When I honeymooned on Maui, I could scarcely imagine a more perfect spot for the occasion. Breathtakingly beautiful, ideally accessible and achingly romantic, the “Magic Isles” seemed designed to host couples in love, happy to serve them an endless stream of picture-postcard sunsets and a continuous crash of crystal-blue waves on white sandy beaches.
The qualities that make Maui ready-made for romance also make it a magnetic meetings destination staffed by industry veterans that are serious about business.
Undoubtedly, any of the Hawaiian Islands will lure attendees without much coaxing. But Maui County, encompassing Maui and its neighboring islands of Lanai and Molokai, offers an unusual mix of undisturbed beauty and modern-day facilities.
Maui enjoys ample direct airlift and offers an infrastructure on par with its big-brother island, Oahu. Airlines serving Maui with direct service from the U.S. mainland include United, American, Hawaiian, Delta, Northwest, and Aloha. Aloha and Hawaiian airlines offer service between Honolulu International Airport and Maui every 30 minutes, and also between Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii and Kauai. Aloha Island Air and Hawaiian Airlines provide service to Lanai and Molokai. There is also regular ferry service from Maui to Lanai and from Maui to Molokai.
“Maui presently has 177 direct or nonstop flights weekly to Maui from numerous major airports on the mainland.” says Tom Risko, director of meetings, conventions and incentives for the Maui Visitors Bureau. “All the major carriers service Maui.”
Risko says Maui continues to lure a diverse group clientele, adding that recent gatherings have included the National Precast Concrete Association, the Travel Savers of Canada 2007 Annual Convention and the College of Pathologists.
Risko points out that the natural surroundings of Maui County’s three islands are inspirational to incentive groups and high-level strategy sessions.
“New techniques and future strategies are being pondered, discussed and taught,” he says. “Beautiful settings are abundant on Maui, be it at the hotel or resort property or otherwise. Simply taking a walk on the beach, stargazing, taking a drive to visit the rainforests or to view the waterfalls and the black and red sand beaches—it’s here for them to appreciate.”
Though there are no dedicated convention facilities on any of the three islands, there are numerous options for hosting small and large groups. Most groups meet in the many high-end resort hotels, which provide settings befitting the lush, tropical surroundings. There are some 18,000 guest rooms and condo units available on Maui, most centered in the resort areas of Kapalua, Kaanapali, Wailea, and Makena, while there are more than 360 rooms on Lanai, and Molokai offers more than 100 guest rooms.
Maui enjoys close proximity to its neighboring islands. Lanai and Molokai are close enough to see from the shores of Maui, reminders to visitors that a quick hop on the ferry or small plane can put them on a far-away beach or on an exotic trek.
Maui
With its year-round average temperature of about 70 degrees, Maui offers a reliable and indisputably attractive destination for groups looking to augment their meeting with a little recreation or adventure. With a culturally diverse population of about 130,000, Maui is the second-largest island in the Hawaiian chain (behind the Big Island), and it offers a mind-boggling mix of terrain—from sandy beaches to rocky cliffs and from rainforests to open farmland sprouting sugarcane and pineapple.
But the island is best known for its beaches, and much of the activity on Maui is centered on or around them.
The leeward (west) side of the island is home to beautiful beaches and resorts. Kapalua, Kaanapali, Wailea, and Makena are frequented by an endless stream of honeymooners in search of a romantic backdrop and beach-lovers seeking paradise.
At Kapalua and Kaanapali, planners also find paradise at well-known properties such as the 548-room Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, which offers 150,000 square feet of function space. Kaanapali features the 806-room Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, the 758-room Westin Maui Resort and Spa, the 510-room Sheraton Maui, and the 516-room Royal Lahaina Resort.
Maui’s southern side is home to Wailea, a sought-after destination that boasts some of the island’s best-known resorts, including the 473-room Wailea Marriott Resort and the 450-room Fairmont Kea Lani. The 380-room Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is among the most luxurious Maui resorts, featuring a private beach and a star-studded swimming pool. The Four Seasons has a well-appointed ballroom that can host 500 people. Meanwhile, the 801-room Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa is the granddaddy of them all, with a legendary swimming pool, numerous outdoor function spaces and the largest ballroom in the state of Hawaii, measuring 28,000 square feet.
If a less-populated area is more your group’s style, Makena is adjacent to Wailea and features the beautiful Maui Prince Resort, a 310-room property with impeccable facilities and attentive staff.
Small groups can retreat to the more remote eastern side of the island, where they will find a laid-back, Old Hawaii ambience and the charming town of Hana, where meetings-friendly offerings include the Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa.
Of course, most groups visit the “Magic Isles” expecting the agenda to include something well beyond the morning PowerPoint presentation. In that regard, Maui doesn’t disappoint. There is much to occupy the interests of active attendees, from championship golf to world-class windsurfing, hiking and some of the best whale watching in the world. Prime viewing season runs from December through May.
Chief among Maui’s attractions is the historic district of Lahaina. Once the Hawaiian capital and the largest whaling port in the Pacific, Lahaina is preserved today as an artifact of Hawaii’s past. The district features restored buildings, museums and an impressive 19th century whaling ship replica. Outside the historic district in the town of Lahaina, shoppers stroll along Front Street, perusing the galleries and shops, and enjoying the many restaurants.
Lahaina is home to one of Hawaii’s most famous luaus, the Old Lahaina Luau, which attracts visitors from around the world to enjoy traditional dancing, singing and food. Wildly popular, the luau typically sells out for every performance, but groups providing sufficient notice can buy out seating for as many as 450 attendees.
According to Risko, there are many recent additions to Maui’s cultural repertoire that groups will find attractive.
“The Maui Tropical Plantation recently introduced the Waikapu Village Luau,” he says. “Held every Friday and Sunday, the journey includes a lively welcome, a tram tour of the plantation, Hawaiian games, a canoe procession, as well as an open bar, a buffet and ‘Kololio,’ a Musical Journey. The Maui Tropical Plantation now offers indoor and outdoor locations for groups of 50 to 800.”
Also worth a visit is the spectacular Maui Ocean Center, a $20 million aquarium and marine park that can accommodate 850. Groups can get up close and personal with tropical reef fish, green sea turtles, squid, stingrays, and sharks. The center recently opened its Marine Mammal Discovery Center, which features interactive displays, videos and life-size models of monk seals, dolphins and whales found in Hawaiian waters. Available for buyouts, the center features an open-air setting ideal for sit-down dinners and entertainment.
Lanai and Molokai
Within eyeshot from Maui are the islands of Lanai and Molokai, both of which provide alluring day-trip destinations for groups visiting the area, or destinations in and of themselves. These small islands offer a glimpse of traditional Hawaii, where the pace is as easy as the trade wind breeze and the most important issue of the day is what to order for dinner.
Lanai epitomizes, Risko says, “the ultimate in service and is a meeting, convention and incentive destination without peer.”
Though the city of Lanai has only one stoplight, there are two major resorts on Lanai, one coastal and one inland, nestled on a mountainside. The gorgeous Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay is situated on a striking red-lava cliff, while the Lodge at Keole, also now managed by Four Seasons, is set in the island highlands. Each property offers luxurious amenities, including golf courses and spas.
Meanwhile, Molokai continues to attract the adventurer who typically selects the Lodge at Molokai Ranch or the Hotel Molokai as their accommodations of choice. The lodge features an expansive lawn, ideal for receptions and outdoor events for groups of up to 150.
Molokai is known for its world-class diving sites and hiking trails.
“Molokai is for the outdoor explorer, eco-seeker and ocean adventurer,” Risko says. “Planners have found it to be a perfect pre- or post-meeting extension, offering unmatched opportunities for 21st century team building in the midst of natural beauty.
“Molokai is also a great surprise choice for breakout groups and workshops,” Risko says.
For More Info
Lanai Visitors Bureau 808.565.7600
www.visitlanai.net
Maui Visitors Bureau 888.918.8444
www.mauimeetings.net
Molokai Visitors Association 808.553.3876
www.molokai-hawaii.com
