Aloha, welcome to Hawai`i

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina,  Disney  is creating a place celebrating island culture and history. Everything from the wondrous volcanic outcroppings to the breathtaking Resort architecture honors the fundamental connection between nature and humanity that the Hawaiians have cherished since the beginning of time. And because Hawaiians love to layer meaning in their words, so the name “Aulani” has more than one meaning. It is the place that speaks for the ancestors, yet it is also the place that speaks with deep messages.

Aulani is indeed a place where ancestral stories are told, built with the nobility, beauty and grandeur of Paradise.  Walt Disney Imagineering worked with local architects and cultural experts to design the resort to honor the local culture of the Hawaiian Islands. The resulting design is a celebration of Hawaiian customs and traditions that offers up a harmony with the natural world.

Inside and out you will see simplicity, fine materials and attention-to-detail that reflect the layers of refined thinking that characterize Hawaiian art forms. The unique architecture evokes Hawaiian villages in a modern, awe-inspiring interpretation. A large lava rock passes from outside to inside the glass lobby wall. This reverence for nature is seen throughout, with volcanic stone columns that line the hallway, and the use of wood and water throughout.

Rooms are appointed with lustrous wood and Hawaiian elements, such as geometric patterns inspired by kapa cloth (textiles made from tree bark), outrigger canoe posts and beams in the design of bedroom headboards, and corridor wall-coverings that are artfully embedded with a whole host of native Hawaiian cultural references – from poi pounders to fish traps to sea urchins.

Aulani's restaurants are also designed to reflect aspects of Hawaiian culture – from fishing techniques to harvest rituals. The resort's 'Ōlelo Room will be a special place guests will want to visit. Here you will become more "conversive" in Hawaiian – or have fun trying. The 'Ōlelo Room will feature a series of engaging shadow boxes that hang throughout the room, displaying wooden carvings of common, everyday objects labeled with their Hawaiian language names. Best of all, cast members are on hand to provide proper pronunciations for you.

From beautiful artwork by local Hawaiian artists to the playful Menehune – legendary mischievous characters from Hawaiian folklore – depicted in statue form throughout the resort, the design of Aulani celebrates the culture of the islands.

When Aulani opens on Aug. 29, 2011, it will offer a new way for you to vacation with your family in Hawai‘i. Designed to provide the perfect vacation experience for everyone, the resort offers you a chance to enjoy activities and amenities designed for every age group.

Parents can enjoy relaxing at the beach in a lounge chair, through morning yoga classes and massages with the sound of waves lapping to shore in the background. Aulani offers exclusive spa treatments, as well as the opportunity to unwind in the one-of-a-kind outdoor hydrotherapy garden. Sunset-facing whirlpool spas, beachside dining featuring locally grown fare and special excursions add to the list of luxuries designed just for those ages 18 and up.

Kids can splish and splash into a variety of water-based fun, including a tube float watercourse, exciting pools complete with body slides and a kids-only watery playground – the Menehune Bridge. Younger tykes can explore the interactive water splash and play zones. All of this is offered in addition to the 5,200-square-foot kids’ club, which offers age-specific programming led by Disney Youth Activities Counselors.

Teens can enjoy spaces and activities created especially for them, such as a teen lounge, Painted Sky, which offers the only teen spa in all of Hawai‘i. Painted Sky is the hub of several teen-specific programs. And teens can “hang ten” during exclusive surfing lesson excursions with their friends.

Throughout their stay, families of all kinds will find activities and entertainment that enable them to savor their time together in Hawai‘i. You will find that anytime can be family time at Aulani thanks to family-focused beach activities, movies under the stars, evening shows and entertainment, and so much more.

Scheduled to Open Aug. 29, 2011  Bookings Open Now!  Click Her For an Aulani Vacation Quote