A fire crackles under the starry sky and waves break gently in the distance as “Uncle” recounts Hawaiian legends to a group of guests during the Fireside Mo’ olelo at Disney’s new Aulani resort, which opened last year in Ko Olina on the leeward coast of Oahu.
In Hawaiian, the word Aulani can be translated to mean “one who speaks on behalf of a higher power,” and that is what the resort does. It gives a voice to the rich Hawaiian culture and immerses visitors in a truly unique island experience. The concept of storytelling is central to the history of both the Disney company and the Hawaiian community, and the combination of the two is captivating.
Aulani stands where the kings and queens of ancient Hawaii visited when they wanted to rejuvenate and relax. Away from Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, the 21-acre resort is a tranquil escape that contrasts with the island’s high-energy nightlife.
It is a rare property that invites visitors to take their time exploring it, but Aulani is full of subtle details and secrets—architecture evocative of canoe hulls, rope lashing done by hand and the hundreds of mythical Menehune figures hidden around the resort.
“What makes Hawaii Hawaiian is Hawaiians,” says Disney Senior Vice President and Imagineer Joe Rhode, explaining how all of names at the resort—Ama Ama, Kalepa, Makahiki, Waikolohe—emerged collaboratively, similar to the process used to name Hawaiian children. “The names are not just words but identity contracts,” Rhode says.
Aulani and the Disney Events Group are eagerly courting meetings and conventions. The property offers more than 800 hotels rooms and villas and 50,000 square feet of event space, including a 14,000-square-foot conference center, plus expansive outdoor lawns with ocean views. The conference center is easily accessible from the main resort, while maintaining just enough separation to be conducive to productivity.
The property’s ability to offer planners a fresh perspective on Hawaii is a top selling point, according to Disney Senior Vice President George Aguel.
“When you come to Disney properties, we have the ability to help planners develop a program in a different context,” he says. “Maybe they have been to Hawaii before, but they’ve been to the Hawaii that everyone goes to. Instead, come to Aulani. Let us escort you through something different and show you Hawaii in a completely different light.”
For incentive trips, Aulani’s Laniwai spa is a major draw. The unique treatment rooms, indigenously inspired procedures and tranquil aesthetics are all noteworthy, but the outdoor hydrotherapy garden steals the show, with herbal baths, freshly made body scrubs and water features to explore.
“Why is the spa here?” Rhode asks. “The spa is a process, a journey, an idea you engage with when you visit, a value you embrace.”
Since it is a Disney resort, attendees can bring their families and know that they will be entertained. Mickey, Minnie and other iconic characters roam the property, but their presence is not overwhelming and doesn’t interfere with the Hawaiian-focused experience. The characters are “vacationing” as well, dressed in resort wear and carrying cameras.
When asked about their favorite spot on the property, Aulani staff—from the general manager to public relations executives and the design team—raved about the Olelo Room, a casual bar near the pool area designed to create an interactive language experience.
The bar is staffed by native Hawaiian speakers and every item inside, from furniture to place settings, is labeled with its Hawaiian translation and phonetic spelling. The walls are covered with key words and phrases, and walking inside is like stepping into a giant, elegantly illustrated dictionary that happens to have plenty of seating and serve food.
The Olelo Room is an example of the resort’s dedication to responsible tourism, preparing guests to venture outside the resort and respectfully interact with the local Hawaiian community.
“Aulani embodies the culture of Hawaii, and we partnered with local organizations to make sure we were providing an authentic experience, both on the property and on excursions,” Aguel says.
Walking along the beachfront path that meanders past the ocean lagoons, Aulani stands out from neighboring resorts precisely because it fits in. Careful design ensured that, while large and luxurious, the buildings blend with the natural landscape. Builders sampled soil from the construction site to develop paint colors, and the directionality of the resort flows as the water runs, from the inland mountains out to sea.
