tammyh
Waiting on ROFR
Posts: 10 
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Post by tammyh on Jul 5, 2024 13:36:52 GMT -5
Hello all,
My family (DH54, DS22, DS24) and I (53) will be going to Aulani in mid-August. While we planned this trip a while ago, it kinda snuck up on me and I have not planned anything except airfare and hotels (lots of reasons for this, but the end result is the same -- no plans). I am looking for ANY help to plan/organize this trip.
Details: We are staying Mon-Fri at a 1-bedroom (standard view -- to save points) and then switching to a hotel in Waikiki (Fri-Mon). This is a graduation trip for both boys -- and they requested to overlap with Pokemon Worlds at the Honolulu Convention Center (yea! We were able to get tickets for the event.) So the event will fill most of the time Fri-Mon, but we will need places to eat. As for the Aulani part of the trip, I have no idea what to do/plan.
Do we need a car? I know DH was hoping to NOT get a car. Can we walk places? What is the Uber/Lyft situation like? What type of things are at the resort? I did look at maybe getting a cabana, but wow those prices are steep! Where is the best place for a luau?
rwethereyet has a thread I've looked at (super helpful!). Anywhere else I can look for info?
TYSM for any help!
TammyH
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Post by brp on Jul 5, 2024 14:14:10 GMT -5
Aulani is very far from Waikiki. You will want a car.
Cheers.
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tammyh
Waiting on ROFR
Posts: 10
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Post by tammyh on Jul 5, 2024 14:32:55 GMT -5
Aulani is very far from Waikiki. You will want a car. Cheers. I was thinking we could take an Uber/Lyft the day we have to check out of Aulani and check into the hotel at Waikiki....? Is that not an option? TammyH |
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Post by brp on Jul 5, 2024 14:40:30 GMT -5
Aulani is very far from Waikiki. You will want a car. Cheers. I was thinking we could take an Uber/Lyft the day we have to check out of Aulani and check into the hotel at Waikiki....? Is that not an option? TammyH That could work, but I'd look into the Uber/Lyft cost in advance. Also, Aulani is very isolated with very little around, so you'd need a car if you want to go just about anywhere in the area. One option that can save quite a bit os to rent/return the car in Waikiki as it removes the airport fees. We stayed in Waikiki for 2 weeks in February and took Uber/Lyft to Honolulu to get the car. Saved a bunch.
Car is really not needed in Waikiki. We were just going far afield to visit friends and destinations, so that's why we got it.
Cheers.
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Post by a1000monkeys on Jul 5, 2024 15:33:06 GMT -5
Second getting a car. Uber/Lyft to Aulani will probably be well over $100. Rental cars usually aren't too expensive in Hawaii. Pick up at the airport and then find a drop off in Waikiki so you don't have to pay for parking.
If you're staying on points at Aulani parking is free there. A car will give you options to explore (e.g., North Shore) and more dining options or getting groceries in nearby Kapolei. Food at Aulani is overpriced as you can imagine. Roy's is my favorite restaurant within walking distance.
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Post by brp on Jul 5, 2024 15:41:19 GMT -5
Second getting a car. Uber/Lyft to Aulani will probably be well over $100. Rental cars usually aren't too expensive in Hawaii. Pick up at the airport and then find a drop off in Waikiki so you don't have to pay for parking. At this moment, it would only be $74 from HNL to Aulani, but still a lot.
Renting and returning the car in Honolulu can save a lot over pickup at HNL.
Cheers.
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tammyh
Waiting on ROFR
Posts: 10
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Post by tammyh on Jul 5, 2024 16:53:54 GMT -5
Thank you! Car is booked.  I did find one where we can pickup at the airport and drop off about 2 blocks from the hotel in Waikiki. Now -- where to go with the car when at Aulani. Please -- any suggestions are welcome!! TammyH |
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Post by baymaxfan on Jul 5, 2024 17:08:18 GMT -5
There are multiple Aulani threads on this forum discussing where to eat, what to do, etc. Several of these threads are quite recent. I would recommend using the forum search engine using “Aulani” under thread title and displaying the results by threads (vs. displaying by posts).
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Post by thecrusher on Jul 5, 2024 20:44:34 GMT -5
I’m sending one of my sons there tomorrow for his honeymoon. A 10 day rental, through Costco, for an intermediate sized car was $600. That was this evenings price. It had dropped a bit in the past 2 weeks and I was watching it. $60 a day on Oahu is not a bad deal. Free parking at Aulani if you are staying there. That’s rented at HNL
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Post by mcd on Jul 6, 2024 8:52:58 GMT -5
My family of 6 went last fall and rented a car. Totally worth it IMO. There are some shops and food options across the street from the resort. Otherwise, you have to drive everywhere. I think taking an Uber for a family that size round trip once a day is going to be more expensive than renting a car. And there are a lot of nice things to see while there. We explored Honolulu, visited Pearl Harbor, and sought out some other points of interest.
I will say that Aulani is fantastic, and you can just stay there and be pretty happy. But again, if you plan to explore around the island get a rental.
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Post by johnb on Jul 7, 2024 9:50:43 GMT -5
Thank you! Car is booked.  I did find one where we can pickup at the airport and drop off about 2 blocks from the hotel in Waikiki. Now -- where to go with the car when at Aulani. Please -- any suggestions are welcome!! TammyH It depends what your family likes to see and do. We like interesting food, so we ate in Chinatown and another excellent restaurant in a cool neighborhood in Honolulu. We wanted to see/do something unique to the island so we did a UTV tour at Kualoa Ranch. We found some of the best sushi we've ever had in a warehouse next to the airport. We did not go to a luau because it's not something that interests us. We skipped the North Shore because of traffic and time. IMO, the most important thing you (or anyone) can do as a visitor to Hawaii is to not stand out as a tourist. Learn and respect the culture. Have conversations with the locals you meet. A few of the CM's we met at Aulani really went above and beyond what I would've expected when we talked with them as people, not as CM's there to serve us. |
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Post by neednewpark on Jul 8, 2024 9:22:10 GMT -5
"not stand out as a tourist". What does this mean? Isn't the majority of the people tourists? What are the concerns? Crime?
We are also going in Aug.
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Post by ratfan on Jul 8, 2024 10:25:07 GMT -5
We went back in early 2023 for the first time. We loved Aulani and it's good that you're getting a car.
The freshwater pool/aquarium at Aulani is freezing but absolutely worth doing at least once.
We really loved the Toa Luau in the Waimea Valley area. Plan to swim in the waterfall if you're able.
Eat at Monkey Pod across the street from Aulani. We also heard great things about Koa Pancake House but unfortunately didn't get a chance to go.
Pearl Harbor is a must if you've never been before.
The Dole plantation was interesting but the fact that Dole's dastardly history on the island is totally left out perturbed me.
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Post by brp on Jul 8, 2024 13:11:54 GMT -5
"not stand out as a tourist". What does this mean? Isn't the majority of the people tourists? What are the concerns? Crime? I think johnb explained it well when he said " Learn and respect the culture." Americans have a well-deserved reputation for not doing so in tourist situations and doing things that may be counter to local culture through ignorance. The suggestion is to spend some time learning about the culture and respecting it.
Cheers.
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Post by neednewpark on Jul 8, 2024 14:32:38 GMT -5
This is hard to understand without clear examples. What are the common offenders?
Look before you cross
dont throw garbage on the floor
reef friendly spf
Say thank you and your welcome. Mahalo
Dont write on walls
dont pee in public
Outside of the normal (IMO) American upbringing I have had it would be nice to know what is meant here. If it is for us to figure out then i guess I will play along.
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I did find one where we can pickup at the airport and drop off about 2 blocks from the hotel in Waikiki. 
