Hotel Hana-Maui Under New Ownership

Owner's Vision to Restore Spirit and Culture of `Old Hawaii'

Press Release: The Hotel Hana-Maui
August 17, 2001
HANA, HI -- The Hotel Hana-Maui has been acquired yesterday by a team of investors led by the managing partners and principal owners of Post Ranch Inn, an award-winning exclusive resort in Big Sur, Calif.

In addition to its planned affiliation to the Post Ranch Inn, the Hotel Hana-Maui currently is a member of ``Small Luxury Hotels of the World,'' a distinction given to a select group of hotels and resorts based on their unique character and individual appeal.

``Our vision is to restore the Hotel Hana-Maui to its former glory as the premiere small luxury hotel in Hawaii, offering an authentic `Old Hawaii' experience,'' said Peter Heinemann, one of the managing partners and principal owners of Post Ranch Inn. ``This is an exciting opportunity for us to enhance the historical quality of the resort, to become a part of the local community and to develop relationships with the residents, as well as with our guests.''

The `Old Hawaii' experience will expose guests to and immerse them in the history, art and culture of Hawaii, as well as encourage exploration of the natural, unspoiled beauty of the landscape surrounding the resort. The remoteness, intimacy and rugged beauty of Hana lures visitors back year after year and makes the Hotel Hana-Maui the perfect destination for people wanting to escape the pressures at home and completely unwind in an island paradise.

The Hotel Hana-Maui continues to be the only resort in Hana that enables visitors to enjoy a secluded, tranquil vacation free of crowds and noise. Travelers can easily and affordably get to the resort via a 15-minute flight from the Kahului airport in Maui to the Hana airport or by flying directly from Honolulu.

``Just as Post Ranch preserves the history and spirit of California in the late 1800s, the Hotel Hana-Maui offers guests the chance to experience Hawaii as it was a hundred years ago in its natural, authentic state,'' said Michael Freed, another of Post Ranch Inn's managing partners and principal owners. ``We expect the experience of the Hotel Hana-Maui to equal that of Post Ranch Inn as we fine-tune the amenities and add new ones.''

The Hotel Hana-Maui will be managed by Passport Resorts LLC, a hotel management company owned and operated by Michael Freed and Peter Heinemann, two of the principal owners of Post Ranch Inn. Freed and Heinemann are also affiliated with the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort, which was recently listed as the number one resort in Fiji by the Travel & Leisure 2001 Reader's Poll.

The Hotel Hana-Maui is situated on 30 acres of land that stretches along the eastern coast of the island of Maui. The resort grounds, once the home of a successful sugar plantation, lie nestled between the lush Hawaiian countryside and the Pacific Ocean. It has received numerous acclamations and awards, including being named ``Most Romantic Resort in the World'' by Romantic Hideaway and ``One of the Ten Best Hotels in the World'' by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. The Hotel Hana-Maui also appeared on Hideaway Report's list of ``Top Ten Resorts in the U.S.'' and was featured as one of the ``Top Ten Tropical Resorts in the U.S.'' by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. It has also received the Kahili Award `Certificate of Merit' by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau.

Post Ranch Inn is an exclusive 30-room inn situated on 98 acres of Pacific coastline in Central California. Built on one of the oldest ranches in Big Sur, Post Ranch Inn preserves the history, spirit and remoteness of the landscape. Post Ranch Inn is renowned for its luxurious rooms, breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Ventana Mountains, relaxation therapies and overall guest experience. Post Ranch Inn made Conde Nast's Gold List in 2000 and was named one of the nation's top resorts by the Zagat Guide. In 1999, it was named ``the most environmentally responsible resort in the United States'' by Coastal Living magazine. It has also received the Andrew Harper Hideaway Award as the number one small luxury resort for the past two years. Its restaurant, Sierra Mar, has won the Wine Spectator's Grand Award annually since its opening in 1992.

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Contact: 

     Graham & Associates
     Carl Schick, 415/957-1705
     cschick@graham-associates.com
     Caroline Bhalla, 415/957-1705
     cbhalla@graham-associates.com