How many out-of-the ordinary experiences can one island lend to a meeting program? When it comes to Maui, not even the sky is the limit. Along with star gazing, this diverse island is the ideal place to paddle an outrigger canoe through an ancient Hawaiian fishpond, sip vodka distilled from ocean waters, hike to a hidden valley where ancient arts are practiced in thatched hale (shelters), or dance the night away in Mick Fleetwood’s rooftop bar.
The following are some memorable ways that groups can discover facets of Maui that are sure to delight and surprise.
The Sky's the Limit
With its mid-Pacific locale and absence of city lights, the night skies of Maui are truly a dazzling sight to behold. Among the ways groups can enjoy them are on stargazing cruises with Pacific Whale Foundation Eco-Adventures, which offers both scheduled night excursions and charters that include cocktails and appetizers. Coinciding with the new moon lunar cycle, the cruises feature astronomer Harriet Witt, who provides commentary about the constellations, including their significance to ancient Hawaiian navigation and culture. From December through April, a hydrophone is lowered into the sea so passengers can listen to the songs of humpback whales as they gaze at the stars.
Plenty of options for stargazing on land abound as well, including the Hyatt Regency Maui’s signature Tour of the Stars, which presents stargazing evenings on the hotel rooftop with an astronomer and a reflector telescope. Stargazing can also be part of many customized outdoor evenings in beach and mountain locations on the island.
“One place we love for stargazing is Sugar Beach in Kihei, a new venue with a great chef,” says Kurt Wright of The Wright Company, a Maui-based DMC. “You can bring in astronomers and telescopes and enjoy stargazing along with a farm-to-table dinner.”
Waterborne Wonders
Exploring Maui waters by outrigger canoe is a fun and inspiring way to combine teambuilding with a cultural experience, says Kanara Woodford, director of sales for Weill & Associates, a local DMC.
“One thing that groups really enjoy is an outrigger canoe regatta as a teambuilding event,” she says. “We work with local canoe clubs who supply the canoes as well as two crew members for each canoe. You can have two or three hours of races, often right from the hotel beach, where there’s competitive fun and the chance to learn about traditional Hawaiian navigation.”
A more unusual twist is to paddle outrigger canoes on Kalepolepo Fishpond, an ancient Hawaiian site in Kihei that is currently undergoing restoration. During the activity a cultural advisor explains how the Hawaiians built and maintained fishponds, which feed into the ocean, to raise and harvest fish through sustainable methods.
“They also get to participate in the restoration of the pond by finding and placing a stone in a rock wall being built to protect the pond,” Woodford says.
Maui Heritage
Waihee Valley, a hidden valley deep in the heart of West Maui, is the scene of the island’s newest visitor attraction, Maui Hawaiian Village, which combines a short hike along a stream with a cultural experience. At the head of the lush valley is a replica of a traditional village of taro patches and palm-thatched hale where interpreters demonstrate crafts such as poi pounding and the making of kapa (cloth). Designed for small groups, participants also have the option of helping with the village’s efforts to clear invasive plants from the site.
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One of Maui’s older cultural attractions, Maui Tropical Plantation has recently undergone a major renovation and introduced new banquet operations headed by chef Marc McDowell. The complex, built around a historic sugar mill and designed to showcase Maui’s agricultural heritage, offers a wide variety of event spaces for groups of up to 500 people, including tropical gardens and the Mill House Restaurant.
“The owners have redone the facility in a way that really offers a top-notch experience for groups,” Wright says. “They’ve brought in a great new chef and added Hawaiian cultural elements—really bringing it back to where it should be.”
Liquid Lures
Just as Maui’s agricultural products are winning widespread acclaim, so are some of the island’s liquid assets. Ocean Vodka, a craft distillery which produces both vodka and rum at a spacious upcountry site with views of panoramic views of mountains and sea, is popular for tours and tastings as well as for outdoor events. Nearby Tedeschi Vineyards, a winery in a bucolic setting shaded by century-old trees, is another venue showcasing local beverages.
“For a really impressive experience for a high-end group, you can arrange to fly people into Tedeschi, which has a helicopter pad,” Woodford says.
Another potable option is Maui Brewing Company, which has won awards for island-made brews like Coconut Porter and Bikini Blonde Lager. The company offers tours and customized Pub Party events for groups at its brewery and restaurant in Lahaina.
“You can also incorporate these local beers into beer tasting events at hotels or other venues,” Woodford says. “We often make them part of a Made in Maui event where you bring in all kinds of local products from around the island.”
Artsy Encounters
The local art scene on Maui is rich and varied, and so are the ways that groups can experience it. A new teambuilding option is the Island Art Party, a studio in Kihei that accommodates up to 60 people for catered events that are a combination of art workshop and cocktail party. With art materials provided, an instructor leads the group with step-by-step instructions enabling each participant to create a painting inspired by a featured example.
Maui also offers an abundance of noted local artists who can be brought in as featured guests at receptions and other events, Wright says.
“We can invite a variety of artists to the resort—painters, ceramicists, photographers, glass artists and sculptors—who can demonstrate their art and display some of their works,” he says. “Guests get to meet and talk with the artists, as well as make selections that can be shipped directly to their homes.”
Nights Out
Second only to Oahu in its eclectic offerings for evening entertainment, Maui is abundant in local shows and lively venues for music and dance. A new option in Lahaina is Fleetwood’s on Front Street, a multi-level venue owned by Mick Fleetwood of the seminal rock group Fleetwood Mac that accommodates up to 400 people for an event. Along with a main dining room and bar adorned with Fleetwood’s personal collection of memorabilia, there’s a spacious outdoor rooftop lounge overlooking the ocean and West Maui mountains.
“You can buy out the whole place and have cocktails and music on the roof with dancing under the stars,” Woodford says. “It’s really fabulous.”
For a traditional evening of Hawaiian and Pacific Island foods and entertainment, the Old Lahaina Luau is widely regarded as one of the most authentic choices available in Hawaii. The event, which can accommodate private parties of up to 450 people, takes place in a spectacular waterfront setting where the sunsets compete for attention with the colorful dance numbers on stage.
On a recent visit to Maui, Maria Lenhart was impressed by the dedication to preserving the native Hawaiian environment and culture at Maui Hawaiian Village.
