You’d be hard-pressed to keep your attendees from noticing the stunning natural beauty that so definitively marks the islands of Maui County. It’s inevitable that meetings agendas will integrate activities that capitalize on the outdoors. From whale watching to golf, there is something to suit every taste for adventure.
Among the fastest-growing activities for groups are tours and adventures that focus on Maui’s ecological diversity. There are numerous outfits that cater to the growing desire among visitors to experience firsthand the true nature of the islands.
Maui Eco Adventure (808.661.7720; www.ecomaui.com) features guided hiking tours through many of Maui’s natural environments, including rainforests, waterfalls, Haleakala Crater, the town of Hana, and the village of Kahakuloa. The company offers exclusive access to many of these private-property sites, and guides possess intimate knowledge of the region and its cultural and natural history. Designed for individuals and small groups, the tours can be tailored to all skill levels and range from a four-hour waterfall hike to a daylong, three-island helicopter tour with beachside massage treatments.
The guides at Hike Maui (808.879.5270; www.hikemaui.com) are among the island’s most knowledgeable and energetic, eager to point out local foliage and discuss the history and lore of any area they happen to be in. With several route options for all abilities, Hike Maui features choices such as the rigorous Mountain Ridge Hike that passes myriad indigenous plant species and peaks at 3,000 feet above lush tropical valleys, and a four-mile trek to Haleakala Crater, a must-see for any Maui visitor. Kayaking and snorkeling packages are also available.
For more of an adrenaline rush, groups can try Skyline Eco Adventures (808.878.8400; www.skylinehawaii.com), which combines the spirit of exploration with the excitement of a thrill ride. Skyline tours include guided hikes through forested land and are topped off by zip-line rides across the forest canopy, with views of the terrain below. The company is as serious about their zip-line safety as they are about the preservation of Maui’s ecology, with 10 percent of company profits donated to the protection of Hawaii’s land and culture.
