On the heels of a sizzling summer, Hawaii’s hoteliers are flaunting a flurry of sweet perks to make fall family getaways even more enticing.
“With travel tapering off at the end of summer, fall is a bit of a slower season for Hawaii-bound travelers,” says Robyn Basso, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s sr. director of travel industry partnerships. “For families, that means more discounts on airfares, hotel rooms and travel packages.”
Amy Terada, v.p., marketing for Pleasant Holidays, agrees. ”While we work with our industry partners year-round to secure exclusive reduced rates and enhanced amenities adding value to our Hawaii vacation packages, our best deals of the year are generally for fall travel.” Terada adds that since summer and winter holidays generate the hottest demand, those seeking to maximize return on vacation investment should target that sweet spot between. From Hawaii Island to Kauai, fall promotions and discounts are luring families to paradise.
“suite” deals and packages
Aston Hotels & Resorts continues to make it a family affair—especially on Maui, where youngsters 5-12 revel at Camp Kaanapali. Camp Kaanapali is open Mondays and Thursdays (Aug. 26-Dec. 16) and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (after Dec. 17). The camp is available for children staying at any of Aston’s nine Maui hotels and condominium resorts. Activities include hula dancing, ukulele lessons, arts and crafts, beach exploration and more.
Aqua Kauai Beach Resort rolls out its welcome mat with complimentary rental car use in select categories starting from $159 nightly. As a bonus, kids stay free. With Park Shore Waikiki’s Surf & Turf, the entire family can learn to “hang ten” together from $219 nightly.
Packing one active punch after another, the 62-acre Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island wows with its 3-night Family Fun promotion available through March 19, 2016. It’s never a dull moment thanks to Dolphin Quest, the massive Kona Pool with 175-ft. waterslide and Camp Menehune. Exploring the resort is an adventure unto itself aboard mahogany canal boats meandering through waterways brimming with tropical fish.
A natural for families on Maui’s northeast coast, Montage Kapalua Bay’s 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom residences are spruced with such homey conveniences as complete kitchens, living rooms and large lanais.
It’s much the same with Fairmont Kea Lani’s 2- and 3-bedroom Villa Collection units that up the ante with private plunge pools. At this Maui resort, keiki (children), tweens and teens are privy to the lagoon pool with 140-ft. waterslide, Keiki Lani kids camp (ages 5-13), Hawaiian cultural programs and ample aquatic action. Kids younger than 5 dine complimentary at resort restaurants.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa’s Ultimate Maui Family Vacation indulges with SUV rental and daily self-parking, daily breakfast buffet (two adults and two children), plus ticket options to “Drums of the Pacific Luau,” water excursions and select activities.
At Makena Beach & Golf Resort in Maui, the Family Value Pack can be tacked onto regular rates and most packages for no additional fee. Kids 12 and younger take part in vacation decisions as they dole out $40 Makena Keiki Dollars issued per room per night. “Parents usually allow the kids to choose what to spend the dollars on, with the kids preferring to handle payments themselves,” says Randy Parker, director of sales. “The smile we see after a child ‘pays’ for [his or her] own shave ice is priceless.”
Family bonding also thrives through Outrigger Reef and Outrigger Waikiki Beach resorts’ complimentary interactive cultural activities that include storytelling, ukulele, hula and petroglyph painting. On Dec. 12, kids can take a pic with Santa after he arrives via canoe.
“With our $45 million renovation completed in June, our experience-driven Turtle Bay Resort experience now offers even more elevated touch points for families,” says Brad Doell, director of sales & marketing for the resort. Among biggies at this Oahu North Shore haven are expansive ocean villas accommodating up to 10, revamped pool and oceanfront bar, and activity guidepost center pairing all ages to land and ocean recreation.
Aulani Disney Resort & Spa on Oahu says mahalo (thank you) by extending 30 percent off five consecutive nights and 25 percent off four consecutive night stays. The offer is available through Dec. 21, 2015 (excludes Nov. 25-28) for bookings made by Oct. 26.
Touting itself as “the closest to all-inclusive as you can get in Waikiki,” Embassy Suites by Hilton-Waikiki Beach Walk provides complimentary full made-to-order breakfast, evening poolside reception and free WiFi—all free of fees. “Our all-suite resort is perfect for families with all the space you need to spread out—a parent’s dream,” says general manager Bob Yeoman.
Perched above Kauai’s pristine North Shore coastline, Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas lures with the Stay Connected plan tossing in a connecting studio for $100 onto 4-night minimum bookings of a Deluxe Island View One-Bedroom Villa through Dec. 25, 2015. The resort has enhanced its weekly cinema night by allowing kids to “rent a car” for enjoying its Kahoku Drive-In movie.
fresh takes on action
On Hawaii Island, newbie Kohala Sail & Sea has officially launched with morning snorkeling, day sailing, sunset cruises and seasonal humpback whale watching. Special introductory rates range from $40 for an afternoon outing to $125 for morning snorkel excursions.
Delivering a completely different rush, KapohoKine Adventures lets families go aerial via dual-track ziplines or stay grounded with private Secrets of Puna tours. Immersing into Hilo’s lush greenery and the Puna District’s stark lava flows, the latter visits the historic Kalaupapa fishing village engulfed by a 1990 Kilauea Volcano lava flow.
Lush to the core, Kauai’s Limahuli Garden and Preserve has debuted a shorter Kid-Friendly Tour making education fun. At Kilohana Plantation, Luau Kalamaku has revamped its venue and show, offering more appeal to a broader age-range audience.
With the temporary shuttering of Lanai’s Four Seasons jewels, Trilogy Excursions dispels the misconception that the entire island is closed to business. “We’re the only commercial operator with permission to bring guests from Maui to Lanai for snorkeling Hulopoe Bay and exploring the island’s interior with a cultural van tour,” says LiAnne Driessen, director of sales and marketing.
It all sizes up as a frenzy of fresh family-friendly action and hot deals sharing Hawaii’s endless summer vibe.
Blue Sky Tours
Blue Sky Tours helps agents lure families this fall with a bevy of a la carte offers and special packages. At Aston Kona by the Sea, parents and kids can ease into a 5-night plan in a 1-bedroom partial oceanview room with daily rental car for $580 pp. The operator offers a similar 5-night plan at Lae Nani Resort Kauai by Outrigger for $468 pp. Both are available through Dec. 5.
contact information
Aston Hotels & Resorts: astonhotels.com or astonhotels.com/for-travel-specialists
Aulani Disney Resort & Spa: resorts.disney.go.com or disneytravelagents.com
Blue Sky Tours: blueskytours.com
Fairmont Kea Lani: fairmont.com/kealani or famousagents.frhi.com
Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau: hvcb.org
Hilton Waikoloa Village: hiltonwaikoloavillage.com
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: maui.hyatt.com or hyatttravelagents.com
KapohoKine Adventures: kapohokine.com
Kohala Sail & Sea: kohalasailandsea.com
Luau Kalamaku: luaukalamaku.com
Makena Beach & Golf Resort: makenaresortmaui.com
or makenaresortmaui.com/travel-professionals
Montage Kapalua Bay: montagehotels.com/kapaluabay
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts: outrigger.com or outrigger.com/travel-agent
Pleasant Holidays: pleasantholidays.com
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas: westinprinceville.com or spgpro.com
Trilogy Excursions: sailtrilogy.com
Turtle Bay Resort: turtlebayresort.com or turtlebayresort.com/Travel-Professionals
