One of the most exciting developments to hit Oahu in a decade, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, represents a new chapter in Hawaii’s tourism evolution. Sure, this South Pacific paradise has seen plenty of big resorts… and luxury resorts… and big brands. But thus far it’s resisted an actual theme park.
Indeed, Aulani is not a theme park, or even a theme hotel. It is Disney’s dedicated, no-expenses-spared attempt to distill the essence of Hawaii into its purest form… and then stage it in one luxurious family-friendly setting, on a cache of land that was once reserved for royalty. Sprinkle a dash of Mickey magic around the entire 21-acre property, and you’ve got a recipe for amazement.
Joe Rohde, the senior Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering who is helming this project, is no stranger to creating major-scale magic. His previous project was Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the development of which took several years and garnered its own Discovery Channel series. Rohde has great things in the works at the Aulani, including a water playground with hidden springs and waterslides carved into rock; an 18,000 square foot spa with an outdoor hydrotherapy center; and the Rainbow Reef snorkel lagoon and more intense “Contact Pond” where a limited number of guests will be able to interact with manta rays and other majestic creatures of the deep.
So you think Waikiki’s not romantic? You might have a point… but Waikiki does not represent more than a small fraction of Oahu’s acreage. Other parts of the island offer rainforest and waterfalls, secluded beaches and barefoot-elegant marina settings. Resident romance expert Tanna Dang, owner of the Wedding Café, helps more than 5,000 couples a year plan their special day, and works with dozens of vendors around the island.
“Paradise comes in many forms,” she says. “For a lot of local weddings, a paradise wedding means getting married on a lush lawn underneath the stars. For a destination wedding, a paradise wedding could mean being barefoot on the beach.”
And for some, it might very well include a luxe Waikiki reception at the Royal Hawaiian, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, or the Halekulani. Or maybe luxe but out of the city, at Turtle Bay Resort or the Marriott Ihilani.
If you’re vacationing in Waikiki, Hawaii, it’s probably a safe bet that not a lot of time will be spent away from the beach and under the Hawaiian sun. But if you need a day away from the rushing water, we suggest traversing the Waikiki Beach Walk, an eight-acre area along the popular Lewers Street. The Beach Walk is a mecca for relaxation with beachfront rooms, an eclectic mix of shopping, and a deep assortment of dining opportunities—anything from crab-stuffed mahi mahi at The Ocean House Restaurant to a mai tai at Coconut Willy’s.
Hawaii's most popular tourist destination is a shiny, well-manicured beachfront neighborhood with block after block of sand/grass beaches lining the ocean side of the street, and skyscraper hotels shoulder-to-shoulder on the other. It's cliché, it's condensed...and for people who want a walkable, tropical, cheap vacation, it's perfect.
You can take your pick of family-friendly attractions. Favorites include the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, and underwater excursions on Atlantis Submarines. Tweens and teens can learn how to surf with Hans Hedemann or Waikiki Beach Activities. Stand-up paddleboarding is a good alternative for people who like to be out in the ocean but want something slightly more stable than a surfboard. Waikiki Beach Services offers group and private lessons.
From city to ocean to jungle, Hawaii offers dreamy weather and diverse scenery. Here’s how to enjoy it on the cheap.
Maui
Take a scenic drive around the island or up into the mountains (bring your camera!), hike the Iao Valley, or just lounge at the beach. Spring (except for the last week of April) and fall are the best times to save money on airfare and accommodations, and enjoying the area’s natural beauty always gets you maximum bang for your buck.
The world's most romantic escapes? Where else but in Hawaii. Paradise abounds on all five main isles, but Kauai—the "Garden Isle"—is something special. Adventure and romance go hand in hand here, and couples looking for exhilarating activities will find plenty to do. Known for its secluded beaches, Kauai also provides tons of thrills in the form of snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, helicopter tours, and catamaran cruises. Join us over the weekend for the top two picks in our globetrotting look at the world's most heart-melting, pulse-quickening destinations.
Photo credit: Waterfall in Kauai, Hawaii (courtesy, Hawaii CVB)
Admitted to the union as the 50th state on August 21, 1959, Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. A state with its own time zone (Hawaii Standard Time), Hawaii sits 2,390 miles from California, 3,850 miles from Japan, 4,900 miles from China, and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
Hawaii boasts some of the world's best surfing, with top quality waves luring advanced surfers from all corners. Just west of Ehukai Beach Park pounds the celebrated Banzai Pipeline, a spot where the shallow water and coral shelf combine to create powerful tubular waves that resemble pipes, thus giving the place its name. Be careful—waves can get up to 30 feet!
The island home of Honolulu, O'ahu invites visitors to succumb to the dreamy offerings of "classic" Hawaii, with the dramatic peak of Diamond Head punctuating the resort-lined beaches of Waikiki, Maunalua and Waimanalo Bays. Once you're walking along the sugar-soft sand with the sound of crashing Pacific waves filling the scented air, the enduring magic and romance of this Polynesian jewel will become all too clear.
Start your vacation with a night or two at one of Honolulu's grand beachside hotels pitched along the two-mile stretch of Waikiki Beach, such as the elegant Halekulani. Its huge outdoor pool is decorated with a shimmering orchid mosaic, and its spa, SpaHalekulani, offers special dual treatment rooms for couples (try the traditional "lomi lomi" Hawaiian massage or the coconut-passion scrub).
At sunset, linger over a mai tai at the Halekulani's casual restaurant while hula dancers perform under the nearby trees. Roam through the coconut-palm groves of the frothy rose-colored Royal Hawaiian, built in 1927 and dubbed the "pink palace of the Pacific," or try the urban-chic-with-Balinese-accents of the W Honolulu-Diamond Head.
