COMING AND GOING

Post-Shake Hawaii

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QUAKE WATCH

Post-Shake Hawaii

Although Hawaii's governor declared the state a disaster area after last week's earthquake -- an action that makes the state eligible to receive federal emergency funds -- the damage shouldn't spoil the vacation of anyone headed that way now.

Every hotel in the islands is operating, tourism spokesman Nathan Kam said last week, and only a handful suffered damage. Electricity was restored throughout the islands less than a full day after the earthquake, which was centered just off the coast of the Big Island, and all major state roads were open as of early last week.

"Hawaii is largely back to business as usual," said Marsha Weinert of the governor's office. "We have made a speedy return to normalcy." Still, CoGo suggests calling your hotel before leaving home in coming days to make sure all is as you expect.

For late-breaking news, read Hawaii's largest newspapers online: the Honolulu Advertiser, http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com, and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, http://www.starbulletin.com. Or contact the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau: 800-464-2924, http://www.gohawaii.com.

MILE HOUNDS

Evading Expiration

Heads up to Delta frequent fliers who don't actually fly all that frequently: The airline this month announced a new policy, effective Dec. 31, whereby SkyMiles expire in two years rather than three if there has been no activity on your account.

But don't worry if your miles are about to expire and you don't want to go anywhere right now. There are lots of ways to either accrue or redeem miles, thus refreshing your account:

· Spend as little as 400 miles for a magazine subscription .

· Accrue miles by buying anything with a SkyMiles American Express card .

· Donate a minimum of 5,000 miles to a worthy cause, such as the Fisher House Foundation, which uses the miles to buy plane tickets so families can visit military personnel recuperating from injuries.

Details: http://www.delta.com/ ; click on SkyMiles.

PASSPORT TRICKS

Picture This Free Offer

If you need to get a passport anyway, given the new rules requiring one for all flights outside the United States as of Jan. 8, why not also get a free, customer-designed photo album worth $29.99?

Get your passport at one of 5,300 passport acceptance locations in U.S. post offices across the country by Oct. 31 and you'll receive a luggage tag embedded with a coupon that allows you to order the photo book at http://www.shutterfly.com/ . Shutterfly , like KodakEasyShare and Snapfish, allows you to download your photos online and create a personal site. Shutterfly usually makes money by selling things like the photo album it's briefly giving away. You download your pictures and choose how you want them displayed in the 20-page album, which is then printed and bound in cloth or leather. To find post offices with passport facilities, go to http://www.usps.com/passport .

TRAVEL TICKER

Houston visitors can get a free personal tour with local volunteers focusing on such themes as literary Houston, bayou runs, ethnic food and shopping. Details: 713-473-3837 or http://www.houstongreeters.org/ . . . Southwest Airlines is selling $50 and $100 gift certificates for flights at most Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Safeway stores. Don't want recipients using the ticket to visit you? Buy a gift certificate, for $25 or more, to use at one of 3,200 B&Bs in the United States. Details: http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ .

BARGAIN OF THE WEEK

Fresh Eire

Aer Lingus has sale fares from Reagan National to Dublin and Shannon. Fare is $338 round trip (plus about $98 taxes); fare on other airlines is about $527. Book by Oct. 27 for travel Jan. 8-Feb. 28; travel dates and names on tickets can be changed until Nov. 15 with no penalty. Purchase by calling 800-474-7424. Info: www.aerlingus.com.

Reporting: Cindy Loose

Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles to: cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.