Most Hawaii travelers are thrilled at the prospect of a hotel upgrade, but why stop there? Thanks to clever add-ons and creative upselling, visitors can elevate their island pastimes in a number of ways.
The following activities and attractions offer clients deluxe options to sweeten their experience. In many cases, the added cost is relatively small, but the payoff is huge.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours at Maui Ocean Center
With its interpretive displays and stunning seaside setting, Maui’s state-of-the-art aquarium is already a must-see attraction. For an extra $15 per person, clients can gain a deeper understanding of Maui Ocean Center during a one-hour-long, behind-the-scenes tour.
An ocean naturalist leads guests to areas other visitors don’t see, sharing insider information along the way. Participants learn about and help feed hammerhead sharks and green sea turtles, and they can touch jellyfish, starfish and sea cucumbers.
www.mauioceancenter.com/behindthescenes
Go-Pro Cameras With Kohala Zipline
Ziplining above Hawaii Island forests is a one-of-a-kind experience, and a Kohala Zipline GoPro camera rental can document even the most rough-and-tumble aspects of the adventure with videos and still photos.
First, guides show participants how to use the camera, which is always attached to the zipliner. Clients can mount the GoPro on their helmet or use a goose-neck clamp to record the tour from various angles. The $39 rental also comes with a new 8 GB memory card and downloading instructions.
www.kohalazipline.com/go-pro-rentals
Premium Package at the Mauna Kea Luau
Set on torch-lit, oceanview grounds, the Mauna Kea Luau has been a Hawaii Island standout since the 1960s, but it still hasn’t lost its luster. In order to make it even more memorable, clients can book a premium option for $20 per person extra.
The upgrade gives visitors their own entrance line, front-row table seating, family-style pupus and a 10-percent discount on photos. Festivities include a buffet of gourmet luau food and a dazzling live show, complete with a fire knife dance.
www.princeresortshawaii.com
Super Ambassador Package at Polynesian Cultural Center
Oahu’s North Shore attraction offers several admission options, but for clients who want to see Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) in style, the Super Ambassador package is the way to go. A dedicated guide spends the day with the group, which is limited to 32 people to keep things personal. Guests enjoy front-row seats for daytime cultural presentations and the evening show, plus a private backstage tour, a movie, a special dinner menu and souvenirs. For adults, the package is roughly $135 more than a standard PCC admission with dinner and the show.
www.polynesia.com
Waterfall Landing with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
From Waikoloa Heliport, Blue Hawaiian’s Big Island Spectacular tour lifts clients above Hawaii Island’s diverse landscape. Passengers get bird’s-eye views of sea cliffs, rain forests, valleys, waterfalls, lava flows and black-sand beaches.
As the icing on the cake, guests can request a 20- to 25-minute landing at Punalulu Falls, a 1,200-foot-high cascade in a remote location on the Kohala Coast. For an additional $150 per person, this exclusive add-on is a priceless photo op.
www.bluehawaiian.com
