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HawaiiCon: The Convention In Paradise

On any given weekend across the world, chances are at least a handful of pop-culture and comic con conventions taking place. Fandoms are as varied and wide reaching as the internet will allow, and thankfully we're lucky enough to have the outlet of conventions to gather together with fellow nerds to celebrate what we love.  Imagine getting to do all of those event activities, but to also get to do it while lounging on a beach, in Hawaii, with guests from Star TrekStar Wars, and real-life scientists (scientists, astronauts, etc), and your favorite cosplayers.

HawaiiCon: The Convention In Paradise
September 14th-17th 2017 will be a celebration of all things Star Wars for the 4oth anniversary as well as the 20th anniversary of Buffy The Vampire Slayer!  You can read the entire guest list on their website, but also keep an eye on the official facebook page for updates and surprises.

HawaiiCon: The Convention In Paradise

Taking place on the Kona Coast of the Big Island, this year will be it's 4th year event and their second year at the Mauna Lani Bay resort. The first two years took place at the nearby Hapuna Prince Beach Resort (also gorgeous, but Mauna Lani is a better fit).

hawaiicon hotel
The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Resort is breathtaking, and looks EXACTLY like this in person.

I mean do you SEE this place?  I can personally attest to the perfect temperature of that cove, and the majesty of the sunsets from the beaches.  If you're not an ocean swimmer, they have a pool and massive hot tub as options for aquatic funtimes.

The convention has continued to grow in prestige and offerings from it's first event in 2014, and has hosted guests from every single Star Trek tv series, Battlestar GalacticaBabylon 5Stargate, NASA, JPL, voice actors/actresses, artists, and writers from films, tv, books, and comics. Close encounters with the stars poolside (or the bar for that matter) is one of the highlights of the convention.

HawaiiCon: The Convention In Paradise
Celebrating the first anniversary in 2015 of a couple who got married in 2014 at HawaiiCon! If you look closely, you'll see some of the celebrity guests sitting around for dinner and drinks.

You wanna talk about  bang-for-your-con-buck?  All together, a trip to HawaiiCon costs LESS than the average San Diego Comic Con jaunt, especially when you book your flight and hotel in advance.  AND you get better access to the talent and events included, extra perks for sure if you go the VIP ticket route for HawaiiCon.

HawaiiCon: The Convention In Paradise
The HawaiiCon snorkel and day dive trip from 2015

The BIG thing HawaiiCon offers for you one of a kind seekers is their excursions and activities with the celebrity guests. Called Adventures with the Stars, attendees who purchase tickets to special events can do things like snorkeling with James Marsters, night dives with manta rays with Rod Roddenberry, zip lining through the trees with Nicholas Brendon, hula lessons on the beach, a trip up to Mauna Kea observatory, AND a VIP lounge experience I really can't say too much about other than it's completely worth it and you'll make memories and stories that'll last a lifetime.

The cosplay also should be mentioned in no small segment because I am astounded by the love audiences show the contestants who enter the cosplay competition.  Also, sun sand and surf for photo shoots? YES PLEASE. This year, HawaiiCon is bringing in one of the contestants (and spoiler, winners) from the new SyFy Series Cosplay MeleeCharles Xavier Conley of Ebony Warrior Studios.

hawaiicon 2014 cosplay contest
The cosplay contest I hosted from 2014, standing room only in the largest ballroom!

Yeah ok, so I really REALLY love the event. They don't pay me to be there, or to say these things, they ALLOW me to spend my time with with them. HawaiiCon remains one of the three highlight events of my year since the convention began, and it deserves to be experienced by fans who will love it as much as I do.

HawaiiCon: The Convention In Paradise
Yeah so one of the highlights for me was shooting X-Men Savage Land style Rogue cosplay on the rocks outside the cove. AMAZING!

Tickets are on sale now, and you should jump at the chance to visit this convention destination. See you on the beach for sand, surf, and fandom magic in Hawaii!


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Mary Anne ButlerAbout Mary Anne Butler

Bleeding Cool News Editor Mary Anne Butler (Mab, for short) has been part of the fast-paced world of journalism since she was 15, getting her start in album reviews and live concert coverage for a nationally published (print) music magazine. She eventually transitioned to online media, writing for such sites as UGO/IGN, ComicsOnline, Geek Magazine, Ace of Geeks, Aggressive Comix (where she is still Editor-in-Chief), and most recently Bleeding Cool. 

Over the past 10 years, she’s built a presence at conventions across the globe as a cosplayer (occasionally), photographer (constantly), panelist and moderator (mostly), and reporter (always). 

 Interviews, reviews, observations, breaking news, and objective reporting are the name of the game for the founder of Harkonnen Knife Fight, a Dune-themed band with an international presence. 

 Though she be but little, she is fierce. #MabTheProfessional
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