Where Is Aulani Resort Located In Hawaii?

If you’ve ever dreamed of a Hawaiian vacation filled with sun, sand, and splashing in the Pacific, you’re going to love Aulani Resort. But before you book your tickets, you probably want to know—where exactly is Aulani Resort located in Hawaii?

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Aulani Resort is located on the island of Oahu, about 12 miles from Honolulu in the Ko Olina area on the leeward coast of the island.

In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive guide to Aulani Resort’s location in Hawaii, including detailed directions on how to get there no matter where your final destination on Oahu is.

Pinpointing Aulani Resort’s Location on Oahu

Ko Olina Resort Area

Nestled along Oahu’s beautiful western leeward coast, Aulani Resort can be found in the master-planned vacation destination of Ko Olina. This family-friendly resort area encompasses four lagoons and picturesque white-sand beaches with calm, crystal clear waters perfect for swimming and watersports.

As part of the larger Ko Olina development filled with luxury hotels, golf courses, shopping, dining and entertainment, Aulani offers convenient access to plenty of things to see and do for guests of all ages.

12 Miles from Honolulu

Despite Ko Olina’s secluded island paradise vibe, the Aulani Resort is located just 12 miles from downtown Honolulu and Honolulu International Airport. The resort area enjoys a slightly cooler and drier climate than other parts of Oahu thanks to its westward placement, which also ensures incredible sunset views each evening.

With complimentary shuttle service to Ko Olina Station, getting to popular Waikiki beaches, Pearl Harbor and iconic attractions like Diamond Head is smooth sailing.

Leeward Coast of the Island

As mentioned above, Aulani calls Oahu’s famous Leeward Coast home. Stretching for miles along the west side of the island, this region is known for its year-round sunny weather, stunning landscapes and abundance of sea life.

Travelers staying at Aulani Resort can take full advantage of popular Leeward Coast activities such as snorkeling, whale watching, golfing, biking and tasting delicious Hawaiian food. With world-class resort amenities paired with access to untouched natural beauty, Aulani Resort’s Leeward Coast address offers the best of all worlds for island visitors.

Driving Directions to Aulani Resort

From Waikiki

The drive from the popular Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu to Aulani Resort takes about 1 hour without traffic. Take H1 West towards Pearl Harbor/Nimitz Highway and continue for approximately 12 miles. Take exit 15A to merge onto H2 North toward Wahiawa/Haleiwa and continue for about 30 miles.

Take the Ko Olina/Kahe Point exit and turn left onto Kualakai Parkway. Turn left to stay on Kualakai Parkway and Aulani Resort will be on the right.

From North Shore

When driving from the North Shore, plan for a drive time of 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic conditions. Take Kamehameha Highway/HI-83 S towards Wahiawa and central Oahu for approximately 20 miles. Turn right to merge onto H2 South toward Honolulu and continue for around 15 miles.

Take exit 5A for Likini Street toward Ko Olina and merge onto Aliinui Drive. Turn left onto Kualakai Parkway and Aulani Resort will be just ahead on the right.

From Airport

The drive time between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and the Aulani Resort in West Oahu is typically 30-45 minutes without heavy traffic. Upon leaving the airport area, merge onto H1 East/Interstate H-1 East toward Honolulu and continue for about 8 miles.

Take exit 15A to merge onto H2 North toward Wahiawa/Haleiwa. After about 21 miles, take the Ko Olina/Kahe Point exit. Turn left onto Kualakai Parkway then left again, Aulani Resort will be straight ahead on the right side.

Navigating Around Aulani Resort

Resort Map Overview

The sprawling Aulani Resort covers 21 acres on the beautiful island of O’ahu in Hawaii. When you first arrive, it can seem a bit overwhelming to navigate, but the resort provides a handy map to help guests find their way around.

The map outlines all of the major points of interest and highlights different areas like the main lobby, pools, restaurants, and more. It also shows the best walking paths so you can easily get from place to place.

Some key things to note on the Aulani map:

• The main lobby and check-in area is located right when you arrive. This building also houses the premier restaurant Ama Ama and the gift shop.
• There are 4 main pool areas – the large main pool with a waterslide, a quiet pool, a kids splash zone, and an adults-only pool.
• The Laniwai Spa is tucked away in its own wing but is definitely worth a visit during your stay.
• The lawn and beach area extends along one whole side of the resort with plenty of chairs and cabanas.
• There are a variety of quick-service dining options like the ‘Ulu Cafe food court style area and the poolside Off the Hook restaurant.

Points of Interest On-Site

In addition to the key amenities outlined on the map, Aulani offers a wealth of sights and activities right on the grounds of the resort. From Hawaiian culture to water fun to relaxation, you may find yourself hardly wanting to leave during your vacation!

Top on-site points of interest at Aulani include:

• Ka Wa’a Luau Dinner & Show – An authentic luau held on the resort lawn featuring delicious food, electrifying hula dancing, and more. A can’t miss!
• The Laniwai Spa – This spa feels like a mini resort unto itself with multiple hydrotherapy gardens, salt water soaking tubs, and a menu of specialized treatments.
• The pinnacle of fun for kids is Aunty’s Beach House which has Disney movie nights, arts and crafts, games galore and more for the younger set.
• Water lovers have multiple options from floating along the lazy river to landing the big one at the Waikolohe Valley pool to racing down the Volcanic Vertical waterslide which peaks at over 40 feet!

With so much to experience without even leaving the resort, Aulani continues to be ranked among the very top family resorts in Hawaii. The navigational map they provide is invaluable to help you experience all this destination has to offer over the course of your stay.

It may be hard to choose which activity to do first!

Conclusion

As you can see, Aulani Resort enjoys a beautiful location on Oahu’s leeward coast. While it feels worlds away, it’s still conveniently close to popular spots like Waikiki and the airport.

We hope this guide gave you a detailed overview of exactly where Aulani Resort is found on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Now the only thing left is to start planning your vacation in paradise!

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