welcome reception at coconut grove Enjoy the cool ocean breeze and stunning sunset as you meet and greet new and old friends at the opening night reception. Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be provided at the Coconut Grove, located between a palm lined beach and the ancient Keanapou pond. continental breakfast Juice, coffee, pastries and fresh fruit will be provided in the tradeshow convention hall for convention attendees. hawaiian luau at plantation estates Experience an evening of traditional Hawaiian food and entertainment. Bring your appetite to fully enjoy a grand luau buffet that blends the best of traditional Hawaiian dishes, local favorites and continental cuisine. Dinner will be followed by a live performance by a local luau troop. The evening will finish with music and dancing. continental breakfast Juice, coffee, pastries and fresh fruit will be provided in the tradeshow convention hall for convention attendees. annual business meeting luncheon Meet with fellow engineers from California and the Western States for the annual State of the Association address from SEAOC president Jon Kiland. Lunch will be provided. president's cup reception hosted by club curry Come watch and cheer for your team in a friendly competition between the four SEAOC Member Organizations: SEAONC, SEAOSC, SEAOCC and SEAOSD. cocktail party Come out for some pre-dinner drinks and fun at the Turtle Point. dinner & dancing at turtle point Join us for an evening of fine dining and dancing at Turtle Point. Located along the "peppered shoreline of black and white coral, Turtle Point offers panoramic views and a spectacular ocean backdrop." A plated dinner will be provided followed by live music and dancing. beach volleyball SEAOC Section teams participate in a single or double elimination tournament to win glorious prizes and the unending adoration of your peers! Location: the Fairmont Orchid volleyball courts by the lagoon Time: 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday the 24th Cost: FREE! president's cup A physical and mental challenge involving four teams hand selected by the section presidents! Come cheer on your section team while they compete by the ocean for the gold. Enjoy the spectacle and compete with other spectators for the most cocktails consumed at the Club Curry hosted bar! Location: The Coconut Grove at the Fairmont Orchid by the lagoon Time: 3:00 p.m. on Friday the 26th Cost: FREE! golf Don't miss the 2008 SEAOC Convention golf tournament at the former home of the Senior Skins Game. The special convetion rate includes green fees, shared cart, refreshments, gifts and prizes for low gross/net scores, longest drive, and closest to hole contests. Sign up early - tee times are limited! Location: World famous Mauna Lani South Course adjacent to the Fairmont Orchid Time: 8:00 a.m. on Saturday the 27th Cost: $100 a player fun run A short 3-mile run in the brisk Hawaiian morning air. Estimate your total time before the start and the one who comes closest to their time wins! A fun time for all and a chance to get some good wholesome exercise in before the Saturday sessions! Location: Start at the Hotel Lobby Entrance unless otherwise posted at the sports desk. Time: 8:00 a.m. on Saturday the 27th Cost: FREE! tennis Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed doubles (pending interest). The tournament will be a rotational form and winners will be based on most games won. Location: Fairmont Orchid Tennis Pavilion (near the Luau area) Time: 9:00 a.m. on Saturday the 27th Cost: $40 a player Cultural Hike (FREE, at Hotel, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) - Join an Orchid beach boy and explore the historic fishponds and shelter caves of Kalahuipua'a or the Puako Petroglyph Preserve, one of the largest concentrations of these ancient lava rock etchings. The hikes are relatively easy and are filled with cultural anecdotes. Wear comfortable walking shoes and remember to bring bottled water, sunscreen and a hat. Wellness Spa Treatments ($65/person, at Hotel, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) - Find your "Paradise Within" as Orchid instructors lead you through a series of rituals that will bring you balance "pono" and unity "lokahi" within your spirit, body, and mind. You will participate in a Hawaiian Oli (chant) that will welcome you and mark the beginning of the journey with balance and calm. We will continue to the Manu kipa sancuary to interact with Orchid's healing arts experts. Don Choquette, a seasoned therapist, will share about the lomilomi techniques and his experiences in working with Hawaiian healing arts. A demonstration will be provided so all may understand the Hawaiian massage technique and rituals. Karen Chandler, an experienced yoga instructor will then guide you through a series of yoga and meditation exercises and Orchid's knowledgeable fitness instructor will briefly go over her personal experience in studying Hawaiian herbal medicine. Orchid's instructors will share with you ways of caring for your bodies, minds, hearts and inner well-being. The session will conclude with a question and answer period. A hui hou! Coffee Plantation Tour (FREE, 20 mins. from Hotel, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) - Discover Kona Le'a Plantation, home of Holualoa Kona Coffee Company on the gentle upland slopes overlooking the Kona coast. You'll enjoy the scenic drive on Mamalahoa Highway through the prized Kona coffee belt. Owners Desmond and Lisen Twigg-Smith invite you to experience Kona's bountiful Kona Coffee harvest on their family farm in a small, personalized setting. Learn what makes one of the world's finest coffees from the tree to the cup. In addition to roasting their own estate coffee, this thriving mill and roasting operation handles coffee for more than 100 nearby Kona farms. Finish up in the roasting room and enjoy a cup of fresh roasted Kona coffee. Kealakekua Deluxe Snorkeling Cruise ($80/person, 1 hour from Hotel, 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) - Enjoy a great Fair Wind cruise to pristine Kealakekua Bay. Departure from Keauhou Bay is at 2:00 p.m. with a 5:30 p.m. return, offering 1-1/2 hours of snorkeling time. On the scenic coastal cruise to Kealakekua Bay keep your eye out for spinner dolphins as they often come by the boat to entertain the passengers. Country Waterfalls Hike ($125/person, 30 mins. from Hotel, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) - For an all-around Hawaiian adventure, come with us into the heart of the Kohala countryside. North Kohala is a land of old sugar plantations, Hawaiian legends, and untouched natural beauty. The excursion begins with a scenic drive through the Kohala countryside which leads to an off-road adventure to the trailhead. Walking along the loop trail, you'll pass two streams with seven waterfalls and three bridges, plus ancient Hawaiian terraces and flumes along the famous Kohala Ditch. With easy walking, countryside views, and a chance to cool off swimming in a mountain stream with cascading falls overhead, this is an ideal family half-day adventure. Big Island Sightseeing Tour ($85/person, leaves from Hotel, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) - On this extraordinary journey you'll discover and visit Kailua Town, View Kealakekua Bay, Coffee Plantations, Black Sand Beach, Volcanoes National Park, Volcano House, Steam Bluffs & Crater Drive, Jagger Museum, Thurston Lava Tube, Volcano Observatory, Fern Tree Jungle, Orchid & Anthurium Nursery, City of Hilo (drive through), Hamakua Coast, Parker Ranch Lands and Waimea District. Horse Back Ride at Waipi'o Valley ($90/person, 1 hour from Hotel, 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.) - Your adventure begins at mile marker 7.5 on the road from Honokaa to the Waipio Valley overlook where you check in for your ride and meet your guide. You'll begin your tour with a memorable and hair-raising 4-wheel drive van ride to the bottom of the valley floor. The road is the steepest in North America with a vertical drop of 900 feet in less than a mile and a grade of 45 degrees in locations. Don't even think about taking your rental car down here. Getting into (and out of) the valley is half the fun of this tour! When you arrive on the valley floor you find yourself in a land that is more lush and fertile than you can imagine. The valley is lined with steep cliffs and 1200 foot waterfalls. Near the back of the valley you get saddled up on your horse and begin your ride. The trek takes a leisurely pace, with guides narrating throughout the ride. They explain the history, legends, and facts of life in the valley today. The trail meanders through lush jungle along the hillside, with many stream and river crossings. If you have always wanted to ride a horse wading through water, this is the experience for you! Click to view Photo Credits