FareHarbor’s Maui Meetup: Celebrating innovation and resilience in Hawaiʻi

To our incredible Hawaiʻi community — mahalo for joining us for our Meetup Powered by FareHarbor on the breathtaking island of Maui.

This year’s event brought together over 100 attendees from 65 local tour and activity companies for a day of learning, collaboration, and connection. Alongside our traveling team, we explored how operators across Hawaiʻi are uncovering new opportunities, adapting to change, and driving growth in an evolving tourism landscape.

Looking deeper at Hawaiʻi’s tourism landscape

This year’s discussions didn’t shy away from the realities of Hawaiʻi’s tourism climate. From Maui’s ongoing recovery following the 2023 wildfires to rising travel costs and shifting visitor expectations, operators shared their experiences navigating a more uncertain market.

At the same time, there was a shared sense of resilience and optimism. Many attendees discussed new ways to strengthen direct bookings, reduce OTA dependency, and improve operations through tools like FareHarbor Sites, Smart Ads, and Cross-Sell Combos, showing that innovation continues to thrive even amid challenges.

Turning challenges into growth

Across focused breakout sessions and personalized one-on-one meetings, our team heard from operators facing familiar pain points — from complex reporting setups to underused Dashboard features and low website conversion rates. In response, FareHarbor experts provided actionable strategies to help simplify workflows, improve online visibility, and make every booking count.

A few standout themes emerged:

• Smart Ads momentum: Dozens of operators expressed interest in the FareHarbor Smart Ads program after learning how campaigns in Hawaiʻi are delivering strong results: some operators have even experienced up to 6.5x return on ad spend (ROAS) for operators on islands like Maui and Kauaʻi.
• Flexible FareHarbor Sites solutions: Both long-term and new clients saw how an upgraded website can make all the difference — with our tailored, SEO-focused FareHarbor Sites packages delivering an average 19.8% lift in conversions for businesses worldwide. 

Spotlight on sustainability

A highlight of the event was the Sustainability in Tourism panel, featuring Meagan DeGaia, Destination Manager for Maui & Lāna‘i at the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, and Morgan Wittmer, EcoTours Manager at Pacific Whale Foundation. Moderated by FareHarbor’s Senior Onboard Specialist Monique Kolii, the discussion explored how businesses and travelers alike can help ensure tourism gives back more than it takes.

Panelists shared practical insights on how operators can practice sustainability in their daily operations, communicate their efforts authentically, and encourage visitors to make mindful travel choices. Attendees also had a chance to ask panelists questions on the spot, providing real-time insights they could apply to their businesses. 

The conversation emphasized that sustainability is not a single initiative but an ongoing commitment to preserving Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources while supporting local communities. 

Stronger together

Beyond the sessions, operators filled the room with the sense of community that defines Hawaiʻi’s tourism industry. This Meetup Powered by FareHarbor provided space to share stories, celebrate resilience, and collaborate on ways to build a stronger, more connected future for tours and activities across the islands.

What’s next

We’re already looking ahead to next year’s events — and can’t wait to reveal 2026 Meetup locations in the new year.

Until we can see you again in person, be sure to join thousands of fellow operators in our FareHarbor Community for daily discussions, insights, and announcements.