Effective December 1, 2001, the Outrigger East, which is located on the corner of Kuhio and Kaiulani Avenues, just two blocks from the beach, will be re-branded the OHANA East Hotel in a move consistent with the company�s on-going effort to enhance the product offering of the OHANA line.

�The OHANA East is a wonderful addition to the OHANA brand,� said Bitsy Kelley, director of brand and business development for OHANA Hotels & Resorts. �There�s no question that it is now our flagship property in Waikiki.�

According to Kelley, guests will see no changes in service levels or amenities offered by this three-diamond property following the transition from Outrigger to OHANA. �We�re still part of the Outrigger family of island hotels, which means the transition to the OHANA brand will be seamless,� said Kelley.

�Our staff is not changing, so return guests will see the same welcoming smiles on the faces of our front desk, housekeeping and bell staff,� Kelley stressed. �Room service will continue as is and fitness room hours will remain the same. So you see, other than a name change, guests will feel as comfortably at home at the OHANA East as they always have.�

The re-branding of the OHANA East follows a year of major growth and enhancement to the OHANA brand. In April, the company assumed management of the OHANA Maui Islander in Lahaina, the first OHANA property outside of Waikiki. The OHANA Keauhou Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii joined the company in August; and in October, OHANA introduced its first property outside of Hawaii with the opening of the OHANA Bayview Guam. A second Guam property will soon follow with the opening of the OHANA Oceanview Guam, currently under renovation and scheduled to open in April 2002.

Additional enhancements to the OHANA brand will occur in 2003 with Outrigger Enterprises� $300 million Waikiki Beach Walk project, which calls for the complete redevelopment of 7.9 acres of aging shops, restaurants and hotels in the Lewers Street area of Waikiki. The sweeping project  will bring extensive renovations and enhancements to three OHANA properties, namely the OHANA Waikiki Village, OHANA Waikiki Tower and OHANA Reef Towers.

OHANA Hotels & Resorts currently operates a total of 19 properties throughout Hawaii and Guam. The brand was introduced in 1999 by Outrigger Enterprises, Inc., Hawaii�s largest lodging company, following its repositioning of the Outrigger brand as an upscale collection of deluxe, beachfront resorts in Hawaii and across the Pacific.