launched the shuttle service, which offers more than ground transportation to and from the airport and Po‘ipu.
A representative from Roberts Hawai‘i greets guests in person at the Lihu‘e Airport, presenting the visitors with lei and affording luggage assistance, alleviating some of the stress on arrival.
The Sunny Po‘ipu express is a reservation-based service, which is bookable online, states a release from the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i. The shuttle stops at each of the resorts, and on arrival, guests are able to rent hybrid or electric cars by the hour, or day, through Green Car Hawai‘i.
“This is all part of the Green Transportation Network,” said Warren Doi of Green Car Hawai‘i. “It encourages having less cars on the road, dispatch hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., servicing all flights to Lihu‘e Airport, and is part of Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s Holo Holo 2020 sustainability plan.”
Roy Cordeiro, Roberts Hawai‘i vice president of marketing and sales strategy, said since starting the service Nov. 1, they have seen an increasing number of people using the service, and beyond that, are getting inquiries from other Neighbor Islands about establishing similar shuttle systems.
He said Roberts Hawai‘i was born on Kaua‘i and the organization with Gaylene Fujii as the Kaua‘i manager is both pleased and honored to launch the Sunny Po‘ipu express on the island where Roberts Hawai‘i started.
“This groundbreaking model sets us apart as a vacation destination,” said Jody Kjeldsen, executive director of the Po‘ipu Beach Resort Association, in the release. “People all over the world can come and explore our beautiful island without polluting or harming the environment.”
Kjeldsen said the Sunny Po‘ipu express also adds another marketing aspect to visitors.
“Being able to offer this convenient and innovative service for our guests is great, and the overall sustainability of the business plan makes it even more compelling,” said Doug Sears, general manager at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i. “Environmental stewardship is a priority at the hotel so this coincides with the many other initiatives we have in place from producing clean, renewable energy with our photovoltaic system to reusing heat produced by our air conditioning to warm our pools.”
In 2010, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i was the first resort in Hawai‘i to partner with Green Car Hawai‘i to offer hybrid and electric vehicles on demand.
“Typically, visitors use their cars only 30 to 40 percent of their stay, and being able to rent a car by the hour, or day, streamlines usage and minimizes waste,” said Warren Doi of Green Car Hawai‘i. “Green Car Hawai‘i now has rentals available at the Koa Kea Resort, and the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, creating a Green Transportation Network for the South Shore destination.”
Visit www.grandhyattkauai.com for more information.
