Pictures of Aulani at Ko'Olina, Ohau, Hawaii

[Daddio]

We drove by the new resort the other day and were a little surprised by the surroundings. Once outside of the Honolulu area, you pass a fair bit of industrial land as you get closer to Ko'Olina. It is a bit of a disappointment as the lush green lands change to a discolored brownish color. Not until you are entering the developed areas of Ko'Olina does the lavish landscape return. My initial thoughs are of confinment if one does not have a vehicle because there is nothing in or around the area, Very isolated.

 

[Daddio]

 

[Daddio]

 

[Daddio]

 

[Daddio]

 

[joandegennaro]

Thanks for the pics. Is this resort no on the water? I would have expected it to be on a beach.

 

[Daddio]

Thanks for the pics. Is this resort no on the water? I would have expected it to be on a beach.

Yes, if the buildings were transparent, you would see the ocean.

David

 

[TLPL]

Thanks for the pics. Is this resort no on the water? I would have expected it to be on a beach.

yes. It is on the beach.... and it has walls and windows and plants and grass too. Not showing on these pictures doesn't mean it doesn't exisit!

 

[lodgelady]

I'm looking forward to visiting this resort- thanks for the photos, and the heads-up on the location.

 

[DenLo]

Thanks for the photos and report on the area. I have to admit I still find it to be exciting that the DVC will be in Hawaii.

 

[Sammie]

Not only isolated but if you do some research on that area they have had some issues with safety.

Many articles have stated they hope since Disney is coming to the area it will improve.

 

[rparmfamily]

The area is perfectly safe. The major shopping area near Ko'Olina is Kapolei and that's a nice place to live and shop/eat. Brand new theaters, Target, Costco, and a new huge mall is in the works. The resort is quite a drive to Honolulu, so don't stay there if you plan on hanging out in Waikiki.

The resort is on a manmade lagoon that is on the ocean. The view is spectacular and the sunsets are amazing. The Ko'Olina resort area is gorgeous, lush and green. There is a Roy's there and Paradise Cove Luau as well (very popular.)

I live in central O'ahu and don't find any of those areas unsafe at all. I live by Pearl Harbor and regularly go to Ko'Olina and the surrounding areas.

 

[SunnieRN]

Great pictures, great information! Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to climb onto a magical express bus in Hawaii!!??

 

[Nikisha421]

The area is perfectly safe. The major shopping area near Ko'Olina is Kapolei and that's a nice place to live and shop/eat. Brand new theaters, Target, Costco, and a new huge mall is in the works. The resort is quite a drive to Honolulu, so don't stay there if you plan on hanging out in Waikiki.

The resort is on a manmade lagoon that is on the ocean. The view is spectacular and the sunsets are amazing. The Ko'Olina resort area is gorgeous, lush and green. There is a Roy's there and Paradise Cove Luau as well (very popular.)

I live in central O'ahu and don't find any of those areas unsafe at all. I live by Pearl Harbor and regularly go to Ko'Olina and the surrounding areas.

It's alwasy a breath of fresh air when you get information from someone that has first hand experience of the neigborhood...

....thanks for the pictures

 

[rparmfamily]

triple post LOL

 

[rparmfamily]

Oh and I'll add (since the OP mentioned it) it is on the dry, desert part of the island. Catcus out there even LOL. To me, it looks more like southern California as you drive by...but once you get to the resort it's very green from the sprinklers LOL. But this means GORGEOUS weather year round, they don't really get the rain in winter like the rest of the island gets.

Different parts of all the Hawaiian islands are different, each usually has a wet side and dry side. Ko'Olina is on the dry side. (Leeward side as it's called)

If it matters, we own DVC as well, BLT and SSR. Members since 2006.

Pics of Ko'Olina from my blog. This is a lagoon or 2 over (there are 4, plus one "hidden")

 

[rparmfamily]

double post

 

[magicaldisney]

Great pictures. It is really coming along quickly.

 

[bookwormde]

Thanks, looks like they are topping out.

bookwormde

 

[TLPL]

I live in central O'ahu and don't find any of those areas unsafe at all. I live by Pearl Harbor and regularly go to Ko'Olina and the surrounding areas.

Yeah! we got outselevs a local who can show us the real Hawaii!
so what is there to do in around Ko'Olina when you go there? What kind of adventures do you recommand for people like us from the mainland? I don't think I want to just hanging out in Waikiki. I want to see nature stuff and things that are different than what we will find in WDW. I imagine Waikiki is just like any other metro area, highrises, restaurant chains, shopping malls, right?