The centerpiece of the Hawaii incentive trip was the Stampin' Up luau on the last night. I knew it was going to be amazing, but it just blew us both away. The next day we met some other resort guests who said they had watched it from their balcony and though they had been to several luaus, they thought it was the best they had ever seen. We had never been to one before–so I guess we started with the best!
We each got a shell and kuiki nut lei (tied with a Stampin' Up ribbon, of course) when we entered under a fabulous floral triple arch, then we could go either left or right to an area of grass huts, each with a traditional Hawaiian artisan at work. We saw how they husk coconuts, carve wooden drums, make poi, braid leis, and quilt. It was very interesting! 
We were very lucky to find most of the rest of the gals from my group right off the bat and get this picture (minus Wendy, who was saving us a great table). Then they blew the conch shell and did a lighting of the torches ceremony. I missed it because I was in the middle of making a lei, but apparently they had a very touching ceremonial honor dance for Shelli and Sterling and Dale and his wife. Shelli cried, of course, so half of us did, too.
The food was absolutely astounding. I have never been to such a long buffet–it just went on and on with all kinds of amazing choices, five or six main dishes, and all sorts of traditional Hawaiian salads and yummy fruit concoctions. The dessert bar was out of this world, and everything was piping hot or perfectly chilled, just exactly perfect in every way. And now I know why they go to all the work of cooking the roast pig that way–it is totally scrumptious. I was so sorry I couldn't fit in a single other bite–and then the dancing began and I was completely distracted.
Oh, first I got a hibiscus tatoo by a strolling artist! Don't worry, Mom–it was only Sharpies!
Most of our dancer pictures did not turn out due to the darkness, but isn't this an amazing photo of the fire-dancing finale? It was one of the most exciting things I have ever seen. Our mouths were just hanging open the whole time. That was such an amazing night, we never wanted it to end. But, alas, it did, and we slowly filled out and back into reality.
Then Stampin' Up, as if they had known our bittersweet mood on the last night of the trip, left us this amazing pillow gift–a sterling silver aloha necklace. 
