Hawaii Island is one of those rare destinations that people visit to truly unwind and convene with nature, where the aloha spirit infuses the agendas of both vacationing tourists and group attendees via fresh air, lush landscapes, inviting ocean waters and warm sand.
A meeting on Hawaii, the Big Island should mix business with the island’s beautiful natural surroundings, and planners can achieve this by incorporating an outdoor adventure and luau or by utilizing one of the island’s open-air venues.
Active Pursuits
Hawaii Forest & Trail facilitates nature adventures for small groups.
Each customized itinerary is built around an iconic Hawaii experience, according to Chris Colvin, director of sales and marketing for the outfitter, including stargazing on Mauna Kea, walking on an active volcano, searching for rare birds in a native rainforest, or swimming under a waterfall.
“We’re constantly working with groups to accomplish their goals, including voluntourism and stewardship work in cooperation with local nonprofits,” he says. “Getting together to help restore or conserve a natural area is also a great way for teams to bond.”
Meals are included in an outing and whenever possible occur at an inspiring and engaging place, according to Colvin.
“Guests on our Kohala Waterfall tour enjoy a picnic lunch at a private cliff-side spot overlooking Pololu Valley,” he says. “We have also done several high-end incentive programs, complete with an on-site caterer and tented, white-tablecloth dining.”
Gary Marrow, tour operator for KapohoKine Adventures, says the outfitter’s Zipline Through Paradise is the only zip line in the state that offers waterfall and rainforest views, and has a dual line so teams can zip side-by-side and even race if they’re up to it.
“Our jungle pavilion, which sits over a double-tiered waterfall, is where we do an amazing Hawaiian-style barbecue lunch,” he says.
KapohoKine’s Helizip tour travels over dozens of waterfalls and Kilauea, the most lava-emitting volcano in the world, Marrow adds.
“For adrenaline enthusiasts we have an amazing doors-off option on the helicopter so you can actually feel the heat while circling the volcano,” he says. PageBreak
Kona Eco Adventures features ziplining, ATV rides and hiking opportunities.
“Your entire surroundings are native Hawaiian flora and fauna,” says Haa Neves, spokeswoman for the outfitter. “These activities are also very informative, as the tour guides give a quick brief on the plants and animals around you.”
Midway through an outing with Kona Eco Adventures, light snacks are provided, including banana bread, trail mix, fruit juices and water.
Luau and Other Festivities
Events on Hawaii Island fill the calendar, so planners would be wise to check out what’s happening when the group is in town. Attendees might like exploring popular local festivities such as the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival or the Ka‘u Coffee Festival.
Whether or not there is a festival to visit, planners should arrange their own celebration via a luau either on-site at the host hotel or resort or off-site with one of the island’s many luau facilitators.
A luau, the traditional Hawaiian feast, presents a wonderful opportunity for groups to enjoy great food, natural outdoor surroundings, entertainment (music, dance, storytelling) and camaraderie, according to Debbie Hogan, senior director of sales at the Big Island Visitors Bureau.
“Hawaii’s local culture in some ways revolves around gatherings and the sharing of food, music and celebration,” she says. “The entertainment and menus can be tailored to the group. For example, the entertainment could be a journey through Polynesia or could center on legends of Hawaii’s most revered gods/goddesses. The menu can be traditional, contemporary or a blend of both.”
Hogan recommends small to midsize groups take advantage of the current luau shows available at most host properties.
“If they prefer a private party or are a large group, then I would encourage the meeting planner to reach out to their respective hotel contact or destination management company specialist to create a custom event for the group,” she says. PageBreak
Gathering Spaces
There are many venues that mix nature with successful events on Hawaii, the Big Island, including those found on-site at group-friendly hotels and resorts, including Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Hilton Waikoloa and Waikoloa Beach Resort.
“Waikoloa Bowl is still considered a new venue for groups of up to 5,000-plus people that want to experience an outdoor venue in the sunny Kohala Coast,” says Margo Mau Bunnell, sales and operations manager for Waikoloa Beach Resort. “A great location nestled in the black lava yet under the starlight skies of the Big Island, the venue gives any group that secluded feeling of being in Hawaii.”
The open-air venue, which accommodates receptions and banquets, promotes nature with views of all three mountains—Kohala, Mauna Kea and Hualalai—during the day, and in the evening, Bunnell says, the venue comes to life with the stars and moon above.
The Holualoa Inn, a property featured in Architectural Digest, is set amid fields of Kona coffee and offers several spaces for memorable outdoor events, including a Zen Buddha garden for intimate gatherings, a great lawn that’s well-suited for team-building events and an open-air pavilion.
“A short drive up the mountain from Kona, the estate offers guests a unique slice of Hawaii seemingly far removed from the coastal experience,” says Cassandra Hazen, owner of the inn. “Many have described the estate as having the aura of ‘Old Hawaii.’”
The property’s newest addition is the one-year-old Malulani Pavilion, which accommodates up to 120 people for events under a cedar-beamed roof that both protects from and embraces the elements.
“The pavilion was designed with planners in mind and the venue is a blank outdoor canvas easily transformed into a themed event, but will also stand alone beautifully with minimal decor,” Hazen says.
And Kalani, a retreat center, is located on the largest conservation coast in Hawaii in the tropical setting of Puna, according to Tiki DeGenaro, general manager of the venue.
“This area is known for the cleanest air in the world [brought in by the trade winds], stunning flowers, fruit and foliage and dramatic black sand beaches, and it is located 10 to 15 miles from the lava viewing area, where lava drops dramatically into the ocean,” she says.
Spaces here include the lanai, an open-air dining veranda, and the property offers many team-bonding opportunities, including hula dancing and lava hikes.
Regular contributor Carolyn Blackburn’s favorite spot on the Big Island is the beautiful Waipio Valley.
