The coastal islands of Hawaii never disappoint. The jagged rocky edges drift seamlessly into the blue horizon and become an addiction for some to explore, surf and island-hop.
While you might be a little apprehensive about traveling to the islands this year, we have a few new ideas that might ease your mind and make the journey a breeze.
On your next trip, consider booking a concierge service for adventurous pursuits. Blue Hawaiian Activities, operated by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, just launched in February of 2021 and is already servicing Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island with 19 concierge offices and more to come.
The idea is to offer travelers to the islands customized, in-person, planning services so you can just enjoy your vacation whether it takes you by land, air or sea.
“Helicopters tours are a must-do while visiting the islands,” said Myra Galinato, general manager of Blue Hawaiian Activities. “It is the best and only way to truly see what the Hawaiian Islands have to offer in terms of its natural beauty, and a chance to see areas of the islands which are not accessible on foot or by car.” Galinato does caution that the tours have been very popular right out of the gate, so if you are planning a visit to Hawaii in the near future, don’t leave booking to the last minute since these are private, bespoke experiences and not meant for the masses.
As far as popularity right now, “Luaus continue to be everyone’s favorite traditional activity, and this has not changed during COVID,” Galinato informed us. “Many of the luaus, such as the Hyatt Drums of the Pacific, book private tables so guests now only sit with their family to ensure everyone maintains their physical distance or ‘bubble.’” In addition, the tried-and-true luau has changed from the standard buffet-style of the past to a plated service, which has added an upgraded experience and will likely be the standard moving forward as the feedback from guests has been extremely positive.
The other favorite top three must-do activities or experiences has been the catamaran cruises. “The ocean cruises provide the perfect serene excursion and comes highly recommended from all of our guests,” she added. “Again, due to limited Covid capacity restrictions this year, the experience for guests feels as if they are on a private tour at the cost of a shared charter.”
According to Myra, Maui seems to be the most popular island at the moment. “Blue Hawaiian Activities has more hotel locations on Oahu however we have sold more activities on Maui. Maui was the first island to open up with less restrictions, so more operators opened their doors. Oahu was slower to open because of the capacity restrictions and therefore they would remain unprofitable if they opened.” Next up, Kauai will be opening on April 5th.
Family Packages from the West Coast
If you would like to kick-off your Hawaii break with the whole family on the West Coast, Scott Dunn is offering a two-week adventure package that starts in San Francisco before moving on to Kauai, The Big Island and concluding in Los Angeles.
This adventure begins with three nights at Viceroy-owned contemporary Hotel Zett in downtown San Francisco, followed by Kauai for three nights at Koa Kea with horseback riding, surfing, diving, deep-sea fishing and hiking. The tour continues with five nights on the Big Island at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel with a focus on gourmet food and relaxing or a rare night swim with Manta Rays. This tour ends in Los Angeles for three nights at The Maybourne Beverly Hills (originating from London, so expect service with a British flair), where guests can take a tour of Warner Bros. Studios, a backlot tour of Universal Studios, go shopping on Rodeo Drive and see the famous sites of Hollywood.
Flying Private, Charter or Commerical
If you can’t even imagine getting yourself across the Pacific right now, Four Seasons Resorts including locations on Maui, newly refurbished Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Sensei Lanai, and Oahu, is offering on the ground benefits – such as customized trip planning, and in-flight amenities for private aircraft owners and charter flyers to utilize on their next trip to the islands. Private aviation and airport lounge collaborations include partnerships with NetJets, Jet Edge and Lanai Air.
PS LAX is a private airport experience for commercial flights at Los Angeles International Airport. Located at the private terminal with separate airport access, they provide personal suites with luxury amenities, dedicated TSA and customs clearance, luxury car service to the aircraft, and “back door” direct access to the aircraft avoiding the public LAX terminal entirely. Select suite guests are invited to use PS one-way complimentary during their outbound flight or connection through LAX. This offer is valid with a minimum of five nights in a qualifying Four Seasons suite and is a one-way service only.
To keep up with demand due to a recent spike in flights to the islands, Hawaiian Airlines has just added four more commercial flights from the U.S.
