And you did it with a unique combination of untamed wilderness and glamorous resorts, contemporary comforts and historical charm, superb service and friendly residents.

But, like a diva who wants to remain number one, you’d take some action—refreshing those resorts, developing new attractions and finding ways to share your distinct culture more fully than ever—to ensure your position for the next year.

And that’s just what’s happening in this Hawaiian paradise, where idyllic temperatures (a balmy 75-85 degrees) and breathtaking beauty (not to mention 81 beaches) are also part of its popular appeal.
“Maui is very magical for people,” says Teri Knebel, director of sales and marketing for Incentive Management in Wichita, Kansas. “Clients can go there and it’s exotic, but it’s familiar. English is spoken, and the dollar is [strong]...And the air in Hawaii is amazing—it’s so soft there.”

Which is why the planner recently brought two incentives to Maui, where she booked her clients at the Maui Prince Hotel and The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, “two wonderful resorts,” she says.

Knebel planned welcome receptions outdoors, with beautiful sunsets as a backdrop, then provided each couple with a car and “the most precious thing there is today—time,” she says. Her clients, a group of broadcast station owners, gathered with their top producers and top advertisers each morning at breakfast—a relaxed setting to interact with one another—after which they were free to pursue their individual interests, which “rewarded them with a wonderful environment and free time to do the things they wanted to do,” she says.
    
Knebel has also brought groups to Lanai—one of Maui’s neighboring islands and one of a trio (including Molokai) that today make up Maui Nui, as they’re collectively called. These share an ancient past, when they were all one big landmass.

Today, separated by volcanic eruptions over the eons, the three are within easy ferry or air distance from one another as destinations or pre- and post-stays that will make a Maui adventure your best meeting yet.

A MEETINGS PLAYGROUND
As a meetings destination, Maui is manageable to navigate. Its West side, home to Kahului airport, harbors four full resort communities, plus Lahaina, an old whaling port that’s now a fun hub for casual dining, entertainment and shopping. On the east coast is the more rural, laid-back Hana, reached by a circuitous road that snakes past scenic waterfalls and shimmering pools. The island’s towering, 10,000-foot landmark is Haleakala, an extinct volcano.

Maui also offers a huge array of accommodations, meeting space and activities. For example, the island features 18,000 rooms and condominiums at properties with brand names such as Hyatt, Fairmont, Sheraton, Westin and Ritz-Carlton, to name a few. There’s more than 600,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor function space, ranging from the 28,000-square-foot grand ballroom at The Grand Wailea—which is the largest in the state of Hawaii and can host 3,200 of your closest friends—to private gardens and homes for smaller groups. The island of Molokai has 106 rooms, and Lanai has 338 rooms at its two Four Seasons resorts.

But you won’t be herding your meeting-goers into sessions the entire trip, and that’s where Maui’s other advantage—plenty to do—comes into play. Name an activity and you’re likely to find it, from ocean sports like kayaking, surfing and snorkeling to land-based fun like hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Ziplining, whizzing above the treetops, is also a thrilling new option. Golfers will also find many reasons (13, in fact) to bring their clubs. And you can’t get any better spa-ing (the new golf) than on Maui.

“We have a great selection of facilities for meetings and wonderful activities, as well as rest-and-recuperation opportunities like spas,” says Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau, your best resource for planning a Maui meeting. “One of our biggest assets here is diversity. We can go small or large and offer shopping, cuisine and a wide array of things to do when not in a conference.”

In fact, according to Vencl, the laid-back vibe on the island allows people to “lie back and beach and sun it, or if they want to be active, they can have soft adventures or extreme.” The mellow ambience allows people to become “a sponge,” she says, soaking up both the island atmosphere and the meeting’s content.
 
OCEAN ACTIVITIES
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Maui Ocean Center is the largest tropical reef aquarium in the Western Hemisphere. Give your group an overview of Hawaii’s marine life at this three-acre facility, named the top attraction in Hawaii by ZagatSurvey, with a naturalist-led tour before settling down to a reception or dinner at an indoor or outdoor venue. Try cocktails in the long acrylic tunnel in the middle of a 750,000-gallon habitat, and be sure to include a dive presentation—it’ll be one of the evening’s highlights. The center can accommodate groups from 60 up to 850; buyouts are possible.   

For your dive and snorkeling enthusiasts, there’s Molokini, a tiny, crescent-shaped island just three miles off Makena. It’s actually the crater rim of a long-extinct volcano, and its waters harbor some of the best diving in the world. Catch a tour from Maalaea and Lahaina.
Two-thirds of the entire population of North Pacific humpback whales migrate to Hawaii from Alaska each winter, and Maui’s the best place to observe them. Peak season is January through March—board a comfortable catamaran from The Pacific Whale Foundation from Lahaina, which offers excursions to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary with marine-biology trained crews.

BEYOND THE BEACH
The island of Maui is encircled by 120 miles of coastline, so finding a beach hardly requires a map. But there’s so much more to Maui than sand and surf.

While the prospect of a 4 a.m. wake-up call may seem daunting, watching the sun rise at the top of Haleakala (Hawaiian for “the house of the sun”) is one of the great Maui experiences. Trust us—dawn here is like no other; the pilgrimage is worth the effort.

For those with a finely honed sense of adventure, climb on mountain bikes and descend the 38-mile trail down the mountain on a group ride that’ll take you through Maui’s scenic upcountry. You’ll downshift through ranchland where Hawaii’s paniolos (cowboys) still ride and rope, farms grow plump strawberries and sweet onions, plus fascinating botanical gardens and even Maui’s one winery, Tedeschi Vineyards.

Or, connect with Maui Eco-Adventures, which offers guided hikes  not only in Maui’s open-to-the-public rainforests, replete with waterfalls, but also on private property where the only sounds you’ll hear will come from nature. Consider the four-hour Waterfall Experience, or if you want something really unique, they’ll customize an excursion, such as a three-island helicopter tour and four-wheel drive experience where you’ll end up with lunch on a beach or a forest knoll.  

Haleakala Ranch, Maui’s largest working cattle ranch, dates back to 1888 and encompasses about 30,000 acres that begin at the ocean and extend upward to the border of Haleakala National Park. You can saddle up with Pony Express Tours for a two-hour morning ride that will take you through rolling pastureland with stunning views (there’s also an afternoon ride, if you did a morning trek to Haleakala Crater). If you prefer horsepower instead of legs, Haleakala ATV Tours will put you in the driver’s seat of a 350cc four-wheel-drive quad that’s easy to operate; “Jeep Wranglers” are available if you’d prefer to leave the driving to them.

A SENSE OF PLACE
You can find authentic Hawaii on Maui. The state’s unique culture is woven through the fabric of everyday life, and it’s accessible to visitors as well. You can find it in the music, whether traditional, like slack-key guitar or ukulele, or as part of the new renaissance of Hawaiian music, like Hapa and the Brothers Cazimero, that’s reached the Billboard charts.

Cuisine is another aspect. Hawaii Regional Cuisine, a world-recognized culinary movement that began a decade ago with an emphasis on fresh local produce and artisanal products, counts numerous chefs on Maui as its originators. But a simple plate lunch or ethnic meal at one of the many mom-and-pop restaurants that dot the countryside also offers island flavor.

Hula, danced by both women and men, is an ancient, ritualistic dance that expresses joy in a way that goes beyond shaking ti-leaf skirts  and feathered gourds. Banned in public for nearly 50 years during the missionary era, the art form was later restored and evolved into its present-day version; it’s said to have originated on Molokai.  

A fun way for groups to enjoy Hawaiian traditions is at a luau, generally held in the evening and available for buyout. A few popular ones are Old Lahaina Luau, Drums of the Pacific, held at the Hyatt Regency Maui, the Royal Lahaina Luau and the Maui Sunset Luau held at the Maui Prince Hotel. Ho'omana'o, presented by Old Lahaina Luau, is a morning event where guests experience a glimpse into Hawaiian history and traditions following a lavish breakfast buffet.
    
MAJOR VENUES
While the island’s major resort hotels have ballrooms and meeting spaces galore, there are several intriguing options for off-site events. The Maui Arts Cultural Center is a state-of-the-art performing arts center in Kahului. Hub of the island’s social scene, it hosts more than 1,700 concerts, recitals, stage productions and other live events during the year. There’s a range of facilities of interest to planners, including a 1,200-seat theater, an outdoor amphitheater and courtyard, a gallery and more.

The Maui Theatre, in Lahaina, is home to Ulalena, a dramatic stage production similar to Cirque du Soleil, which tells the history of Maui using choreography, acrobatic feats, hula and modern dance, music, lights and costumes. The theater can be rented out for private use (700 seats), or hold your cocktail reception for 250 there.

Located on the outskirts of Waikapu Town, Maui Tropical Plantation is a 60-acre working plantation encompassing orchards, gardens and a large country store. A private tram provides several tours daily. It’s possible to hold your function here for up to 500 guests indoors or 3,000 outdoors (banquet services available).

WEST MAUI
Maui’s west coast is largely dry and sunny, with sugary white sand beaches (hence the preponderance of resorts on this side of the island).

LAHAINA
The town of Lahaina enjoys a colorful history, as whaling ships and missionaries arrived around the same time, during the mid-1800s. As you’d imagine, laws and regulations were made, and broken, as the streets became lined with saloons, dance halls and other emporiums  that were visited—or decried—by each group, depending on their side of the fence. At one time, it was the busiest port in the islands, surpassing even Honolulu.

Downtown is still a gathering place for this side of the island; its landmark banyan tree (the largest in the U.S.) takes up most of a city block. The old wooden stores are now filled with clothing and jewelry shops, galleries and restaurants, some, like Kimo’s, where ocean waves lap under the outdoor deck, literally at your feet.

No longer a form of transportation for pineapple field workers “commuting” to work, the Lahaina-Kaanapali Railroad’s historic steam train chugs along a scenic six-mile track from Lahaina town to the Kaanapali resorts. Charter the “Sugar Cane Train” for up to 175 guests for a nostalgic taste of Maui’s past (the singing conductor will point out places of interest along the way).

KAANAPALI
Located in between Kapalua and Lahaina on the oval-shaped peninsula on the northwest coast—and just a 10-minute drive from Lahaina—is Kaanapali Beach Resort. Flanked by a three-mile beach (the longest in Hawaii), the resort encompasses five luxury hotels (including the Sheraton, Royal Lahaina, Westin, Hyatt and Kaanapali Beach Hotel) along with condominium properties and vacation-club resorts. Choose one hotel—or if you’ve got a really large group or a group needing various price points—choose several. As they’re connected by a paved beach walk, your group will also feel connected as well.

Along with the beach and water activities there are 36 holes of championship golf. The Royal Kaanapali Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was refurbished in 2006. The second, the equally scenic Kaanapali Kai Course, was also recently renovated.

Available to guests of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is the Shangri-La, a 65-foot sailing yacht that offers custom-designed charters for up to 49 passengers. The luxury cruiser features a full galley with catering service for your private snorkeling, scuba diving, sunset sail or dinner cruise—or an outer island adventure if that’s your pleasure. Also docked at the resort is the Kapalua Kai catamaran, which offers daily snorkel, sunset sails and whale watching trips in season (there’s a glass-bottom viewing port if your meeting-goers prefer to stay topside).

Tucked among the hotels is Whaler’s Village, an open-air, ocean-front center offering high-end retail (think Coach, Louis Vuitton and Tommy Bahama) and restaurants like Hula Grill, celebrity chef Peter Merriman’s Hawaii regional seafood in a vintage Maui locale.

KAPALUA
The northernmost of the four resort areas, Kapalua Resort is set on 23,000 acres, amid a working pineapple plantation. Only 10 miles north of Lahaina, this ultra-luxe master-planned community features the long-anticipated,  recently re-opened Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua as its centerpiece.

The resort is renowned for its golf: The Bay Course, where the signature hole #5 requires driving over Oneloa Bay to a small green, and The Plantation Course. The resort is the site of the annual PGA TOUR’s season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship. A golf academy is on-site, as is a huge tennis facility for those who prefer racquet sports.

Newly opened at the resort is the Kapalua Adventures complex, which is the check-in point for mountain activities (consult with the activity concierge to arrange outings and custom corporate adventures). The highlight of the project is the Kapalua Adventures Mountain Outpost, which is located about 1,500 feet up the nearby mountains. Here’s where you can ride eight ziplines, which whoosh over the tree canopy and deep ravines, or tackle a ropes challenge course or a climbing wall.    

SOUTH MAUI
Two other resort areas draw groups to Maui, with luxurious resorts, golden-sand beaches and more championship golf: Wailea, and a little farther south, Makena.

WAILEA
At the base of Haleakala, Wailea is another, smaller (1,500 acres) master-planned community, with a panoply of luxury resorts, among them The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa and The Fairmont Kea Lani. Choose among five crescent-beaches (all beaches in Hawaii are public, by the way) for sand and surf fun, or head to The Shops at Wailea for a little retail therapy with the likes of Fendi, Gucci and Guess.
Wailea has three 18-hole championship golf courses to challenge your duffers—the Gold Course, The Emerald Course and The Blue Course. Or organize a tennis round-robin at the Wailea Tennis Club, which has 11 courts, a pro shop and clinics to help you improve your serve or to work on your backhand.

MAKENA
Makena segues quietly from the southern end of Wailea. Its principal meetings destination is the newly renovated Maui Prince Hotel. Adding to Maui’s fame as a golf destination are two hotel-owned courses (the North and the South), both designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
 
The tiny island of Molokini is just three miles offshore, so it’s possible to take a catamaran from Makena Beach and be snorkeling in one of the most pristine underwater sites in the world in less than a half an hour.

OFFSHORE
Maui Nui’s other two islands are uniquely different from one another. They’re separated from Maui itself by deep channels, and from each other by virtue of history.

LANAI
Located six miles offshore from Lahaina, Lanai was once the Dole pineapple plantation, which accounts for its largely undeveloped terrain—there are only 16 miles of paved roads, for example, and not one traffic light. Getting around is best by four-wheel drive. However, there are two Four Seasons Resorts, and two challenging golf courses that rank up there with the best in the world.

The Manele Bay property is situated on the water, a tropical beachfront experience. The other, The Lodge at Koele, is inland, in the cooler upcountry. They’re ideal for smaller groups and incentives. If you’ve got a larger group, there’s a 6,000-square-foot Conference Center and the brand-new Hale Halawai, a beautifully situated 13,582-square-foot ballroom and terrace, at Manele Bay.

Each of the resorts has its own notable golf course: The Challenge at Manele, designed by Jack Nicklaus, and The Experience at Koele, by Greg Norman and Ted Robinson.  But the island is much more than a golf destination: try swimming with dolphins nearby, horseback riding and big-game fishing. Exploring the picturesque island requires that four-wheel drive, but offers fabulous off-site adventure.

MOLOKAI
Sometimes called “the most Hawaiian” of the Hawaiian islands, Molokai is a small island (7,000 residents) that’s 10 miles across the Auau Channel from Lahaina. (If some of the scenery looks familiar, it’s because parts of Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean 3 were filmed here.)

The island is noted for its 2.9-mile hike (or mule ride) down from a sea cliff to Kalaupapa National Historic Park on the Kalaupapa Peninsula. This is the remote site where islanders suffering from Hanson’s Disease (formerly called leprosy) were kept in isolation from 1866 to 1969, ministered to by a noted Belgian priest, Father Damien. The site became a national park in 1980. Mule rides can be arranged through Molokai Mule Rides, a national park service concession.

While both the Kalaukoi Golf Course and Molokai Lodge Ranch have recently closed—“a business decision by the owners,” says the Visitors Bureau’s Vencl—there’s still plenty to do and a newly renovated property, the Molokai Hotel, for groups to enjoy.
 
Among the natural features you'll find—and want to explore—are rain forests, lava tubes and caves, and habitats for rare native Hawaiian plants and animals, including endangered mammals like Hawaiian Monk seals. There’s also kayaking and snorkeling amid the 32 miles of barrier reef, horseback riding and sport fishing, plus one of the state’s longest white-sand beaches for unparalleled relaxing. Back to Top

Getting There

• Kahului Airport is Maui’s principal airport, offering direct flights from the mainland or 20-minute connecting runs from Honolulu.
• Kapalua Airport (JHM) offers commuter propeller craft service during daytime hours only.
• Hawaii Superferry offers daily interisland catamaran ferry service between Honolulu and Kahului.

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