Lama pa'ipa'i on the Lanai – an Aulani TR -Aloha and Mahalo Aulani! Link to PTR 11/5

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm glad you finally got settled in and got in vacation mode! It is so frustrating to have details to deal with when you're ready to get your pool on! Beautiful view! That was definitely worth moving for!

 

[Pinkocto]

It's pricey from the east but if you are somewhere where there might be deals to LA, SFO, SEA or PDX then sometimes you can work multiple legs having the HI roundtrip out of one of those locations and bring the overall cost down.

Thank for all the tips! I'm really close to BWI which is a major hub, so will have to remember to be creative when looking at flights.

After some serious thinking and looking at the points charts again I've decided to stay with the 2015 plan. I really want a 1BR Oceanview, and for that I need to wait a little bit. I'm also going to do off season to save on flights.

 

[GoofyFan1515]

However, this one was much prettier! And was tasty too!

Interesting bit of research on the history of the Mai Tai. This one looks a lot more like the one I had upon arrival when I was there, except it was in a tumbler sized glass, so a little larger.........and quite potent!!!

 

[goterps1986]

I didn't know you could email your room request to member services. I called them last month. Do you think it's better to email and maybe I should add 10th floor or higher instead of just high floor? And why did you request specific/even numbers?

We have a car and are heading to Pearl Harbor one of the days. Do you have any recommendations for eating places close by or anything else that's must see? Thanks!

 

[rentayenta]

We are lucky to have a lot of good choices from here for direct, but I was thrilled to be on Alaska both for miles and service. Last couple of trips we've been on United with a layover in LAX or SFO based on price and direct is just so much nicer when it works out!



Very good question as it really originated in California! Blame it on Elvis?

According to good old Wikipedia....

History
It was purportedly invented at the Trader Vic's restaurant in Oakland, California, in 1944. Trader Vic's rival, Don the Beachcomber, claimed to have created it in 1933 at his then-new bar named for himself (later a famous restaurant) in Hollywood. Don the Beachcomber's recipe is more complex than that of Vic's and tastes quite different.
"Maita'i" is the Tahitian word for "good"; but the drink is spelled as two words, sometimes hyphenated or capitalized.
The Trader Vic story of its invention is that the Trader (Victor J. Bergeron) created it one afternoon for some friends who were visiting from Tahiti. One of those friends, Carrie Guild, tasted it and cried out: "Maita'i roa ae!" (Literally "very good!", figuratively "Out of this world! The Best!") — hence the name.

Recipe
There are many recipes for Mai Tais. Eleven of them, including three different versions of Trader Vic's, as well as the recipe of Don the Beachcomber, can be found at Wikibooks Mai Tai.

Culture
The Mai Tai became such a popular cocktail in the 1950s and '60s that many restaurants, particularly tiki-themed restaurants or bars, served them. The Mai Tai was also prominently featured in the Elvis Presley film Blue Hawaii.

Today, the Mai Tai is synonymous with Tiki culture both past and present.
As of 2008, Trader Vic's Restaurant chain began to open small establishments called Mai Tai Bars that primarily serve cocktails and pupus (appetizers).


I will say from personal experience the Don the Beachcombers version is MUCH better. When we were on the big island in 2011 on our last Hawaii couples trip, we did compare many mai tais and this was my favorite



However, this one was much prettier! And was tasty too!





Gotta love happy hour in Hawaii. I do like them but as we made rum/juice drinks out of the room, it isn't what I chose to order when we went out this time around.





It's a lovely lei.

Coffee.



Yes, for a man concerned that Aulani would be too Disney, to voluntarily choose a character buffet...



It is a stunning resort, just lovely.



The upsell was supremely annoying! We really liked the buffet. It is pricey but I am glad we did it. Not any worse than WDW ones..or really any Hawaii resort buffet I guess. We loved our room.

Both look incredible that's for sure. My mouth is watering.

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia, I am finally caught up again.

Now, your second room and view are just awesome and the photo of you and Jeff in the lazy river is great.

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks Karin! We LOVED our room and oh that Lazy River...Sigh.

I'm glad you finally got settled in and got in vacation mode! It is so frustrating to have details to deal with when you're ready to get your pool on! Beautiful view! That was definitely worth moving for!

Definitely worth moving for!!!!!!!! The first day always seems to have some of those kinds of details, as does moving day so at least it was all at once right?

Thank for all the tips! I'm really close to BWI which is a major hub, so will have to remember to be creative when looking at flights.

After some serious thinking and looking at the points charts again I've decided to stay with the 2015 plan. I really want a 1BR Oceanview, and for that I need to wait a little bit. I'm also going to do off season to save on flights.

That's a good plan and is what we are hoping to do for the next trip!

I didn't know you could email your room request to member services. I called them last month. Do you think it's better to email and maybe I should add 10th floor or higher instead of just high floor? And why did you request specific/even numbers?

I like to email as I can be super specific. When you call they will not enter it that specifically but will generalize it to match the options you see when you check in online. High floor is probably sufficient though and I almost left it at that. What isn't clear is if the online check in options override. When I checked in for our first night it showed a drop down for room request but then there were no options. Once I completed the check in and looked back it showed "room near lobby" so it appeared that my request did override the online option instead of the reverse but I've no idea if that is true or not and I didn't want to risk it with online check in for the OV. No clue how it will work at WDW with the whole my magic thing as I think that may force the 60 day check in to be able to use it but too early to know for sure.

We have a car and are heading to Pearl Harbor one of the days. Do you have any recommendations for eating places close by or anything else that's must see? Thanks!

We did not to go Pearl, having both been there before. I did find a brewpub nearby it that got great reviews and we considered going to, I will dig that up as I still have the info. Not sure what is right around it eating wise. What else are you planning? Our trip was pretty heavy on the outdoors activities as you will see, versus cultural or historical.

Both look incredible that's for sure. My mouth is watering.

Mine too. Well not really, it's a bit early in the day for it but they are pretty aren't they!

 

[rentayenta]

It's 12:30 here friend, not too early at all. Too bad I've got oodles of stuff to do after work today. Joshua has an MD appt (allergies), oil change, scrimmage for soccer, garden, blah blah.....but it's gorgeous out so I don't mind at all.

 

[eandesmom]

It's 12:30 here friend, not too early at all. Too bad I've got oodles of stuff to do after work today. Joshua has an MD appt (allergies), oil change, scrimmage for soccer, garden, blah blah.....but it's gorgeous out so I don't mind at all.

4:30 here, almost time and after a supremely depressing day it sure looks good.

Sigh.

Hopefully a good workout will snap me out of it. This allergy stuff is depressing. I hope Josh's appointment went well.

 

[Nora03]

Hi Cynthia
I hope your depressing day was nothing more than lousy weather, and that everything is okay.

Those Mai Tai's look so good. Wish I liked dark rum. I do like light rum and discovered spiced rum lately. It's yummy and tastes like egg nog!

Hoping for more trip report soon when you get time to post.

Nora

 

[Poolrat]

Yes I hope your depressing day is not serious.

Wonderful Mai Tais and love a good one.

Good to hear about the PP around the resort. Nothing better than the lazy river, all caught up for now but this week is going to be a killer.

 

[rentayenta]

4:30 here, almost time and after a supremely depressing day it sure looks good.

Sigh.

Hopefully a good workout will snap me out of it. This allergy stuff is depressing. I hope Josh's appointment went well.

Hope everything is ok friend.


The doctor gave Joshua a mild nasal spray. It seems to work ok, nothing miraculous.


Happy Father's Day to Jeff.

 

[goterps1986]

Thanks for all the great info!

What was the name of the brewpub-Aloha Brewing Co or Kona maybe? I'm always up for a good brewpub!

We are also driving to the north shore and making a few stops-shrimp truck, shaved ice, turtle beach? etc.

If we don't get in until 6 PM or so, is it better to do the online reservation? I wasn't going to but since we get in so late, will we only get what's left?

 

[tinacaplan]

Tina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Aloha and my friend! I am so happy to have you here, you've been missed.

Awww..thanks! I missed all of you, too!

Wow...Aulani is gorgeous. It does look an awful lot like AKL, but I suppose that's to be expected given that it is the same architect. And I love it....an updated Poly!

And, oh, man...that lazy river! The pool makes my beloved Storm Along Bay look like nothing! Amazing!

 

[eandesmom]

Hi Cynthia
I hope your depressing day was nothing more than lousy weather, and that everything is okay.

Everything is ok, just having a pity party for myself lol!

Contact allergies acting up and no real solutions....

Those Mai Tai's look so good. Wish I liked dark rum. I do like light rum and discovered spiced rum lately. It's yummy and tastes like egg nog!

Hoping for more trip report soon when you get time to post.

Nora

I love coconut rum! Yes, I will have an update soon. Crazy busy, kids are still in school and between end of year stuff, work, fathers day and allergy complications...I'm behind!

Yes I hope your depressing day is not serious.

Oh it's more trying to move out of grief into acceptance phase regarding my contact allergies. They are deeper and more complicated than I realized and it's a pricey, depressing situation.

Wonderful Mai Tais and love a good one.

Good to hear about the PP around the resort. Nothing better than the lazy river, all caught up for now but this week is going to be a killer.

That's my week and weekend, yowza! Won't get better till next week but I will get an update up this week I promise!

Hope everything is ok friend.


The doctor gave Joshua a mild nasal spray. It seems to work ok, nothing miraculous.

K's have been nasty. My seasonal ones are medium right now, it's the contact allergy that's the issue. Or really, the issue is my slowly truly realizing the depth of it.

Happy Father's Day to Jeff.

I hope M had a great one! Jeff did, it was a lovely day all around, I even got pictures!!

Thanks for all the great info!

What was the name of the brewpub-Aloha Brewing Co or Kona maybe? I'm always up for a good brewpub!

Kona is over near Koko Head so not remotely near Pearl but it is super yummy!

"Real, a Gastropub" was one of them and the other one is Aloha Beer.

We are also driving to the north shore and making a few stops-shrimp truck, shaved ice, turtle beach? etc.

If we don't get in until 6 PM or so, is it better to do the online reservation? I wasn't going to but since we get in so late, will we only get what's left?

Jeff isn't big on shrimp and me, well, they are ok but super messy that way so we skipped the shrimp truck. Same thing with shaved ice, not really our thing. We did hit a Mexican place we really liked on the Northshore.

With a 6pm arrival you may have a better chance at your request with online.

Awww..thanks! I missed all of you, too!

Wow...Aulani is gorgeous. It does look an awful lot like AKL, but I suppose that's to be expected given that it is the same architect. And I love it....an updated Poly!

And, oh, man...that lazy river! The pool makes my beloved Storm Along Bay look like nothing! Amazing!

We both liked Aulani's Valley a lot better than SAB but then again, we were there without kids. You could lose your kids just as easily as you could at SAB. The river is better that's for sure, actual pool SAB might have the edge..I do love that sand bottom and the "swirly" part!

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Sorry to hear about your allergy issues! Apparently I had some unknown ones myself last week that knocked me down for two or three days!

Feeling better now.......hope you are too!!!

 

[MEK]

Being two updates behind wasn't too terrible.

I'm actually speed reading, so I'm sure I didn't catch it all.

First room view - yikes! Looks familiar though. What a shame the resort design had to have rooms with that view.

Real room view - AWESOME! I just saw Mark's view on FB and it looks pretty darn great, too.

Breakfast - yum.

Top - adorable. Thought it was a dress at first.

Lazy river - ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Mai tai photos - yes - they make me want to go back on vacation.

 

[eandesmom]

Sorry to hear about your allergy issues! Apparently I had some unknown ones myself last week that knocked me down for two or three days!

Feeling better now.......hope you are too!!!

Unfortunately it isn't a seasonal thing and a bit complicated so...feeling about the same which is to be expected. I will live

Being two updates behind wasn't too terrible.

I'm actually speed reading, so I'm sure I didn't catch it all.

I'm behind on the updates, kids are still in school till friday and you know how those last 2 weeks are

First room view - yikes! Looks familiar though. What a shame the resort design had to have rooms with that view.

Real room view - AWESOME! I just saw Mark's view on FB and it looks pretty darn great, too.

We LOVED our view and the first one was funny.

They scored on that one, there are a few that have that view in that category but not many, total score!

Breakfast - yum.

Top - adorable. Thought it was a dress at first.

Lazy river - ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Mai tai photos - yes - they make me want to go back on vacation.

Breakfast was yum! I want to go back on vacation too...these past 2 weeks have eroded any relaxation obtained. I need to get my zen back!

Welcome home! I am behind everywhere and don't expect to get caught up for at least a week but hope to make a dent on Sunday.

 

[eandesmom]

Sorry for the big gap in updates! Life is nutty. The E's are still in school until Friday and those last 2 weeks are...UGH! I’m ready to drop kick both of them into the lake. LOL. It has been an event nightly and daily over the weekends as well. Mostly all good but barely keeping my head above water. So...I’m behind. I do hope everyone had a lovely father’s day, Jeff did!

I made Jeff his requested breakfast and the E’s gave him this



We spent the afternoon at the lake, where I took a rare picture of Jeff and all the kids



Eric practiced being buried alive which as some of you know, they both rather like.







As you can see, it wasn't all that warm!

We finished it up with steaks on the grill and a movie out for Jeff and the big kids as the younger ones still had school the next day.

Before I finish up our day one in Aulani, I need some input on the NYE trip debacle.

To be fair, it isn't officially a debacle yet but it might be. It may not be. Right now no one other than my parents can really commit. And...it is SUPPOSED to be a trip for/with my dad while he still can. He is dying to go back to WDW and to WWOHP. Much as I wish there wasn't, there is a clock ticking. We've been talking about it, trying to plan it for years. Every time my dad has a scare everyone gets serious, wants to do it, insists we HAVE to and then when things are good...it seems to slide.

The E's see this as their dream vacation with their cousins.

The drama players are...

Sister #1 + her 2 kids (and possible her DBF and his 2 kids?). Single mom who just finished her masters (Teaching, special ed) and needs to get a job. Which isn’t likely until august/sept as actual spots are posted or after school starts and they can add more. Was all set to commit anyway but...now needs a new roof. Pretty big setback.

Sister #2 and her DH. Is trying to get PG. Depending on if she does, may still go but solo. BIL is a Disney resister and she wants him to have the “full” experience and worries it will be limited if she is pg. (in other words, she plans to entice him with drinking around the world and if she can’t partake, she thinks he will hate it). Sigh.

Brother and/or ex-SIL and one of their 2 kids. Older child is headed out as an exchange student to Sardinia. They are freaked out about the unknown costs for that and "can’t think about it" until after he is shipped off next month. Oh and BIL has decided to become a small business owner, funded by someone else but in the meantime has no income. Which means he is stiffing my ex SIL on CS (don’t get me started) so things are tight for her.Sigh.

So, as it stands we have a rooms booked for 8-9 of the group. My parents plan to book a room (but haven't) but did buy PH’s before the price increase.
I get it. It’s more than 7 months out. No biggie right? Yeah except for airfare stalking and more importantly in the immediate sense...ADR’s! When you have a party that could be anywhere from 6-14 and NO input from others other than they expect me to handle it...it's a little hard to plan. My parents have weighed in that they will go wherever the kids want (as in my kids/the collective grandkids, not theirs lol). The others "can’t think about it" yet as they are focused on roofs, masters program completions, exchange students and jobs. Ok but...it's NYE..I need to book reservations ON our 180 day booking window or we will be eating in the villa EVERY NIGHT!

Sigh.

Here is what I am thinking. Make a bunch of reservations for parties of 6 and 8. I'm not even going to attempt a larger single table booking as if we drop from 14 to 6…that will be an issue and "I" don't want to end up with nothign. Thinking that a reservation for 6 and 8 with a note that we are together is much more flexible and then to show up with less, much less of an issue as well. I can book under my name for one and the other under Jeff but I am going to have to call do to it that way. I am also thinking of maybe making them for every night even though we do plan probably 2 dinners in the villa just to allow for flexibility. Here is what I am looking at. 2 of the nephews are really picky eaters, everyone else is easy. We will likely do TIW.

The group, if everyone comes would be up to 8 adults and 6 tween/teen boys, maybe 2 additional tween/teen girls (age ranges for all kids are 12-16). Dates are 12/29-1/7 with 12/29-1/4 at BWV, 4th-7th at THV.

Dinners (need 9 if I book all nights…assume Margaritaville for one of course!)
Initial thoughts

1. Biergarten / Candlelight Processional Package. Kids are kind of set on eating there
2. Rose & Crown. Thinking of this for NYE (New for all of us) On my list, others don’t have a reference point for it yet.
3. Big River (haven’t been since 2004) Big brewpub family all around, nice and close to BWV
4. Margaritaville (must do)
5. Prime Time Café (went in 2008) Jeff wanted this one, go figure!
6. Via Napoli Lunch or Dinner (new to kids and Jeff)
7. Flying Fish for Date night (may be Via for lunch on this day) (new to Jeff)
8. 1900 Park Fare (went in 2010) Also a Jeff idea/request but is on the E’s list as well.
9. Olivias (went in 2012, very high on kids list)
10. Be our Guest (thinking that getting this AFTER NYE may be easier to get?) We all really want to do dinner here but lunch will be a fallback. It’s probably the riskiest menu for the picky nephews

Breakfast ideas

• Kouzzina (after red eye)
• Captains Grille (alternative option to Kouzzina)
• Raglan Road Brunch

Other places I was considering

• Ohana (didn’t come up on kids lists but is a good group spot)
• Trails End (would be new to all)
• Tokyo Dining (would be new to all)
• Boma (went in 2008, might be a bit exotic for the nephews)
• Sanaa (went in 2010, may be a bit exotic for the nephews)
• Yak & Yeti (went in 2012)
• WCC (have only done breakfast, might be fun with all the nephews)
• Raglan Road Dinner (went in 2010, 2011)

I've got 2 weeks until ADR day (well really 12 full days from now) so need to come up with a plan. Input is tremendously appreciated. Anything I am missing, should consider, etc.

Thanks!

And the rest of the update coming soon….after Eric's court of honor tonight, a work golf tournament, a houseguest, a graduation, and 3 graduation parties.



And sorry for being a bit of a whiner on the allergy front, it's been a bit of a rough couple of weeks. I have a contact allergy that is much more extensive than I realized and it's made clothing quite the challenge. I spent quite a bit of time online shopping last week, in contact with multiple manufacturers and at several stores and really the bottom line is..

I'm kinda screwed. I'm dealing with it mentally but ugh, it is a major bummer and incredibly grustrating.

 

[Pinkocto]

How frustrating with the non commitors! I would definitely book everything now and cancel if needs be. You definitely don't want to be scrambling at the last minute. Will you guys have cars or rely totally on the buses?

How about the Turf Club? I've read very good reviews.

I think Boma and Sanaa might be too exotic as well but there's usually something tame on the kids menu.

How about Sci Fi? That's always fun. Might be a problem with the big groups though.

A friend just went to Kona Cafe and it looked delicious. I don't know how much transportation you want to do. I've discovered for me I don't like to spend too much time getting to meals, but I don't know how you guys are with that. I'm guessing ok from the list.

I'll think of more.

I'm sorry about the allergy.

 

[rentayenta]

Jeff got a new car for Father's Day? Don't be doing that; it makes the rest of us look bad.

I'll go back and finish reading, I just had to post that.