Aloha Lissette, and thanks for bringing your question to planDisney!
Aulani is one of my favorite places with its relaxing vibe, celebration of Hawaiian culture, and Disney touches.
You may have seen that Aulani had special guests and props at the resort last November to celebrate the Moana 2 world premiere. While Aulani doesn’t usually have a Moana-themed area, there are nods to our favorite voyager and demigod throughout the resort!
Some experiences, like
meeting Moana or using the
pools, are limited to overnight guests, but day visitors are welcome to walk around most areas of the resort. The current prices for valet and self-parking can be found on the
Aulani Parking page.
Here are a few things I thought you might be interested in seeing as a Moana fan! Off the lobby, near the
Hoku Hideaway Disney Vacation Club desk, you’ll find a recreation of Maui’s fishhook from the movie. It makes for a great picture spot! And since Maui is an important part of Polynesian mythology, you’ll also find murals on the Wai‘anae tower depicting his legendary stories, like creating the Hawaiian islands with his fishhook and lassoing the sun. You can also watch a retelling of Maui’s story at the
KA WA’A luau, which is open to day visitors. I’d recommend purchasing tickets in advance since dates often sell out.
One of my favorite Moana “Easter eggs” can be found on the outdoor walking paths near
Makahiki and
'Oleo Room. Look up at the lamps (they look a bit like skewers with amber-colored glass pebbles) which draw inspiration from traditional Hawaiian lamalama torches made of kukui nuts (the same ones used in nut leis). You might recognize this torch from the scene where Moana explores the cave and discovers her ancestors’ voyager past! I love that these lamps are a beautiful piece of art, a functional light source, and a reference to Hawaiian culture.
When you're ready for a snack,
Little ‘Opihi's by the beach sometimes has Moana-themed frozen treats. During my last visit, I got a Dole Whip decorated with Moana and little palm trees!
The last thing I wanted to mention are the three gift shops where you can often find Moana merchandise, some that's exclusive to Aulani!
Kalepa’s Store and
Hale Manu are right off the lobby. Kalepa’s Store is the largest and has everything from t-shirts to ornaments. Hale Manu has more upscale items like handbags and artwork. In the pool area, there’s also
Lava Shack where you can find swim essentials.
I hope you have a magical visit to Aulani in May! And if you have any other questions, we’d love to have you back at planDisney.
JoAnna