Tips and tricks for Aulani and the surrounding area.

Can you give us a sense of your travel style? Are you relaxed, outdoorsy, a do everything person? Have you been to Hawaii before?

Costco and Target are very nearby Aulani and I’ve used both. Foodland is also close and has a great selection of poke. Parking is free for DVC members. Two absolutes for our Hawaii trips are Leonard’s malasadas and Waiola’s shave ice. Both are on (or just off) of Kapahulu. They have other locations, but these are the locations you want to go to. Pro tip - you MUST eat the malasada shortly after buying. Do not, I repeat do not, try to save them for later. They will congeal and be very unappealing.

I have a friend who always says “shaved.” I’ve corrected her numerous times, even in Hawaii and she still says “shaved.” I’ve given up. Sometimes I thinks she says it because she knows it bothers me. LOL

Since I think it originated in Japan (kakigori), which means to shave/scrape ice, it would have hit Hawaii when Japanese immigrants came to work in the sugar cane fields. Since the Japanese language only conjugates to past tense by adding certain endings, kaki would be translated as “shave” From there, it would have traveled to the mainland and the “d” added somewhere along the way. 

Here's what we're doing outside of Aulani:

Chinatown/lunch at Maunakea Marketplace

KCC Farmers Market (https://beatofhawaii.com/unique-kcc-farmers-market-a-honolulu-must-do)

Kualoa Ranch/food trucks--DW was told by a friend that the various tours at Kualoa Ranch fill up quickly, so book early if you're going.

Dinners--Monkeypod Kitchen, Roy's at Ko Olina, Mina's Fish House, Mud Hen Water, Roy's Hawaii Kai. Nothing at Aulani looks interesting to us.

I guess I always thought of it as "shaved" ice because that is what had happened, like in the past tense or more of that is what it is - shaved ice. 

and if Kaki means "shave" ice in Japanese, I guess that is why we have Kaki Gori at the booth in Japan in EPCOT. Makes sense now.

Thank you for all this information. Do most of the restaurants offsite require reservations? It seems as if Aulani takes just about as much planning as my WDW trips. I am hope that more will chime in with some of their favorite tips and suggestions.

Shave ice at Matsumoto's on the North Shore is where it's at, just be in line before 6pm close, and yes, there will be a line. There are several food trucks (Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is always packed) as you enter Haleiwa on Hwy 83 from Aulani, and Farm to Barn is popular as well. There are some who like to visit the Dole Plantation along the way, but I think it's a big money grab. If you like movie locations, you could head west while on the North Shore toward Ka'ena Point State Park. There are amazing beaches and cliffs that you can take in while driving and it seems there is always a TV show or movie on location along this quiet stretch of the island. I have several hikes I could recommend, and although you mention age and not really being a hiking kind, I encourage you to consider the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail. It's a 2.5 mile out and back paved road with outstanding views and multiple rest areas along the way. I have taken family in mid-70's who are not typically active and they made it and loved it! If you try and succeed, then Diamond Head may be another consideration. There is so much more to do, as others have mentioned, and yet it is also perfect for days of nothing to do. We've started going twice a year and still can't get enough!