Aloha: The main urban destination of HawaiiHonolulu and its Waikiki coastis gleaming with shops and refreshed hotel inventory. On the Big Island, where a geologically diverse landscape (featuring a live volcano) keeps things lively, resorts are flourishing and the Mauna Kea is making a comeback.
HOME TEAM RECCOMMENDS
In Oahu, MC&A, a Honolulu-based DMC and a Global Events Partner (GEP), recommends that groups of 500 or more take advantage of the signature sites, such as the lolani Palace, the home of the last two monarchs of Hawaii, which still has most of its vintage décor intact; the Waikiki Shell, which can accommodate up to 2,000 and is across the street from Diamond Head; and Fort DeRussy, a former army base with 72 oceanfront acres that can accommodate up to 5,000. For more intimate groups, the choice is among Washington Place, an 1846 mansion styled after Mount Vernon, that can hold up to 200 but is better for 100 to 150; the Hawaiian State Art Museum, near the Lolani Palace (can hold up to 125); and the Waikiki Aquarium, which can hold up 200 for a sit-down dinner. In between, the recommended venues are the historic U.S.S. Missouri, which can hold anywhere between 200 and 3,000; the Bishop Museum, which can hold up to 100 guests for dinner (or 500 on the lawn); and the 1922 Hawaii Theater in Chinatown, which can hold 64 for a sit-down dinner on the stage, or 2,000 for a performance.
The Big Island is celebrating the year of the cowboy in 2008, with events around Waimea. The Parker Ranchhome to the paniolo, the Hawaiian cowboycan host up to 1,000; for smaller groups, Puuopelu, the family home of the Parkers, can host 100 for a sit-down dinner.(For special events, Parker Ranch offers its rodeo arena to groups for the day with horses, calf-roping, a racetrack, bandstands, and everything you need for a traditional paniolo rodeo-including a post-competition hoe-down.) Other venues include both Waikoloa Kings' golf course, which features ancient lava around its links; and the Mauna Lani Driving Rangeone of the most photographed courses in the worldwhere events for up 2,000 can be held.
Venues that generally host smaller groups but also have large capacity include the Kahua Ranch, which can seat up to 120 for a sit-down dinner (and has a breathtaking view of Maui); "A-Bay" on the Kohala Coast (for up to 3,000); and the Queen's Marketplace Amphitheater at the Waikiloa Resort (for up to 1,500). Intimate venues include the landmark Hulihee Palace (accommodates up to 200) and the beachfront Sullivan Estate at Puako, which can host up to 100. According to Kimo Jenkins, a founder of Island Partners Hawaii, popular programs include sustainability activities like reforestation projects and fish pond restoration, as well as Hawaiian cultural interaction, like the hoolauna sand ceremony, where groups share their life stories while pouring sand into a vessel.
Also, eco-adventures are increasingly popular because "you don't have to be an Olympic caliber athlete to participate in them." Jenkins also notes renewed interest level in Oahu-based programs, of which visiting the U.S.S. Arizona is one of the most popular.
WAIKIKI RENEWAL
In Waikiki, the newly rebranded Westin Moana Surfrider (formerly a Sheraton), which has undergone a "Westin-ization," expects to debut Waikiki's first and only beachfront spa early this year, and the landmark Royal Hawaiian will close for a $110 million renovation that will, among other things, relocate its lobby and create an event lawn. Meanwhile, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is adding another tower and has completed a $15 million restoration of its lagoon, and the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio has emerged from a $65 million transformation and is 100-percent smoke-free.
* The 343-room Kahala Hotel & Resort expects to complete Phase I of the room and suite makeover of its Tower Wing. The new "Kahala chic" design features 40-inch flat screen TVs, high-speed internet connectivity, ultra luxurious beds with custom designed Frette linens, signature Floris of London bath products, and special turndown amenities. Following the reopening of the Tower Wing, the Dolphin Lagoon Wing will close, to reopen June 30 upon completion of its makeover.
BIG ISLAND NEWS
Prince Resorts Hawaii announced in Dec that the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Mauna Kea Golf Course would reopen in Dec 2008 following a $150 million renovation that will refresh guest rooms, lobby, restaurants, and common areas, and add retail shops and a spa and fitness center. The Mauna Kea Golf Course, which was closed in May, plans to reopen for play in Nov 2008 after a sweeping tee-to green restoration under the guidance of renowned designer Rees Jones.
Readers Recommend
Our subscribers gave Pinnacle Awards to the following:
The Fairmont Orchid
Hilton Hawaiian Village
Mauna Lani Resort
Sheraton Waikiki
The Royal Hawaiian
Essential Tool Box
Convention Centers:
HONOLULU
Hawaii Convention Center, 200,000 sf of exhibit space; 49 meeting rooms, largest accommodates 1,188 theater-style.
NORTH SHORE
Turtle Bay Resort & Conference Center, 31,000 sf of meeting space; 26 meeting rooms, largest accommodates 700 theater-style.
Hawaii Conv. Center to Airport: 7.5 miles
Average Daily Business Travel Costs*:
Honolulu: Hotel $192.80 F&B $89.33 Car Rental $85.54
For More Information: Oahu VB www.visit-oahu.com
Big Island VB www.bigisland.org
Hawaii VCB www.meethawaii.com
BusinessAloha www.businessaloha.com
*2007 Business Travel News Corporate Travel Index
Hawaii's Wild(life) Side
No visit to Oahu would be complete without seeing the penguins. Yes, you read that right. When I visited the Hilton Hawaiian Village, I spent part of an afternoon learning about the resident black-footed penguins, which live naturally in warm climates. Eight penguins live at the Hilton; two malesPU and Mana, the youngest penguin in residenceand six femalesMalia, Icarus (who I got to feed), Remy, Betty, Shaka, and Kalia. Guests are welcome to view public feedings at 8 A.M. and 3 P.M., Monday through Saturday. Their lives sound a bit like an episode of Days of Our Lives, complete with love triangles, power plays, and temperamental outbursts, and these little creatures, who live in an enclosure in the middle of the property by the Ali'i Tower, are sure to capture your attention.
The hotel's grounds are home to an extensive menagerie that also includes the African Red-Winged Flamingo, Sacred Ibis, Ringed Neck Parakeets, Yellow-Crowned Amazon, Scarlet Macaw, and Koi.
On the Big Island of Hawaii, the Dolphin Quest encounter at the Hilton Waikoloa Village is a big drawand for good reason. The chance to spend time with such beautiful, powerful, and intelligent animals is a special one. We spent a few minutes with the trainers learning about dolphins, their behavior, and how to interact with themthen we got to play. In addition to interactive programs with the dolphins, Dolphin Quest runs Lessons from Dolphins corporate seminars that draw comparisons between the dolphin-trainer relationship and the workplace, with a heavy emphasis on communication and rewarding good behavior.
On October 9, 2007, the 23-year old dolphin named Kona gave birth to the newest member of the Dolphin Quest family, a baby girl named Hali'a, meaning "cherished memory." She was expected during my visit but, alas, she was uncooperative and arrived after I left. -Kinley Levack
Originally published March 01, 2008
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