Aulani: Disney To Open First Hawaii Resort In Oahu Next Year

Disney has announced plans to open a resort and spa in Hawaii. Dubbed Aulani, the 880-unit property will be modeled after a Polynesian village (albeit with high-rise towers) and will contain hotel rooms as well as two-bedroom Disney Vacation Club villas.

The 8.5-hectare (21 acre) resort will be located in Ko Olina – a golf and vacation development that already contains a Mariott as well as a man-made beach carved out of the rocky coastline – on the island of Oahu. It’s just the kind of self-contained environment that Disney seems to favor for its developments.

A Different Kind Of Resort

Aulani will be a different kind of development for Disney, one that’s not linked to one of its theme parks or cruise line. Besides the hotel, the establishment will contain the (mandatory) pool and water play area, lazy river for tubing, snorkeling lagoon, children’s club, restaurant, as well las a convention center.

A Haven For Business?

The latter may be the key to Aulani, as the site may turn out to be the perfect destination for companies to hold prolonged business meetings, training seminars, and the like. What’s more, Hawaii is a popular vacation spot of Disney’s most loyal clientele – those from Japan (which has two Disney parks) as well as the West Coast of the U.S. Accordingly, the Aulani website is available in both English and Japanese.

Mehehune

To keep children entertained, the resort will contain portrayals of menehune – the mythical little people of Hawaiian culture. As the myth goes, the menehune were said to come out at night to erect structures. They will serve as the Aulani equivalent to Disney’s hidden Mickeys – concealed in different sites around the resort that prompt children to go on treasure hunts to find them.

Reservations And Grand Opening

At the time of this writing, Aulani has not yet completed construction. However, Disney will begin accepting reservations beginning August 2 while the resort isn’t set to open until August 29, 2011. So those itching to visit the (most recent) house that Disney built will have to wait for a little over a year.

The Destination: Theme Park Take

It will be interesting to see how (and what) Aulani does for Disney, an organization that has traditionally has realized great success in building a fantasy world removed from reality.

And it’s rather peculiar to us why Aulani, which appears to be a family-oriented resort, would open its doors in August – right when the school year resumes.

[Source: Vancouver Sun]