If you are seeking a place to unwind and relax, then check out Disney's special resort called Aulani on the island of Oahu.
Aulani is truly a magical place. Perched on the shores of Ko Olina on the Island of Oahu, the resort is family friendly and feels like you are vacationing in the lap of luxury. Aulani encompasses over 21 acres across the waterfront, with a beautiful beach and fun pools. My family has gone there twice and we would love to return in the near future.
The resort opened in 2011 and has been a huge hit with vacationers who want to relax in a fun atmosphere. The building of Aulani was done with much intention. Led by Joe Rohde and his team of Walt Disney Imagineers, every care was taken to make Aulani one to remember. Rohde was perfect for the job thanks to his experience creating beautiful settings in the theme parks around the world. It was Rohde who was the driving force to create Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Rohde spent his childhood in Oahu and knew he wanted to bring the cultural beauty of the islands into Aulani's story.
To sell the building of Aulani to the locals, Walt Disney Imagineering created a committee called the Hawaiian Cultural Committee to offer advice (and hands on talent) to represent the culture of the islands at the resort. The advisory committee included hula experts, Hawaiian artists, and local chiefs and elders to capture the spirit of Aulani.
Naming is everything! When the Imagineers were trying to figure out what to name the resort, one of the advisory committee members suggested "Aulani" which means "the place that speaks for the great ones." Are characters at Aulani? Yes, however, at Aulani it is intentional that characters are selectively made available to you instead of jumping out at vacationers at every turn. All meet and greets are scheduled in advance and usually take place in a quieter setting. Character meals are a possibility, and your children also might run into a character or two at Aunty's Beach House.
Aulani is truly a beautiful place. When you go there, definitely look up, down, and all around and I have no doubt you'll agree with me that Aulani captures the essence of what it means to be vacationing in paradise.
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