Aulani facts for kids
| Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa | |
Quick facts for kids  Aulani Resort in August 2011 just prior to opening |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kapolei, Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 21°20′20″N 158°07′22″W / 21.338916°N 158.122707°W |
| Opening date | August 29, 2011 |
| Developer | Walt Disney Imagineering |
| Architect | Joe Rohde Walt Disney Imagineering |
| Management | Disney Vacation Club |
| Owner | Disney Signature Experiences (Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) |
| No. of restaurants | 4 |
| No. of rooms | 351 hotel rooms 481 Disney Vacation Club Villas, including 21 Grand Villas |
| of which suites | 16 |
| No. of floors | 16 |
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa is a special beachside hotel. It's located in Kapolei, Hawaii, on the beautiful island of Oahu. This resort is part of the Disney Vacation Club.
Aulani is unique because it's a Disney hotel that isn't next to a theme park. There are only a few like it! The name "Aulani" comes from the Hawaiian language. It means "the place that speaks for the great ones." It can also mean "message from the chief."
The resort covers 21 acres of land. It first opened its doors to guests on August 29, 2011. Aulani has many rooms for visitors. It includes 351 hotel rooms and 481 Disney Vacation Club Villas. Some of these are large "Grand Villas." You can also find 16 special suites.
Aulani has three main restaurants where you can sit and eat. These are Makahiki, Ulu Cafe, and 'AMA'AMA. There are also smaller places to grab snacks. For example, you can visit the Off the Hook poolside lounge.
Aulani's Story
Disney first announced plans for this resort in October 2007. They shared the resort's name, Aulani, in January 2010. Building Aulani cost a lot of money. It was expected to create about 1,000 jobs for people.
Joe Rohde from Walt Disney Imagineering helped design the resort. He made sure it would be a magical place. Aulani started taking room reservations in August 2010.
In March 2019, Aulani won an award. It was named "Best Hotels/Accommodations – Luxury Accommodations." This was part of the 2019 aio Media Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Awards.
The Hawaiian Theme
Walt Disney Imagineering worked with experts to design Aulani. They wanted to celebrate the customs and traditions of Hawaii. They even created a special group of Hawaiian elders. This group helped make sure everything felt truly Hawaiian.
The main idea at Aulani is "Big H, Little D." This means there's a big focus on Hawaiian traditions. Then, a little bit of Disney magic is added. You can see Disney's influence in fun ways. Characters might visit the pool. You might find Mickey-shaped foods. There are also character breakfasts and dinners!
You can meet many Disney friends at Aulani. Some characters you might see include Lilo, Stitch, Moana, Donald Duck, Pluto, Mickey, and Minnie Mouse.
When people are hired to work at Aulani, Hawaiian language skills are preferred. This helps guests learn about the local language.
In July 2019, Forbes magazine wrote about Aulani. They highlighted how much the resort uses Hawaiian culture. This includes the art and buildings. There are also programs for kids. These programs teach youngsters about Hawaii's culture, art, and music.
A reviewer from Forbes said Aulani feels very special. They mentioned that everything connects to Hawaii. This includes the buildings, art, and activities. Even the food and music celebrate Hawaiian culture. They also said, "Aulani is not a theme park." Instead, it's a relaxing place. It has just enough Disney fun to make your vacation exciting.
