Here's a little script I wrote to increase the throughput of a DynamoDB table by doubling it, then waiting, then doubling, until it gets to where you want it to be.

update_throughput.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
import sys
import time

import boto

conn = boto.connect_dynamodb()

table = conn.get_table('table_name')

while table.read_units < 512:
  table.update_throughput(table.read_units*2, table.write_units)
  table.refresh(wait_for_active=True)
  print 'Current read units:', table.read_units