Big Island Hawaii Ironman 2011 Discounts

Big Island Hawaii Ironman 2011

2011 Rohto Ironman

The 2011 Rohto Ironman will take place on Saturday, June 4, 2011 and will consist of a 1.2-mile swim at Hapuna Beach State Park, a 56-mile bike to Hawi and back to Mauna Lani Resort, and a 13.1-mile run entirely within the resort grounds. Around 1,600 athletes from all over the world are expected to enter this year.

Discount Ironman Accommodations - Book Early and Save

The Fairmont Orchid, in addition to being a sponsor is offering athletes traveling to the Big Island for the Rohto Ironman 70.3 Hawaii advantage of a very special book early and save promotion. Great room rates will still be available after December 31, 2010, but to take advantage of the resort credit, room reservations must be confirmed prior to December 31, 2010.

Book a minimum of 4 consecutive room nights under the Ironman group block and receive a $100 resort credit! This offer is valid for reservations confirmed prior to December 31, 2010 and may not be used in conjunction with any other promotions, discounts or offers and must be blocked under the Rohto Ironman Rate booked through passkey located at: resweb.passkey.com/go/ironman2011 or by calling The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii at 800-441-1414 and ask for the Rohto Ironman 70.3 Hawaii rate code: IMHIX.

Discount Ironman Car Rental Rates

Avoid the outrageous car rental rates that will be in effect once we get closer to the event date. Ensure your Discount Ironman Rates by booking early. Convenient car rental locations are located at the Kona and Hilo International Airports providing for airport pickup and return. For those lucky enough to enjoy a few extra days in Honolulu, there are car rental locations located at the Honolulu International Airport and in the Waikiki Resort area where shuttle services are provided to all the Waikiki Resorts and Hotels. The discount car rental rates are not limited to race participants and are open to all.

www.DiscountHawaiiCarRental.com Home Page

Mauna Kea's Keck Finds Exoplanet in Goldilocks Zone

The W.M. Keck Observatory on the Big Island Hawaii has been observing the red dwarf star Gliese 581 for 11 years and yesterday R. Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution of Washington announced that they discovered the first exoplanet, a planet outside our Solar System, inhabiting the Goldilocks Zone of a star. The Goldilocks Zone is an habitable area neither too hot or cold for liquid water to exist and therefore may be able to sustain life within the confines of our understanding of biological systems. The presence of water could not be confirmed given our current technological limitations.

The Gliese 581 solar system differs greatly from our own in that the star is much smaller and much colder and the newly discovered planet, Gliese 581 G, is 3 to 4 times larger than earth. In addition the system is about twice as old as our solar system.

To visit the Mauna Kea Observatory itself I would recommend a commercial tour or limit your excursion to the Visitor Information Station of the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy at the 9,000-foot level on the Mauna Kea access road. Standard rental vehicles cannot cope with the steep, unpaved road that extends beyond the Visitor Information Station and the major national car rental companies prohibit off-road use. Avis and Budget also restrict Saddle Road which leads to the paved road at Mile 28 that winds its way up to the lower slopes of Mauna Kea to the Visitor Information Station.

Mauna Kea Links

Visiting Mauna Kea Observatories - http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/mko/visiting.shtml

Licensed Mauna Kea Commercial Tour Operators - http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/permitted_tours.html

New Lower Hawaii Car Rental Rates

Budget has released new lower discount rates for a limited time. Take advantage at Discount Hawaii Car Rental now.