Aulani...A trip 11 months in the making..and then some

[ratt1345]

After reading and enjoying countless trip reports on various DISboard forums and failing on one myself, I felt like this trip was the right one to actually do a trip report.

I suppose the first thing I am to do is give the cast of characters: First is my wife, April. Then there is your narrator, me, Charlie. I won't give the age of my wife, but I am 48 and have wanted to go to Hawaii possibly most of my life. Hence the "and then some" part of the title.

The backstory to this trip is this: We joined DVC on a DCL cruise in October 2014 and made Aulani our home resort. At the exact moment our 11-month window opened, we booked our trip. We made it for 10/22/15-10/29/15. it seemed like it was 20 years away at the time!!! We both were excited, but more so myself. April had been to Hawaii once before, but I had never been. I did a lot of research of restaurants mostly while April checked out places to visit. We also had bought a DLSR camera in November of 2014 and practiced with it before going on the trip. Now on with the actual trip!!!

Day 1-10/22/15 and the night before (10/21/15):
We left our house right after work on 10/21 and drove to Orlando to stay at the Marriott near the airport. Apparently there are several Marriotts around there so forgive me I don't know the full name of the hotel. Our flight was to have left at 7:05AM, but we didn't leave until 7:19AM (according to my notes). That proved to make for a LONG day. As you will see, that got the best of me!! Our connecting flight was in L.A. Both flights were very smooth. No turbulence. Really!!! We got to Honolulu around 12:57PM local time, which to us felt like 6:57PM. Got the luggage, got our rental car at Budget and we were on our way to Aulani. I promise there will be pictures!! Hey I took 650 pictures in Oahu!! I won't show all 650 pictures, don't worry. It was very easy to find our way onto the highway from the airport. Basically a straight shot to Aulani from the airport, which took about 25 minutes. Checked in and got our cup of water and our leis. Only had to wait about 30 minutes for our room to be ready for us. We got room 982, I think in the Ewa tower. Took some pictures of our room. So here are a few of the pictures:

Here are a couple of shots from the balcony:




The end of the day for me was around 4:30pm. Jetlag finally caught up with me. I thought I was laying down for a short nap. Well, it turned into a 10 hour sleep!!! I woke up around 2:30AM, watch TV for an hour or so and went back to sleep until around 5:00AM. While I slept, April went and got something to eat for dinner. Can you believe she didn't bring me back anything?!? Next up...Day 2. Am I so happy that I took notes!!!

 

[ratt1345]

Day 2-The trip continues!!

This day was a day set aside to catch our breath. We didn't want to do much since we just had spent most of the previous day flying from Florida. So not many pictures for this part of the report. We started the day, like a number of them on this trip, getting breakfast at the Ulu Café. This morning we both got oatmeal. It came with brown sugar, honey and fresh fruit consisting of blueberries, a half of a strawberry and large blackberry. We love the oatmeal on DCL cruises and this oatmeal was just as good!!! This morning was the morning we decided to do most of the souvenir shopping on property. The main shop (which I can't remember the name of) opens up at 8:00AM. This is where we got 10 to 12 trading pins, 4 shirts and April got a ball cap. We rode down the lazy river and went down the slide where you go down on a tube. For lunch, we went back to the Ulu Café. I got a turkey wrap and April got a flat bread. After lunch, we went to the Safeway grocery store and stocked up. I also got some macademia nuts for my co-workers. We didn't do too much in the afternoon except took a nap for an hour. Dinner consisted of a frozen lasagna we got at Safeway and bread. We did happen to catch the sunset this evening. Here are a couple of pictures of it:


I took about 15 pictures of the sunset that evening!!! We got to bed to get plenty of sleep for a big day the next day at Pearl Harbor and...oh yeah...did I mention it was our 6th anniversary?!?!? Up next...Day 3!!!

 

[alohamom]

Awesome so far, you had a beautiful view from you room. I LOVE the Ulu oatmeal too!

 

[Chellymouse]

Can't wait for the next installment. We are also recently back from Aulani!

 

[PAdislover]

I am following along. I know nothing about Aulani but my good friend is moving to Oahu this winter, so a trip there is looking like it's in order!

 

[ratt1345]

Day 3-Pearl Harbor
So we left off telling you that this day was our 6th anniversary. April gave me a card before we left for Pearl Harbor. I had to tell her that I had forgot her card back at home in FL. I am not that kind of husband, you know forget the anniversary!!! We had a quick breakfast sandwich that we bought at Safeway. We had bought our tickets online for Pearl Harbor. We got over there around 6:45AM and were able to park in the lot near the entrance. Remember this if you are going: they do not allow bags of any type. If you take a purse or anything similar, you will be asked to take it over to the locker area, which costs $3.00. I think there are about 3 parking lots for cars and one lot for shuttle vans and small buses. At least that is what I saw. If there are more, I didn't notice them. They have you wait in a line outside the entrance of the visitors' center until 7:00AM. Then you go in and follow a blue tape line on the ground to stand in another line for the tickets. Even if you got tickets online, you have to stand in this line. Once you get up to the ticket area, they will ask if you got online tickets or you're there for the free tickets. Depending on what you have or don't have, you will go to a different person for the tickets. We went off to the left and were given our 2 tickets. Then told to go to the place where they have the audio tour headsets and grab 2 headsets. Then off we went to explore until 7:45AM for our 8:00AM tour to the Arizona Memorial. Yes, ask you get to the area near the theater 15 minutes prior to you tour start time. They show a 25 minute movie presentation before you get on the vessel to go over to the Memorial. The vessel looks like it could hold 100 to 150 people on it. Our vessel wasn't full. Here are some pictures of the Arizona Memorial:





The last picture is of these two men who were raising, lowering and folding flag after flag. Maybe someone knows the significance of that. We were not sure why. You definitely can see the oil on the surface that leaks from the Arizona. I told April that it smells like an auto mechanic shop!! Which isn't a bad thing. After that, we got back to the visitors' center and looked around some of the other areas. Then we boarded a bus that takes you over to the USS Missouri and the Pacific Air Museum, which we didn't go to. The Missouri was really nice. Here are a few pictures:




April, my wife, on the USS Missouri!!

That's me!!!

That's the plaque showing the spot where the Japanese surrender to end the war in the Pacific.


I almost forgot to put in a picture of the Bowfin, the submarine!!!

We were there for 6 hours. We were tired and went back to Aulani to nap and then get ready for dinner. Back up, we got a shave ice before we took a nap. Here is the place at Aulani for a shave ice:

We got dressed up, because we wanted to, to go to dinner at Ama Ama. April got a pork chop and I got filet steak. Not a bad anniversary dinner at a not so bad location!!! That pretty much was our day. Next up, Day 4-Couples Massage

 

[ratt1345]

Day 4-Couples Massage

There isn't too much to write about this day. We pretty much took it easy this day. The morning started off with breakfast at Ulu Café. This time it was a combo platter of scrambled eggs, potatoes, pineapple wedges and sausage. Then we made our way to the infinity pool and to the adult only pool. Lunch was at the Hawaiian Bar-B-Que across the street, in the same area as Just Tacos and Moneypod. We had one of the specials of the day, Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice. They sure give you enough to feed 2 or 3 people. Well, as the title of this day says, we had a couples massage at 5:00PM at Laniwai (the spa at Aulani). We booked this massage on Friday. This day was Sunday. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Some people do book a massage in advance, but we wanted to be a little spontaneous this trip. Truth be told, I don't remember the name of the massage we did. You get to enjoy the area that is outside, which includes a hot tub and other things I can't remember (sorry!!!). I am very bad at remembering, that's why I use notes for most of this report. No pictures for this day since we didn't do much. Ok, if you really want some, here are a few of the resort:



Here's a few pictures for a preview of the next day of the trip report:




Up next...Day 5 Waimea Falls and Valley

 

[ratt1345]

Day 5-Waimea Falls and Valley


This day started out like most days, with oatmeal and orange juice at Ulu Café. Then we stopped by the concierge desk for directions. We had thoughts of going to either Diamond Head or the Falls. When we found out from the TV that there was a major backup on the H-1 highway, we made up our minds to go to the Waimea Falls. We figured we would also go up to the North Shore and just drive by and through it to see the waves that people talk about so much. Well, as you saw in the preview I put at the end of the Day 4 report, the Falls and the Valley were very beautiful. I took a lot of pictures there..no I mean A LOT!!! Here are a few more pictures of the area:

I took this picture because the Tarot is what they make Poi out of. Yes I did try poi later that evening at the luau. It's not disgusting to me, but it has no flavor at all. I still ate it and didn't mind it.


Another picture of the falls from a little further away.


A mock-up of an ancient Hawaiian village

When we finished walking around, we stopped by the café they had there and ate lunch. April got a teriyaki hot dog with fries. I got a hot dog with fries.


I took this picture on our way to the North Shore. It is a gate to someone's driveway. I thought it was awesome art on the gate.

So we drove up to and through the North Shore. Here are a couple of picture I took from the car of the waves. Not the greatest pictures.



We took the H-3 highway back to H-1 to take us back to Aulani. We took it easy until we were to leave to go to Paradise Cove for the luau. They started to let people in at 5:00PM, but the luau itself didn't start until 7:00. It finished around 8:45PM. We walked to it and back. As people have said before, it is literally down the street from Aulani. I think it may have taken 5 to 7 minutes to walk there. We thought it was a very good time there and really enjoyed the show. I will post pictures of the luau after they get uploaded. I thought I had uploaded all the pictures, but apparently I missed some.

Coming up...Day 6 Dole Plantation

 

[ratt1345]

Oops, the mock up of the Hawaiian village didn't make it. That was another picture of the flower. I'll post the actual picture with the next installment of the trip report.

 

[ratt1345]

Can't wait for the next installment. We are also recently back from Aulani!

Thanks for following. This is tougher than I thought, but I am hAving fun doing it.

 

[ratt1345]

I am following along. I know nothing about Aulani but my good friend is moving to Oahu this winter, so a trip there is looking like it's in order!

Thanks for following. Oahu is great to visit! Aulani is great to use as a home base to go out exploring from. Not sure where you live, but we live in FL. It took us close to 11 hours to fly there. We had a layover in LA.

 

[ratt1345]

First things first, here is the picture of the part of the mock-up of the Hawaiian village:


And before I get to Day 6, here are some pictures from the Paradise Cove luau:






This was the food that was served to us. We got the package where you got served instead of going up to the buffet. there was pulled pork, mahi mahi, teriyaki chicken, white rice, steamed vegetables, and tartar sauce. We also got some dessert samples. The clear container had the poi in it.


Sunset at the Paradise Cove

The parrot lady. You could get your picture taken with the parrots I think for $5.00

Now back to our regularly scheduled trip report. Day 6-Dole Plantation

This morning we made breakfast in the room. We had scrambled eggs and toast. Mainly laid around the room, but we did ride the water slides and swam in the ocean as well. For lunch, we went over to Monkeypod. April had fish and chips. I had the pulled pork sandwich. Both were very good. After lunch, we went to the Dole Plantation. We rode the Pineapple Express train ride through the fields. Unfortunately, they had already harvested. We got a few souvenirs including t-shirts. On our way out, we picked up a wooden tiki. The man who carved it then carved the words and date "Hawaiian trip 2015" on the back. Here are two pictures of him carving;



As you can see by the report, we aren't the go-go-go type. So some days are not filled with very much. Up next, Day 7-The Final Full Day (boo-hoo)

 

[alohamom]

As you can see by the report, we aren't the go-go-go type. So some days are not filled with very much.

This is what Hawaii is all about-relaxing and enjoying-good for you guys!

 

[ratt1345]

Day 7-Diamond Head

Had breakfast sandwiches this morning because we had an early start as we were going to Diamond Head today. We left Aulani around 6:30AM. We ran into some heavy traffic about 4 miles away from Aulani. It lasted until we got about 3 miles or so from Diamond Head. Yes, rush hour in and around Honolulu is that bad. I think we got to the parking lot for Diamond Head around 7:45AM or 8:00AM. We made it as close to the top as you can without going all the way. There are a set of stairs that are at a steep angle, at least to me, that we chose not to go up. They do have handrails for the stairs, but we still declined. It is a bit of a strain on your legs. I would agree with what they suggest on their pamphlet, take a bottle of water with you. We had water, but decided to leave it in the car. I sure needed it going up. We stopped off to the side 3 or 4 different times. Once, I had to stop for about 5 minutes. It was worth it, leg pain and all!!! Here's my suggestion as far as when to go: first thing in the morning, not in the afternoon. It would be too hot and would make it harder to do. They open up at 6:30AM. We each got a t-shirt and 2 trading pins. They also threw in 2 magnets. The souvenir stand is rather small, but have some decent things. Here are some pictures of us on the trails, the trails themselves and of the parking lot from the trails:










We got back to Aulani around 10:45AM. We went on the 2 water slides before getting a bite to eat. April had chili-cheese fries and I had a hot dog. After lunch, we were tired and took a nap. We then washed some clothes and watched game 2 of the World Series.

Next up...the saddest day of any Aulani vacation...the day you leave to go home!!!

 

[ratt1345]

Day 8-Going home

We left Aulani for good today at 8:20AM for our 12:00PM flight. We got to L.A. at 8:30PM. The connecting flight was to have taken off at 10:20PM, but we didn't leave until 10:30PM. This time, the airport wasn't as crowded as when we flew out to Honolulu, but still a lot of people. We got to Orlando at 5:40AM. Both flights had some turbulence, which we didn't have any on either flight going out to Honolulu. We made it home around 8:30AM and promptly went to sleep as soon as we got everything inside. We both agree that we had a great time. The one thing that I haven't mentioned until now is I developed a head cold or a sinus cold the day before we left on vacation. Fortunately, it didn't turn into something too bad and it didn't interfere with me having a good time. About half way through the trip, I was feeling much better. We are so looking forward to going back. We aren't sure when, but we will be back. Lots of awesome memories and even more pictures. Thank you for those following along and for those who read this later. It was a blast creating this trip report.

 

[rnorwo1]

Just read everything! We are going in May, and we would like to go to many of these places!

 

[ratt1345]

Just read everything! We are going in May, and we would like to go to many of these places!

I hope that I helped in some way.

 

[ratt1345]

This is what Hawaii is all about-relaxing and enjoying-good for you guys!

Yes, alohamom, it is and was!!! I know that there are people that look at what we did and say, "You really didn't see very much". We just run out of energy and don't want to overdo it. I see people look absolutely exhausted at WDW all the time. I want to tell them, "You can't do and see everything. Becasue if you did, the wouldn't be a need to come back."

 

[Chellymouse]

We definitely did a ton of touring but we did mostly half days. Looks like you had an awesome trip!!