edmartin
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
- Messages
- 162
Some tips and commentary on our current trip to Aulani. We are out here without kids so I can’t comment of how things might be for/with minors.
I’ll start off by saying that I’ve seen other threads where people have commented that they are disappointed in how things are out here currently – usually people that have been to Aulani pre-Covid. Well, this is our 5th time here – so we certainly know how it was “before”.
Our experience this time has been nothing short of fantastic & enjoyable. Yes, there are some hoops to go through to enter the state. I found the state’s online system to be very easy. Yes, you have to show proof of vaccination to go into every restaurant. Yes, if you are anywhere where there is a roof over your head, you have to wear a mask. I’m going to stay away from polarizing commentary on vax & mask mandates other than to say that my wife & I are both vax’ed and boosted… and I really do not like wearing a mask. But if the choice is stay home in the snow or be able to come here and just have to wear a mask to walk from the host stand to the table?... I’m more than fine with that trade! But be warned… if you think you can get away with not wearing a mask in areas where the state has deemed it necessary, you will be disappointed. They’re not kidding about the rules.
I think returning-guests’ relative position on the “happy to disappointed scale” is going to be pre-determined before you leave home. If you come out here knowing you’re going to be upset when Ama Ama is closed or that they aren’t going to hang a lei around your neck when you get out of the car, you may want to get beyond that. Or if you come out here thinking that you don’t want to mask-up and/or thinking that everything is going to be just like it was before Covid, you should probably stay home.
No matter where you live, things are different today than they were before Covid. Same deal in Hawaii. So, if you come out here fine with the fact that you will have a mask on in any public place where there is a roof over your head, then I think you’ll enjoy it again out here. Even paradise has to deal with Covid.
I’ll start off by saying that I’ve seen other threads where people have commented that they are disappointed in how things are out here currently – usually people that have been to Aulani pre-Covid. Well, this is our 5th time here – so we certainly know how it was “before”.
Our experience this time has been nothing short of fantastic & enjoyable. Yes, there are some hoops to go through to enter the state. I found the state’s online system to be very easy. Yes, you have to show proof of vaccination to go into every restaurant. Yes, if you are anywhere where there is a roof over your head, you have to wear a mask. I’m going to stay away from polarizing commentary on vax & mask mandates other than to say that my wife & I are both vax’ed and boosted… and I really do not like wearing a mask. But if the choice is stay home in the snow or be able to come here and just have to wear a mask to walk from the host stand to the table?... I’m more than fine with that trade! But be warned… if you think you can get away with not wearing a mask in areas where the state has deemed it necessary, you will be disappointed. They’re not kidding about the rules.
- Tip: before you even head to the airport, download the free Clear app and create a digital vaccination card. Create a free account (you DO NOT need to sign up or pay for the Clear account that speeds you through security). Then, create a digital vaccine card. The app will scan your vax card (or cards if you’ve also done a booster). It asks you to re-enter the info. It asks to take a photo of you (or it just uses the one from your account if you already have a Clear account). The digital card includes your photo, a QR code and a button that shows the details of your vaccination record(s). While we still have our physical vax cards with us, 100% of the places we have gone accept the Clear digital vaccine card – including airlines, State of Hawaii (the screening done to enter the state), Aulani and every restaurant out here that we have gone to. Very convenient.
- We flew from NC to Seattle for a couple of days to see friends and then took Hawaiian Air to Honolulu. Check in for the flight to HNL was a breeze. I had done everything needed on the State of Hawaii travel site ahead of time so all we had to do was to show the QR code to the agent (it was emailed to us a week or so before the flight). As above, we also showed the Clear digital vaccine card. They did not ask to see our paper vax card. They gave us a wristband and told us to not remove it until we checked into our hotel.
- On arrival at HNL, we got off the plane and walked toward baggage claim. At one point, we reached an airport security agent who was looking for the wristbands we had been issued for the flight out. Those that had wristbands were directed into a “you’ve been screened” walkway. Those that had to be screened here went onto another walkway. We had been screened so I can’t comment on what the other line was like.
- Got the bags and boarded the shuttle bus to the new consolidated rental car facility. It just opened 12/1. While it’s a typical rental car facility, it’s SO MUCH nicer than the separate buildings that they used to all have at HNL.
- Aulani check-in was fast & easy. As others have stated, currently no lei’s when you arrive. Baggage services and valet are all the same as usual. The check-in desk does have plexiglass partitions with speakers that makes it feel a bit like you’re in an old-school bank. It’s better than trying to scream through plexiglass with a mask on, though.
- They check your vax status. They accepted our Clear digital card and we didn’t have to pull our paper vax cards out of the bag. Then they put an Aulani wrist band on that indicated you are “clear”. They told us to keep the paper wristband on (the one we got in Seattle when we were screened on the way out) until we got to our room.
- Crowds seem lower than normal here at the resort. Not sure what % they are throttling at right now. We’re wait-listed for 1 additional night so whatever percentage they are targeting, it’s full to that number.
- We tend to get out & explore Hawaii rather than spending a ton of time at the resort. But some comments on how things feel at Aulani itself right now…
- Lots more pool and beach chairs available than normal.
- More self-parking spaces in the garage!
- Generally, lines are shorter for just about everything – towels, etc.
- Shops are open & well-stocked
- Housekeeping is the same as normal (full cleaning on your 4th day. Trash pickup every day.
- Restaurants…
- Ama Ama remains closed. We ended up taking to the person who is going to be the manager when it re-opens. He said it will re-open as Ama Ama but it will be another 6 months. No details on changes other than “there’s a lot of paint stored in there ready to go up”.
- Off The Hook is using a lot of the outdoor areas that used to be Ama Ama. And it’s much more of a pool “restaurant” than a bar like it used to be. Kid-friendly menu. No bar seating – just tables. And there is a host; you have to check in even if you are getting a drink to go.
- Makahiki is open and as others have said, it’s no longer a buffet. We haven’t been and weren’t planning on it anyway… so I can’t comment.
- The Olelo Room is open but with limited capacity. Musicians are there. But seating is limited. Even to get drinks at 8:00 PM last night, we had to get on a wait list.
- Next, some general comments on Oahu…
- Highway traffic seems a bit down. But I wouldn’t say it’s way down.
- We grabbed lunch and hit a few stops in Honolulu when we got here Sunday. It was as busy as usual. Everything was open.
- We’ve been up to the North Shore. Monday was MLK Day and it was very busy – like a typical weekend day. Everything was open.
- We went out on the Kai Oli Oli last night (https://www.oceanjoycruises.com/cruises/sunset-snorkel-dinner-cruise/). It was at full capacity (about 40). And as usual, it was great. Masks-on when you go into the cabin (there’s a roof over your head so that’s the rule) – outside was all mask-off.
- We’ve been to a few restaurants, grocery stores and lot of shops off-property. Everything is open and well-stocked.
- Went scuba diving at Electric Beach yesterday morning. Having nothing to do with state law or Covid, we obviously had our masks on and even brought our own air supply! But felt like the normal amount of people on the beach and lots of snorkelers. Swells are up so visibility isn’t great at the end of the pipe (for the scuba divers reading this). It clears up substantially just beyond the pipe. We saw about half a dozen sea turtles.
I think returning-guests’ relative position on the “happy to disappointed scale” is going to be pre-determined before you leave home. If you come out here knowing you’re going to be upset when Ama Ama is closed or that they aren’t going to hang a lei around your neck when you get out of the car, you may want to get beyond that. Or if you come out here thinking that you don’t want to mask-up and/or thinking that everything is going to be just like it was before Covid, you should probably stay home.
No matter where you live, things are different today than they were before Covid. Same deal in Hawaii. So, if you come out here fine with the fact that you will have a mask on in any public place where there is a roof over your head, then I think you’ll enjoy it again out here. Even paradise has to deal with Covid.
