Oahu/Kauai

While indelible images of Kauai's lush forests and Oahu's tropical beaches are classic postcard fodder, both Hawaiian islands also sport a variety of cultural riches that can be readily accessed by meeting attendees. They offer a range of arts venues, from museums and theaters to festivals and native Hawaiian experiences.

Though the majority of meetings focus on nature for their group settings, many do take advantage of the unique Hawaiian culture.

"We get meeting groups who are a little more seasoned and have been to islands in the past, and are looking for something unique and different," says Mike Murray, vice president of sales and marketing, corporate meetings and incentives for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Oahu
Oahu is a cultural oasis, with over 100 museums, an array of art galleries, performance space and local crafts.

"Groups are looking for an experience that is unlike anything they have done in the past—things unique to Hawaii," Murray says. "The various museums certainly give groups a flavor of what is unique to the islands."

Honolulu is home to a large percentage of Oahu's historical and cultural attractions, including Iolani Palace, the official residence of Hawaii's monarchy, built in 1882 by King Kalakaua and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani. It's the only royal palace on U.S. soil.

"The most popular spot for groups is the Iolani Palace," Murray says. "Its location is very key, close to major resort areas, from Waikiki in particular. The palace itself is the backdrop, so a convention group doesn't have to worry about theming things up. What we'll do is integrate tours to get a sense of place, take attendees through the palace. The grounds are stunning. It's probably one of the most unique places in the whole state."

Aside from palace tours, the Royal Hawaiian Band presents free concerts on the Iolani Palace grounds most Fridays.

Not as well-known as Iolani, the Queen Emma Summer Palace exploits its natural surroundings, set against the side of a mountain overlooking the Waikiki skyline and downtown Honolulu. Built in 1843 as a summer retreat for Queen Emma, the wife of King Kamehameha IV, the palace now features a small museum and can host about 150 for receptions.

History buffs flock to the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, including the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine, USS Missouri Battleship and the Pacific Aviation Museum, which can host private events from 600 to 10,000. The 60,000-ton USS Missouri, aka the Mighty Mo, was the last battleship ever constructed by the U.S. and is a magnet for group functions.

The Bishop Museum also caters to meetings and provides a wealth of archived historical information, as well as Hawaiian and Polynesian artifacts. Founded in 1889, the museum also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world.

"Groups can take over the grounds and physical venues inside," Murray says. "We can customize visits. Historians can come in and talk about various artifacts that they have showcased, or they can get approval to bring out special artifacts not on display. There is a huge research center there behind the scenes with people who are digging deeper with regard to history."

The Polynesian Cultural Center, featuring pavilions from various Polynesian countries, caters to meetings as well. Its Ha-Breath of Life performance showcases a cast of over 100 islanders performing traditional Polynesian songs and dances in the dramatic 2,800-seat Pacific Theater. The center also offers hands-on activities, including spear throwing, fire knife dancing and tiki carving.

Among Oahu's myriad art museums, the Honolulu Academy of Arts is especially suitable for meetings. Founded in 1927, the academy is home to a permanent collection of over 38,000 pieces, including Western, European and Polynesian art.

 Groups can use the facility's galleries, open-air courtyards and Doris Duke Theatre. The academy mixes music, nightlife and the arts on the last Friday of every month with its ARTafterDARK event.

"You can come and take over the academy as a group and tailor it to group functions," Murray says.

Another off-site venue, the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu, features acres of Zen-like gardens with views of Diamond Head in addition to its six galleries. Exhibits showcase international contemporary art of the last four decades.

For surf buffs, the Haleiwa Surf Museum in the North Shore Marketplace makes for an entertaining stop.

Oahu's Hawaii Opera Theater, which performs at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, is open for group functions. Meanwhile, the 1920s-era Hawaii Theatre is a multipurpose center, from drama to dance, and offers seating for up to 1,300. Aside from performances, the theater organizes guided tours.

Meeting planners can also arrange for local performers to come to them.

"We have a lot of popular ukele performers and slack key guitarists," Murray says. "We can provide the performers and make arrangements with groups, whether it's for lessons or to play at a dinner."

Other options include free performances and classes at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, such as Hawaiian quilting, lomilomi massage and healing, ukulele playing, hula dancing, lei-making and kapa cloth making. Many of the major hotels have luaus throughout the week, or private luaus can be arranged, and some, such as the Sheraton Waikiki, also offer cultural classes, such as puka shell crafts.

Oahu can also accommodate meetings during its myriad festivals, such as the Okanawan Festival in the summer.

"The website Gohawaii.com has a section on festivals," Murray says. "We tell groups to search the website for festivals and they can include it in their packet about what is going on."

Kauai
Towering waterfalls, rugged canyons, a jagged coastline and inviting beaches all define Kauai as a nature paradise. But there is another side to the island's appeal.

"Beyond the beauty of the place there's the culture," says Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau. "It's a hidden side of the islands people don't get a chance to experience as much as they could. I always think it's important if you can at least have a cultural representative to come and speak to the group. There is so much depth to the Hawaiian Islands and each island so different."

Kauai's artistic center lies on the West Side of the island in Hanapepe Town, home to myriad fine art galleries, local crafts and artisans. Every Friday night, Hanapepe celebrates Art Night, when galleries and studios open their doors to visitors. The town's historic buildings have also been used for filming movies such as The Thornbirds.

"There is a strong community of artists and galleries all over the island," Kanoho says. "Local artists love to work with groups."

For small meetings, the Kauai Museum in Lihue spotlights the art of Kauai as well as artifacts from Hawaii's past. Kukuiula Village features a few spacious galleries that can host meetings with advance notice. The shopping village also organizes occasional art walks.

Kauai's Movie Tours runs bus tours to movie sites around the island, replete with video clips ranging from Elvis' Blue Hawaii to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Meeting planners can book an entire bus for a group.

Many of the major resorts also offer culture options. The Kauai Beach Resort brings in artists to talk about and show their work on Thursdays. The resort also presents the dinner show South Pacific on Wednesday nights. The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa can arrange luaus for meeting attendees.

The Kauai Concert Association provides classical and modern performing fine arts to the island, with concerts performed at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Centre.

"The Concert Association is another great opportunity," Kanoho says. "They will bring in jazz specialists, less traditional than what you would see at a festival. There are opportunities if they want to incorporate that into an event."

Kauai is also known for its year-round assortment of festivals, which can be found at the Kauai Festivals website (www.kauai festivals.com).

Some notable cultural Kauai festivals include the Koloa Plantation Days Celebration in July, which transforms Old Koloa Town into a haven for food and entertainment, including a parade honoring Koloa's multicultural heritage. The Kauai Mokihana Festival each September features a hula competition, performances and cultural workshops.