The Hawaii Tourism Authority just sent out a release offering assistance to travelers holding Aloha Airlines tickets on transpacific or interisland flights. The struggling airline is shutting those flights down this Monday. HTA lists a bunch of places for travelers to go for assistance and also says that code share partners (United and others) will help pick up the slack. It's unclear, however, who will pick up the interisland portion of Aloha's booked tickets. The shutdown comes right on the tail end of the Spring Break holiday. Regardless of assurances, these things invariably turn into major disruptions. So definitely start calling (travel agencies, whatever) to get your situation fixed if you hold an Aloha ticket. The shutdown is the second hammer blow to Hawaii tourism in recent months, alongside the announcement that Norwegian Cruise Lines would be pulling two of its three boats out of Hawaii. Roughly 1,900 Aloha employees will lose their jobs. It's a sad thing when this happens. And expect inter-island fares to go up soon as there are not only two major entrants, Hawaiian and go!.

—Alex, 03/30/08