Aulani as a local?

[higoofy]

Oh, that sounds like a great time! That's the other thing is finding a cheaper time that goes along with the kids school schedule.

How long did you stay?

We stayed for three nights. Got a pool view one bedroom for about 400something a night (if I remember correctly) with kamaina rates. It's worth getting your Hawaii divers license to save money just about everywhere tourists would go! Sometimes kamaina is less than what MWR rates are

 

[Looptyloo]

You should definitely stay atleast one day! They have kama'aina and military rates, though I just called today and those are all blocked out through the summer (until the end of August). If anything, I'd suggest coming to just walk around and hang out at the lagoons and grabbing a bite at Monkeypod for happy hour.

We live in Kapolei so Aulani and the lagoons are much closer to us, though if we lived on the other side of the island I'd be at Bellows every single week! We're here for a few more years, and we've loved being stationed here so far. Enjoy the hikes, beaches, and food!

We have gone once so far to kind of look around and swim at lagoon #2, and we are actually going again this weekend, going to do the DVC tour since my husband actually seems convinced it would be a good fit for us. I'm not so sure, but I'm happy to go take a look haha. I will have to see what Monkeypod has to offer!

We stayed for three nights. Got a pool view one bedroom for about 400something a night (if I remember correctly) with kamaina rates. It's worth getting your Hawaii divers license to save money just about everywhere tourists would go! Sometimes kamaina is less than what MWR rates are

Luckily, my husband has a Hawaii DL, so we can look at both options and see what is better. Thanks for the tip!

 

[happymommy]

Don't they just do the kamaaina sticker on your military id anymore? That's what we did to get kamaaina rates at hotels! We enjoyed it immensely - stayed at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua for $179/night and many other places.

 

[Looptyloo]

Don't they just do the kamaaina sticker on your military id anymore? That's what we did to get kamaaina rates at hotels! We enjoyed it immensely - stayed at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua for $179/night and many other places.

Hmm, I haven't heard of getting a sticker for your ID. Any idea where/who was providing the kamaaina stickers? That could be useful...

 

[happymommy]

Well, this was 20 years ago, but we got it on base.

I bet things have changed, but you could use it to prove you were stationed in Hawaii for Kamaaina rates. Plus some other places that give discounts, restaurants maybe? Definitely tourist things.

 

[higoofy]

No stickers anymore. But the license only requires taking a written test and photo. It's saved us a ton of money versus non-kama'aina! Sometimes kama'aina is available when military rates are not too!

 

[alohamom]

I have a question for you Oahu locals. Is there a Super Target on the island or are they all the same? I was reading the one in Kailua is smallish.

 

[buffettgirl]

The one in the Aliamanu/Pearl Harbor area (On Salt Lake/Lawehana Dr) isn't called a super target, but it does have a grocery section. It seems about the same size as my target back in MA.​

 

[higoofy]

The one by Aulani is about the same as the one by Pearl Harbor. They have grocery items and 'regular' Target items, but is not called a Super Target. You also have Coscto, Safeway and a Down to Earth near Aulani as far as grocery option's in Kapolei. The ABC type store across the street behind Monkeypod restaurant has a lot to choose from, but you'll spend more there.

 

[happymommy]

The one in Kapolei (10 minutes away) has enough groceries to make it our first day's stop to get breakfast items, drinks, any toiletries we forgot, etc... Prices are very reasonable!