Mele Kalikimaka-Our Almost Christmas Aulani & Maui Trip (w/LOTS OF PICS & GV PICS)!

[lilpooh108]

Wonderful, wonderful report. You have the perfect ratio of text and photos.
I was amazed at the picture of the Fish Market in Paia---with no people around. Every time we have been in Paia there were crowds and traffic jams. I agree that the food is great and certainly cheaper than Mama's! We love to watch the wind surfers near Mama's.

Thanks for the compliment about the report!

About Paia Fish Market--the first time we went there it was around 2pm, so the lunch crowd had already left (though it was still really really busy). The second time we went it was 11:30 a.m. or so, and 10 minutes after we found parking and seats, the line was out the door and people were getting hostile jostling for seats. Thank goodness we had already sat! We love the food there!

We really wanted to go to Mama's on this trip. You're right--the beach there is lovely! We decided against it since DD is 2 1/2 and is slightly unpredictable in terms of her patience for "fine dining." We didn't want honeymooners glaring at us.

 

[bjakmom]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and wonderful photos (love food photos)! Beautiful resort - but not on my favorite island - if only they had built it on Maui they would have gotten a good chunk of my retirement $$ I'm sure we'll try and spend a few days there at some point and hit the shrimp trucks and the north shore - before we head back to Maui of course.

 

[DVC Mike]

Great trip report!

 

[vandy]

Thanks for the great trip report and pictures....unfortunately too great. I now have to figure out a way for this thread to be blocked from being seen by my wife. She has been wanting to go there ever since it was announced and I know your report and pictures would only make her want to go even more!

 

[lilpooh108]

Thanks for the great trip report and pictures....unfortunately too great. I now have to figure out a way for this thread to be blocked from being seen by my wife. She has been wanting to go there ever since it was announced and I know your report and pictures would only make her want to go even more!

I read your comment out loud to my husband and he cracked up

 

[living20057]

Which rental car company did you use?

 

[Tinkermom3]

It's a cold winter day here in Kansas so I decided to do some research on Aulani even though we don't plan on going until summer 2013. I stumbled upon your trip report and want to thank you both for an amazing report and for transporting me, even if only for a bit, to warm island breezes and amazing sunsets! Wonderful pics!

We are trying to save our points and get a GV. Do you happen to have any other GV pics, mainly the bedrooms?

We also own with another timeshare and hope to stay at their resort on Kauai. Since I see that you also visited Maui was it a hassle to island hop?

 

[bethy]

We went to Aulani for a week and returned home just before Christmas. I haven't had time to do a proper trip report but will add that I agree with most everything written here.

IF I were tempted to buy at Aulani I wouldn't do so until the final phase had opened and we had a better feel for how the resort feels when at capacity. When we were there there were plenty of pool chairs and beach chairs avaiable during the week and the crowd levels felt perfect. It was busier on the weekends when it appeared more locals came to visit.

Speaking of locals, we did notice that seemingly half the people there appeared to be local residents and one woman shared with us that there were some very good incentives and discounts available to locals currently. It makes sense for the resort do to this - for many good reasons. We did notice however that there was a different feel to the crowd between the folks who were on vacation versus those who were having a fun weekend getaway. Both perspectives were good - it's just that we felt the difference.

Also about a third of the vacationing people we saw there were Japanese visitors and they were very fun to talk to, too.

Finally, I agree that the soundproofing BETWEEN the villas was stellar. BUT for us a huge design flaw we noticed was that there was basically no soundproofing and no privacy anywhere within our villa. For example you could hear every single sound made in the bathroom throughout the entire villa. We had a baby with us and it was soooo hard to manage in the villa and not wake her up. We finally learned to open the windows to the outside sounds and also run the very loud kitchen fan for white noise.

The doors between the rooms - including the bathroom were shutter style. Only they were literally shutters in that there was now solid material in between. So if you peered upwards you could see through the door.

Also there was no lock from the shared bathroom into the master bedroom. AND you could actually see down through the shutters from the vanity area onto the Master bed.

Needless to say it was not a very romantic vacation. Next time we might as well just get a studio.

Anyhoo, besides those negatives the resort was stellar - not in the greatest area - but AMAZING within itself. We also adored Oahu itself once we got out of Kapolei and Honolulu. We will be back for sure but not every year.

 

[lilpooh108]

The doors between the rooms - including the bathroom were shutter style. Only they were literally shutters in that there was now solid material in between. So if you peered upwards you could see through the door.

Also there was no lock from the shared bathroom into the master bedroom. AND you could actually see down through the shutters from the vanity area onto the Master bed.

Agreed. I guess I forgot about this problem since my DD sleeps like a college student (she's a toddler). I also noticed that the bedroom doors swung shut alot whenever the sliding glass doors were open (from the wind). It was a little dangerous w/a toddler around, but we were careful. While I was sleeping, I could hear everyone else moving about in the living room/kitchen.

Did you also notice that there was no ventilation (no fan of any kind) in the bathroom? Thought that was weird.

Which rental car company did you use?

We used Alamo. Look on Mousesavers for good codes/coupons.

We also own with another timeshare and hope to stay at their resort on Kauai. Since I see that you also visited Maui was it a hassle to island hop?

I didn't think so, but then again, we're not the kind of family that likes to stay in one place for more than 4 days or so. We've been to the islands before, and usually make more than 1 stop. I would recommend it. Interisland flights are relatively cheap, and if you are flying all the way to Hawaii you might as well try out something else! The scenery and the activities on each island is so different that I think you'd be missing out if you didn't do another island other than Oahu while you're there. I like Kauai, but I can't imagine staying a week there. I have a toddler and there's just not that much for her/us to do out there (she can't come hiking or kayaking w/us or anything, and she's too young for an entire pool day). But everyone has their preferences, just like each island has its own personality.

 

[lilpooh108]

We are trying to save our points and get a GV. Do you happen to have any other GV pics, mainly the bedrooms?

Here you go. I'm too lazy to label these, but all of these pictures are from the GV. The one w/the red quilt is the master bedroom, the one w/the blue quilts are the 2 queens in the 3rd bedroom. Of the 2 other bedrooms, only 1 is en suite. The outside shots are of the view. I took a picture pointing down at Rainbow Reef b/c I thought it was neat. The long picture of the balcony is the balcony for the GV. It stretches the entire width of the building.

Oh yea, there are TWO ENTRANCES INTO THE GV...one into the living room and one directly into a hallway near the master bedroom (pictured). It's blurry b/c the guide was about to leave and I was trying to get this last picture so I moved.

 

[spleen]

Speaking of locals, we did notice that seemingly half the people there appeared to be local residents and one woman shared with us that there were some very good incentives and discounts available to locals currently. It makes sense for the resort do to this - for many good reasons. We did notice however that there was a different feel to the crowd between the folks who were on vacation versus those who were having a fun weekend getaway. Both perspectives were good - it's just that we felt the difference.

Actually, as far as I know, Aulani has not been handing out many local discounts (we call it the kama'aina discount). What you may be seeing are locals who have relatives that work at Aulani and can get them cast member discounts that are staying there. Hawaii is a small place - everybody is related to somebody who knows somebody who works there. Off hand, I think I know about 3-5 people who work at Aulani myself.

 

[bethy]

Actually, as far as I know, Aulani has not been handing out many local discounts (we call it the kama'aina discount). What you may be seeing are locals who have relatives that work at Aulani and can get them cast member discounts that are staying there. Hawaii is a small place - everybody is related to somebody who knows somebody who works there. Off hand, I think I know about 3-5 people who work at Aulani myself.

Ah, that makes sense, too! That's one of the things I love about Hawaiian culuture - that close knit feel.

In some ways it reminds me of DLR versus WDW. DLR is my personal favorite in part because of the fact so many of the daily visitors are locals who come often and the atmosphere is more cozy and chill.

 

[Cinderpamela]

What a great TR and great pictures too, Thank You! We are heading to Aulani the end of July and I am trying to research. Your TR has been a huge help, especially on the food front, we will for sure be driving to Leonards!!

 

[luv2sleep]

Great trip report! I LOVE Hawaii too! Favorite place in the world! Love your pics!

How was splitting the visit with 3 nights on Maui and 4 nights at Aulani? Did you feel you had enough time at each place?

PS. I stayed at Honua Kai and loved that place! We had a studio with a partial ocean view. It looked mostly out onto the courtyard which I loved! Can't wait to go back to HK!

 

[lilpooh108]

Great trip report! I LOVE Hawaii too! Favorite place in the world! Love your pics!

How was splitting the visit with 3 nights on Maui and 4 nights at Aulani? Did you feel you had enough time at each place?

PS. I stayed at Honua Kai and loved that place! We had a studio with a partial ocean view. It looked mostly out onto the courtyard which I loved! Can't wait to go back to HK!

Thanks for the compliment!

Splitting actually was great, since the "speed" of the vacation was so different on each island that it felt like 2 different vacations. That being said, I wished we had 1 extra night on each island since it would have been much more relaxing that way.

It also helped that Honua Kai was such a beautiful place and an unexpected surprise. We were really sad we had to leave our beautiful condo, and of course Aulani offered so much to do that we really should have stayed an extra night there as well.

Have fun on your trip and let me know if you have any questions! We hope to make it back next year