As a unique event offering, The Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui offers a Hawaiian Cultural Program that has truly taken off in the past six months.
“Led by our full-time Cultural Coach, Jonelle Kamai [pictured], the program offers historic and cultural training for resort employees, monthly celebrations that honor a different aspect of Hawaiian culture and history, and cultural activities for guests,” says Megan Haertling, the resort’s director of public relations. “For the meeting and incentive traveler, this means that luxurious accommodations and variety of meeting spaces are combined with authentic, and unique, Hawaiian team building activities.”
Here’s a quick look at some of the program’s more popular possibilities:
Ancient Fishpond Revival
Native Hawaiians once lived a life of harmony with both the land and the sea. Reliance on the ocean as a viable food source resulted in the development of innovative ocean fishponds. The distinctive design consisted of a stone wall with a gate, placed at the precise locations where currents occurred, flooding different sizes of fish into confined areas.
This unique activity allows groups to help rebuild and restore the ancient Hawaiian fishponds. Participants can return home knowing their long lasting contribution was historically significant to Maui.
Hawaiian Cultural Tour
This 45-minute walking activity includes information about the many uses of native and non-native plants by the Hawaiian people. The knowledgeable guides will point out plants such as kalo (taro), papaya, and sugar cane, as well as locate visible neighboring islands and discuss the legends of Maui and the demigod. This educational activity allows participants to return home with a better understanding of the history, flora and fauna that makes Maui so special.
Luau and Imu Preparation
The resort can also arrange a private group Hawaiian luau. Participants will experience authentic Hawaiian music and dances of fire, romance, adventure, and humor.
Prior to the luau, guests may also actively participate in the preparation of the Hawaiian imu. The imu is an underground oven that uses a combination of hot coals, stones, leaves and cloth to steam the shredded kalua pork served at the luau. Participants may assist the staff by wrapping the pork in ti leaves and loading it into the imu.
Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe
Used by Native Hawaiians to cross the rough channels between the islands, the outrigger canoe was built out of koa and other hard woods. Not only an instrument of fishing and sustenance gathering, the outrigger became the long-distance means by which Hawaiians and the greater Polynesian society projected both settlements and conquests.
With experienced Hawaiian guides, groups may organize regattas or team-building activities utilizing multiple outrigger canoes.
Institute of Hawaiian Music Entertainment
The Institute of Hawaiian Music is led by local music icons (including four-time Grammy award winner George Kahumoku Jr.) and preserves authentic Hawaiian music while mentoring the next generation of musicians. With the Fairmont Kea Lani’s close partnership with the institute, groups have the opportunity to enjoy slack key guitar, ukulele and lyrics sung in Hawaiian by Maui’s most talented students.