Customers are boldly jumping into the vortex of virtual reality and taking Prince Kuhio Plaza along.
Customers are boldly jumping into the vortex of virtual reality and taking Prince Kuhio Plaza along.
Inquisitive shoppers can fly a virtual plane, enter a virtual boxing match (and get quite a workout) or take a roller coaster ride that’s so real riders think the car might leave the tracks as it heads down steep slopes.
Welcome to Aloha 9D-VR (www.facebook.com/aloha9dvr/), which opened two weeks ago near Master Cuts at the mall.
“It’s gotten a lot of positive response on social media,” said plaza general manager Daniel Kea.
It causes shoppers to pause, peek in and, often, step inside for a glimpse of what’s happening. Once a customer or two buckle in, the crowd grows in waves until most machines are full and screams, yelps, gasps and uproarious laughter from bystanders are heard.
“Oh my God! Why is — it’s rusty! Oh God,” Jennifer Caro of Hilo said in fits and starts as she rode a virtual reality roller coaster. “What a fall!”
VR users can look up, down, side to side and even behind them while seat-belted into a cushioned chair that lifts them, tilts and leans back.
“You went on a hill-like drop. It was amazing. It felt so real,” said Leah Napeahi of Hilo, who visited the shop with her partner, Kaimana Orita, and son, Kekai, 4.
“The future’s in there,” Orita said after her experience. “It’s like coming right at you. There’s like arrows coming straight at you.”
Some people quietly sit, perhaps smile and then their facial expression turns to one of fascination as they use the virtual reality goggles to look around, perhaps noticing a river flowing far below. Other people laugh, scream and express genuine fear.
Cost varies, but runs about the price of a movie with popcorn and a soda.
Bystanders laugh while watching, snapping photos and taking video for social media.
That’s because their loved ones make funny faces, grab the handgrips with gusto, tense up, toss legs in the air and, occasionally, feel so engrossed as to experience motion sickness — just like on a real roller coaster or airplane. Except at Kuhio Plaza there’s no long line before climbing aboard.
Take a seat or a stance, staff help you place goggles and boom! You’re in another reality altogether, a virtual experience with height, depth, sound and movement.
“It makes you feel that you’re going really, really fast,” said store manager Alex Chernyshov. The sensation of speeding forward surprises many, he said.
People can try 80 different rides, face boxing opponents in the virtual ring or virtual ski.
“Skiing is possible in Hawaii,” said staff member Faith Molla of Puna.
“It’s like a total immersive experience,” Chernyshov said.
“Holy crap. Did we just fly?” Kaiana Yamabe of Hilo called out.
“Oh, this is really high. Holy crap!” said Cierra Kelii, also of Hilo.
“They had this steep thing you look down and you feel like you’re actually going down on a roller coaster,” Caro said.
“People coming here are having fun,” Chernyshov said. “I wouldn’t change my job for anything else, knowing I made so many people smile. I go home happy.”
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.