Exploring Aulani
As previously mentioned my wife and I decided to stay at Disney’s Aulani for our honeymoon in Hawaii. Our room was located on the eleventh floor in the towers on the left hand side of the resort. The villa we stayed in was 750 square feet which included a kitchen, living room, separate bedroom, bathroom and two balconies. Upon walking into the room a full kitchen was located on the left hand side. We did not plan on cooking during our honeymoon but it was nice to have the option. The kitchen had a cute cornered sitting area with a breakfast table ideal for snuggling, having a quick bite to eat or even having a small family meal. A few steps away from the breakfast table was a sofa, which could open to a full size bed, and a table for resting your feet after pacing the beach all day. While sitting on the couch you could see the sun blazing through the sliding doors of the spacious balcony calling your name. Upon opening the door to the balcony we were greeted with a cool ocean breeze which was constant and consistent day and night. Upon returning to the room from the balcony we could enter the bedroom through a separate door. The king size bed was inviting while the writing desk close to the doorway was an afterthought. All the décor in the room was well placed with a wood and pacific coast themes gleaming throughout. Lots of yellows, off whites and browns kept the walls and furniture vibrant while reds, greens and florals highlighted the entire villa. The bathroom was adjacent to the bedroom and was suited for a king and queen. A Jacuzzi for two greeted us immediately and an all glass shower waited for us at the end of the room. The shower could fit five people comfortably with two people able to sit on the small bench made of stone. Let’s just say I was excited to shower in the morning after waking up, when I returned from the pool in the middle of the day and at night before I went to bed. Our room was everything we wished our home could be back in New York. Even though the room was fancy and expensive there was more to discover. My wife was a bit tired but we needed to push forward to explore more of our nest for the next nine days.
We took the elevator to the lowest level figuring it was the easiest way to access the pool and beach area. It took a bit of maneuvering but once we were outside we could not believe all the greenery. Plants, trees, and bushes lined all areas close to the hotel. On the left I noticed the start of a lazy river called the Waikolohe Stream. With a yellow tube you could float and relax your way around the back of the property. The stream was loaded with rock formations, waterfalls and even a small cave. Naturally, I was looking forward to grabbing a tube, some shades and taking a few laps at some point during the vacation.
Next Jenn and I walked over two small bridges and I felt like we were in the middle of all of the Aulani water activities. Directly in front of us was the Rainbow Reef. A safe place for kids and adults to snorkel in a controlled environment with fish and other ocean life. North of the Reef was a child’s dream. Menehune Bridge was a huge splash water park with water squirting and spraying everywhere. This was the perfect place for kids under the age of twelve to run around, get wet and have a great time with friends, family and other guests. I highly recommend water shoes for this area to avoid slipping and potential foot injuries. As we continued toward the lagoon we saw two popular attractions Mama’s Snack Shop and Papalua Shaved Ice. Mama’s Shack was the perfect spot to grab chicken fingers, hot dogs and french fries while enjoying a beautiful pool day. Papalua was an excellent place to pick up dessert on the way to watching the sunset or heading back to your room to cap off the evening.
Once we walked past Mama’s Shack there was a sea of lounge chairs surrounding Waikolohe which was the main pool of the resort. There were plenty of chairs and towels for everyone so there was no need to reserve seats or bring towels down from the hotel room to the pool. To the left of the pool there was a water slide all the kids were abusing and near the slide there was a small merchandise store “The Lava Shack”. The Shack was stocked with snacks, t-shirts, shorts, and swim gear for guest’s convenience by the pool. All of these things were great but we were still trying to make our way to the ocean.
After getting around the pool and down a narrow path the sound of crashing waves finally became stronger. Ko Olina Beach and Aulani Beach at Ko Olina were private and for guests only. The beach was shaped like a crescent moon and rock formations signified the end of the Disney property line. About one hundred yards from the beach in the middle of the water were two smaller rock formations which broke up the waves and deterred marine life from entering the lagoon. At this point in the day most people were waiting for the sun to set so they were getting their cameras ready for the perfect moment. Rather than pull my camera or my phone out of my pocket I took the time to reflect on the past year of my life and what it took to get to this point. After paying off the engagement ring, stressful venue shopping, pivotal food tastings, numerous arguments and throwing a great party this was the moment I was most looking forward too. This all started because two people fell in love and now I was ready to start forever with my wife in a place I could not picture in my dreams. As the sun descended down in Hawaii that night Jenn turned to me with a tear in her eye and said “I love you”. I looked back at her with a similar glow and said “I love you too”.
