The Dreams Unlimited Travel Podcast Discusses Aulani . . .

scrappydew said:

I liked seeing the spa facilities; our must-do when we go back!

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EastYorkDisneyFan said:

I'm just curious about something ho are the Aunty and Uncle people they team keeps mentioning are they supposed to be the owners of the resort or something?

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SorcererHeidi said:

As as I know, no. It's all part of the Hwaiian concept of "Ohana", and everybody being "family" - like at Ohana the restaurant at the Poly - people are your cousins, etc. It's a beautiful part of the Hawaiian way of thinking, and their love, and warmth. I had a good friend from Kauai who served with me when I was in the Navy - his family treated me like one of their own from the very first, and he called me "sister" long before we even became that close. Just a very gentle, loving culture!

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EastYorkDisneyFan said:

I sees so is this something that is explained to guest or do they excpect that everyone that comes there will know and understand that?

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EastYorkDisneyFan said:

I sees so is this something that is explained to guest or do they excpect that everyone that comes there will know and understand that?

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OKW Lover said:

It sometimes gets explained to guests. The greeter or the people at the registration desk might mention it. Its also sometimes mentioned in the various literature that you get at the resort.

You can also take a complimentary tour of the resort where they explain the little details of Hawaiian culture that are incorporated into the whole experience.

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SorcererHeidi said:

I'll have to leave that part to someone who has actually been there, to explain what/if Aulani specifically does/does not do. Just curious why you want to know this - does it bother you somehow? I also know it was a huge part of the story line in Lilo & Stitch, so a lot of people may have seen it, and been exposed to the Ohana concept (Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind) from that as well.

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Cousin Orville said:

I took tour Aulani's art tour they offer. I was the only one on the tour. They discussed quite a bit of the Hawaiian culture behind the art. I thought it was fascinating.

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EastYorkDisneyFan said:

Kind of I guees I don't relly think of many poel as being an Anut or Uncle unless they are related to me. Ther is one exception to thath when I was little I called one of my Moms best frinds Aunt and it's kind of stuck.

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DSNYDREAMER said:

It comes down to what many have said. Aulani is more than a resort, Hawaii more than a destination. Most people understand that once they have been. It isn't something that can be explained in words to make you understand. To me, Aulani is a feeling, an emotion....and I constantly think of how I can get more!

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DSNYDREAMER said:

I loved when I spoke to a local who referred to me as cousin. Or a young person called me Auntie.

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DSNYDREAMER said:

To me part of travelling is learning about other cultures. There may be things you enjoy, things you don't,but in my opinion that is all part of the journey. The point is that you don't have to think of them as auntie, uncle or any version. This is their culture and believes, you can choose how you want to participate or not. I loved when I spoke to a local who referred to me as cousin. Or a young person called me Auntie. But I didn't feel it appropriate for me to use these terms with locals, only with those playing the role at the resort.

It comes down to what many have said. Aulani is more than a resort, Hawaii more than a destination. Most people understand that once they have been. It isn't something that can be explained in words to make you understand. To me, Aulani is a feeling, an emotion....and I constantly think of how I can get more!

Click to expand...

DSNYDREAMER said:

To me part of travelling is learning about other cultures. There may be things you enjoy, things you don't,but in my opinion that is all part of the journey. The point is that you don't have to think of them as auntie, uncle or any version. This is their culture and believes, you can choose how you want to participate or not. I loved when I spoke to a local who referred to me as cousin. Or a young person called me Auntie. But I didn't feel it appropriate for me to use these terms with locals, only with those playing the role at the resort.

It comes down to what many have said. Aulani is more than a resort, Hawaii more than a destination. Most people understand that once they have been. It isn't something that can be explained in words to make you understand. To me, Aulani is a feeling, an emotion....and I constantly think of how I can get more!

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Cousin Orville said:

This.

I listened to Joe Rohde speak on Aulani. He said when you've travelled so far [to Hawaii], you need to feel you've arrived somewhere fundamentally different from where you came. You need to be surrounded by the culture and most importantly the people of Hawaii and learn from them. That's the story Aulani tells. That's what makes Aulani different from most other resorts. As an anecdote, he specifically mentioned why Aulani's not painted white. White architecture suggests an open palate devoid of any cultural or thematic story. Many hotels in Hawaii are white. Rohde didn't want you to be able to have random thoughts or feelings when you see the resort buildings. He wanted you to feel you were specifically in Hawaii, not just a random beach side tropical resort.

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Cousin Orville said:

This.

I listened to Joe Rohde speak on Aulani. He said when you've travelled so far [to Hawaii], you need to feel you've arrived somewhere fundamentally different from where you came. You need to be surrounded by the culture and most importantly the people of Hawaii and learn from them. That's the story Aulani tells. That's what makes Aulani different from most other resorts. As an anecdote, he specifically mentioned why Aulani's not painted white. White architecture suggests an open palate devoid of any cultural or thematic story. Many hotels in Hawaii are white. Rohde didn't want you to be able to have random thoughts or feelings when you see the resort buildings. He wanted you to feel you were specifically in Hawaii, not just a random beach side tropical resort.

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Gorechick said:

This, this, and more this! Aulani is its own oasis in a sea of sterile hotels. From the first glimpse coming up the road, to stepping out and being greeted out front, then walking through the lobby, you are truly transported and surrounded by the essence and beauty of Hawaii.

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