Placename

I also think OP should review posts on the Hawaii branch of www.tripadvisor.com

A one-week trip to Hawaii for 16 couples is likely to be about $80K worth of business to some travel agent. It would be best to find one who can get the best group rates and airline fares and make use of their skills. Then it's the TA that deals with the headaches, not OP.

Tomsd

IMO - part of the fun of traveling is doing the planning yourself and having a good base of information - before you even talk to a travel agent. Given three years time - that also helps you separate the wheat from the chaff - or where the travel agent might want to send you for their biggest commission. Heck - with enough research - you could start grinding/grilling the travel agent on deals.

And it's never premature to give information on the Volcano on the Big Island - or even for seeing the sunrise at Haleakula - on top of Maui, or trying to catch the Green Flash from the beach at Ke - at the end of the road in the North Shore of Kauai.

suze

Why I suggested guidebooks from the library, is that I found Hawaii *overwhelming* to research online before my first trip. And reading hard-copy guidebooks with lots of photos helped me figure out what's what on the different islands.

starrs

I'm not a big fan of the cruise, but it would be great for this event. As far as planning something this big, I'd find a spot, negotiate a group rate with the hotel/condo sales department, give people a chance to book the room/condo themselves and spend your energy on creating a group event for once a day for three days. The rest of the time, let folks be on their own. #1 - don't put up your money to guarantee space for people you don't know well who have to fly to Hawaii to get to the party.

Tomsd

Very sound advice Starrs. That way - they can choose the type of room (read - how much to spend) - and you can focus on the important stuff - such as where are we going to have cocktails before dinner. Actually - you might even try to find two places next to each other - one a bit more upscale/expensive than the other and give them the choice.

We do that for some of our college reunions - and some classmates like the higher rated accommodations, and others of us, especially if the wives are not along - go for a more "basic" environmentm, and save the denaro for partying!!

starrs

Embassy Suites work REALLY well for this kind of GTG. I think planning it on Oahu would be a good plan. Folks would not need a car, plenty for people to see and do in walking distance, cook to order breakfasts and afternoon cocktails in the atrium and a mid-price point. People could book other properties if they wanted to - nicer/more expensive or less expensive. The 2 room suite approach gives a living room in each room for old friends to visit if they don't want to hang out in the atrium. I imagine most people would tag on their own trip to other islands if their pocketbooks allowed. You could plan a group event out to Pearl Harbor, snorkeling in H Bay, and a joint meal at Dukes. Welcome reception at the Embassy Suites and afternoon cocktail hours. That would be a chance for people to do things together if they want - or go their own way if they want. It would be easy on the event planners too.

dmelo1

Was in Hawaii last week for a 40th birthday. For the main event, we rented a house in the north shore of Oahu for 10 people. It was great having everyone in one place, being able to cook, drink, hang out, etc. I would recommend finding a few houses close to each other. Since everyone made there own travel arrangements, people came and went to the islands as needed. Therefore a few of us went to the big island for a few days, some went to Wakiki for a few days before/after the weekend get together. Hard to plan every single detail, so i would focus on a main weekend and let others figure out what they want pre/post. Have a great time.

Placename

For a big reunion like this, I would expect that 75% of the invitees would say Yes, but less than 50% would come through with the money for deposits and there would be a few more dropouts before the final arrangements.

So, I would not want to assume the responsibility of renting a single housing for that big a group and then find the split price had doubled because of dropouts or no-shows.

I would go through a travel agent who can find a large enough hotel/condo accomodation that could absorb the group, and let everyone deal with them. No money out of your pocket and no hard feelings.

There are some aspects of planning this trip that are fun. Collecting the money and being responsible for satisfying 32 people's travel expectations is not one of them.

Placename

Embassy Suites is a good idea. It's in a very convenient area of Waikiki, although it's not beachfront.