Maui, HI

Key Highlights

Hotels 61
Total Sleeping Rooms 11,939
Average Hotel Room Rate USD $169
Average Daily Meal Cost USD $96
Average Weekly Car Rental USD $354

Maui, HI Meeting Planning Overview

With a dazzling landscape, world-class accommodations, thrilling activities and a friendly, welcoming spirit, it's no surprise that Maui was voted Best Island in the World for the 14th time in the Condé Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards Poll. Welcoming guests to the island with an amiable "Aloha" is the Kahului Airport, the main hub for overseas travel on the island. The airport sees nearly 149,000 domestic overseas and inter-island commercial flights per year. With a $365 million expansion underway, it aims to rise to international status in the next decade.

As 17th largest island in the United States, the island offers meeting planners plenty of spectacular resorts and Maui event venues that combine business with pleasure. Nestled on Maui's sunny southern shore, the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa features unparalleled architecture, cutting edge technology, fantastic amenities and incredible indoor and outdoor meeting facilities. With over 100,000 square feet of flexible function space, the resort boasts 15 meeting rooms, two executive boardrooms and the glamorous 28,000-square-foot Haleakala Ballroom, Hawaii's largest resort ballroom. Host a lively reception for up to 2,500 people among tiki torches and lava rock walls at the Molokini Garden, or plan a black-tie gala at the 9,922-square-foot Beach Courtyard, located steps away from Wailea Beach.

Also in Wailea, the Four Seasons Resort Maui was named a top Hawaiian resort. In fact, it tied at number 14 for the top resort in the world, according to the Condé Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Award Poll. Plan a cocktail reception for up to 750 guests at the resort's ballroom, or schedule breakout sessions for nine to 72 people at one of its classroom-style meeting rooms.

Giving meeting attendees a taste of the island away from resort grounds is a breeze. Maui's diverse attractions, museums and restaurants are not only alluring but also more than capable of accommodating private events. Hawaii's green sea turtles and the largest coral collection in the United States is a memorable backdrop for events at the Maui Ocean Center, which can accommodate 40 to 850 guests. Or, host an intimate dinner or reception at the beautiful Plantation House Restaurant. Set high above the Kapalua coastline, the Plantation House offers attendees a taste of traditional Hawaiian fare hospitality with dishes such as seared Pacific prawns and fresh seafood with local produce.

Outside of organized events, it's easy for meeting attendees to get together in this serene oasis. Groups can tour Hana's ancient Ka'eleku Caverns, a series of lava tubes, stalagmites and stalactites that have remained unchanged for 30,000 years. Or, organize an excursion above ground – literally. Leaving from Kahului Airport, Sunshine Helicopters offers group tours of the majestic island, taking passengers over the West Maui Mountains, Wall of Tears, Honokohau Falls and Haleakala Crater.

Maui's major industries are tourism and diversified agriculture, specifically the production of sugar, pineapples, coffee and macadamia nuts. The island serves as headquarters for such corporations as Noni Biotech, Maui Pineapple Company and Maui Airlines. The island is also home to Maui Community College.

About Maui, HI / Additional Info

Known as the "Valley Isle," Maui is Hawaii's 2nd largest island and the largest island in Maui County. In 1786, French Captain Jean Francois de Galaup de La Perouse was the first European to step foot on Maui, later followed by traders, whalers and missionaries who introduced Western religion, medicine, government and foreign trade. Whaling became a popular industry, as did sugar production. Dating to 1835, the sugar industry brought immigrant workers from China, Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Scandinavia to the island.

Today, this eclectic blend of ethnicities prevails in both Maui's population of 117,644 residents and its world-class attractions. Step back in time by exploring an authentic sleeping house, eating house and craft house at Hale Kahiko, a replica of an ancient Hawaiian thatched-roof village. The Bailey House Museum showcases 19th century Hawaiian artifacts, art and furnishings, while the Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum, one of two remaining plantations on Maui, features working models of plantation machinery.

Maui's culture revolves around its geography just as much as its heritage. From the mountainous west to the beach-lined south, the island's incredible terrain is home to many treasures. Visitors can snorkel among coral and tropical fish at Black Rock Ka'anapali Beach, or see the unique volcanic red sand at the secluded Red Sand Beach in Hana. Hop on an eco-friendly catamaran run by the Pacific Whale Foundation, where guests can catch a glimpse of the thousands of humpback whales that migrate to Maui's shallow waters each year.

Back on land, guests marvel at Maui's famous Banyan Tree, a 60-foot-high, 12-trunk tree that stretches over a 200-foot area, providing shade for more than two-thirds of an acre. The famous Haleakala National Park is home to the Haleakala Crater, a beautiful reminder of Maui's once-active volcano. From its summit, visitors can view an awe-inspiring sunrise or spend the day exploring 27 miles of hiking trails.

After a long day of sand and sun, guests love kicking back with some traditional regional cuisine. One of Maui's most popular restaurants is Paia's famous Mama's Fish House, located in a converted beach house on a secluded white sand beach. As Maui's first fresh fish restaurant, Mama's daily-changing menu highlights Hawaiian opah, ahi, opakapaka and mahi mahi, and even names the boat that caught each daily fish selection. Meanwhile, the Lahaina Grill blends American cuisine with regional Hawaiian fare, creating innovative selections such as Hawaiian keahole lobster with truffle butter.

For a truly authentic dining experience, stop by the Old Lahaina Luau. This award-wining oceanfront luau dazzles guests with hula dancers and an ample spread of traditional fare such as Lomi Lomi salmon, guava-glazed chicken and taro salad. As guests enjoy the sunset among the lush, tropical scene, they'll be quick to realize why the Hawaiian phrase "Aloha" has come to mean both hello and goodbye – no sooner do visitors leave than start to plan a return trip.

 
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