The Art of Aulani

When Disney Imagineers began their *Blue Sky thought process for Aulani, their hearts were obviously in the right place.  It would have been so easy to just build another Disney Resort in Oahu.  Instead, they took a different perspective and turned the Disney mold inside out!  As an alternative to constructing a Disney Resort in Hawaii, the imagineers sought out to build homage to the islands, full of respect, of creativity and honor for the land they were now a part of.

About 98% of the resort's art is contemporary Hawaiian supplied by locals.  The Lobby, or Maka’ala (means “open eyes”) is framed in Hawaiian murals with Tapas above.

Lobby Mural

Tapas

The theme continues throughout the resort.  Everywhere you go, there are ever more interesting pieces of art to captivate you during your slow amble through Aulani.  Which, you will do simply because this resort beckons you to wander, full of intrigue and fascination!

Check in- photographs by Hawaiian school children

A Hawaiian story told in wood

A counter top made from Mango Tree

Some even with hidden Mickey’s:

One of my favorite parts was not the hidden Mickeys, however, but the hidden animals!  Mostly around the Pool area, carved into the mountains and rocks, are hints of native Hawaiian wildlife.  These carvings are evocative of the Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but much more subtle!  You could easily walk by and not even notice.

Here is a slide show of a “few” of these carvings:

XO, Ami

Disney's Aulani Resort


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*For understanding of "Blue Sky" reference- the sky's the limit!