Our Aulani Adventure - Pre Trip Report

[LBear1121]

Hello everyone!

We’ve got one month left until our Aulani vacation and I’m pretty sure I am about to explode with excitement already. I’ve decided to write a pre-trip report for a few reasons. First, it’s gotten to the point that if I start to say anything that even starts with “Haw…” my friends and family run away…I'm just soooooo excited! So apparently I need a new outlet for my Aulani obsession. Also, there has to be others like me that search “Aulani” multiple times a day praying for new posts, so I decided to make one. Lucky you! Any tips, opinions, or comments are welcome. OK, let’s get started!

Where: Aulani!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Duh…)

When: April 1-9, unless I can convince DBF (Is that Dis for Boyfriend? It is now) that we should just skip the flight back and live there forever.

Who:


I'm the one on the right. That's my dad and my little sister also.

Me, Lindsey, 26. I love being outdoors and warm weather. I’m a Disney veteran, not sure exactly how many times I’ve been to the World but I would guess no less than 50. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Disney, but my one true dream since forever has been to go to Hawaii. Conversations typically went something like this…
Me: “Mom, can we pleeeeeease go to Hawaii?”
Mom: “Sure, maybe, probably next year.”
A few months pass
Mom: “Just booked our vacation to Disney”
Me: “Yay!!!! But what about Hawaii?”
Mom: “Oh, right, probably next year.”
This has gone on for DECADES. But then I heard the magical, amazing news that would make all of my dreams come true! Disney is building a resort in Hawaii!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Yes! Yes! YES!!!! LET THE PLANNING BEGIN!!!! See…there’s that excitement I was talking about…


Mike on one of our fishing trips.

DBF, Mike, 29. We’ve been together for about two and a half years now. He also likes being outdoors, but not so much the warm weather. He had NEVER been to Disney before last year. Taking him on his first trip…I won’t lie, I was worried. What if he didn’t love it? One of the main things I love about Disney is the food, and Mike is a very particular eater. Examples of food Mike will not eat: mashed potatoes, strawberries, fish, any vegetable. Example of food Mike will eat: liverwurst. Seriously…meat should not be spreadable. Not to worry though, he loved it! Actually after we got back from Disney, he suggested pushing back Hawaii and going to Disney again first. I can’t remember my exact response, I think I might have blacked out. He never brought it up again though…


Both of us at a Chicago Blackhawks game. So young and in love.

Plans:
Day One – Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Our flight leaves Chicago at 8am and we have a stop at San Francisco before continuing on to Hawaii. We land at 2pm Hawaii time. We’re using Hawaiidiscountcarrental.com for our rental. I’m planning on stopping at Leonard’s Malasadas truck on the way to Aulani. They look so yummy! Not many plans for today besides that. Just explore the resort and get some food on site.

Day Two – Wednesday, April 2, 2014
North Shore day. Going to wake up and head over to hike Waimea Valley. The pictures look so beautiful. After that, snorkel at Waimea Bay/Sharks Cove/Three Tables/Turtle Beach. If anyone has snorkeled at any of these before, do you have a favorite? Lunch will be at Ted’s Bakery I think. The garlic shrimp sounds delicious. We need to get some groceries after that. Just some fruit for breakfasts and some simple things for lunches. Does anyone have any opinion is best/cheapest/easiest to get to on the way back from the North Shore? The rest of the day will be relaxing at the resort and Monkeypod for dinner. Originally I wanted to rent some jet skis from Watercraft Connection this day as well, but Mike said $70 bucks for a half hour was too much. Has anyone done this? Did you think it was worth it or is my DBF right?

Day Three – Thursday, April 3, 2014
Pretty much all day will be spent kayaking in Kane’ohe Bay. There’s a sunken island a little ways out that looks fun. We’re planning on renting the kayaks from Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks. For dinner I want to go to Hale’iwa Joes at the Haiku Gardens. Does anyone have experience here? There website says beach clothes are welcome, but I’m a little bit worried about what we’re going to be looking like after kayaking all day.

Day Four – Friday, April 4, 2014
Nothing really planned for the morning today, maybe snorkeling at Papaoneone Beach which seems pretty close to Aulani. At 3:30pm we’re planning on doing the 2 hour ATV tour at Kualoa Ranch. I didn’t originally have us doing this, as I heard it was a bit touristy, but reviews seem really positive. Has anyone done this? Mike was a big Lost fan and is interested in seeing where it was filmed.

Day Five – Saturday, April 5, 2014
Wake up early and hike Diamondhead. I would like to stop by the Farmer’s Market near there as well. Has anyone been to the Farmer’s Market? Otherwise, just a resort day. Probably doing Mokeypod for dinner again.

Day Six – Sunday, April 6, 2014
Complete resort day. Do as little as possible. Makahiki Buffet for dinner.

Day Seven – Monday, April 7, 2014
Planning on hiking Manoa Valley today. After that snorkeling at Ka’alawai Beach/Kahala Beach/Hanauma Bay. Has anyone been to any of these beaches? Do you have a favorite? I read that it is possible to get lunch at Happy’s Grill in the Hale Koa Hotel for very cheap. Has anyone tried this?

Day Eight – Tuesday, April 8, 2014
No plans today. It’s our last full day in Aulani.

Day Nine – Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Our flight takes off at 7pm so we’ll just be hanging out at the pool until then. With any luck, I’ll have Mike convinced that we really shouldn’t take that flight.

One more question, are they still allowing you to take the snorkels that you rent at Aulani to other beaches? I was planning on using those for our snorkel trips but I read that they had stopped letting you do that.

Thanks!
Lindsey

 

[disneypoor]

Thanks for the pre-trip report! Like you, I check these boards every day (sometimes multiple times ) just to see if there is any new info or new trip reports for Aulani. We'd go August 2nd and can't wait! We have done a Hawaiian cruise and also spent spring break at Maui, but we've never been to Aulani. I like your idea of skipping the flight home. I might try that with my DH.

I look forward to following along until your trip gets here and hope you do a full report when you get back.

Susan

 

[lablady]

Yep, I'm one of those that checks in looking for Aulani posts! We will be there soon, 3-27 thru 4-5. Can't wait!

Your plans look like a lot of fun! Looks like you will be all over the island everyday. I had lots of plans when we went there a couple years ago, but only did about half of them cause the resort sucked us in....got so we didn't like spending so much time on the road when we could be in the lazy river. We have very few plans this time around, but we'll be going to Pearl Harbor since my Dh really wants to see it. That's ok cause me and our girls didn't go there last time. We took a snorkeling trip right out of Ko Olina marina last time and will be doing that again. It was so nice to not have to cross the island for it.

Have fun planning, hopefully the time will zip right by and you'll be in Hawaii in no time!

 

[Inga]

Thanks for the pre-trip report! We will see you there on the 5th and 6th...we will be primarily hanging out at the resort to get our time zone legs underneath us en route to New Zealand!

Have fun

Inga

 

[WolffDVC2004]

I am also one of those people who check daily for updates or any new trip reports about Aulani! I am so excited about our upcoming trip! My husband has actually told me to chill out a little bit.

Anyway, we are going May 18 - 26. It will be myself, my husband and our 3.5 year old son.

I bought the Oahu Revealed travel book to help us with our planning.

Looks like you have a great plan for your week.

 

[eagle29]

Love your enthusiasm! It's been 10 years since I've been to Hawaii and can't wait to get back and check out Aulani!

I believe that any American that has the chance to visit the island of Oahu should make every effort to visit Pearl Harbor!!

have a great trip!!

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[sandyam76]

Hey there, following along too!! Totally jealous! We are planning our third trip back to Aulani, but we have to wait until next February/March!! UGH!!!! You will have an amazing time though!! Might I recommend hiking Diamond Head, it seems you and DBF like hiking and outdoors, and this is definitely a great hike! We went early in the morning so it wasn't so hot, after our hike we drove into Waikiki and ate at the famous Duke's, they had a great breakfast and of course an amazing view!!! Roy's is also across from Aulani, and they have some really great deals for happy hour drinks and appetizers! MMMMM Pineapple Martini!!! I can't wait to hear all about your trip!!!!

 

[wanderlust17]

Yay! Looks like we will be at Aulani at the same time. We get there on the 3rd. We are only staying 4 nights which is ok because we are literally not leaving the resort. We actually live here on Oahu so we are going just to experience Aulani. We can't wait. It's also out 10th anniversary so we are so excited!

Yes get to Leonard's!!! It is fabulous. Yum! I don't have many tips because we haven't lived here too long and aren't too familiar with everything. My husband is Navy so we just moved here from Washington. But we absolutely love it and you won't want to leave!! Have fun!