| Ho'okipa ( ho o kipa) is the complete giving of hospitality.
TMG Hawaii applies this value with the quality of service
we provide that is inherently given from the desire to please others in
a manner which far exceeds expectations.
We listen
We anticipate
We deliver
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Island Minutes
To assist you with your pre-planning process, here are some important industry updates:
Maui
Wailea Marriott Resort and Spa
has opened the Mala Wailea restaurant. Mark and Judy
Ellman, very successful restaurateurs on Maui , have designed
a great menu relying on healthy dishes and great flavors to temp
everyone's palate. The Mala Wailea is open for breakfast and
dinner daily.
Maui Brewing Company
in Lahaina has just won 3 medals in the World Beer Cup (The
Olympics of Beer Competitions) for their genuine Hawaiian
mirobrews. Bikini Blonde Lager and CoCoNut Porter both took a
silver medal and Maui Pale Ale won a bronze. Why not add a
beer tasting to your next incentive program?
Hawaii
Dolphin Quest Village is open at the Hilton Waikola
Village Resort. The new seaside villa is designed to enhance and
personalize guests' up close and personal encounters with the 11
resident Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at the Dolphin Quest Learning
Lagoon. The sustainable 'green' 3955 s.f. building houses a lounge area
for guests, a multi species interactive touch pool and a 200-gallon
aquarium featuring Hawaii's treasured native marine species.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
A 40-acre spectacular garden in a valley on the ocean is just
8 miles north of Hilo. There are over 2,000 plant species from
all parts of the tropical world. The gardens have hosted several
small corporate groups for lunch and a guided tour of the gardens.
Their oceanfront suite with panoramic views of Onomea Bay make a
perfect venue.
The Fairmont Orchid
has
added Friday Night Stargazing to their list of guest amenities.
Powerful telescopes are set up on the pool deck and pointed in the
night sky to the amazing sights that only the Big Island can boast
about. Stars and planets are easily spotted.
Oahu
Waikiki's newest attraction is Waikiki
Nei, an innovative theatrical production opening at the Royal Hawaiian
Center in July. The 80-minute show wil feature dancers, live musicians,
acrobats, and actors, as well as cutting-edge lighting, sound, and
automation never before used in Hawai'i. After the show, the
theatre transforms into a contemporary nightclub and ultralounge
featuring a 4,500 s.f. dance floor and a 7,000 s.f. lanai with outdoor
bar and cabanas.
Kaua'i
Princeville
Resort, the 252-room luxury cliff top property on the north shore of
Kaua'i, will be undergoing a transformation starting the first
week of August 2008. Following will be a 7 month hotel closure during
the renovation period that will begin on September 19, 2008. When
it re-opens on April 19, 2009,
The Princeville Resort will be re-branded to St. Regis Princeville.
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July - August 2008
Volume 12, Issue 1 |
| Hawaii's Ecotourism is booming! |
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"He Ali'i ka 'Āina, he kauā ke kanaka" - the land is a chief; the people its servants. (Hawaiian proverb)
As
one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, it is more
important than ever to pursue sustainable tourism models in Hawaii.
Eco-tourism companies are successfully operating on all
islands.
Every
year, The Hawaii Ecotourism Association (HEA) recognizes one ecotourism
operation who exemplifies the ideals of ecotourism. To qualify, an
ecotourism company must demonstrate, a committment to environmental
stewardship, cultural sensitivity, community enhancement, educational
content, or all of the above.
For 2007 the award was given to Pacific Islands Institute who arranges unique and authentic cultural and eco-activities and excursions for exclusive groups on all islands. Meeting
local people in their communities, helping to rebuild an ancient
fishpond or a visit a taro farm helps visitors to learn firsthand why
Hawaii is so special. They customized all their programs and are
perfect for incentive groups to interact in a team-building setting.
Maui Eco-Adventures is a member of HEA and thriving on Maui as one of the best eco-tourism companies.
One of the more popular guided eco-adventures provided by Maui Eco-Adventures is the Half-day Waterfall Hike into
the hidden valleys of West Maui. Located on the rugged North Shore of
Maui, this hike is considered by many an experience of a
lifetime. Swinging Bridges, lush rainforest and the sound of
tumbling waterfalls into breathtaking pools are all part of this
experience.
An
important asset of Maui Eco-Adventures are their hiking guides.
They range from botanists and mountaineers to boat captains and
backcountry chefs. They are entertaining, knowledgeable and
professional. They focus on the safety and enjoyment of all guests on
each and every trip.
Another member of the HEA is Hina Adventures,
located on the island of Oahu. This small company with very
personalized service offers unique itineries. One in particular is
the Cliff & Waterfall Adventure. This 3 mile hike for beginner and
intermediate hikers, takes about 4 hours. The trail winds down the Pali
(the stunning mountain cliff gap connecting windward and leeward Oahu)
taking you along beautiful cliffs that connect to a rainforest ending
at a beautiful 60ft. cascading waterfall. Several archaeological sites
are seen along the way. This is a part of Oahu that most people never
experience.
Hawaii's Forest & Trail
on the Big Island was awarded the "Keep It Hawai'i" Merit Award
for 2007. They are committed to keeping their groups small,
well-outfitted and comfortable for a pleasurable day of exploration.
The owners are passionate about Hawaii's natural history and have
partnerships with private landowners to allow tours to places with wild
and remote native ecosystems that were previously inaccessible. Of
course one of the most important ingredients for the best experience on
one of Hawaii Forest & Trail adventures is their qualified and
knowledgeable guides. They are handpicked based on their backgrounds in
biology, geology, Hawaiian history and natural 'field' experience.
HF&T's
Kilauea Volcano Adventure is the best way to visit Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park. From the moment you are in the van,
your naturalist guide begins to explain the diverse
terrain and the history of Hawaii's unique volcanic system. You
will see the splendid native rainforest, visit a lava tube,
discover remarkable volcanic formations and experience an incredible
diversity of geography and climates.
Contact Wendy Ottinger at wottinger@tmghawaiiltd.com for more details on Hawaii's thriving eco-tourist industry and how to plan one of these adventures for your next program.
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NIIHAU: THE FORBIDDEN ISLAND |
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Niihau Island (pronounced "Nee ee how") is located 18 miles
from the island of Kauai across the often-times rough Kaulakahi
Channel. The oldest of the inhabited Hawaiian islands is also the least
changed by modern progress.
Niihau Cliffs
Niihau Island has belonged for more than 100 years to the Robinson
family with access limited to those Hawaiian families who work on its
privately owned cattle and sheep ranch. Niihau is twenty-three miles
long, three to six miles wide, and relatively flat. It's highest point
is only 1,281 feet above sea level. While Mt. Waialeale, on Kaua'i is
the wettest spot in the islands, tiny Niihau gets only about twelve
inches of rain a year.
Today, the island shelters about 250 residents. Their modest
wood-frame houses, devoid of fancy plumbing and electricity, are
provided by Niihau Ranch in addition to salaries, basic foods and
medical care.
The traditional features of modern life are not to be found on
Niihau. There is no restaurant, telephones, radios or televisions
and only a few cars. Policemen and a prison are not needed.
The residents regard their chosen isolation as the only means of
leading a natural Hawaiiian lifestyle. They are a proud people, tied to
the land, and family-oriented. Hawaiian is the spoken language and
children are taught through the eighth grade in Hawaiian as well as
English. Students who further their education are sent to Kaua'i where
the nearest high school is located and return home for holidays.
Lacking the flowers the other islands are famous for, Niihau
Island has become famous for their beautiful leis crafted from the tiny
shells which populate their beaches.
Since 1987 it has been possible to fly over the island in a
helicopter from Kaua'i. In addition to this, since 1989, the island can
be visited for a half day tour or hunting safari. You can snorkel or
dive off shore with a Kaua'i outfitter, but contact is not allowed to
be made with the inhabitants who live for the most part on the side of
the island opposite the landing point used by visitors. | |
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