Aulani might be my favorite place on Earth but I'd go bored out of my skull if I spent the entire time at the resort. If I'm going on vacation to do nothing but hang out at a highly themed resort and lounge by a great pool, I'll fly three hours to Animal Kingdom Lodge, not eleven hours to Aulani.
Our perfect length for an Aulani vacation is 10 nights total. One night in Boston before an early flight, eight nights at Aulani (but doing things all across the island), and one night in California to ease the jet lag of flying East.
Here's my itinerary for an upcoming trip:
Day 1: Drive from home to Boston and spend the night in an airport-area hotel.
Day 2: Fly nonstop BOS to HNL. Early bed.
Day 3: Church and grocery shopping in the early morning, then most of the day enjoying the resort.
Day 4: Bishop Museum in the morning, then afternoon at the resort.
Day 5: Green World Coffee Farm and Dole Plantation on the way to the North Shore and Waimea Valley
Day 6: Pearl Harbor and the surrounding museums
Day 7: Morning hike at Ka'ena Point, then afternoon at the resort.
Day 8: Early morning hike at Diamond Head, then the rest of the day at the resort.
Day 9: Drive to the windward side of the island for Kualoa Ranch and the Byodo-in Temple
Day 10: Church, then fly HNL to LAX.
Day 11: Fly LAX to BOS, drive home.
So on an 8 night trip, we spend about two full days (split over four half-days) on property.