Get wet at Kaʻanapali Beach Hotel
Kaʻanapali Beach Hotel will continue to enrich guests’ experience through authentic cultural offerings with the official opening of their new water activities center.
Paying homage to Hawaiian traditions, the center will be called Hale Huaka’i, which means “Adventure Center” and signifies a trip, voyage or a place to start your journey or embark on an adventure, often in a “hui,” or group to build connections with others.
The Hale Huaka’i offers a Hawaiian perspective to several popular ocean activities such as surfing, stand up paddle boarding, snorkeling, conch shell blowing and more.
Hale Huakaʻi manager Iokepa Nae`ole said “the Hale Huaka’i is simply a means of extending the character of Kaʻanapali Beach Hotel– its genuine aloha and true Hawaiian hospitality – out onto the beach and into the ocean. It allows us to provide our guests with truly memorable and safe ocean experiences, led by our Beach Alakaʻi, who are each highly experienced Maui watermen. We also accept the kuleana – both privilege and responsibility – of being stewards of our culture, our ocean, and all of its many creatures.”
Hale Huakaʻi offers guests the chance to go beyond their traditional water activity experience through complimentary and paid offerings, dedicated to providing an authentic Hawaiian presentation of water sports and Oceanside living. Located steps away from the hotel on its sunny shores, each guest who visits the Hale Huakaʻi will come away with a true understanding of how the ancient Hawaiians immersed themselves within their surrounding environment. Hale Huakaʻi will be open 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Sunday and will offer the following activities:
- Conch Shell Blowing –For all ages, conch shell blowing is a complimentary activity teaching guests the use and history of the Pū, or conch shell. In ancient times, the sound of the Pū signaled the approach of Hawaiian royalty or the arrival of a voyaging canoe from a faraway land. A Beach Alakaʻi demonstrates basic Pū skills and a contest is held where participants take turns to see who can blow the longest or loudest.
- Stand Up Paddle Board Lessons– The lesson begins with a discussion on the origin and history of paddle boarding and its rapid growth in popularity around the world. From there, guests receive instruction for the proper use of the paddle, placement of feet and tips for managing ocean conditions. Guests are accompanied by a Beach Alakaʻi, who provides further guidance and instruction while also offering interpretation on the natural and cultural history of the Hawaiian Islands. The cost begins at $87 per person for a group class (6 person maximum) and $105 for a private lesson (two people maximum).
- Snorkel Smart Pool Lessons and Beach Walk –Ideal for beginning snorkelers, a complimentary class provides guests with skills and pointers that will help make their first underwater experience enjoyable and safe. A Beach Alakaʻi will organize pool games using a mask and snorkel to further develop skill and confidence.
- ‘Ohe Hanu ʻIhu (Nose Flute) –A complimentary session for all ages, guests will learn how to play the bamboo nose flute, a popular instrument that accompanies Hawaiian music and hula practitioners. Originally, the nose flute was used to communicate private messages between romantic partners. By the end of the session, guests are able to play a short melody of their own composition.
- Hula and Haka – Guests are invited to learn the art and history of hula through complimentary hands-on guidance and instruction to learn basic foot movements and gestures while also understanding the meanings of each motion. At the end of the class, guests will have learned to perform a hula dance telling a story about Hawaii’s ocean environment. Men can learn the haka, another form of hula, once used in ancient times to challenge or intimidate one’s enemy.
The staff will consist of one “Kupuna” (elder) who will guide the entire staff in authentic cultural practice, and three to four “Beach Alakaʻi” who will bring each cultural program to life. Maui born and raised, Iokepa Nae`ole, known around the islands as Kepa, will spearhead operations for the activities center as Manager of Hale Huakaʻi.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Kaʻanapali Beach HotelLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.