Destination Hawai‘i
Aloha spirit: Island dreaming in Hawai‘i The tropical paradise of Hawai‘i melds its laidback vibe with culture, fun and adventure, making the island chain a blissful Pacific destination for incentives and events, writes Gavin Dennett. Above: Kona Sea Salt at Keahole Point. Photo: Andrew Richard Hara.
L
108 Spice Spring 2026
ong regarded as a dream holiday destination, Hawai‘i is one of the most idyllic and charming places on earth. Boasting island rhythm and its famous welcoming aloha spirit, the 50th constituent US state is a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean. With Honolulu its capital on the island of O’ahu, the destination welcomes visitors with open arms. Hawai‘i is economically strong, with tourism a major contributor, along with agriculture, manufacturing and activities of national and international significance such as research and development in oceanography, geophysics, astronomy, satellite communications, biomedicine and defence. These vital attributes meld together to make Hawai‘i highly sought after as a landing place for high-calibre incentives and business events. With the business and leisure infrastructure of a mature tourism hub – resorts, hotels, activities, expeditions, nature and conference facilities – the islands are perfectly positioned to exponentially grow their business events sector. Importantly, Australian event planners are on Hawai‘i’s radar. Meet Hawai‘i is a collaboration between Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau and Hawai‘i Convention Center to reinforce the Hawaiian Islands brand as a world-class destination for global business meetings, conventions and incentive programs. It is funded by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and is targeting
Australian and New Zealand-based planners to encourage them to seek events in Hawai‘i that are grounded in Pacific Island values with people whose knowledge of place, reciprocity and community have the power to reframe how attendees think about their own work. For Australian and New Zealand-based planners, Hawai‘i offers a rare combination: a destination easily accessible and capable of leaving attendees changed. Direct flights connect Sydney and Auckland to Honolulu year-round, and the Hawaiian Islands offer a full range of MICE infrastructure. “Not simply a market, Oceania is represented by a community bound by a shared responsibility to carry culture into every space we enter with integrity and intention,” says Dr Aaron J Salā, president and CEO, Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau. “We are looking to deepen relationships with Oceaniabased planners and co-create business events rooted in Pacific values – events that will leave a lasting, positive impact on people, place and culture. “Oceania has always been so much more than friends to us, and when you bring your meetings and events to Hawaii, something powerful and magical happens. We create moments of memory, we create moments of collaboration, and we create incredible impact that lasts far beyond the meeting itself. “We elevate community, cultural practice and humanity so from our Meet Hawai’i team, we bid you a fond aloha and welcome you.”