Day 6 - Workshop in Waikiki
Each of the famil groups met at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa this morning for breakfast dressed in their matching red and white Hawaiian shirts, courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Oceania.
The Marriott features 1310 guest rooms in two towers offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and famous Diamond Head, seven restaurants and lounges, two freshwater heated swimming pools, a 24-hour fitness center, a spa, three ballrooms and seven conference rooms.
During breakfast, Hawaii Tourism Authority vice president sales and marketing David Uchiyama spoke to participants thanking them for their continued support and advised that there has been a 12% increase in the number of visitors from Australia and New Zealand to Hawaii over the last year.
Each of the famil groups then met with the different island chapters who conducted presentations for their islands. This included information such as accommodation updates, attractions and new activities.
New groups were then formed to take part in The Great Ohana Hunt, which involved having to walk through the streets of Waikiki and visit various landmarks and properties in order to correctly answer a series of questions. This activity was a lot of fun as participants not only got the opportunity to mingle with members from other groups but also learnt about what Waikiki has to offer.
Each group returned to the Marriott with their answers and enjoyed a well-deserved buffet lunch after running around on a warm Waikiki day.
Following lunch, the bus picked up the entire famil group and drove to O’ahu’s North Shore for a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Here a cast of hundreds of Polynesian islanders bring their exotic customs, culture and traditions alive. The highlights of the afternoon were a guided canoe ride, a lu’au set against a backdrop of waterfalls and lush gardens and an extravagant evening show featuring native performers who attend the nearby Brigham Young University.
The Center, located about an hour’s drive from Waikiki was founded in 1963, and over the years 32 million people have passed through its gates making it one of the most successful cultural theme attractions in the world appealing to all ages. It is open from 12.30pm to 9pm daily except Sundays.
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