EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM
LEGENDS LANAI
When Washington Trust Bank brought the company’s most valued employees to Hawai’i, we created Legends Lanai, inspired by the Hawaiian tradition of the lanai as a place where people gather to connect and share stories. The event honored the relationships, values, and shared purpose that define the bank’s culture of exceptional client service. The result was an unforgettable experience that left attendees feeling genuinely valued and inspired.
QUICK FACTS:
What we delivered:
- Venue Selection
- Event Design
- Event Production
- Custom Fabrication
- Local Entertainment
- Event Website
- Custom App
- Registration Process
- Post-Event Survey
WHAT MATTERS MOST:
The bank’s employees were celebrated through an experience so immersive and intentional that they felt transported into a world created exclusively for them. Even the hotel staff, who are used to hosting luxury events, were overheard saying, “This looks like a movie set.” At Brillia, we believe in creating meaningful experiences, and this event was a very proud moment for us.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
SURVEY RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS:
“The entire experience made us feel truly valued.”
Why it matters:
This program directly expresses leadership’s commitment to recognizing excellence, and it is making a difference.
“Connecting with colleagues across markets was invaluable.”
Why it matters:
The event builds alignment, loyalty, and a shared sense of purpose among the bank’s most valuable contributors.
“The setting and experience were outstanding.”
Why it matters:
It reinforces pride in the organization and the value of delivering exceptional customer experiences.
HIGHLIGHTS
Background:
For more than 120 years, Washington Trust Bank has stood as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic banking institutions and its enduring success has always been deeply connected to its internal culture and the people who shape it.
The client asked us to design and produce a week-long program on the island of Hawai‘i to recognize the organization’s most valued employees and celebrate their accomplishments. As part of the program, we delivered a special event called “Lanai Legends”.
THE LANAI CONCEPT:
During our discovery phase we learned about the bank’s internal mythology about Bigfoot, a legendary Pacific Northwest figure.
Given the recognition event was taking place in Hawai’i, we adapted the “legend” narrative from the client’s culture and built an experiential event around the concept of the “lanai”.
In Hawaiian culture, the lanai represents a gathering where family and friends share stories in the aloha spirit. In this case, the lanai became a space where “legends” were acknowledged and celebrated.
DESIGNING FOR INTERGENERATIONAL
LEGACY:
One of the client’s primary goals was to integrate longtime award winners with the newer generation of achievers entering the organization.
We translated this idea into an entertainment experience that included musical acts symbolizing both legacy and emerging talent. The evening featured legendary Hawaiian musician and Grammy nominee Henry Kapono, whose presence brought cultural authenticity, nostalgia, and gravitas to the event. We also featured rising stars, Kala‘e and Kalena Parish, to represent the next generation of Hawaiian musical storytelling. Together, the performances created a living metaphor for legacy, mentorship and accomplishment.
CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE:
We transformed a sprawling 37,500-square-foot driving range into an intimate and welcoming gathering space for just 150 guests, ensuring that each person felt as if they had stepped into a hidden Hawaiian retreat built exclusively for them.
To help guests felt transported into a place with historical resonance, we built a custom stage modeled after the Eva Parker Woods Cottage, a legendary Hawaiian cultural landmark. Surrounding the stage, we designed intimate lounge spaces featuring vintage Hawaiian furnishings and the natural textures of Hawai‘i.
The environment encouraged guests to experience the evening more like an extended family gathering than a formal corporate event.
BUILDING WITH SYMBOLISM:
The materials used to build the environment were intentionally selected to reflect the client’s values and aspirations for its people.
For example, bamboo was used because it represents: integrity, strength, adaptability, growth, and prosperity – qualities deeply aligned with the organization’s culture and the nature of the event.
In the spirit of authenticity, our team foraged the bamboo from the northern tip of Hawai‘i Island and used it to build the ‘Ohe Bar – named after the Hawaiian word for bamboo.
As decorative elements, we utilized found coconuts, a symbol of humility, another value that matters to Washington Trust Bank.
THE OUTCOME:
By building upon the client’s existing mythology, designing environments rooted in symbolism and place, and creating intentional moments of connection, Legends Lanai became an experience that was unique, personal and unforgettable.
Most importantly, every participant felt like a “legend”, which was evident in the glowing feedback from our post-event survey.