In Hawaiʻi, there’s a saying: Maui nō ka ʻoi. It means ‘Maui is indeed the best.’ And after experiencing Engage!26 Maui we have to agree! It was on this spectacular island that we celebrated our 55th Engage!; our first summit of the year and first-ever event in the state. A place where hospitality is deeply rooted in culture, relationships, and respect for place, Maui offered a powerful reminder that every celebration exists within a living community, shaped by generations of tradition and resilience. It reflects the Hawaiian value of pilina: the deep relationships that connect people not only to one another, but also to place and purpose. For Creative Director Frank Robinson and Lee McBride of the Maui Wedding & Event Association, who partnered with us for this event, the goal was to thread the spirit of pilina through every session, meal, and conversation between friends old and new.
Our home throughout the summit, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, proved the ideal steward of that vision. Set above Honokahua Bay on Maui’s northwest coast, the resort blends elevated hospitality with a profound respect for Hawaiian culture and the sacred land it occupies. Guided by the philosophy of Mauka to Makai (honoring the connection from the mountains to the sea), the property became an integral part of the experience itself, inviting us to slow down, connect more deeply, and experience Maui with care and reverence.
The Brand & Paper Details
Longtime creative partners TPD Design House created the visual identity. For Engage!26 Maui, they drew their inspiration directly from traditional Polynesian art and symbolism. At the center was a reimagined ‘E’ icon built from two reflected human motifs, facing inward to represent unity and connection while also subtly forming the Engage! ‘E’. The design also layered in three meaningful symbols: niho mano (shark teeth, representing strength and adaptability), petroglyph-inspired forms (human connection), and symmetry itself, echoing the spirit of pilina that shaped the entire summit. Across invitations, menus, programs, signage, and printed details, a palette of sun-bleached neutrals, hibiscus pinks, sunshine yellow, Pacific blues, palm greens, and driftwood browns reflected Maui’s landscapes with warmth and restraint. Paired with clean typography and natural textures, the branding creating a cohesive visual story that rooted Engage!26 Maui firmly in place.
The Gifting & Registration Experience
Surf’s up at Engage!26 Maui! Our registration area made sure everyone was in on the good vibrations from the start. The creative team transformed the ballroom into a vintage Maui surf shack, complete with wooden longboards, retro fabrics, lush tropical florals, and playful sun-shaped signage. As attendees collected their nametagalopes, programs, and event books, conversations flowed naturally throughout our signature gifting marketplace. This much-loved Engage! tradition encourages guests to browse, discover, and connect.
This edition put Maui’s artisans and small businesses front and center. Vintage-inspired artwork by local artist Nick Kuchar brought the island’s surf heritage to life. Aloha Collection bags, Kō Hana Hawaiian Rum ready-to-drink cocktails, Saltwater Buddha soaps, Island Woods serving platters, Artful Scents candles, Maui Jim sunglasses, Mālie fragrances, and more also reflected the creativity and craftsmanship found across the islands. It was a happy start to the summit that reflected the Hawaiian spirit of hospitality.
The Sessions
Our general sessions at Engage!26 Maui started in a truly special way. Once everyone was seated, the ballroom fell silent as a local family with deep ties to the land opened the summit with an oli, a traditional Hawaiian chant offering blessing and welcome. Family was a core value of our time in Maui together. That feeling of ohana is one that our Creative Director, Frank Robinson, focused on creating for all of us in attendance.
That spirit carried through the next three days of programming. Guided by the Hawaiian proverb ‘Kūlia i ka nuʻu’ (strive to reach the summit), speakers explored everything from leadership, luxury, and business strategy to creativity, sales, design, marketing, AI, legal insight, and personal wellbeing.
Alongside inspiring keynote addresses from industry leaders Cindy Novotny and Alexandra Carter, panels featuring planners, designers, venues, and local Hawaiian voices asked challenging questions and prompted diverse conversations. On day three, breakout sessions allowed attendees to tailor their learning around the topics most relevant to their businesses, as well as attend a media panel with editors from a range of outlets.
Engage!26 Maui also marked the debut of BrainDate, a new peer-learning platform that quickly became one of the week’s highlights. Through our new custom event app, attendees posted topics they were eager to explore. They could also join discussions already underway. On days two and three, they gathered in small groups to dig into the questions on everyone’s mind. It was peer-led learning at its most organic and we loved seeing it come to life.
Engage!CONNECT Luxury Venue Showcase
Engage!26 Maui also marked the return of Engage!CONNECT, our curated venue showcase. Born from a simple insight (planners want real relationships with properties, not trade-show small talk), the experience brought a select group of luxury hotels and resorts into the room for genuine, pressure-free conversation. Each property hosted its own station, with QR codes and digital follow-up tools keeping things easy and refreshingly low-friction. Attendees were free to wander, linger, and connect at their own pace. Just the right people, in the right room, finding their way to each other.
The Aloha Welcome Party
The first evening welcomed attendees to Maui in true island style. On the Beach House Lawn at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, a bamboo entrance tunnel led guests into a world of vintage Hawaiiana, rendered through natural, tactile materials like timber, raffia, and cane. Tropical florals mingled with native touches like jackfruit and banana blossom. A coconut station, ukulele wall, and a vintage VW bus photo booth also gave guests plenty to discover.
As golden hour settled over the Pacific, attendees adorned themselves with floral hairpieces before exploring food stations hosted by eight local Maui chefs and restaurants. They sipped cocktails from branded coconuts and danced barefoot on the grass. Every detail reflected the warmth and generosity of the island, offering the perfect beginning to three unforgettable days together.
The Lunches
Lunches at Engage!26 Maui reflected the easy rhythm of the island. The first drew inspiration from the ocean itself. A palette of sea glass, shells, starfish, soft blue tones, and coastal textures created a light, Pacific-inspired setting. Perfect for a relaxed afternoon by the water.
On the final day, attendees picked up beautifully prepared picnic lunches. They then gathered beneath the Aloha Pavilion, where low tables, layered cushions, herbal popsicle mocktails dotted with edible flowers, and live jazz invited everyone to slow down and savor the Maui mood.
The Themed Breaks
On our first day, before the opening session began, attendees were greeted with a Pineapple Welcome celebrating Maui Gold pineapples. These fruits are grown exclusively on the island and are renowned for their exceptional sweetness. Beneath a towering pineapple-shaped floral installation, guests watched a Maui Gold pineapple carved with a machete. And of course, they were able to taste one of the island’s signature flavors for themselves.
Day two was a busy one, so we helped guests take a well-deserved break in between sessions with a shave ice bar in a range of tropical flavors. The perfect sweet, cold treat to keep us going through the afternoon!
Celebration of Polynesia Dinner
Night two invited attendees into a Celebration of Polynesia at the Aloha Garden Pavilion. The space had been reimagined as a refined Polynesian feast inside a contemporary tropical lodge. Think: an entrance walkway of oversized palms and hanging vines, long feast tables dressed in mudcloth-style runners, and oversized kapa-inspired sail forms. Guests dressed in laid-back luau neutrals chose a lei before finding their seat via a fun escort display featuring vintage hula figurines.
Inside the pavilion, foliage-forward florals and natural materials like driftwood, carved timber, and coconuts added layers of natural texture and visual interest. The evening built steadily from a traditional feast to performance vignettes. These included a Polynesian fire knife dancing display that had the audience rapt. Later, the celebration continued in the Lava Lounge. Here, deep reds and crimsons, molten textures, and dramatic lighting kept the energy burning well into the night.
The Group Experiences
Throughout Engage!26 Maui, attendees were invited to experience Maui through wellness activities designed to deepen their connection to the island. One of the most memorable moments was the traditional beach sunrise E Ala E and Hiʻuwai Ceremony. Beginning in the ocean, participants embraced the Hawaiian practice of hiʻuwai (a symbolic cleansing and renewal) before returning to shore to greet the rising sun through the powerful E Ala E chant. It was a moving way to begin the day, setting intentions while honoring the land, the sea, and the traditions that have shaped this place for generations.
Our final afternoon offered group adventures, from snorkeling in the Pacific and learning the art of hula to ukulele lessons. Many spent the time simply soaking up the sun. These shared experiences offered a different kind of learning. One rooted in curiosity, laughter, and the simple joy of discovering a destination together. It was exactly the kind of ‘lei’d back’ afternoon that turns Engage! acquaintances into lasting friends.
The Gala Finale
The final night of Engage!26 Maui closed the way it felt: in full bloom. Inside the Ritz-Carlton ballroom, the theme of Maui in Bloom set the tone for an evening that was equal parts celebration, farewell, and love letter to the islands. Friends gathered one final time to share a meal, reflect on new ideas, and toast the relationships formed. Once the Jordan Kahn Music Company took the stage, the dance floor filled with laughter, familiar songs, and tropical energy. It was, fittingly, a finale that bloomed rather than faded. Less about saying goodbye than celebrating everything that had been shared over the past three days, and carrying it with us into the future.
Our deepest mahalo to every attendee, speaker, and creative partner who made Engage!26 Maui unforgettable. Our special thanks go to the Maui Wedding & Event Association, Frank Robinson, and the exceptional team at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. Thank you for sharing the generosity, resilience, and aloha that define this remarkable island. Until we gather again, may the spirit of pilina continue to inspire the relationships we build and the celebrations we create.
To see more of Engage!26 Maui, be sure to stop by our galleries!
