Visits to Maui are typically easy to remember. But sometimes a simple keepsake can help keep the experience closer in mind, not to mention in hand. There are few better ways to take a bit of the Magic Isles home than by purchasing one of the many made-in-Maui products available throughout the island.
Meeting planners are increasingly discovering the merits of incorporating Maui’s unique island commerce into their schedules and into their gift baskets. From soap to wine and clothing to arts and crafts, the products produced exclusively in Maui reflect the rich heritage and cultural diversity of the people who make them.
Following are just a few ideas for Maui memories to go.
On an island more renowned for its pineapples, grapes have become increasingly popular—especially those used for making wine. Maui’s Winery at Ulupalakua Ranch (www.mauiwine.com) is the island’s only commercial winery, operated as Tedeschi Vineyards, and one of the few in the world to produce wine in the tropics. Producing several varietals, including unique creations such as raspberry wine, Maui’s Winery at Ulupalakua Ranch is a popular destination for groups. The tree-studded grounds and tasting room, situated in one of Maui’s most historic structures, are open for touring and sampling.
“We can host private groups of most any size,” says Maui Winery’s Beth Anderson. “With enough notice, we can tailor visits to the desires of the group and include catered lunches and private tastings.”
The winery also offers an array of gifts that can be customized for groups, from logo wine glasses and logo clothing to golf-and-wine-themed accessories.
“We work with DMCs and planners directly, and we can come up with all sorts of unique things that will suit the needs of any group,” Anderson says.
From tasting good to smelling good, Maui’s Ali’i Kula Lavender (www.aklmaui.com) farm, situated some 20 miles from the winery, is another popular way to incorporate a unique bit of Maui into the agenda. The beautiful farm and gardens smell as good as you might imagine. But what you may not have imagined is all the myriad uses the folks at the farm have devised for lavender—from oils and soaps to spritzes and lotions. It’s even used for cooking.
Numerous tour options are available for groups, including walking tours of the 10-acre farm and buffet lunches that include lavender scones, tea and coffee, along with a brief history and overview of the farm and surrounding Upcountry Maui region.
“We had one group come up and hire a well-known chef from Maui to do a cooking demonstration using our lavender,” says Ali’i Kula Lavender’s Jen Straw. “We also set up a tent for another part of the group to get massages using lavender.”
The farm also offers an assortment of customized gift baskets and items for use as giveaways.
So popular are exclusive Maui products among visitors that the Maui Chamber of Commerce devotes an organization to their advocacy. The Made in Maui Trade Council (www.madeinmaui.com) is an excellent resource for helping planners select the unique product to augment their agenda. From Maui Tropical Soaps to the Maui Brewing Company, if it originates on the Magic Isle, chances are you can find it through the council.
