Sunset at Disney's Aulani Resort and Spa

(above photos: TheHopefulTraveler)

Living in Hawaii I often don't appreciate the things we take for granted about living on an island in the middle of the Pacific. One of them is the simple pleasure of taking the time to admire the sunset. 

These photos were taken on Friday from Disney's Aulani Resort and Spa while taking a stroll along the hotel grounds and prior to dinner at their Ama Ama restaurant. Away from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, the peaceful surroundings around the resort community of Ko Olina adds to the peaceful feeling of watching the ocean at sunset. There are four man-made lagoons at Ko Olina and the Aulani fronts the northernmost of the four. The photos are in reverse order of the time they were taken that evening.

(above photos: TheHopefulTraveler)

Dining at Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa's Ama Ama

Ama Ama entrance. (photo credit: Star Adverstiser)

View of Ama Ama from the beachside of the restaurant.
(photo credit: MattGeneral/flickr)

Outdoor seating at Ama Ama. (photo credit: HawaiiLogue)

The obvious attraction of Ama Ama, Disney's Resort & Spa's Aulani fine dining restaurant, is the atmosphere. The restaurant's dining room is open air and offers expansive vistas of the beach at Ko Olina and the view made even more striking at sunset when our party dined there on Friday night.

Thatched roofs shelter guests in three seating areas. One section allows guests to enjoy drinks and pupus at the bar. We were greeted by a pleasant hostess and after a short wait (but long enough that we had to sit down on the benches just inside the entrance) we were escorted to our table.

Again it's the view that counts wherever you sit and it's unlikely there is a bad table in the house but guests should request if they specifically would like indoor or outdoor seating. My understanding is that hotel guests normally have any priority for reservations and seating choices.

The menu itself is a lumbering wooden thing with the hotel name etched into the cover. I noticed several guests enjoying an Aulani Wave ($13), one of Ama Ama's signature cocktails. It's striking not for the coconut rum, mango and passion fruit liquor, pineapple juice mix but for the souvenir multicolored glow cube in the cocktail itself. Fun but I opted for a glass of white wine (King Estate Pino Gris, Oregon $12) and its subtle fruity tone.

Walnut bread with butter and black and pink Hawaiian sea salt.
(photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

Chicken firecracker with pineapple sauce.
(photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

An appetizer of chicken firecrackers (four pieces, $17) is a spicy take on the spring roll and pineapple dipping sauce started our dinner accompanied by walnut bread with black and pink Hawaiian sea salt to sprinkle on the butter. It was unusual to have the extra salt but nevertheless it was an interesting start.

I can't say how my guest enjoyed the rack of lamb ($45) but I was less than enthused for my entree, the seared ahi tuna shrimp with Kamuela tomatoes, basil and Nicoise olives garnished with eggplant caviar ($36). The ahi was overcooked so the sear which is usually in stark contrast with the bright fresh uncooked part of the fish was lacking. At least the remaining ingredients helped to make the dish partially satisfying.

Rack of Lamb (photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler) 

Seared ahi tuna and shrimp (photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

Although the Hawaiian chocolate cake with Ka'u coffee cream and caramel chard ($10) did look delicious, my choice was the lighter flavor of the coconut panna cotta with chilled passion fruit broth and green tea tulle ($10). Dessert did not disappoint especially when accompanied with table-side pressed coffee ($9.50)

As characteristic of Disney hospitality the server was attentive without being overly so. Musicians traveled through the restaurant entertaining diners which adds to the atmosphere or becomes distraction if that's not your thing. For the fine-dining prices, Ama Ama should be reserved for special occasions especially if you live in Honolulu and making the long trek to Ko Olina.

Ama Ama is named after a local mullet fish popularized in Hawaiian songs.  Click HERE for online reservations, menu samples and more information about Ama Ama and Aulani's other restaurants. Located at 92-1185 Aliinui Drive in Kapolei, self-parking is validated for four hours with a $35 dining purchase. Hours: breakfast 7am-10:30am; lunch 11:30am-3pm; dinner 5:30pm-10pm. Reservations strongly recommended. Attire not permitted: tank tops, swimwear, men's hats, cut-off pants and torn clothing. See specific restaurant attire info online.

Coconut panna cotta (photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

Hawaiian chocolate cake (photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

Disney's Aulani Resort: Welcoming Guests to Hawaii

This is one in a series of posts about Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa.

Guests will immediately notice that Disney's Aulani Resort was designed and constructed with much care and thought. However one's view of Aulani will depend on how one feels about Disney opening a commercial venture in Hawaii. I myself was impressed with what I viewed as soon as I walked into the open-air lobby. Much has been written in the local press of how the resort celebrates Hawaiian traditions, art, history and culture. Some would would argue that Aulani is not much different from the company's Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World. But it is different and its designers have as best as possible managed to capture various essences of Hawaii.

There are the obvious features like Kaplepa's which is meant to recall a local country store and Waikohole Valley to resemble a volcano and the water features of the islands. But the most dramatic features is the art and decorative features that is found at almost every corner of the hotel but none more so than in the dramatic lobby.

Even more impressive is that Aulani as a whole claims to have on display one of the largest collections of contemporary Hawaiian art. Over 200 pieces of original art were commissioned by Disney for Aulani with many by Native Hawaiian artists. As a taste the photos above and below gives one glimpses of the design and decor of the resort's lobby.

Though the towers envelope the property, the lobby which overlooks the property gives one a vista that is indeed breathtaking from the manmade features that is Waikohole Valley, which has been manicured with landscaping that seems to have been growing before Aulani's creation, to the Pacific Ocean just beyond.

Side note: I was quite bewildered by more than one guest staring at rocks at Aulani. Apparently in keeping with the spirit of other Disney resorts, the image of Mickey Mouse or "missing Mickeys" is hidden from rock to the wallpaper.

FROM THE OUTSIDE
Walking from the resort's parking structure to the hotel entrance one can only admire the detail that is the Waianae Tower. It's probably best that the feast for the eyes awaits behind this tower. It must be mentioned that the footpath leading from the parking is not on the ground level of the structure but mid-level. Then it's a walk along the mountain side of the Waianae Tower then a few more steps to the entrance beneath the porte cochere (note: valet parking available).

I have to admit that driving along Farrington Highway on the way to the exit road to Ko Olina the two resort towers dominate the landscape even from a distance. But I'd much rather view and admire the economic difference that Aulani will make for the residents of the Leeward community in terms of jobs and spending from visitors.

Porte cochere

Mauka side of Wai'anae Tower. 

Road leading to port cochere and main hotel entrance.

Disney's Aulani Resort: Makahiki & The 'Olelo Room

This is one in a series of posts about Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa.

Because of the time of day when I visited Disney's Aulani Resort on Friday the main restaurants were not open as they were preparing for dinner service. The beachside lounge called Off The Hook was open but busy with guests enjoying the afternoon sun and view of the beach. I was not able to view the resort's fine dining restaurant 'Ama'Ama but I have definite plans to visit it in the future and will publish a post of the experience.

The above photos are of Makahiki (a Hawaiian reference to a "festival") which features a dinner and breakfast buffet. On select days a Disney Character breakfast is offered on (check with the concierge or restaurant for scheduled dates). A striking red mural greets visitors entering the dining room. Look closely and see Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes.

Makahiki is open 7am-11am for breakfast and costs $14 for children (ages 9 and under) and $27 for adults. The character breakfast officially called Aunty's Breakfast Celebration is priced $18 for children and $32 for adults. Dinner served from 5pm-10pm is much pricier at $43 for adults and $21 for children. The links below connect to the restaurant's sample menu which is subject to change:
Breakfast Menu
Dinner Menu
Click HERE to make a reservation to Makahiki or 'Ama'Ama.

The 'Olelo Room (pictured above) is a bar and lounge that adjoins Makahiki. It is open for a continental breakfast (6am-10am) and appetizers and drinks during dinner (5pm-11pm). This bar and lounge takes its name from the Hawaiian word for "voice" and hence the decor is labeled with their Hawaiian names. The staff at 'Olelo must also know the Hawaiian language. The lounge does not accept reservations.

VIEW FROM THE OUTSIDE
One of the attractions of both Makahiki and 'Olelo is that both are open to the elements as guests have a view of the resort's Waikolohe Valley recreation playground. A calming fountain and waterfall embrace the restaurant guests.

Disney's Aulani Resort: 'Ewa and Wai'anae Towers

(photos except where noted: TheHopefulTraveler)

(photo credit: David Roark/Disney Destinations/Associated Press/LATimes)

This is one in a series of posts about Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa.

The two towers at Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa hold a total of 359 hotel rooms including 16 suites and 460 Disney Vacation Club Villas including 21 Grand Villas. The Grand Villas accommodates up to 12 guests in a 2,174 square foot retreat. As is typical with other Hawaii hotels, ocean view rooms are considered an upgrade and priced higher. View options are classified as standard view, ocean view, partial ocean view, poolside gardens view and island gardens view. Don't be surprised at $399 rates for standard rooms.

This post includes various perspectives of the two towers. Also included is a photo published in the L.A. Times of the interior of one of the guest rooms. Hotel rooms range in size from 382 square feet for a standard room to the 1,910 square foot 'Ahu 'Ula Suite. This suite accommodates up to six guests and includes a king-size bed in the master bedroom, one queen-size bed and one queen-size sleeper sofa in a second bedroom and three full bathrooms. Click HERE to make online reservations.

The names of the tower is reference to where each is situated: One faces the 'Ewa plain and the other faces towards the Wai'anae coast.

Each tower is quite breathtaking when one notices the detail applied to each compared to the white monolith of the neighboring hotel.

Disney's Aulani Resort: Waikolohe Valley

This is one in a series of posts about Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa.

The central playground at Disney's Aulani Resort is a striking feature called Waikolohe Valley which is roughly translated as "mischievous water." From first appearances it looks like the attraction is just as popular with the adults as it is with the younger guests. Of course it could have been that more adults than children were staying at the resort during this time. It's looks inviting that I wouldn't mind experiencing the feature at least once.

Though none of the features appear to be a thrill-ride type, hotel water safety employees are stationed at various points. Waikolohe Stream includes two tubing attractions that begin at the top of Pu'u Kilo, the volcano-like structure that dominate the playground. The 8,200-square-foot zero-entry pool is meant to mimic a beach. Other features include:

Rainbow Reef - A private snorkeling lagoon where the aquatic life can also be viewed behind a glass.
Menehune Bridge - An interactive play area that includes three slides resembles a maze-like jungle gym. In Hawaiian folklore Menehunes are "little people" responsible for mysterious occurrences.
Wailana Pool - Separated from the main pool, this serves as the relaxing alternative.
Makai Preserve - A conservation pool requiring reservations and admission where marine biologists guides guests in encounters with stingrays. Proceeds support research and conservation. Makai means "towards the ocean."
Whirlpool Spas - Four of them with two offering sunset views and advertised for parents to enjoy while their children is at play at the resort's playhouse.
Poolside Cabanas - Each of the eight private cabanas accommodates up to six guests and includes a flat-screen television, ceiling fan, refrigerator, WiFi, fruit bowl and complementary bottled water. Reservations are required at the concierge desk and private dining is available.

Although it has been reported that Waikolohe Valley is open for non-guests, resort guests wearing official wristbands will have priority access. The lagoon fronting Aulani is considered a public beach and not exclusive to hotel guests. However the controversy is parking options are limited for persons not staying at any of resorts in Ko Olina where Aulani is located.