Duke Oceanfest Hawaii invites Aussie Surf Legends

Time is running for surf enthusiasts in Australia to book a trip to Hawaii for the sixth annual Duke Oceanfest, on Honolulu's world-famous Waikiki Beach. Bookings for this popular event, to be held from 18-26 August, must be made and paid by Friday, 29 June.

The Oceanfest is in honour of the father of modern surfing, Duke Kahanamoku - and this year, Aussie surfing legends Scotty Dillon and Wayne Lynch have been invited by the festival organisers to represent Australia.

Known to many as the DukeFest, this is Waikiki's biggest and most diverse ocean sports celebration, hosting events and activities that include long board, tandem, swimming, paddling, and stand up paddle events, as well as a traditional Hawaiian luau and surfing films on the big screen right there on the beach.

The two Aussie legends will be taking part in the week long fun and games as well as to surf and party with all the Australian contingent and surfing legends from all over the world.

For those going with Scotty, who is almost 80, there is never any shortage of fun and laughs. He is so full of life and usually the last one on the dance floor late at night and the first one up at the crack of dawn for an early surf.

"I am so looking forward to being there. Going to Waikiki will be a hoot, to see a lot of my old Hawaiian friends," he said." Asked what board he was taking he said, "I'll be able to borrow a board there on the beach from any one of my many Beachboy mates."

Wayne too is looking forward to what will also be a family vacation. "I've been working non stop for the past couple of years and the chance to escape the Victorian cold for the Islands is going to be great. It is also such an honor to be invited."

Hawaiian Airlines has joined with Freestyle Holidays to offer a range of special packages to attend the 2007 Duke's OceanFest, to be held in August. Bookings close this Friday, 29 June.

Duke's Oceanfest holiday packages include:

- Return Economy Class flights to Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines
- Six nights accommodation at the Ohana Maile Sky Court Hotel in Honolulu
- Entry to the exclusive OceanFest Luau, featuring the best of Hawaiian food and local entertainment, and
- Tickets to the festival's official opening night reception by the pool at Duke's Bar, one of Honolulu's most popular social spots.

Prices start at A$1,656 per person, twin share, from Sydney, including Australian taxes and charges. From Melbourne and Brisbane, package prices begin at A$1821 per person, twin share, and fares are also available from other Australian destinations including Cairns, Gold Coast and Coolangatta.

Hawaiian Airlines offers three weekly nonstop flights from Sydney to Honolulu, and, through a new partnership with Virgin Blue Airlines, offers a range of special joint fares to Hawaii from 16 other destinations around Australia.

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