Hawaii: sun, surf, sand, and serious business.

Tourists have always loved Hawaii. In 1998, association executives who sponsor citywide meetings will too. That's when the Hawaii Convention Center will open for business, ending the wait for all those associations that wanted to - but couldn't - bring their big citywide celebrations to the Aloha state.

"A number of organizations have told us that they would like to come here but couldn't because we didn't have an appropriate venue for large conventions," says Murray Towill, president, Hawaii Hotel Association, Honolulu. "When the center opens, we will have that appropriate venue."

A brief walk or shuttle ride from most of Waikiki's hotels, restaurants, and beaches, the center is being constructed on a 10-acre site beside the Ala Wai Canal. The four-story, 1.1 million-square-foot center will stand on the canal's banks with an exterior staircase stepping down to the waterfront promenade. A giant lobby will feature mature indoor palms and a 70-foot waterfall; the tropical roof garden will overlook the Pacific Ocean with Koolau mountain views in the background.

"It will truly have a Hawaiian sense of place," says Rick Chapman, vice president of sales, meetings, conventions, and incentives, Hawaii Visitors Bureau, Honolulu. "We are actually bringing the beauty and culture of Hawaii into the building with waterfalls, palm trees, open-air architecture, and artwork. You'll know you're in Hawaii when you're in that building."

Specifications include

* 51 meeting areas totaling 107,426 square feet on one floor.

* 200,000-square-foot rectangular exhibit hall with four possible configurations.

* 1,000-seat meeting room.

* 36,000-square-foot ballroom that can be divided into three rooms.

* Two high-tech theaters with seating capacities of 332 and 465.

* 12 executive rooms with wet bars, terraces, and private restrooms.

* 100,000-square-foot, landscaped roof garden for special shows, luaus, and functions.

* 802 parking spaces.

* 500-foot front curb for up to 12 shuttle business and taxis, plus a covered rear bay for up to 30 buses.

* Loading area with 19 truck docks.

* Teleconference center.

* Press room.

32,000 Dentists Can't Be Wrong

Of course, this space wasn't the case when the American Dental Association (ADA), Chicago, held its annual meeting in Honolulu in 1989, and 32,000 dentists, their families, and guests showed up. "We actually had the largest professional convention ever held in Hawaii," says associate executive director, James H. Sweeney.

Since there wasn't a convention center, Sweeney "created a convention center out of hotels." Although it may sound like a meeting planner's worst nightmare, the concept worked like a dream. "From the standpoint of education, the meeting, weather, people, it couldn't have been better," he says. "It's a meeting I will never, ever forget. It was just great."

The ADA plans a return trip to Honolulu in 1999, this time using the real thing. "The addition of the center is absolutely important," Sweeney says. "That center is going to be state-of-the-art, user friendly, and convenient. From the perspective of the attendee, Hawaii is a combination of all the best things of all the places that they could go in the world - the accommodations, ambiance, environment, weather. Once it has the facility, it's got it all."

Ardyce Myhre, senior director of education, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Brookfield, Wisconsin, agrees. The foundation books an annual meeting in Hawaii every five years, despite a shortage of exhibit space. Why? Because the association has a large membership base on the West Coast, members like the site, and "the convention service people in Honolulu hotels are excellent," she says. "They really understand associations."

Her meeting typically attracts between 6,500 and 7,000 paid registrants. Counting family members and guests, the number doubles. When she's able to use the convention center in 2000, "it will be wonderful," Myhre says. "We'll be able to have all of our meetings and exhibits under one roof, which we've not been able to do before. We've split our meeting between two hotels."

Another association eager to expand its exhibit and meeting space in Hawaii is the Pacific Telecommunications Council, Honolulu. "Until four or five years ago, we were small enough that we were very comfortable in one of the larger hotels," says Executive Director Richard Barber. "In the last couple of years, it's evident we really need something beyond that. Our trade show is not as large as it could be. We've sold out on our exhibit area for the last couple years without even advertising."

He is tentatively scheduled to use the convention center in 1999.

Why the Wait?

Faced with this kind of pent-up demand, why didn't Hawaii build a convention center long ago? "If you talk to 10 people, you would probably come up with 20 different reasons," says Murray Towill. Ultimately, he thinks it came down to questions over where it should be located and how it should be funded.

"Economically, it's a major commitment for any destination," concurs Rick Chapman. He points out that the meeting/convention/incentive business has traditionally represented only 7 percent of Hawaii's total visitor count, although it contributes about 14 percent in terms of revenues. Obviously, he is hoping both figures will get a big boost from the new facility.

"Everyone's very excited about the convention center," adds Jan Pinney, executive director, Activity Owners Association of Hawaii, Maui. "Having that facility will greatly enhance our ability to do the best job we can as a destination. In this day and age, when there are so many choices, you have to be the best at what you do. This center will help Hawaii maintain and increase its ability to provide the Hawaiian experience to association meetings."

So Many Islands, So Little Time

You'll find lots of variety in the aloha state's islands. "They're all quite different, which is part of their charm," says Richard Barber, executive director, Pacific Telecommunications Council, Honolulu.

The following six islands offer association executives numerous meeting planning opportunities.

Oahu: The Gathering Place - "The outer islands definitely have meeting space available for various conferences," says Arlene Davie, executive vice president, Travel Planners, Inc., of San Antonio. "But when you're talking citywides - anything over 2,000 - there's no place like Honolulu." Oahu offers 36,194 hotel room and resort condominium units in 201 properties. The Neal S. Blaisdell Center , close to downtown Honolulu, is currently the largest meetings facility in the state. Popular member attractions are Diamond Head, the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Bishop Museum, and Waimea Falls Park.

Hawaii: The Big Island - Arden Sell, executive director, National Asphalt Pavement Association, Lanham, Maryland, prefers The Big Island for her association's meetings. With a meeting attendance ranging from 1,200 to 1,400, she can comfortably ensconce her members in one of The Big Island's 149 properties (9,595 rooms). Attractions include Volcanoes National Park, black sand beaches, and Parker Ranch, the nation's largest individually owned spread.

Kauai: The Garden Island - Kauai, with 123 properties and 5,670 rooms, "is the oldest island, geologically speaking," says Richard Barber. He describes it as "lush and tropical, with lovely beaches." For him, Kauai's highlight is Waimea Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

Maui: The Valley Island - With 18,141 rooms in 206 properties, Maui is Hawaii's most popular off-Oahu visitor destination. "I live on Maui," says Jan Pinney, executive director, Activity Owners Association of Hawaii, Maui. "I've chosen Maui because - for me, anyway - it's the best-positioned island for tourism and offers a really good quality of life." Maui attractions include: Hana, a secluded community on the eastern side of the island; Hana Highway, which is lined with cliffs, waterfalls, and freshwater pools; and Haleakala National Park, which has a 10,023-foot volcano. "Driving up early in the morning to see the sun rise over the Haleakala crater is something not easily or soon forgotten," Barber says.

Lanai: The Pineapple Island - Long known for Dole Pineapple, Lanai is beginning to focus on cultivating tourism instead. Accommodations include five properties with 367 rooms. Members will find natural attractions such as Shipwreck Beach, the Garden of the Gods, and Hulopoe Bay.

Molokai: The Friendly Island - With nine hotels and 516 rooms, Molokai is known for its footprint-free beaches, jungle wilderness, and herds of African antelope.

RELATED ARTICLE: Tips for Keeping Hawaii Meetings Hassle-Free

"You know, when you put 32,000 people in one location, there's always something that doesn't work," says James H. Sweeney, associate executive director, American Dental Association (ADA), Chicago.

What went wrong when the ADA met in Hawaii?

"The week before we arrived, the warehouse storing the furniture we were using for all of our setups caught on fire," he says. "Fortunately, within three days, the people in Honolulu found everything we required from other sources. The Hawaii Visitors Bureau, the hotel community, everybody was so supportive and terrific. And I anticipate that when we go back in 1999, it will be even better.... Although I don't know how much better it can get."

To try to make your Hawaiian meetings hassle-free, association meeting planners offer these tips:

Strike up a deal with a freight broker to consolidate your association's shipments and those of your exhibitors, recommends Gareth Sakakida, managing director, Hawaii Transportation Association, Honolulu, and president of the Aloha Society of Association Executives. "Exhibitors can ship to a certain point or to a specific freight broker to realize container-load shipments rather than piecemeal. There's a cost benefit," he says.

Insist on an on-site island expert. "Don't rely on someone in Oahu to arrange your meeting in Maui," says Jan Pinney, executive director, Activity Owners Association of Hawaii, Maui. "The elements that make a meeting special don't happen from a distance."

Arrive early. "When you get over there, the six-hour time difference can be a shock to your system," says Jennifer Summers, trade show manager, Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, Fairfax, Virginia. "You really do need to give yourself one or two days to get adjusted."

Take advantage of Hawaii's tropical breezes, palm trees, and beautiful mountain backdrops, recommends Arden Sell, executive director, National Asphalt Pavement Association, Lanham, Maryland, by holding lunches and dinners outside. And forget elaborate theme parties because "Hawaii is the theme."

Use local talent. "There are many resources available on the islands," Sell says. "You don't have to take people from the mainland. Take advantage of unique, local speakers." For a recent meeting in Hawaii, she also used preprinted, four-color programs provided by a local printer, which avoided design and shipping costs. "Hawaii has very good local support."