Hau'oli Makahiki Hou from Disney Aulani Resort

[juneaubiscuits]

url=https://flic.kr/p/PrF68V]

[/url]Mountain View of Disney Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian) from the island of Oahu and specifically, Disney’s Aulani Resort! Some of the forum members will remember me from my prior two trip reports which you can find here:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/mele-kalikimaka-wdw-adventure-2015-completed.3476857/

http://www.disboards.com/threads/mahalo-disneyland-for-60-magical-years.3542682/

For this trip report (although technically, I didn't leave the island), I wanted to share some photos and thoughts from Disney Aulani Resort! There won't be much reporting on the activities and events at the hotel as I was there for barely a day. My good friend is a DVC member and she invited me to spend some time with them. Since I arrived at Aulani in the late afternoon, most of the evening was spent shooting sunset and long exposure images. I did a lot of interior and people shots on my last visit, so there won't be much of that for this report. Hopefully, you'll get a feel for the overall ambiance and theming of the resort told through my pictures and words. But again, not much first hand reviews or anecdotes about dining, swimming, or all the other cool stuff one can do at Aulani .

Let's start with some photos of the resort area just prior to sunset and at sunrise. Aulani is located at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina in Kapolei. Situated on the west side of Oahu, it’s about a 45 minute drive from Waikiki (up to 2 hours during peak traffic hours). While it’s pretty obvious the hotel is immaculately designed and up to Disney standards, the area its located in is nothing to sneeze at either! With its pristine beaches and a skyline overlooking the mountainous landscape, the resort truly feels unique and apart from the daily lifestyle of most local residents.

Disney's Aulani Resort-the Golden Hour by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Good Morning @ Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Sunrise Near the Pool Side @ Disney Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

I live in east Oahu, so I rarely make it to this side of the island. Because everything is new and mostly unexplored, it almost feels like I’ve traveled to another part of the world. While I remember initial resistance to Disney building a hotel in the area, I never doubted that the Imagineers would do a respectful job of integrating Hawaiian culture into the fabric and theme of the hotel. It’s obvious they did their research and worked with local experts to get the details right. I was lucky to encounter Imagineer Joe Rohde when the hotel first opened. He was walking the grounds early one morning so I ventured forward to ask for a picture and we talked a bit about the design process. Joe is obviously an extremely talented artist who takes great care and pride in his work.

Mountain View of Disney's Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Tiki Torch Below the Moon @ Disney's Aulani by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Lobby Lookout @ Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 21 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Lobby Lookout @ Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 02 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

 

[juneaubiscuits]

url=https://flic.kr/p/PyPqz9]

[/url]Front Entrance @ Disney's Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

The two towers, impressive in height, never seem to overwhelm or stick out like a sore thumb from the rest of the property. Each and every element works in smooth harmony with the others to incorporate a breathtaking, yet natural vista. Much thought was also put into the surrounding attractions and eating establishments. “Makahiki” is clearly the centerpiece restaurant of the resort, with its traditional Disney character breakfast and buffet. I ate there when Aulani first opened and thought it was a mixed bag. Some of the food, especially the local cuisine (lau lau, kalua pig) seemed a bit bland, but I chalk it up to the kitchen staff getting their feet wet and finding that right mixture of flavor and taste. I’m sure the dining experience has much improved by this time.

Stores Closed for the Evening @ Disney's Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

The Lava Shack @ Disney's Aulani by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Entrance to 'Ama'Ama Restaurant @ Disney's Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Disney's Aulani Resort Restroom by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

While it’s hard to make up for the absence of a Disney park down the road, the Imagineers worked up a little magic in the form of a mini water park. From the active volcano that serves as a base for the water slides, to the lazy streams running throughout the property, children (and many adults) will find the poolside areas the highlight of the stay. I’m particularly impressed with “Keiki Cove’, a play zone for kids. The design work allows this attraction to seamlessly integrate with the resort while providing its own unique taste of Disney. While I was photographing the area after midnight, voices of menehunes (strange, magical creatures) were still being piped throughout the area (reminiscent of the snoring bears at Disney’s Frontierland).

Nighttime @ Disney's Aulani Keiki Cove 01 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Nighttime @ Disney's Aulani Keiki Cove 02 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Nighttime @ Disney's Aulani Keiki Cove 03 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

 

[juneaubiscuits]

Disney's Aulani Resort Lobby Christmas 2016 Pano 01 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

One of the biggest surprises for me on this visit was the overall subtlety of the Christmas decorations. Part of it maybe a conscientious decision not to overwhelm the Hawaiian motif with tons of lights and Christmas décor. But after experiencing the beautiful lobby trees of such fellow Disney resorts as The Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge, not seeing a huge tree was somewhat of a disappointment to me. Thinking to how the AK trees were plussed with ornaments that paid tribute to the local culture and arts, I could see something similarly done for the lobby here at Aulani. There were two small trees placed at the ends of the ground floor, but they were rather pedistarian and something you would find on display at your local Walmart store.

Disney's Aulani Resort Lobby Christmas 2016 01 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Disney's Aulani Resort Corridor Christmas 2016 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Christmas Corridor to Hale Manu @ Disney's Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Carved "Ki'i" (representing the 3 Brothers of Maui) Grace the Entryway @ Disney's Aulani Resort 02 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Carved "Ki'i" (representing the 3 Brothers of Maui) Grace the Entryway @ Disney's Aulani Resort 01 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Lobby Entrance @ Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

For a kamaaina (local), the cost of a night makes it prohibitive for most to stay at the resort. Being a visitor, and especially if you’re a Disney fan, I can see how this place would be a destination point regardless of the high costs. So if you’re thinking of planning a trip to Hawaii, Aulani should definitely be on your radar.

Mahalo for joining me on this short (and photo heavy TR) and wishing everyone “Hauoli Makahiki Hou”! Please come back again in late 2017 for my report on Tokyo’s Disneyland & Disneysea (as well as Osaka’s Universal Studios). Until then, take care, stay safe, and God bless us all!

Disney's Aulani from the 12th Flr Ewa Tower by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

 

[finest14]

Great pix! Thanks for sharing.

 

[cgattis]

Amazing pics! Thanks!!

How long were some of these exposures? Are you using any filters or bracketing also? I'm definitely not very good at night shots, although I did manage to shoot the fireworks from Cali Grill without burning out the castle, so I'm getting a tiny bit better! Would love a few tips for some cool shots like these and for shooting lava flow at night! TIA for sharing!

 

[pangyal]

These photos are more impressive to me than Aulani's own advertisements. You are insanely talented- thanks for sharing, I so enjoyed these!

 

[alohamom]

Amazing as usual Len! Thanks for sharing with the Aulani section of the Dis!

 

[juneaubiscuits]

Great pix! Thanks for sharing.

Mahalo! @finest14

Amazing pics! Thanks!!

How long were some of these exposures? Are you using any filters or bracketing also? I'm definitely not very good at night shots, although I did manage to shoot the fireworks from Cali Grill without burning out the castle, so I'm getting a tiny bit better! Would love a few tips for some cool shots like these and for shooting lava flow at night! TIA for sharing!

Mahalo! @cgattis Most of the night exposures were between 20-30 seconds. The sunrise shot with the towers in the distance was 2 minutes, I believe. For scenes with ocean water, I use a 10-stop Lee filter. For images with a setting sun or parts of the image that might be exceptionally bright (Christmas tree), I use a 0.9 graduated filter. The only shot I did bracketing on was the last one of the resort from the room balcony. I was initially heavy into HDR, but the dynamic range of my camera is enough where I usually do one shot exposures. Lava is a more of a challenge mostly due to the environmental conditions. The shot below was taken on a tripod at an 8 second exposure (ISO 640, f/8). I can talk about this stuff all day...LOL! If you have any more questions, PM me!

Sunset @ Chain of Craters Road 01 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

These photos are more impressive to me than Aulani's own advertisements. You are insanely talented- thanks for sharing, I so enjoyed these!

@pangyal Those are very generous and kind words...thank you so much (although I feel my photos are no where near that good)!

Amazing as usual Len! Thanks for sharing with the Aulani section of the Dis!

@alohamom Mahalo Suzi! How have you been? Hope all is well with you!

 

[cgattis]

Mahalo! @finest14



Mahalo! @cgattis Most of the night exposures were between 20-30 seconds. The sunrise shot with the towers in the distance was 2 minutes, I believe. For scenes with ocean water, I use a 10-stop Lee filter. For images with a setting sun or parts of the image that might be exceptionally bright (Christmas tree), I use a 0.9 graduated filter. The only shot I did bracketing on was the last one of the resort from the room balcony. I was initially heavy into HDR, but the dynamic range of my camera is enough where I usually do one shot exposures. Lava is a more of a challenge mostly due to the environmental conditions. The shot below was taken on a tripod at an 8 second exposure (ISO 640, f/8). I can talk about this stuff all day...LOL! If you have any more questions, PM me!

Sunset @ Chain of Craters Road 01 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Oh WOW this is awesome!!!! Thanks so much for the tips!!

@pangyal Those are very generous and kind words...thank you so much (although I feel my photos are no where near that good)!

No I totally agree with @pangyal--your pics are so much more dramatic than Disney's official pics. Disney's are all so flat. These just make me so excited to get there!

 

[MouseOfCards]

url=https://flic.kr/p/PrF68V]

[/url]Mountain View of Disney Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian) from the island of Oahu and specifically, Disney’s Aulani Resort! Some of the forum members will remember me from my prior two trip reports which you can find here:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/mele-kalikimaka-wdw-adventure-2015-completed.3476857/

http://www.disboards.com/threads/mahalo-disneyland-for-60-magical-years.3542682/

For this trip report (although technically, I didn't leave the island), I wanted to share some photos and thoughts from Disney Aulani Resort! There won't be much reporting on the activities and events at the hotel as I was there for barely a day. My good friend is a DVC member and she invited me to spend some time with them. Since I arrived at Aulani in the late afternoon, most of the evening was spent shooting sunset and long exposure images. I did a lot of interior and people shots on my last visit, so there won't be much of that for this report. Hopefully, you'll get a feel for the overall ambiance and theming of the resort told through my pictures and words. But again, not much first hand reviews or anecdotes about dining, swimming, or all the other cool stuff one can do at Aulani .

Let's start with some photos of the resort area just prior to sunset and at sunrise. Aulani is located at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina in Kapolei. Situated on the west side of Oahu, it’s about a 45 minute drive from Waikiki (up to 2 hours during peak traffic hours). While it’s pretty obvious the hotel is immaculately designed and up to Disney standards, the area its located in is nothing to sneeze at either! With its pristine beaches and a skyline overlooking the mountainous landscape, the resort truly feels unique and apart from the daily lifestyle of most local residents.

Disney's Aulani Resort-the Golden Hour by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Good Morning @ Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Sunrise Near the Pool Side @ Disney Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

I live in east Oahu, so I rarely make it to this side of the island. Because everything is new and mostly unexplored, it almost feels like I’ve traveled to another part of the world. While I remember initial resistance to Disney building a hotel in the area, I never doubted that the Imagineers would do a respectful job of integrating Hawaiian culture into the fabric and theme of the hotel. It’s obvious they did their research and worked with local experts to get the details right. I was lucky to encounter Imagineer Joe Rohde when the hotel first opened. He was walking the grounds early one morning so I ventured forward to ask for a picture and we talked a bit about the design process. Joe is obviously an extremely talented artist who takes great care and pride in his work.

Mountain View of Disney's Aulani Resort by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Tiki Torch Below the Moon @ Disney's Aulani by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Lobby Lookout @ Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 21 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Lobby Lookout @ Disney's Aulani Resort Christmas 2016 02 by JUNEAU BISCUITS, on Flickr

Wow, beautiful photos!

I hope you're there when we'll be there in a few months, and that Disney hires you to be a Disney Aulani photographer by that point!

 

[juneaubiscuits]

You know @cgattis, I think Disney purposely goes for a more realistic, natural look in their advertising. I noticed it for the Disney parks too. The colors are flatter (as you mentioned), but again, I think its the look they are striving for...

 

[juneaubiscuits]

Wow, beautiful photos!

I hope you're there when we'll be there in a few months, and that Disney hires you to be a Disney Aulani photographer by that point!

Mahalo @MouseOfCards!

Let me know when it gets closer to your arrival date at Aulani. If I am free, I'll head out there and do a photo shoot of your family at sunset (if you want) at no cost whatsoever!

 

[MouseOfCards]

Mahalo @MouseOfCards!

Let me know when it gets closer to your arrival date at Aulani. If I am free, I'll head out there and do a photo shoot of your family at sunset (if you want) at no cost whatsoever!

Bless you, @juneaubiscuits!

Now if you can get our young ones to smile for the camera, you will be legend!

 

[juneaubiscuits]

Bless you, @juneaubiscuits!

Now if you can get our young ones to smile for the camera, you will be legend!

LOL...I'd give it my best shot. My dogs think I'm pretty goofy looking, so there's a good chance!

 

[alohamom]

@alohamom Mahalo Suzi! How have you been? Hope all is well with you![/QUOTE]

Wow, beautiful photos!

I hope you're there when we'll be there in a few months, and that Disney hires you to be a Disney Aulani photographer by that point!

Mahalo @MouseOfCards!

Let me know when it gets closer to your arrival date at Aulani. If I am free, I'll head out there and do a photo shoot of your family at sunset (if you want) at no cost whatsoever!

I am great Len! I hope you, Sue and the dogs had a fantastic holiday and have a prosperous and healthy new year.

You should seriously consider a career change at this point, I am sure you love your current job but your photos are off the hook. There are so many people here on these boards looking for great reputable photographers to do family portraits while in Hawaii and as I have told you before, your pictures capture the essence of the Hawaiian spirit. I LOVE that chain of craters shot, it is such a creative perspective. That is where your are unique, your eye sees things others dont and by sharing this you allow us to see it too.

 

[cgattis]

@alohamom Mahalo Suzi! How have you been? Hope all is well with you!

I am great Len! I hope you, Sue and the dogs had a fantastic holiday and have a prosperous and healthy new year.

You should seriously consider a career change at this point, I am sure you love your current job but your photos are off the hook. There are so many people here on these boards looking for great reputable photographers to do family portraits while in Hawaii and as I have told you before, your pictures capture the essence of the Hawaiian spirit. I LOVE that chain of craters shot, it is such a creative perspective. That is where your are unique, your eye sees things others dont and by sharing this you allow us to see it too.[/QUOTE]



No kidding! I'm sure there are enough families visiting Aulani to keep you busy all year!!! I'd sign up, for sure. Unfortunately haven't been too thrilled with the (albeit limited) PP sunset pics I've seen. Would love some better ones but not looking to make a huge investment (on top of the huge trip investment!!); I'm sure many other folks would feel the same. Let us all know if you decide to moonlight (pun intended!)!

 

[alohamom]

Unfortunately haven't been too thrilled with the (albeit limited) PP sunset pics I've seen.

EXACTLY! Although the ones I have seen are very nice, they seem a little on generic side.

 

[cgattis]

EXACTLY! Although the ones I have seen are very nice, they seem a little on generic side.

The ones I've seen have just had very poor color/use of lighting. Just very point-and-shoot.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Mahalo for sharing your beautiful photos! I was kind of on the fence if we were going to head here next Christmas, but you've done such a great job in bringing the spirit of Aulani to my screen, that I think this is something we're really going to strive for!

I'm even encouraged to bring my DSLR and tripod now to try to take some good photos too! I think this is a better place to try for long exposures than at Disneyland itself as there's always so many people there. Thank you again for this lovely tour.

 

[CalifLynn]

@juneaubiscuits your photos are AMAZING!! They make me even more excited for our first trip to Aulani in March!