DESTINATION: O'AHU

From the lush deep-green forests covering Diamond Head Mountain to the sparkling turquoise waters of Waik k Beach, O’ahu’s beautiful landscapes astonish at every turn.

Steeped in history and culture, O’ahu is the third largest island in the state of Hawai’i and home to the majority of Hawai’i’s diverse population.

It is right here that you’ll find an eclectic contrast of the ancient and the modern, offering unforgettable group experiences and one-of-a-kind venues set against a postcard-perfect tropical island backdrop. Add to this the generous Aloha spirit and gracious hospitality of its people and you’ll soon realise that O’ahu lives up to its nickname – “The Gathering Place.” Here’s where to meet, stay and play on O’ahu.

Featuring terraces, courtyards and landscaped tropical gardens complete with waterfall and fishponds, Hawai’i Convention Center (HSC) is one of the most beautiful convention centres in the world. Located in the heart of Hawai’i’s capital, Honolulu, it offers nearly 103,000 square metres of bright and breezy spaces that can accommodate events of up to 13,000 pax, including 47 meeting rooms, an exhibit hall, two tiered-seating theatres, a 3,250-square-metre ballroom, and the jewel in the crown – an expansive rooftop terrace which offers unbeatable views from every angle.

In downtown Honolulu, the historic Hawai’i Theatre Centre makes for a fun alternative venue for presentations and awards ceremonies. Dating back to 1922, the theatre’s architecture and design has been beautifully preserved, complete with state-of-the-art capabilities and seating for 1,350 delegates.

As well as being home to an intriguing collection of aviation exhibits, the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbour National Memorial also offers 10,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor event space for events of all shapes and sizes. You can host a presentation in the 200-seat Pacific Theatre, a workshop in the education centre, an incredible outdoor event right on the tarmac, or a glitzy gala dinner for up to 2,200 or cocktail for up to 5,000 set amongst awe-inspiring aviation memorabilia in one of two hangars.

Nearby, on the active navy base, is the Battleship Missouri Memorial – an impressive memorial and museum which also doubles as a private events space after hours. There are four fascinating venues within the battleship, which can host anything from intimate events for 25 guests to gala dinners for up to 2,000. Pre-event tours can also be arranged so that guests can be inspired by their surroundings, the very same ones where World War Two officially ended.

Hawai’i’s Waik k Beach is as known for its palm-fringed, white-sand shoreline as it is for its jaw-dropping luxury resorts – and with more than 30,000 rooms on offer, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

A great hotel for incentive groups, Prince Waikiki offers a golf course, adultsonly infinity pool, spacious all-ocean view guest rooms and suites, and a great location. You can also add in Club Lounge access which allows your group some privacy away from the rest of the hotel. There are also numerous meeting spaces both indoors and outdoors that can be used for meetings of all sizes. Top tip: The hotel uses locally grown ingredients from their own rooftop garden!

Fresh from its $US80 million renovation, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa has emerged with 2,787 square metres of reimagined indoor and outdoor venues, including 19 new event rooms and 16 breakout rooms. The main ballroom can accommodate 800 guests in a theatre set-up or 610 attendees for a banquet. A private P kai Ceremony can also be arranged as part of a team building experience that incorporates the traditional Hawaiian practice of ocean water purification performed at sea to increase harmony and renew focus amongst the team.

From its spaciously appointed accommodations to its opulent events spaces, the oceanfront Alohilani Resort oozes luxury. Its flexible spaces can be configured to meet individual requirements and range from meeting rooms for up to 24 people to a grand ballroom that can host up to 1,500 cocktail. For the ultimate Hawai’i vibes, the pool deck offers the perfect spot for networking drinks and comes complete with a light installation that can be personalised to your company brand and logo. The resort is also taking the lead with green initiatives by being the first to commit to a carbon neutral certification as well as committing to energy and water conservation and an existing sustainability initiative to plant 100,000 indigenous trees in its Legacy Forest.

Multiple indoor and outdoor spaces span the opulent Hilton Hawaiian Village, but possibly the most impressive would have to be The Great Lawn – the largest private oceanfront grass lawn in Waik k Set against a backdrop of tropical gardens, gentle ocean waves and a sparkling blue lagoon, this scenic location is ideal for banquets and cocktail events for up to 2,000 guests. Indoors, there are three modern conference centres within the resort, featuring intimate lounges and grand ballrooms.

Away from the hustle and bustle of Waik k , The Kahala Hotel & Resort is a favourite among celebrities and dignitaries alike. Delegates have everything they need from seven conference spaces, five restaurants and a range of exceptional onsite facilities and activities. In addition to its dazzling event spaces which boast the likes of private gardens and waterfalls, the resort also makes for an ideal incentive getaway abundant with exclusively tailored activities such as private chartered experiences, luxurious spa retreats and much more. All this, plus – there’s no resort fee!

Hawaiian Airlines offers a daily direct service from Sydney to Honolulu.

Top tip: The time difference is only three hours so your delegates will not feel the dreaded jet lag!

Executive Chauffeur Hawaii offers a safe and reliable premium transport service. Your groups will be transported from the airport in comfort and luxury and all-day hire options are also available.

Top tip: Ask for Dustin – not only is he always on time, but he’ll also share amazing local knowledge with you between destinations.

With the Aloha spirit all around, Hawai’i is the perfect place for teams to connect and build a stronger bond.

Whisk your team away to Kualoa Ranch Private Nature Reserve, just a half-hour drive from Honolulu. Established in 1850, this 4,000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch offers a range of group activities from horseback riding and ziplining to jeep expeditions and more. Kualoa Reserve is also the set of more than 200 Hollywood movies and TV shows, including the blockbuster Jurassic Park movies, and groups can enjoy a range of movie site tours, such as an adventure through the incredibly scenic Jurassic Valley in a UTV Raptor vehicle.

For something more tranquil yet deeply meaningful, the Malama Hawai’i experience is a two-hour, hands-on group volunteering activity that connects you to the land and gives back to nature. At Kualoa Reserve your team will get to harvest taro plants straight from the taro patches that grow in the pond while learning about their cultural and environmental significance to the Hawaiian people and the importance of caring for the land. Top tip: Bring a change of clothes because you are going to get muddy!

All that hard work deserves to be rewarded and what could be better than a rum tasting? Ko Hana Distillers offers a fun and educational activity for groups that have a rum appreciation where they can walk through the sugarcane fields on a site tour and see how a true farm to bottle distillery works before tasting Hawaiian Agricole Rum, one of the world’s finest pure cane rums. They say it’s like tasting the pure heart of Hawai’i.

This premier catering and event management company has been in the business for more than 70 years. Covering every aspect of event management, including menu planning and catering, staffing and logistics, vendor management, marketing and more, this professional team of events experts will be an asset to assist with your events while on the island.