Aulani - Here Now - CONSTRUCTION

[Soccerluvinmama]

The construction noise at the Four Seasons is at level 10 on my annoyance meter today. Today, we have a helicopter coming in and out with supplies. This trip has not been very peaceful so far

 

[bobbiwoz]

Awful!

 

[wdrl]

We were at Aulani earlier this month for eight days. I guess we were lucky, because the construction never interfered with our enjoyment. We noticed the construction noises when we were sitting around the Wailana adult pool, which is right next to the Four Seasons Resort. But that was mainly because the adult pool area is one of the quietest places around the resort. Even then, we quickly blotted out the sounds and relegated them to normal background sounds.

When we were around the other parts of the resort, such as the main pool, the lazy river, or the beach, the construction noises were easily drowned out by the other sounds from the dozens (hundreds?) of kids and adults playing in the water. Aulani's Waikolohe Valley, with its water features and keike water play areas and constant Hawaiian music playing in the background, can be a pretty noisy place, so construction sounds easily get washed out.

This photo shows the area where the Four Seasons is doing most of its exterior construction. Its the area between the white Four Seasons building and the lagoon:

 

[quinnc19]

I am going in June; is there an estimated completion date?

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

I am going in June; is there an estimated completion date?

I hear May, so you're in luck!!

 

[cedricandsophie]

We arrive on May 20. I saw they were taking reservations for later in May so we're hoping it's pretty much done...especially the tennis courts since we hope to play over there.

 

[Daddio]

We just left last Thursday and the noise could not be heard on the beach or the main pool deck, only once you were at the Infinity pool or the adult pool. Several parties continued to rent the cabanas @ $425.00 per day and those were right at the fence where you could hear them jack hammering in the rooms. It wouldn't be my cup of tea but no one seemed bothered by it.

~ David

 

[southerngirl528]

Sorry about the noise Soccerluvinmama. We've stayed at Aulani 3 different trips and love that place. I'm betting that your helicopter stuff was today only (I'm sure hoping for your sake!!). Usually those oh-so-pricey cargo type heli's are just for special projects where supplies/equipment must be hoisted higher than a crane can do.

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

The good news is that once the helo left around noon all of the construction appeared to stop for the day!!! I've decided though, when they start building Atlantis, I'll probably take a break from Aulani until it's done

 

[Alice Sr.]

The good news is that once the helo left around noon all of the construction appeared to stop for the day!!! I've decided though, when they start building Atlantis, I'll probably take a break from Aulani until it's done

Good point, when are they supposed to start?

 

[southerngirl528]

I saw an interesting piece of journalism stating that some in the business world aren't so sure Atlantis is really coming to Oahu/Ko'Olina. Their train of thought is that the developers of Ko'Olina have publicized the Atlantis rumor to increase the visibility and attention to the resort area. Same person stated that the parent company of Atlantis was not in a financial position to complete a $2 Billion resort. Not saying I necessarily take that as Gospel but it will be interesting to watch. For whatever reason, as a very longtime DVC member who loves Hawaii, I am not very excited about the prospect of Atlantis coming to Ko'Olina. (don't flame me, I know Atlantis in the Bahamas is a very nice place) I can say this, I am not thrilled to hear they will have a captive dolphin program at their hotel….. JMHO.

 

[southerngirl528]

Not sure if this link will work but it is to the forum where I saw the information in my Post #11:


http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237601&page=2

 

[wdrl]

When we were at Aulani earlier this month, we asked several CMs what they thought of Atlantis coming to Ko Olina. The consensus response was that they will believe it when its built. It seems like the CMs hear a new rumor every six months as to who or what is coming to the parcel of land next to Aulani

 

[GrnMtnMan]

When we were at Aulani earlier this month, we asked several CMs what they thought of Atlantis coming to Ko Olina. The consensus response was that they will believe it when its built. It seems like the CMs hear a new rumor every six months as to who or what is coming to the parcel of land next to Aulani

In a few other forums, I've been following the Atlantis rumor. Here are my thoughts:
I'm a bit skeptical of this ever materializing, and there's some red-flags in the reporting that make me think this whole thing was a planted rumor.

First, Atlantis is a brand owned by *Kerzner*. The fact that little of the press about this mentions that fact makes me think that many reporters ate a contrived story fed to them by a developer without doing appropriate research.

Second, I'm not sure *Kerzner* currently has the standing in the world real estate markets to get the financing for the 'world's most expensive resort' after he defaulted on Atlantis in the Bahamas just a few years ago. Plus, Kerzner's attention is focused on building the next Atlantis in China, and is rumored to be in the running to take over and complete the Bahamar resort in Nassau.

My money is on the owner of the Ko Olina land putting this rumor out there for negotiating purposes. If he threatened to put something like an Atlantis in, when he offers a concession, the hotel that will be built will be twice the size of what had been previously authorized, and will look good by comparison to an Atlantis scale development.

 

[sleepymouse]

We are going in mid-April, and I had planned to request the Waianae building. Would this be a bad idea with construction next door?

 

[wdrl]

We are going in mid-April, and I had planned to request the Waianae building. Would this be a bad idea with construction next door?

What view category have you booked? If you have booked a Pool View villa, then you will be facing Aulani's Waikolohe Valley and you not be facing the Four Seasons.

If you have booked an Island View villa, then you definitely will be facing the Four Seasons Resort.

If you have booked an Ocean View villa, then you have almost a 50-50 chance of facing the Four Seasons.

I've heard rumors that the Four Seasons may open some time in April. If so, its possible that by the time of your trip most of the renovations will be completed. Its also possible that all the noisy exterior construction could be finished well before your trip, so perhaps noise won't be an issue.

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

We are going in mid-April, and I had planned to request the Waianae building. Would this be a bad idea with construction next door?

No, we stayed in that building and never heard the construction noise, so you should be good. However, we also stayed on the east side of the building near the elevators, so that may have been the reason why

 

[sleepymouse]

Thanks for the quick responses! We have ocean view for 4 nights as well as pool view for 2 nights. I plan to request room facing poolside for the ocean view nights. Fingers crossed.