Notes from the Road: Kauai

Eden in the Pacific

Commonly known as the Garden Isle, Kauai is considered by many to be the crown jewel of the Hawaiian Islands. I’ve been visiting this paradise for years, but returning as the new Managing Editor of Smart Meetings provided a different (and exciting!) lens through which to view this stunning place. This lush location has a number of new (and sustainable) businesses and venues cropping up, ready to accommodate the needs of meeting profs and their attendees.

The meetings industry is also contributing to helping the island’s economy and environment flourish. I had the pleasure of meeting with Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau, who told me, “We have been so appreciative of our group business throughout the years. Not only do they enjoy the island responsibly, they are often a higher spend client. We have seen groups go out and learn about the island, engage in cultural/environmental lectures and activities. I have personally seen the CSR (corporate social responsibility) of many companies give back to our island, for which we are grateful.”

Kauai, the only U.S. location named a 2024 Best Nature Destination by TripAdvisor, inspires CSR activities practically around every corner, from protecting the island’s sea turtle population to culling invasive plant species and, of course, beach cleanups to keep the island’s shores sparkling.

Whether you’re planning a conference, incentive trip, breakout or other gathering, Kauai is a magical place to host an unforgettable experience.

Meet

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, which opened after a $300 million transformation of the former St. Regis location, is a 252-room, sustainability-focused luxury resort and spa that offers jaw-dropping views of the North Shore’s Hanalei Bay, a range of elegant accommodations, top-tier meeting space and some of the best dining on the island. A total of six meeting spaces range between 325 sq. ft. to 3,080 sq. ft. and on-site catering is available.

If you are looking for a great option on the south shore of the island, Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph is a top choice, with 39,000 sq. ft. of meeting space alongside 194 villas and 112 studio suites. The location also features a 350,000-gallon, three-tiered signature lagoon pool which has been voted USA Today’s Best Pool in America for five years and counting.

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With a 20,000 sq. ft. grand lawn and 1,100 sq. ft. dining room, Common Ground in Kilauea, located on Kauai’s northeastern shore, is a beautiful choice for meetings and breakouts. The location also frequently hosts lei-making workshops, celebrity chefs (the site features a one-acre “food forest”) and a number of other great activities and events.

Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay is located four miles from the Lihue airport in Kapaa and can provide meeting profs with 7,472 sq. ft. of meeting space, as well as 216 guest rooms. Set where the Wailua River meets the Pacific Ocean, this beachfront venue also hosts traditional ceremonies, cuisine and activities for guests to enjoy.

Eat

I visited Welina Terrace, a restaurant located in the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay that features a locally sourced, modern Japanese menu served tapas-style, and between the exquisite dishes and stunning view of the bay, it topped my list of first-time Kauai dining experiences.

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My tried and true, can’t-miss restaurant on Kauai is Bar Acuda, located in Hanalei and serving innovative tapas and cocktails alongside a fabulous wine selection. Not only is the food spectacular, but the staff goes above and beyond to provide a wonderful experience to patrons.

Happy Talk in Princeville is my choice for more casual dining with live music, a koi pond and a beautiful backdrop of the surrounding mountains and Hanalei Bay. This would be a great option for meeting profs planning a cocktail hour, as the restaurant opens at 3 p.m.

Do

What makes Kauai one of the top travel destinations in the world is its array of thriving ecosystems and protected landscapes, which can set the stage for an incentive that will leave attendees in awe. Select from a range of boat tours with Holo Holo Charters in Eleele on the South Shore, a USA Today 10 Best Boat Tours. Go all-in with the company’s seven-hour tour of the world-renowned Napali Coast as well as an off-shore excursion near Lehua Crater Hawaii State Wildlife Sanctuary, an uninhabited crescent-shaped crater, and the neighboring “Forbidden Island” of Niihau, home to a private colony of Native Hawaiians.

See miles of otherwise-inaccessible swaths of Kauai by air on Blue Hawaiian Helicopters out of Princeville, whose pilots will lift you over incredible views of the Napali Coast, Waimea Valley (the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”), Mount Waiʻaleʻale (the second wettest place on earth) and more.

And of course, be sure to work with CVB representatives to take advantage of a number of CSR opportunities and give back to this beautiful island they call home.