Why Meet on Oʻahu?
The Aloha State is an opus of six islands, but if there’s one that sets the tempo, it’s Oʻahu. Hawaiʻi’s most populated and third-largest island has a rhythm all its own — an energy that meeting and convention travelers feel the moment their plane touches down in Honolulu.
From downtown to the beachfront resort area of Waikīkī, the beat pulses in business, entertainment and cultural events. Honolulu’s attractions are exciting, its population diverse, and its ambiance chic.
But where there’s modern verve, there’s also history and relaxed, island style. Known as Hawaiʻi’s "Gathering Place," it is an island of impressive contrasts, and while Honolulu bustles with activity, the areas surrounding it afford a more leisurely experience. The perfect Oʻahu programs showcase it all, pairing city with country, surf with style, tradition with innovation and commerce with culture.
The Ways of Waikīkī
Iconic Waikīkī Beach is Honolulu’s crescent-shaped, silken-sand paradise just blocks from the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. Lining Waikīkī’s beachfront and on both sides of Kalākaua Avenue, the main boulevard that parallels the shoreline, are a wide range of hotels and resorts affording stunning views of the city, mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Waikīkī is home to internationally renowned hotels and resorts as well as boutique and value-oriented properties, with a combined 30,000 hotel rooms. Many of Waikīkī’s properties are meetings powerhouses, offering extensive meeting space, sprawling ballrooms, dedicated conference centers and distinctive event venues.
It’s also easy and safe to get around in Waikīkī, so when business ends, attendees can confidently pursue whatever adventure captures their imagination: water sports, lūʻau, dining, shopping or something as simple as people-watching, lounging, or an evening stroll on the beach.
Oʻahu’s Top Attractions
- ʻIolani Palace, official residence of Hawaiʻi’s monarchy
- Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, premier museum of Hawaiian culture and history
- Pearl Harbor’s Battleship Missouri Memorial, USS Arizona Memorial, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor and USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
- Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu Zoo, Chinatown and Sea Life Park Hawaii
- Lēʻahi or the Diamond Head State Monument, the 560-foot-high tuff crater that plays backdrop to Waikīkī Beach
Oʻahu’s Exclusive Resort Areas
The ultimate Oʻahu experience combines the cosmopolitan capital with different neighborhoods and laid-back locales. With the island being just 44 miles from tip to tip, planners can easily incorporate Oʻahu’s many personalities into programs with short daytrips.
North Shore (60 minutes from Waikīkī): Haleʻiwa Town is the gateway to Oʻahu’s big-wave surfing mecca, and its shops and cafes reflect the casual, understated culture that stems from the wave-riders of Waimea Bay. A premier meetings resort caters to groups here with all the desired amenities.
Ko ‘Olina (45 minutes from Waikīkī): High-end waterfront living is the style in this area on Oʻahu’s west side. There's a marina offering a variety of activities, pristine golf courses and two first-class, meetings-friendly resorts with sumptuous amenities. In Ko ‘Olina, attendees have every luxury in arm’s reach and can focus on work with worry-free abandon.
Kāhala (10 minutes from Waikīkī): East of downtown Honolulu in one of the island’s most luxurious residential neighborhoods is an exclusive resort with a private lagoon, dolphin swim experience, spa and more. For celebrities, royalty and meeting groups alike, it’s a secluded haven of hospitality a short trip from Honolulu.
