Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort | Hawai‘i Island
May 23–29, 2027

The 2027 unConference combines focused morning sessions with plenty of time to build relationships, explore Hawai‘i Island, and continue conversations outside the meeting room. Our preferred room rate will be available for four days before and four days after the event, making it easy to extend your trip through Memorial Day weekend.

RESORT WEBCAM…LIVE https://www.ozolio.com/explore/MLXV000000AE

Arrival days

• Attendees begin arriving at the resort
• Hotel check-in and informal gatherings
• Evenings on your own

(or take advantage of the pre- and post-unconference rates and arrive several days early! Our rates run May 20th through June 1st.)

We’ll have a snorkel cruise with Hawai’i Nautical from 9 AM to 1:30 PM, leaving from Anaeho‘omalu Bay just a short stroll from the hotel to the beach at the resort. Separate registration is required. 

https://hawaiinautical.com/big-island/waikoloa/waikoloa-turtle-snorkel-sail-with-lunch/

Or do other resort activities like golf, exploring the Waikoloa area, or informal meetups.

Approximately 7:00 p.m. — Sunset Opening Reception

We will officially begin the 2027 unConference by gathering to celebrate the sunset, reconnect with old friends, and welcome first-time attendees.

This is a change from previous years: instead of beginning with a Tuesday reception, we will open on Monday evening.

Presentations, introductions, and conversation

9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Paniolo Conference Rooms

(Breakfast will be on your own.)

• Welcome and opening remarks
• Attendee introductions
• What everyone wants to learn, solve, or accomplish
• Featured presentations
• Facilitated discussion and audience participation
• Open questions and conversation
• 
  

Afternoon and evening

Open for lunch, resort activities, networking, sightseeing, and optional group events.

Master-mind/Hive-mind/ Group-think Morning

9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Paniolo Conference Rooms

(Breakfast will be on your own.)

This morning belongs to the attendees. Bring a real business problem, opportunity, decision, or conundrum for the group to examine.

You may bring:

• Operating reports or financial information
• Marketing plans and performance data
• Development or acquisition questions
• Staffing and management challenges
• Pricing, occupancy or revenue-management issues
• Contracts, proposals or other relevant paperwork
• 
  

We will put each selected issue before the group and use the collective experience in the room to develop ideas, questions and possible solutions.

Attendees will sign confidentiality agreements. The purpose is to create an environment where people can speak candidly and share meaningful information with confidence.

Evening — Group Luau

We will attend the resort luau as a group. This will require a separate registration and ticket.

Even if you have attended a luau before, it is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the music, dancing, stories, and food together.

https://thesunsetluau.com/

Presentations and Open Forum

9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Paniolo Conference Rooms

(Breakfast will be on your own)

• Featured presentations
• Follow-up discussion from the Mastermind session
• Attendee-led topics
• Open forum and roundtable conversation
• Practical takeaways and commitments
• Closing thoughts from the group

Afternoon and evening

Open for networking, resort activities, dinner groups, and island exploration.

A separately ticketed sunset cruise happens on Thursday. leaving from Anaeho‘omalu Bay just a short stroll from the hotel to the beach at the resort. Separate registration is required. 

https://hawaiinautical.com/big-island/waikoloa/waikoloa-signature-sunset-sail/

Farewell Breakfast

We will finish the official unConference with breakfast together.

This will be a relaxed opportunity to:

• Continue conversations from the week
• Exchange contact information
• Share final ideas and takeaways
• Make plans for future collaboration
• Connect with others staying through Memorial Day weekend

After breakfast, attendees may depart or continue enjoying the resort and Hawai‘i Island.

Some group activities will require separate registration and payment:

• Sunset cruise
• Snorkel cruise
• Wednesday evening luau
• Golf outings
• Water sports
• Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park excursions
• Island sightseeing and guided tours
• 
  

The Self Storage Hawai‘i unConference is designed as a residential conference. Staying together at the host resort is an important part of the experience.

The best conversations frequently happen after the formal sessions—at the pool, over lunch, in the lobby, during an excursion, or when attendees unexpectedly run into one another around the resort.

Attendees who reserve and pay for their rooms through the official unConference room-block link will receive a special discount code worth $300 towards a ful registration pass. To qualify:

• The reservation must be made through the official room-block link.
• The attendee must stay at the host resort.
• The room must be paid for at the negotiated room-block rate.
• Rooms reserved through another booking site or method will not qualify.
• Rooms booked entirely with Marriott Bonvoy points will not qualify.
• Off-property stays will not qualify.

Marriott Bonvoy members can still earn points on qualifying paid room-block reservations.

Need info? Email  tron@selfstoragestrategies.com 

IMPORTANT: our ROOM BLOCK has a limited number of rooms at our fantastic rates…so get your rooms booked ASAP!

https://book.passkey.com/event/51331066/owner/51680/home

Get your seat at the table!

REGISTER FOR THE UNCONFERENCE WITH THIS LINK

Most convenient: Harvest 19 at the Marriott
Best setting and island experience: Lava Lava Beach Club
Best for an unplanned small-group lunch: Harvest 19
Best for a memorable extended lunch: Lava Lava

One caution: Lava Lava is extremely popular and may be slow when several groups arrive together at 12:30. Make reservations at https://www.lavalavabeachclub.com/bigisland/reserve 

I would put these at the very top:

1. Lava Lava Beach Club
2. Harvest 19
3. A-Bay’s Island Grill
4. Foster’s Kitchen
5. Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar

Best sit-down lunches other than Lava Lava or Harvest 19:

1. A-Bay’s Island Grill — Kings’ Shops
   My top all-around recommendation. It has Hawaiian and Pacific Rim food, seafood, burgers, salads and cocktails, with both air-conditioned and outdoor seating. It should work well for informal groups of attendees who decide to continue a conversation over lunch.
2. Foster’s Kitchen — Kings’ Shops
   Probably the best food-focused lunch choice. It emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and serves contemporary island-inspired American food. This is a good recommendation for a slightly nicer, leisurely lunch.
3. Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar — Queens’ Marketplace
   An attractive, casual, open-air restaurant with island-inspired plates, burgers, tacos, salads and cocktails. It opens daily at 11:00 a.m. and does not require reservations. This is likely to become one of the most popular attendee choices. Restaurant details
4. Kuleana Rum Shack — Queens’ Marketplace
   A distinctive Hawai‘i experience, with Hawaiian-inspired food, cocktails and locally made Kuleana rum. Best for attendees who have time for a relaxed lunch and are not rushing back to another scheduled activity.
5. Kona Biscuit Company — Queens’ Marketplace
   A casual breakfast-and-brunch option built around scratch-made biscuits and local flavors. This is especially useful for people who skip breakfast and want a combined late breakfast/lunch.

1. Sushi HI — Queens’ Marketplace
   Fresh sushi and build-your-own sushi bowls. This may be the best quick lunch for someone wanting something relatively light. Queens’ Marketplace food outlets
2. Waikoloa Shrimp Co. — Queens’ Marketplace
   Garlic scampi, spicy shrimp, coconut shrimp and other food-truck-style island plates. Casual, flavorful and more locally distinctive than an ordinary food court lunch.
3. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue — Queens’ Marketplace
   Hawaiian plate lunches at a more reasonable price than most resort restaurants. Good for hearty portions, quick service and attendees watching their food budget.
4. Da Ramen Kind — Queens’ Marketplace
   Ramen, appetizers and Japanese comfort food. A newer option and a good break from burgers, sandwiches and seafood plates.
5. Waikoloa Pizza — Queens’ Marketplace
   Pizza by the slice or whole pies. This is the simplest option for attendees who want to eat quickly or take something back to the hotel.
6. Island Gourmet Markets — Queens’ Marketplace
   Not really a restaurant, but extremely useful. It has prepared foods, sandwiches, salads, sushi, snacks and drinks. This will probably be the best budget and grab-and-go recommendation.

Best food-focused dinner within walking distance

Roy’s serves Hawaiian regional cuisine combining fresh local fish and ingredients with Japanese and European influences. It is the strongest choice for a nice dinner without arranging transportation.

Best for:

• Client or business dinners
• Couples and smaller groups
• A special dinner that is still convenient
• Seafood and Roy’s well-known misoyaki butterfish

Reservations are strongly recommended. Expect an upscale resort-priced dinner. Roy’s at Kings’ Shops

Best atmosphere and most distinctly Hawaiian evening

Lava Lava is directly on the beach, with sunset views, tropical drinks and live music beginning around 5:30 p.m. The food is casual island fare rather than fine dining, but the setting makes it one of the most enjoyable dinners in the resort.

Best for:

• First-night and informal group dinners
• Sunset cocktails followed by dinner
• Attendees who want a fun, social atmosphere
• Groups where people may join or leave at different times

It becomes busy around sunset, so reservations are wise. Dinner runs approximately 4:00–9:00 p.m. Lava Lava Beach Club

Best relaxed, food-conscious group dinner

Foster’s offers scratch-made, farm-to-table American and island-inspired dishes using local ingredients. It is nicer than a casual grill but less formal than Roy’s.

Best for:

• Groups of six to ten
• People wanting good food without a formal atmosphere
• A long dinner built around conversation
• Mixed preferences, including seafood, meat and vegetarian choices

Best easygoing group dinner

A-Bay’s has seafood, Hawaiian favorites, burgers, entrées, cocktails, indoor air-conditioned seating and an outdoor dining area. It also frequently has evening music.

Best for:

• Larger, informal groups
• Families
• Attendees who have not made advance plans
• A casual dinner with drinks

The food may not be as distinctive as Roy’s, but it is flexible and group-friendly.

Best cocktails and lively conversation

Kuleana combines modern Hawaiian food with cocktails made from its own Hawai‘i-produced rum. Rum flights and tastings give it something more distinctive than an ordinary resort restaurant.

Best for:

• Cocktail-oriented dinners
• Groups looking for something lively and different
• An after-session gathering
• People interested in locally made rum

Best casual open-air dinner with broad appeal

This is polished but informal, serving seafood tacos, burgers, salads, shareable plates and tropical drinks. No reservations are required, although people can join the waitlist.

It is a dependable choice for groups with varied tastes, but it is more of an attractive island-style bar and grill than a destination restaurant. Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar

Best for convenience

Harvest 19 is great for dinner, especially when attendees are tired or do not want to leave the property. It offers Hawaiian and Pacific Rim-inspired resort food in an open-air poolside setting.

Best overall special-occasion dinner

CanoeHouse is an upscale oceanfront restaurant serving Japanese-inspired seafood, meat and island ingredients. The combination of food, service, design and sunset setting makes it one of the strongest special-night choices on this part of the island.

Best for:

• A celebratory dinner
• Important client or investor conversations
• Couples
• A small group willing to spend more for an exceptional evening

It is open nightly from 5:00–9:30 p.m. Reservations - yes! CanoeHouse

Best balance of setting, Hawaiian character and excellent food

Napua sits at a secluded beach club and serves contemporary Hawai‘i regional cuisine. Dinner is more refined and atmospheric than its daytime service.

This may be my favorite recommendation for attendees who want something memorable but slightly less formal than CanoeHouse. It also accepts reservations for parties of 12 or more. Napua

Best romantic sunset dinner

Brown’s features Hawai‘i-inspired seafood and farm-to-table cuisine, oceanfront sunset views, and live Hawaiian music nightly. It is upscale and particularly good for couples or small celebratory dinners. The ube rolls are fantastic!

Dinner is currently served daily from 5:30–8:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Brown’s Beach House

Best nearby steak-and-seafood dinner

KPC offers oceanfront dining, steaks, seafood and local ingredients. It is a strong traditional special-dinner choice and is closer than the Mauna Lani and Fairmont restaurants. It also has great sunset views. 

It currently operates Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00–9:00 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Kamuela Provision Company

Best Italian dinner and best break from resort dining

Pueo’s is inland in Waikoloa Village, so it requires a drive. It is locally owned and serves from-scratch Italian food using island produce, seafood and meats.

Best for attendees who have eaten several nights of seafood and Hawaiian resort cuisine and want excellent pasta, Italian entrées, boutique wine and a more local neighborhood atmosphere. Pueo’s Osteria

• Special celebrations
• Couples and small groups
• An upscale client dinner
• Dinner followed by manta-ray viewing
• 
  

I would recommend these seven:

1. Roy’s — best walkable upscale dinner
2. Lava Lava Beach Club — best sunset and social atmosphere
3. Foster’s Kitchen — best relaxed conversation dinner
4. Kuleana Rum Shack — best cocktails and lively setting
5. CanoeHouse — best splurge or special occasion
6. Napua — best off-property island experience
7. Pueo’s Osteria — best local alternative to resort dining

……………………………………..

Drive north along the Kohala Coast to Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, one of Hawai‘i’s most important cultural sites, associated with Kamehameha I and the unification of the Hawaiian Islands. Combine it with a stop at Hāpuna Beach, one of the island’s finest white-sand beaches.

Best for:

• Hawaiian history and culture
• An easy half-day outing
• Scenic coastal driving
• Combining sightseeing with beach time (caution, Hapuna Beach waves can be rough)

Allow approximately four hours, including the drive and stops. Pu‘ukoholā Heiau

Follow the coast north through Kawaihae to the small towns of Hāwī and Kapa‘au, then continue to the dramatic Pololū Valley overlook. Stop for galleries, shops, coffee or an early dinner in Hāwī.

Best for:

• Dramatic scenery
• Small-town Hawai‘i
• A leisurely road trip
• Photography and island exploration

Allow five to six hours. Visitors can enjoy the overlook without hiking into the valley. Anyone hiking should allow additional time and be prepared for a steep, sometimes muddy trail.

Stay at the Marriott for a massage or spa treatment, followed by time at the infinity pool or in a beach cabana. Attendees can also take an easy walk along ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay and the historic fishponds before sunset.

Best for:

• Recovering after a busy morning
• Couples
• People who do not want another scheduled excursion
• Combining quiet time with informal networking

The Marriott has an on-property spa, several pools and direct access to the bay. Marriott resort activities

Ocean Sports operates directly on ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay at the bay by the Marriott. Attendees can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkeling equipment without driving or committing the entire afternoon.

Best for:

• A flexible two- or three-hour adventure
• Beginners and mixed-ability groups
• Attendees who want to get on the water
• Combining activity with beach time

Ocean Sports also offers glass-bottom-boat rides. Ocean Sports

The Kohala Zipline course near Hāwī includes tree-to-tree lines, bridges, a waterfall crossing and speeds of up to approximately 45 mph. The basic course lasts about two to three hours, but attendees should include roughly 45 minutes of driving each way.

Best for:

• A genuinely exciting afternoon
• Small groups
• Active attendees
• Combining with a visit to Hāwī

Because sessions end around 12:30, attendees would need a tour starting around 2:00 or 2:30. Advance reservations are essential. Kohala Zipline

Depart directly from A-Bay for a relaxed cruise along the Kohala Coast. This offers ocean views, drinks and sunset without using up the entire afternoon.

Best for:

• Couples and groups
• Non-swimmers
• Relaxed networking
• WE WILL BE DOING THIS AS A GROUP ON THURSDAY - separate registration required. 

Best evening adventure

A guided night snorkel offers the opportunity to watch manta rays feed in illuminated water. This is one of Hawai‘i Island’s signature experiences and could be scheduled after an open afternoon or early dinner.

Best for:

• Confident swimmers
• A memorable once-in-a-lifetime activity
• Small adventurous groups

For people who do not want to enter the water, dinner at Manta followed by viewing from Mauna Kea’s Manta Ray Point is the easier alternative. https://mantarayadvocates.com/frequently-asked-questions-about-snorkeling-with-manta-rays-in-hawaii/

Great trips to take on the days before or after the unconference. These require a full day each, and are worth every minute of the trip!

This is the island’s most important long-distance excursion, but it should not be presented as a normal post-session afternoon trip. From Waikoloa, it is a long drive and deserves a full day—preferably Friday after breakfast, Saturday or Memorial Day weekend.

Visitors can explore Kīlauea’s summit, overlooks, lava landscapes, rainforest trails and Chain of Craters Road. Volcanic activity, weather, parking and closures can change quickly, so conditions should be checked immediately before departure. Current park conditions

Bring a jacket and sweatshirt. You are up an easy in elevation, and it can be cool. 

Best major snorkeling excursion

Kealakekua Bay is a protected Marine Life Conservation District known for clear water, coral and abundant tropical fish. Boat excursions take visitors across the bay to snorkel near the Captain Cook Monument, which cannot be reached directly by road.

Best for:

• Strong and beginning snorkelers
• Families and small groups
• Marine life and Hawaiian history
• A half-day ocean adventure

Most cruises leave from the Kona or Keauhou area, approximately an hour from Waikoloa. This is generally a morning or extended-stay activity rather than a post-session outing. Advance reservations are recommended. Kealakekua Bay information

Best rainforest and botanical excursion

Located at Onomea Bay just north of Hilo, this 17-acre garden follows trails through a lush rainforest filled with palms, orchids, tropical flowers, streams and waterfalls before reaching the ocean.

Best for:

• Garden and nature lovers
• Photography
• A peaceful walking experience
• Combining with Hilo, Rainbow Falls or the Hāmākua Coast

Allow 90 minutes to two hours inside the garden, plus approximately 90 minutes of driving each way from Waikoloa. The trails include hills and can be wet, so comfortable shoes are important. Bring bug repellent and a rain jacket or umbrella!

This is best reserved for Friday or the extended Memorial Day stay. Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden

Best agricultural and tasting experience

Visit a working farm in the Kona coffee-growing region to learn how coffee is grown, harvested, processed, roasted and graded. Most tours include tastings and an opportunity to purchase coffee directly from the farm.

Recommended choices include:

• Greenwell Farms: Complimentary daily farm tours and more extensive paid tours
• Mountain Thunder: Short complimentary tours in a cool cloud-forest setting
• Hula Daddy: Smaller, more specialized tours focused on premium coffee

Best for:

• Coffee lovers
• Agricultural and business interests
• A relaxed half-day excursion
• Combining with Kailua-Kona or Kealakekua Bay

Most farms are approximately 50–75 minutes from Waikoloa. A coffee tour can be paired particularly well with the Captain Cook snorkel trip—snorkeling in the morning, lunch in South Kona and a coffee farm in the afternoon. Greenwell Farms tours

BIg Island Coffee Tours: https://www.bigislandcoffeetours.com/

Best astronomy and high-elevation experience

Visitors can enjoy sunset and stargazing from the Maunakea Visitor Information Station at approximately 9,200 feet. This provides beautiful views and dark skies without continuing to the nearly 14,000-foot summit. The visitor center can be reached in an ordinary vehicle when road and weather conditions permit.

Guided summit tours travel higher for sunset views near the major observatories, then descend to a more comfortable elevation for telescope-assisted stargazing. The observatory buildings are generally viewed from outside; regularly scheduled public tours inside the working telescopes are not normally available.

Best for:

• Astronomy and science enthusiasts
• Sunset and night-sky photography
• Visitors who prefer the lower-altitude visitor center
• A memorable evening excursion

Allow approximately 7½–9 hours for a guided summit tour and less time for an independent visitor-center trip. Even at the visitor center, temperatures can be cold, and altitude can affect some people. Bring warm clothing, check weather and road conditions, and review the health guidance before leaving. You go from sea level to 9,200 feet in a short time span, and it can really affect some people. Also, the stars look like they are ten feet in front of you, and it is frikkin’ amazing. Maunakea visitor information

Best way to experience Hawai‘i’s cowboy country

Ride through the open pastures of North Kohala and experience the island’s paniolo heritage. Paniolo Adventures operates from historic Ponoholo Ranch, offering guided rides with views across cattle country toward the Kohala Coast.

Best for:

• Horse lovers
• Hawaiian ranching history
• Couples and small groups
• Scenic photography

The ranch is approximately 45–60 minutes from Waikoloa. Most rides require advance reservations and have age, weight, and physical restrictions. Paniolo Adventures

Best ocean adventure for anglers

The Kona Coast is internationally known for blue marlin, ahi tuna, mahi-mahi, ono and other pelagic fish. Private and shared charters generally offer four-, six- and eight-hour trips from Honokōhau Harbor, with some options departing closer to Waikoloa from Kawaihae.

Best for:

• Experienced and first-time anglers
• Small private groups
• A half-day or full-day excursion
• Attendees extending their stay

Fishing is generally best treated as a morning or full-day activity rather than a post-session outing. Private boats commonly accommodate about six passengers. Participants may need Hawai‘i’s nonresident recreational marine fishing license. Bite Me Sportfishing

Best way to appreciate the scale of the island

A helicopter flight can reveal volcanic landscapes, sea cliffs, waterfalls, isolated valleys and parts of Hawai‘i Island that cannot be reached by road. Some tours concentrate on Kohala’s valleys and waterfalls, while longer flights may include Kīlauea.

Best for:

• A major splurge
• Photography and sightseeing
• Visitors with limited time
• Seeing remote landscapes without a full day of driving

Tours are weather-dependent, expensive and subject to passenger-weight restrictions. Reserve well in advance.

Best off-road sightseeing experience

Guided UTV tours explore private North Kohala landscapes, combining off-road driving with coastal views, Hawaiian history and access to places unavailable to ordinary rental vehicles.

Best for:

• Small adventurous groups
• People who prefer riding to hiking
• Backcountry scenery
• Combining with Hāwī and North Kohala

Expect dust, bumps and possibly mud. Closed-toe shoes and clothing that can get dirty are advisable. Kohala UTV Adventure

Best traditional resort activity

Waikoloa Beach Resort offers a 27-hole golf experience divided among the Beach, Lakes and Kings’ nine-hole courses. A nine-hole round is particularly well suited to the unConference schedule after sessions finish at 12:30.

Best for:

• An easy afternoon activity
• Informal business conversation
• Groups of four
• Players who do not want to commit the entire day

Club rentals and group arrangements are available. Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf

Other worthwhile activities

• Puakō Petroglyph Preserve: A short cultural walk close to the resort.
• Glass-bottom-boat cruise: A gentle alternative for non-snorkelers.
• Kayaking or hydro-biking: Available directly at A-Bay.
• Waterfall tour: A guided North Kohala outing, generally requiring most of a day.
• Historic Waimea: Parker Ranch country, shops, galleries and local restaurants.
• Hawaiian cultural programs: Hula, lei-making, navigation, fishpond or historical programs when offered by the resort. Included in your resort fee!
• Shopping and gallery outing: Kings’ Shops, Queens’ Marketplace, Mauna Lani and Waimea.
• Beach circuit: Hāpuna, Kauna‘oa at Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani and A-Bay.

The one activity not available in late May is whale watching. The principal humpback season normally runs through the winter and winds down by spring, so sightings around the unconference dates are highly unlikely.