Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa is Now Open

A Disney-inspired Hawaiian celebration launched the grand opening of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, on September 22, 2011. The event included Hawaiian dancers, music, sparkling colored lights and a ceremonial mixing of sand with pixie dust.

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, is situated on a colorful lagoon along the coast of Oahu and offers unforgettable experiences for meetings and incentives. Meeting professionals will find that the new resort offers 840 rooms, suites and villas, along with a state-of-the-art conference center and 50,000 square feet of ballroom/meeting space and outdoor event lawns. Disney is known for its elaborately detailed hotels and resorts. In Hawaii, the Disney "Imagineers" have gone to great lengths to ensure that Aulani honors the state's rich history and cultural diversity. Attention to detail is found throughout the guest-room towers, gardens and meeting spaces, all of which reflect Hawaiian values and traditions while celebrating a life that's filled with joy and in harmony with the natural world.

Aulani's 14,000-square-foot conference center offers its own kind of solitude. It's strategically located to provide a casual oasis for meetings and other private events. Design motifs throughout the conference center communicate the essence of a rich and revered Hawaiian heritage. Chandeliers and wall sconces are inspired by royal regalia, feather lei and magnificent kahili (feather standards). Carpet patterns evoke the sacred principal of aloha 'aina, the Hawaiians' love for the land. A series of intricately carved wooden panels adorn the ballroom walls and depict an array of cherished Hawaiian flora and fauna, each one conveying well-established royal associations. Complementing formal meeting space are the resort's magnificent outdoor event lawns. They are ideal for opening and closing galas, entertainment functions and other special events. The beach itself is also available for private functions.