Westside Women’s Group

Types of AA Meetings

12 Steps & 12 Traditions: Hawaii's AA 12 Steps and Traditions programs offer guidance through mentor and peer-led meetings. These meetings allow members to build a foundation for lasting sobriety. Open meetings welcome individuals at any stage of recovery, fostering a supportive network for healing.

Big Book: In Hawaii, the Big Book is often used to inspire clients in discussions. The Big Book is a collection of stories from women and men who overcame alcohol use disorder.

Child-Friendly: Child-friendly AA meetings allow each member to bring up to one child to the meeting, with the expectation that the discussion will not feature experiences or language that are inappropriate for the child. Formal childcare may not be available, but the member can watch over her child while participating in the discussion.

Daily Reflections: Daily Reflections is an AA text that compiles insight, experience, and encouragement from various members. Selected contents may be topics of discussions in AA meetings. Members can also adapt reflections into their daily activities.

Discussion: In Hawaii, AA discussion meetings allow members to share their opinions and reflections on a particular topic related to alcohol addiction recovery. The leader will typically open the meeting by referencing a relevant AA text, such as the Big Book or Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Then, they will invite others to reflect on the topic in a group discussion.

Grapevine: Grapevine is a monthly magazine published by AA. Its contents, written by AA members, generally feature the experiences of individuals with alcohol use disorder, and articles are often discussed in AA meetings.

Literature: Literature-centric AA meetings in Hawaii are peer support meetings for men and women affected by alcohol addiction. These free group meetings study the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous, including the Big Book of AA, AA workbooks, and other writings by AA co-founder Bill W and other leaders.

Living Sober: AA centers may have selected sessions set aside for Living Sober discussions. This text is secular in nature, and focuses on practical ways that members have used to stay sober one day at a time.

Outdoor Meeting: Select AA chapters may choose to hold meetings outside. These outdoor meetings are usually held in shared community spaces, such as beaches and parks, and can include outdoor activities.

Step Meeting: Hawaii AA chapters often include step meetings. In these meetings, members read and discuss passages from AA texts like Twelve Steps, relate these passages to their own recovery, and strategize for future progress.

Tradition Study: Tradition Study sessions are AA reflections about the organization. Members discuss how AA chapters can be more successful in their purpose through greater unity and its outreach programs.

Women: Hawaii AA meetings for women are women-centered peer support meetings for community members who are affected by alcohol addiction. These meetings use a 12-step recovery curriculum and are open to women of all ages at no charge, including women who are addicted to alcohol and women who have loved ones with alcohol addiction.