Disney’s Hawaii Resort is filled with an authentic Hawaiian narration

When I got out of my rental car for the first time and in the Hawaiian of Maka’ala (who is native for “the way of his eyes” and to “open my eyes and look”) Hall in Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, I was impressed. Disney’s Hawaii Resort, a place I was looking forward to visiting for years, was right in front of me. The hot breeze swept the hall of the Waikolohe valley (the spacious outdoor area between the two towers of Aulani), the ocean was in sight, and the hot spirit of aloha was easily felt in space.

My family and I were welcomed by Aulani actors, who graciously welcomed us in their “house”, who would also be our house for the next six nights. While we explore the complex, I started to feel that this property by the sea was really something special. All around Aulani, the stories of the Indigenous Hawaiians and Hawaiian culture were fully exposed, signaling to guests like me to learn and ask questions about the inhabitants of Hawaii. So that’s exactly what I started to do – extend to learning this incredible place that intertwines the authentic Hawaiian culture with Disney’s narration.

Learning Hawaiian culture in Aulani is easy and funny

During one of my educational getaway, I met Kama Hopkins, the Hawaiian cultural advisor of Aulani. Hopkins has a richness of knowledge about Aulani, Hawaiian culture, and how the two intertwine. “The Walt Disney Company is a narrative company, and we are in partnership with a narrative people. It’s a great synergy, ”he says. “It is a mixture of how we like to see the Big H, Little D, Hawaiian culture first, then you sprinkle your Disney magic.”

Make memories: 25 Best family vacation places in the United States for all ages

He also notes that when people enter the hall of Maka’ala, they look up and all around and see things that they have never seen before. “The first chance they have, they will ask an actor:” What is it? “And start pointing and all that,” he continues.

The big focal point of the hall is a huge banner style wall that bypasses the circumference of the vaulted ceiling of the hall. The hand painted wall painting is from Martin Charlot and called “He lei no ʹaulani” (a lei for Aulani). It represents the history of the Hawaiian people, the past, the present and the gaze to the future. “This song alone, when we start in the hall, is a cultural experience that you will not find in any other hotel in Hawaii,” said Hopkins. Around the hotel, there are many other works of Hawaiian art, a replica of a veil canoe, royal flags and more to see and ask questions.

The story of light and smell

During my exchange with Hopkins in Aulani, he told us a story on the light structures around the station. Although it may seem frivolous for some, he continues to emphasize the fact that Aulani’s design team wants to highlight everything they can on Hawaiian culture. Many lights around the station are in the shape of “umeke or bowls. In Aulani, these bowls are often seen without cover. This symbolizes that they are filled with stories and Aloha spirit that permeate the station.

Best trip of all time: 101 new family vacation ideas for each age and budget

But attention to details and the highlighting of the Hawaiian narration does not stop in the hall. Even in the rooms, it is part of the immersive experience in Aulani. The rooms face the ocean or the mountains and have a magnificent floral scent. Signature scent is jasmine flowers, called Pīkake in Hawaiian. Hopkins explained that it is a popular flower in Hawaii, and there is even growth on Aulani’s property.

Teach Hawaiian stories through language and food

A place that represents everything that at Lani strives to teach guests is the ōlelo room. This beautiful living room is inspired by the Hawaiian language. Hopkins told me that the language of native Hawaiians has almost died, but the resurgence of the language is important for Aulani to share with others. All around the bar, you will see things like tables, the ground and a range of wooden figures carved by hand in shadow boxes labeled with the Hawaiian language. (My favorite is Kākela, or Castle.) Better yet, distribution members often start to speak with guests in the Hawaiian language, then will repeat themselves immediately after English. “It is a place where we honor our culture by honoring our language. This is the heart rate of the station, ”explains Hopkins.

Suitable for children: 25 Best complexes and family hotels in the United States

In addition to highlighting the Hawaiian language, the ōlelo room offers super cocktails and live music in the evening. But it is not the only place in the complex that highlights Hawaiian culture through food. “I love to live something while eating,” explains Dylan Rogers, Disney Ambassador from Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. “I think our chefs are doing a very good job to work in the community. We use the fresher ingredients that highlight our local community. ”

Aulani’s lūʻau is an essential dining event

And of course, there is no more emblematic Hawaiian meal than the lūʻau. The ka wa’a – a lū’au on oʻahu in Aulani begins in the early evening. Upon their arrival, guests participate in activities such as Poi and the creation of Leis. Then they return to their table for a party and a show. “”[Chefs] made sure that the food was authentic and [that guests] Have the opportunity to experience things you may not have regularly, ”says Rogers. Food at the signature of Aulani Lūʻau is diversified and organized with local ingredients. Some of my favorites are “AHI POKE and the local socket with the dessert of Yuzu Macadamia.

Find an agreement: 12 best hotel booking sites at cheap prices

But the rich narration only begins with the food in the lūʻau. The performance shares the story of a brother and a sister who lose their mother and must find their way, the story of the orientation and the story of Ko Olina. “I know so many guests with whom I had the pleasure of talking about after attending the Ka Wa’a l fu are so emotionally moved,” explains Rogers. “Hearing a story told by the people of this place in an authentic way is differentiation.”

Distribution members continue to be the Disney’s Hawaii Resort special sauce

All around Aulani, I interacted with dozens of distribution members who took the time to know my family. But the real secret sauce in Aulani is the way people care about each other. The camaraderie displayed between the people who work in Aulani is like nothing of what I saw in another station. “The value of taking care of where someone else calls at home for the moment he is not huge,” says Hopkins.

Flee: 17 Best flight reservation sites for cheap air cuts

Because of this responsibility, the major Hawaiian cultural values ​​come into play in the station while the actors interact with customers or between them. These are Kaulike, or to be fair; Laulima, to cooperate with each other; Kuleana, to be responsible or responsible for what you do, or you have the privilege of doing something; take care of yourselfwho must take care of each other; And AuthorWhich means to be kind and sweet.

“For me, it sums up” Aloha “. Aloha is a world that has so many meanings according to how you use it, but it’s empty if you don’t have all these other pieces, ”explains Hopkins.

Leaving Disney’s Hawaii Resort is difficult, but there is the promise to return to Aulani

While my days at Aulani ended, I promised the actors that my family would return to this special station. By leading to the airport, we stopped in a store to find our own Umeke to fill with the memories and the spirit of Aulani that we brought together with us. My umeke is now sitting on a shelf in my office. He holds my pool bracelets and Kukui Nut lei that I obtained at the lūʻau, filled with memories of Aulani.

In a way, Aulani itself is like the Umeke bowls that I saw in the station every day. The complex houses the spirit of Aloha and holds it in the arms of the Ewa and Waianae towers, waiting for families to feel the warm Hawaiian sun and feel the effusion of Aloha which can only be found in this distinctly Hawaiian complex along the coasts of Ko Olina.

More Familyvacationist: