Traditional Hawaiian Blessing Saturday At Expanded, Remodeled Kona, Hawai'i, Verizon Wireless Store

HONOLULU, HI — Wireless users on the island of Hawai'i who are looking to get hands-on experience with cutting-edge smartphones and feature phones including GPS navigation, data, music, video and voice services have a new place to call home.

This Saturday, Verizon Wireless officially opens its second "evolution" communications store in Hawai'i at Kona's Lanihau Center. A traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony and lei untying with Kahu Henry Kahananui begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. The newly remodeled store at 75-5595 Palani Road is double the size of the previous store and offers consumers hands-on interaction with wireless voice, data, music and video services in a sleek, new full-service environment.

Wireless customers in Kona can sample a wide array of fully-activated new phones and devices first hand. What's more, data users can learn how to stay connected in more places with wireless data access on PC cards; learn about MiFi (your own personal Wi-Fi hotspot); try the new mini netbooks; and so much more.

About the store

• Interactive "demo zone" guided by knowledgeable staff
• Integrated systems and operational enhancements designed to streamline the sales process and increase customer satisfaction.
• Check-in kiosk enables customers to sign in on arrival and stay informed via monitors that track their place in the queue for service
• Roomy and easy to locate technical assistance and customer support areas with interactive displays

"Our new store in Kona provides plenty of space for both shopping and customer service, in keeping with our commitment to deliver innovative voice and data plans, exciting new devices and services and the best possible wireless experience," said Kelley Kurtzman, regional president of Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless has invested more than $29 million in Hawai'i in 2008 and $186 million since 2000 — to increase the coverage and capacity of its network and to add new services.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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