WAIKOLOA, HI -- When the National Watermelon Association decided to hold its convention in Hawaii for the first time in its 105 years, Executive Director Bob Morrissey knew it was a risky proposition.
The association typically sees its strongest attendance numbers when the annual convention is held in the Eastern portion of the United States, and asking members and sponsors to travel thousands of miles to beautiful but remote Hawaii was a tough call. This was especially true after a challenging 2018, which saw a number of factors such as hurricanes and other weather events that affected supplies and resulted in volatile markets.
Kenny Lund, vice president of ALC Logistics, a division of Allen Lund Co., which was a Platinum sponsor of the NWA convention, presented a check for $15,000 to NWA on behalf of the company. Accepting the check was John Gee, first vice president of the NWA.
It turns out the risk was worth the reward, as the NWA saw a respectable 390 registrants, who were treated to inspiring educational sessions and abundant networking opportunities in a tropical setting. Morrissey said that number exceeded expectations, leading to some discussion among NWA officials about possibly returning some year in the future.
"A visit to what many call paradise was welcomed with many Alohas and inspirations," said Morrissey. "The Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort was the best host that we have ever had, and our theme was different than past years, yet easy to do -- When in Hawai'i, be Hawai'ian -- and from start to finish, from dress to music, we were. We set our convention sights to conduct business, raise some funds, provide impactful speakers and create memories, and we did just that with four generations that traveled to be with us at our annual watermelon family reunion."
"It was a wonderful and relaxed venue that was family-friendly -- a perfect fit for the watermelon family and friends in attendance," said Kenny Lund, vice president of ALC Logistics, a division of Allen Lund Co., which was a Platinum sponsor of the event and sponsor of the Saturday breakfast. "The convention is well run and the NWA staff did a great job while working far from home. During the morning sessions the audience was engaged and interested in the many speakers and information presented. It is an agenda that was well balanced with industry information, stories of overcoming live struggles and fun."
After a day on the golf course Feb. 20 for the Arnold Mack Invitational Golf Tournament, attendees gathered for a Hawaiian-style opening reception Feb. 21 on the grounds of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, here, the site of the convention. The festivities featured all the trappings of a traditional luau, including fire and hula dances, conch shell calls and a pig roast.
On Friday, Feb. 22, a breakfast general session was highlighted by retired U.S. Army Major Ed Pulido (see story here), who spoke of overcoming adversity, followed by the industry auction, which raised more than $450,000.
The program continued on Saturday morning with a presentation by YouTube sensation Jessica McCabe, who spoke about the challenges of dealing with ADHD.
Morrissey said the speakers were a strong point of the program and he was thrilled with how well they were received.
"From the conversation with an American hero, Major Ed Pulido, to a YouTube sensation and ADHD/ADD expert, Jessica McCabe, our speaker lineup was a departure from what we have done in the past, but they were most impactful," Morrissey said. "Their messages will resonate with our attendees for a long time to come."
At the Saturday evening awards banquet, Charlie Lankford and Art Perry were inducted into the Watermelon Hall of Fame.
Lankford, who worked with American Sun Melon in the 1980s, was an instrumental member of the team that pioneered seedless watermelon and worked directly with commercial seedless growers. He is a member of the NWA Executive Committee and was appointed as a member of the Lifetime Council in 2005.
Perry was born into agriculture and developed a passion for the industry at a very young age. He works alongside his family at George Perry & Sons in Manteca, CA, which is a well-known grower of watermelons and pumpkins. He was one of the founders of the California-Arizona Watermelon Chapter and was instrumental in the formation of the Western Watermelon Association.
Also at the closing banquet, Wellesley, MA-based retailer Roche Bros. was honored with the NWA Marketing Award, and Jim Mastropietro, an NWA Executive Committee member and a manager for International Paper, was recognized for his upcoming retirement.
The new National Watermelon Queen was crowned during the Saturday night festivities. North Carolina Queen Katie Honeycutt bested competitors from seven other states for the honor of representing the industry on a national scale for the next year. Honeycutt is a student at North Carolina State University majoring in agriculture education and agribusiness management.
In closing, Morrissey said, "All of our attendees that made this trip have memories that will last a lifetime, and not only from the convention but also from the big island of Hawai'i. This is a magical place."
The NWA convention returns to the mainland in 2020 and will be held Feb. 19-23 at the Disney Yacht & Beach Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
