Destination: Hawaii Meeting & Event Planning City Guide
Featured Venue
Turtle Bay Resort
57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, Hawaii, 96731-2149
443
31,000 sq ft
A 880-acre paradise featuring five miles of pristine beaches, 12 miles of hiking trails and 36 holes of championship golf; full-service spa; 42 exclusive beach cottages.
Destination Articles
-
The Island Spirit
By Jessie Fetterling
December 31, 2012
Sometimes called The Magic Isle, Maui provides truly enchanting views. Atop Haleakala, a massive shield volcano that reaches a height of more than 10,000 feet, visitors stand above a field of swirling clouds. At the end of the Pipiwai Trail, hikers’ jaws drop in awe of the 400-foot Waimoku Falls. And along the Hana Highway, dramatic ocean views can be seen from narrow rainforest-lined roads.
-
Tradition on Hawaii
By Jessie Fetterling
December 31, 2012
The youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian chain, Hawaii, the Big Island offers some of the state’s most impressive attractions. The tallest sea mountain in the world (Mauna Kea), standing at more than 33,000 feet, is here, as are some of the world’s most active volcanoes. Plus, it has all but two of the world’s climatic zones, so visitors can explore everything from expansive rain forests to volcanic deserts to black-sand beaches. Hawaiian culture is also front-and-center. The Merrie Monarch Festival (held each spring) is the world’s premier hula event. Held in Hilo, the weeklong celebration incorporates hula schools from every Hawaiian island and honors the ancient expression of music, dance and storytelling. This is just one example of how the Big Island honors its past. The mana (spiritual power) prevails at historic sites such as Mookini Heiau State Monument, the birthplace of King Kamehameha and a 1,500-year-old heaiu (temple) once used for human sacrifice.
-
Surf, Sand & Science
By Nikki Gloudeman
October 24, 2012
Every day in Hawaii, throngs of visitors sport swim trunks and bikinis, order tropical cocktails with frilly umbrellas and lie on the sunlit beach. But while this image most readily captures the public imagination, another side to the state celebrates brainiacs, not bikinis.
-
Meet and Stay Fit in Kauai
By Christine Loomis
June 26, 2012
Kauai is one of Hawaii’s most action-oriented islands. Two of the things it’s best known for involve taking on its singular brand of nature: kayaking the untamable Na Pali coast and hiking in and around Waimea Canyon, the multihued gorge slicing deep into the western side of the island. There’s no question that a substantial part of Kauai’s allure is tied to its wealth of physical challenges and activities.
-
Business Meets Fitness on Oahu
By Christine Loomis
June 26, 2012
Oahu brings into play a melding of exotic locale, a role in World War II history that’s etched into the national consciousness and riveting images of hard-body surfers taking on waves as tall as buildings. Honolulu, Hawaii’s state capital, is a place where both government business and the business of attendees from visiting corporations and organizations is conducted daily, against a backdrop of tantalizing beaches and coconut palms casting elegant shadows in the tropical sun.
-
Two Islands, Three days, Three ways
By Nikki Gloudeman
December 28, 2011
Incentive planners considering Maui and the Big Island in Hawai'i have plenty of luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime options to consider: helicopter rides above volcanoes, guided stargazing, a mule ride, whale watching, sunset sails...even swimming beside wild manta rays. Corporate planners have an easy go of it, too, thanks to ample high-tech meeting space indoors and out, not to mention a service industry that knows how to handle the ins and outs of a business function. And larger association groups can book large-scale, name-brand hotels that offer the quintessential Hawaiian experience at a moderate price.
In fact, it’s hard to fathom a planning requirement these islands couldn’t satisfy. High-tech boardroom space? Check. Memorable team-building options? Check. Off-site opportunities? Check. First-rate authentic dining? You guessed it—check.
Whether you’re bringing a small, midsize or large group, with a healthy or tight budget, planning an unforgettable meeting should be a cinch.
Need some ideas? We’ve done the legwork and put together these good-to-go itineraries for you.
Learn about Hawaii for Event Venues, Services & Meeting Destinations
Destination Description
On March 18, 1959, the Admission Act admitted Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state. Off the beach at Waikiki, a fleet of U.S. Navy warships fired their guns as a salute, puncturing the breezy tranquility with their celebratory boom. (Statehood became official that August.)
Mainland residents closely followed the story, mesmerized by the new state—an exotic locale with white-sand beaches and mild temperatures year-round, and a unique culture with its own music, multi-ethnic cuisine—and even its own language.
They’re still mesmerized.
Hawaii ranks among the top destinations in the country, a magnet for vacationers, honeymooners and, increasingly over the years, meetings. Planners and attendees alike appreciate the weather, the change of pace and the opportunity to spend time in a tropical island atmosphere, no passport required.
Add the Aloha spirit, a natural welcoming attitude found nowhere else in the world, and Hawaii should be on your short list for your next meeting or event.
