Movie Review: Detective Dee and Mystery of the Phantom Flame

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Another poor weekend movie choice for the big releases with last week having an animated 17 year old film converted to 3D taking the box office. This weekend didn’t look like any new releases were going to beat it. (update, yeah, Lion King 3D was the highest grossing movie for a second weekend) Back to the art house films I go although, my regular Regal theater is supposed to be cinema art house here in Honolulu, they haven’t shown art house films in a while. So I looked at Consolidated Theaters and one film leapt off the computer monitor at me. Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame just has such an intriguing name I couldn’t pass it up.

The movie is rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and some sensuality and ran just over two hours at 122 minutes. The whole time my eyes were attentive to what was happening on the screen. Take beautiful cinematography, add in high wire martial arts (like a Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon), set it in 690 AD for a period movie and lay that on top of a murder mystery and you have an engaging film. The fact you that you have to keep looking at the screen in order to read the subtitles helps keep you engaged too.

Empress Wu (Carina Lau) is soon to be coronated as the first female Emperor of China. While a giant Buddha statue for the coronation is being constructed two of her high level officials mysteriously and suddenly burn up. Some think it is divine intervention signaling that Wu should not be crowned. Others believe there is plot afoot not by the gods but by man to stop the ceremony. The best person to solve the mystery is Detective Dee (Andy Lau), a man who eight years earlier was sent to prison for opposing the empress’ raise to power. To help ensure the now released detective stays on the case, the empress assigns Shangguan Jing’er (Li Bing Bing) and Pei Donglai (Chao Deng) to both assist and watch over Dee.

The martial arts staging was enthralling to watch. Flips, climbs, dives, jumps, spins and back bends done with the assistance of wires are staged with deft choreography bringing the fight scenes to life. Include weaponry with swords, arrows, whips and a special mace and you have some edge of your seat kick butt altercations. With assassins running rampant to stop Dee, Jing’er and Pei from trying to solve the mystery and you never know when a fight to save their lives will break out. Being high on the cinematography scale scenes with falling white petals adds to the mood of the film.

Two items that I found took away from the experience slightly were the subtitles and the massive CGI shots. For the CGI they needed to be tweaked slightly. I can’t put my finger on why, but any of the scenes showing massive amounts of boats in the harbor just didn’t look quite right. I’m not sure if it was the coloring, the movement or shapes that my mind automatically jumped to “those aren’t real.” For the subtitles, there was a few times when there were large sentences on display and not enough time to read them; sometimes they just flashed too quickly. Being what they are, your eyes focused on the bottom of the screen preventing you from focusing in on the beautiful details in intricate designs, patterns and background action and absorbed them fully. This is one film that a dubbed version might actually make it better allowing you to watch with eyes wide open across the entire screen rather than just the lower third.

Even though Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame was originally released in 2010 and received nominations for Best Film and Best Choreography while winning for Best Director and Best Costume Design at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards, it has just now made its way to American shores. If you have a chance to see the film on the big screen, I think you’ll enjoy it.

The Movie Monkey

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Movie Review: Drive

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Wow, this ...this was a movie I wasn't expecting. You anticipate something pretty bold when the coloring of the titles is fuchsia. Based on the previews I thought it would have been a high powered action movie, something along the lines of The Fast and The Furious. Boy was I wrong. I would call this a minimalist action thriller heist movie, sort of a laid back, chill, toned down action movie. When engagements occurred, it was not over the top, but it could be extremely intense. They were presented with a confidence about themselves that it came across as cool. So cool in fact that the main character played by Ryan Gosling didn't even have a name...in the credits he was listed by his profession which was being a Driver and his whole point was to Drive.

The opening sequence was a chase sequence but it was a zen, intelligent chase sequence. No whooping, no hollering, no loud annoying screeches, no cars flipping over and taking out pedestrians or other cars. There was a simplicity about what The Driver did, how he performed and kept his wits about him. The Driver maintains this level of composure while dealing with traffic, lights and the ensuing police cars.

By day The Driver is a mechanic and a stunt driver. At night he’s behind the wheels of the getaway vehicle with the rules that you have a five minute window. He’ll do everything for you during those five; outside of those five, you’re on your own. Pretty cut and dry, straight forward rules. That’s about all he says to his clients allowing himself to keep emotional distance between him and them, not getting caught up in their plans.

So what’s the driving point of the story? Well, he meets his next door neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her son Benicio. They seem to hit it off and become friendly all the time keeping dialogue to a minimum. Oh and by keeping the dialogue to a minimum I don’t mean they are exploring the physical side of the relationship. Far from it. The Driver, Irene and Benicio enjoy spending time together almost as if The Driver is extending himself for a relationship that he either can’t have or wouldn’t allow himself to have due to his profession. The backstory for the driver is very limited only learning a small fragment from Shannon (Brian Cranston), the shop owner at The Driver’s place of employment when Irene brings in her car for repair.

Fairly quickly it’s revealed that Benicio’s father, Standard (Oscar Isaac), is in prison and to be released shortly. Unfortunately, Standard can’t seem to get away from the gang life and in doing so pulls in The Driver. From here out is where the intensity of the action gets moved up a few pegs. Unlike most action movies today it wasn’t a constant barrage of in your face. It was quiet. Something happens, maybe vicious or brutal for just a moment or so and then it goes back to quiet. My audience had an audible “argh” and “ugh” at a couple displays which is why the movie has an R rating for strong brutal bloody violence, language and some nudity. Most of the movie is pretty tame but when those scenes happen, you might squirm a bit in your seat. But, all in all, the movie ended its 100 minute run on a calm, quiet note with no easter egg, just the vivid fuchsia letting flashing on the screen.

The Movie Monkey

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Disney's Aulani Maka'ala

Took a number of pictures out at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina, in the lobby called Maka'ala. Over 200 photos have be stitched together using Microsoft Photosynth to give you a 3-D view of sorts of the incredible details in the entrance to your Hawaiian experience at Aulani. Take some time, keep your eyes wide open as you explore and look around Maka'ala.

Movie Review: Contagion

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At one point in time, if you wanted to travel the world, it took a lot of time and a lot of effort. Heck, It used to be that if you wanted to fly the China Clipper from San Francisco to Honolulu, there were about 25 people on the plane and about 17-20 hours in the air. Today, the same flight is about 5-6 hours and a flight from Honolulu can reach all the way to Newark, New Jersey in just 11 hours and in both cases the planes can hold around 250 people. The point the movie Contagion is making is that with the mobility of people today, if a highly infectious and deadly disease with a short gestation period ever occurred, it would truly be horrifying as the disease left deadly pockets of destruction across the globe.

The movie begins with Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) coughing and Day 2 appearing on the bottom of the screen. She's on her way home from Hong Kong. Shortly after having arrived at a place of safety back with her family, she has seizures, is rushed to the hospital by her husband Mitch (Matt Damon) where she dies. Don't get mad at The Movie Monkey for revealing this, it's all over the previews so it's no big secret. What was surprising is just how quickly this major Hollywood star was killed off. That doesn't happen too often.

The clock is ticking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Heath Organization are made aware of people who have died at several locatiosn across the globe. CDC head Dr Cheevers (Laurence Fishburne) sends investigator Dr Erin Mears (Kate Winslet) to investigate Beth's death while the WHO dispatches Dr Leonora Orantes (Marion Cortiland) to Hong Kong to try to locate the initial infection point. Back in San Francisco a conspiracy theorist Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law) discovers a video of a man in Japan who dies on a bus and attempts to sound an alarm. Up front, no one believes him. As the days pass from the initial contamination, the body count starts rising. The conspiracies run wilder, the doctors and scientists keep working to find a solution. Some people get sick and survive, some are immune but the death toll goes higher and higher.

There are parallels to what the world experienced back in 2009 with the outbreak of the H1N1 virus. Contagion takes it a step further with a deeper "What if". What if the components of the outbreak because more time restrictive, the potency of the virus was ratcheted up, and the method of transmission was even easier? You sit in your seat for 105 minutes squirming as you watch human nature take over. People want to hug and kiss but doing so may transmit the disease. Government works to find solutions but fears of creating panic before the full information is available hinder dissemination to the public. First responders either knowingly or unknowingly putting their own lives on the line. They just know they are attempting to help someone in need. News organizations are not sure which information to distribute, those from the government or from other organizations who may have details that are contradictory in nature. Individuals across the board are trying to keep their reputations and integrity intact when faced with overwhelming circumstances.

What makes this movie work is the slow build of the fear. How do you protect yourself from something that you can't see without a microscope? Do you protect yourself? How do you guard those you care about? How far do you go to safeguard your own and what lengths to shield others? How do you distinguish truth from propaganda? Short of aliens coming down and blowing up planet Earth, the body count is high, even higher than the 1918 pandemic of the Spanish Flu. With the disturbing images and strong language, the picture was rated PG-13. When the movie is over, you'll be breathing a big sigh of relief, but remember, if the MEV-1 virus actually existed, that single exhale could be deadly to someone else.

The Movie Monkey

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Movie Review: Seven Days in Utopia

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The unofficial end of summer is upon us and I was looking for something different to wrap up the season. One film in the listings caught my attention as I had not seen any previews for it but it was playing at both of the art house theaters in town. Not seeing any previews can either be a good thing or a bad thing. So with only that it was listed for the two theaters to go on, I got my QR code for one of the free one million bags of popcorn from Yahoo! and Regal Cinemas and headed out. During the course of the movie there were a total of six people in the theater for first show of the day.

Seven Days in Utopia is based on a David L Cook's book Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia. The movie had some star power with Academy Award winners Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo. It also reunited Duvall with Lucas Black who starred with each other in 2009's Get Low. A golfer, Luke Chisholm (Black) after having a very bad round unexpectedly ends up in Utopia, TX where he meets Johnny Crawford (Duvall). Crawford had seen Chisholm's melt down on TV and tells him that if he stays in Utopia for seven days he can help him work through the situation. Chisholm takes up Crawford's offer.

So, if you take a bit of love of golf and the love of the purity of the sport from The Legend of Bagger Vance, some of Mister Miyagi's style of off beat training methods from the original Karate Kid and some of the elements of story telling from best selling self-help books' author Og Mandino, you have an outline of elements and devices of the story laid before you. Going into the 99 minute movie I had no idea what to expect, I took it on faith that it would be a decent movie. While the visuals which were actually shot in Utopia, TX were very compelling and from a production and acting stance were top notch, the story being told and therefore the editing to tell the story were a bit uneven. The attempts to give the back story via flash backs worked to an extent. The trust and openness between Crawford and Chisholm seemed really deep for two people who had just met. The people of Utopia, all 375 of them, seemed very warm and receiving of Chisholm which seems so unlike life today.

Ultimately, it is a feel good movie with a touch of a redemption story of sorts folded into the sports story script. At the end of seven days when Chisholm is about to leave town the connection between the characters is very tight given the time frame they had been together. The overall tenor and tone of the movie reminded me of a movie that I saw the better part of ten years ago called The Legend of Johnny Lingo. Chances are you didn't see that movie either. If you have a chance to find it via a streaming site or a DVD rental it also leaves you feeling good plus you'll love the views of the beaches and waters of the Cook Islands. Heading back up to the Lone Star state, Seven Days in Utopia will leave you feeling the same except for the very end of the movie. The move that I had never seen before in a movie was a very bold approach done by the marketing department. I'm like "WHAT! How could you do that in the movie!" It was very effective in that it had me thinking about the movie when I got home several hours later.

When you SFT, See, Feel, Trust, the positive and inspirational message delivered by Lucas and Duvall, you'll totally understand why the movie has a G rating for general audiences. There is no easter egg at the end of the movie, but there is a good song that plays during credits if you choose to stay.

The Movie Monkey

To subscribe to the audio podcast of the reviews via iTunes click here. Audio versions are released the following Wednesday.

Aulani opening day detailed trip report

My trip started at 6am as I hopped the bus out to Ko Olina. At my second transfer point, there was some rain that concerned me but by the time I needed to get off the bus to walk in, it had cleared up. The driver was nice enough to drop me off across from the driveway into Ko Olina rather than another tenth of a mile at the actual stop. It was greatly appreciated. I understand that during the morning there was a nice rainbow that graced the opening ceremony.

This is a rather long report so here’s what I’m covering:

Background Music
Photopass
Logo merchandise
General Excise Tax
Car Rental
Menehune Adventure
Aulani Trivia
Rainbow Reef and Makai Preserve
Mickey Float
Alcohol on the Beach
Aunty’s Beach House and the Adventure’s Club
One Paddle, Two Paddle
Quiet Area
Conference Center and Nani
Loungers and Cabanas
Second Recommendation
The Daily 'Iwa
Aloha, Welcome to Aulani
Water Coolers
The Spas-Painted Sky and Laniwai
The Lava Shack
Shave Ice
Hidden features
Na Menehune
Disney Characters
Oahu Ohana Disney Pin Traders & 10th floor Three Bedroom Suite
Kamaaina Rates
Last First Day Thoughts

Background Music

As I walked into Maka'ala, as I've said in previous, my mouth was on the floor. The activity, the costumes and details I've mentioned in another post. Something that I didn't talk about was the background music. The news was released a few days before the opening that Kealii Reichel has produced several mele (songs) to serenade guests. When I walked in there was one that had some chanting that just gave me total chicken skin (goose bumps) with the vocals and beats blending into the environment creating an exciting aura around what will be for many their first time exposure to Hawaiian culture. I didn't think to check at Kalepa's if there was a CD with the soundtrack available, but will the next trip out.

Photopass

In Kalepa's there is a photo pass available. There are a number of nice overlays that can be added to your pictures. The photopass card for Aulani has a nice plumeria picture on the left side. For the slides and such around Waikolohe Valley, at this time there are no automated cameras like on Splash or Space Mountains. If you want a picture on the slides, you'll need to get a photographer to try to take one and apparently the cameras at the moment can't do the bust photography so it's one at a time shots.
Photopass front Photopass back

Logo merchandise

There was a sign limiting purchases of the Aulani logo merchandise to two items. A Cast Member told me that none of the Aulani merchandise will be available at the Disney Store at Ala Moana Center. No option for mail order either. So, if you want the Aulani pins and Vinylmation items contact me and we can talk turkey about pricing and shipping! I visited the store three times during the day and it was crowded each time. When I purchased some pins, I was offered a nice sturdy folded bag with rope handles and topped with tissue paper. I have not seen this sort of bag at any other Disney resort. This was another example of upping the experience at Aulani. I turned it down as I didn't want to carry it around for the day but did accept it when I purchased two of the Vinylmation figures before I left for the day. A 20 oz Coke Zero cost me $2.59 and with General Excise Tax and deposit, total cost was $2.77.

General Excise Tax

One item that surprised me on the General Excise Tax is how Disney is collecting it. This paragraph could get boring so you might want to jump ahead to the next paragraph if you’re not into those details. Hawaii has a tax that is a tax on the business and not the consumer. The GET is NOT a sales tax. The company is not required to pass it along, but they almost all do. Any money the business collects the State of Hawaii wants a portion so if the business passes along the GET to the consumer, that tax is taxed. Long story short, in order for the company to break even on the tax collection, they should collect 4.712%. Disney is collecting only 4.71%. That is an unusual move not to collect the full 4.712%. On larger purchases, that could be a little bit of money but with the total number of transactions, it could add up. If you made it this far in this paragraph, bless you....now go read some more fun stuff in the paragraph next door!
Receipt

Car Rental

In the Holoholo tour area is where you will find a desk for Alamo rent a car. Archie, Jesse and Savanah are the CMs responsible for the desk. One feature they pointed out is that the Leaf is available for rental and there are charging stations at Aulani. They quoted $59.99 per day not including any taxes. I joked around asking if I needed to bring it back with the battery drained! They laughed. They recommend keeping it less than 80 miles before charging. They are now listed on the Alamo web site, but here is a heads up. They are NOT listed as Kapolei for either the city or using the zip code; you need to look up either Honolulu or Aulani. As another heads up, for Oahu, I'm not aware of any public charging stations. I'll still need to do some more research to see if I can find anything. The number for them directly is 808-676-5924.

Menehune Adventure

Make sure that you check out the Menehune Adventure. If you are familiar with the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot, it is similar. You will have a device that will give you clues and activate special animations around the property. I was told there are a number of animations already in place and that more are planned. That sounds exciting!

Aulani Trivia

I spoke with Janice who is a life guard supervisor dressed in red. The funny thing is, her name tag had a different name. Apparently there is a back log on getting the name tags made. She's been in Hawaii for about two years and really excited about Aulani. My question for her was about a bridge that crosses the Waikolohe Stream and has the date of 1923. I asked her what the significance of the date was. When she answered, I said "Ahhhhhh". I will let you find out for yourself when you visit what it means.

Rainbow Reef and Makai Preserve

I ended up walking around the valley for a while checking out the Rainbow Reef where people can snorkel with tropical fish. There is a nice viewing area where you can see into the waters with signs posted with pictures of the fish that you'll find inside the viewing area. Viewing into the window, there are some hidden surprises there as well! From what I could see, the people were not going underwater, but snorkeling while floating on the surface of the water. In the Makai Preserve there are sting rays in a pool. There are sessions where guests can get up close and personal with the animals under controlled conditions.
Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 Pic 4

Mickey Float

There are several people with whom I've been communicating with about Aulani. One of them works in recreation services. It was great to finally me him in person after corresponding for several months. They are dressed in blue. The waterfront of the lagoon has transformed with the opening of Aulani. With the number of loungers and cabanas available, the beach has more activity. One of the activities is the rental of a float in the Aulani version of Mickey. The standard corporate three circle logo has been transformed for Hawaii. If you look at some of my pictures from around the resort, you'll see the modification! You can use that to enjoy time in the lagoon. The stand on the beach is homage to Joe Rohde thru its name of Makiki Joe’s.

Alcohol on the Beach

For the beach activities, there is something that has totally surprised me. While exiting the property to the beach there is a sign saying "no alcohol allowed beyond this point." But yet, you can have a server bring alcohol out to you on the beach. Now this is where I don't understand the law fully at Ko Olina with their agreement with the State of Hawaii. There is public access to the shoreline. Ko Olina created the lagoons and has provided access to the beach. Alcohol is not supposed to be allowed on public beaches. So, I’m not totally sure under the conditions by which alcohol is not allowed to be brought out, but yet they will serve you alcohol on the beach.
Pic 1

Aunty’s Beach House and the Adventure’s Club

The keiki (children) that are 3-12 years old are going to have a blast at Aunty's Beach House. The activities that are set up at Aunty's with costume dress up, computers, games, science experiments, nap time and snacks will keep kids occupied! I asked to visit and see the Adventurer's Club items. They allowed me in, I had to sign in, be escorted, allowed to take pictures of props and had to wash my hands upon entry. There is an Aunty's side and an Uncle's side to the location. It's over on Uncle's side where the Adventure's Club items are located. It was fun to see how Aulani has been tied to Pleasure Island over at Walt Disney World *and* to the Tokyo DisneySea theme park. It was a very nice touch! I did talk to the CM about the significance of these items and why they will probably have a number of requests to view them. This was a second reference point back to Joe Rohde.
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One Paddle, Two Paddle

Over at One Paddle, Two Paddle, there was a line for the counter service food. They had items from wraps to burgers and tacos and a number of sides as well as a keiki menu. The prices seem a little on the high side. A delicious smell was floating in the air from the grill cooking the Angus burgers as you stood in the area. This is located at the base of the Ewa Tower next to Aunty's Beach House next to 'Ama'ama restaurant.
Pic 1

Quiet Area

Over by the base of the Waianae Tower is the Wailana pool bar which is next to the quiet pool that is called the Wailana Pool! How convenient! It is very nice over there, very tranquil as compared to the pools that are part of Waikolohe Valley. A couple of cabanas are available for rental at this location.
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Conference Center and Nani

At the Conference Center, I met Nani. She was kind enough to let me into the ballroom. She was very excited to share about the location and what it offered with its Hawaiian touches. She pointed out the “chandelier” in the room which looked like a lei that they could computer control for the lighting and color control. She also pointed out a beautiful floral pattern woven into the carpet which in many cases will probably be covered with chairs or tables for events and missed by guests. We talked about a bit more which I mentioned in another post. I really want to thank her for taking as much time as she did on the busy opening day to share and talk story with me. She mentioned the 4:15 Aloha, Welcome to Aulani event at would take place at the Maka’ala lanai.
Lights Carpet

Loungers and Cabanas

All around are places to relax. The valley abounds with lounge chairs for use as well as cabanas that can be rented. There were signs identifying the ohana (family) that had rented the locations in front of each cabana. Having a place that you can call "home" while at the pool and knowing that you have ability to have walls to allow or block the sun or wind gives that extra touch for your pool time.
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Second Recommendation

At one point I had found a plug to charge my batteries. It was in the Ewa tower not too far away from the Makahiki restaurant where I could sit down in shade and use the outlet. It was here I met a couple who are big Disney fans, Storm and Bently, who live in Waikiki that had come out for the day. They were enjoying the resort. I did have my copy of The Daily 'Iwa out to see the schedule. One cast member came over and suggested the Aloha Welcome to Aulani event. So that makes twice it was mentioned to me.

The Daily 'Iwa

The Daily 'Iwa is a schedule for guests. It is printed daily and lists all the activities going on around the resort. It is similar to the Personal Navigator that can be found aboard the Disney cruise ships. For guests, this will be a valuable piece to pick up and know what’s happening where and when. This newsletter gives the daily pulse of the events around the resort that guests can take advantage of during their stay if they choose to be active or they could just hunker down in Waikolohe Valley with their towels and sun screen all day.
Front Page

Aloha, Welcome to Aulani

I did attend the first public Aloha, Welcome to Aulani. Cast members started handing out post cards to people who had gathered on the Maka’ala lanai. At the appropriate time, a cast member called the people to order and we had an ice breaker exercise. We had to find someone who had the same postcard that had been handed to you. If you couldn’t find an exact match, then find someone with a similar card. We were asked to share our name, location and something we’re proud of. I met Vincent, a Brigham Young University student who had come over to Hawaii on his own to study at the Laie campus. He worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a food vendor.

After the ice breaker, we were introduced to Uncle who then talked more about the resort. Now, Uncle sported a beard which was weird because usually CMs are clean shaven. Actually, I had seen Uncle a couple weeks prior while I was on the lagoon as he was rehearsing lines. It was the first day and he made a little, but understandable mistake by calling one of the towers by the incorrect name. Not a biggie. As he talked he used a few Hawaiian words, gave their definition and pointed out other cast members who briefly talked about activities available that fell into their department. The meeting got cut a little short due to people standing out in the direct sun who were starting to break up. Afterwards I heard him pointing out mistakes that he made. The jitters will go away and the presentation will be refined.

By the way, in case you’re wondering, aunty and uncle in Hawaii is a term of respect and endearment. They don’t necessarily need to be blood relatives, but people who are generally older than you, will share themselves with you, and will let you take the first taste of the poi before they do. They really might be Aunty Leilani or Uncle Kimo, but you don’t always call out their name, just the title will do. They are ohana.

Water Coolers

Something that I noticed around the resort are insulated clear water coolers. I've seen this type of cooler before when I've attended events at hotels or convention centers. There were small plastic cups next to it. Some were just plain water and others had fruit in the water. I personally don't remember seeing this at any of the resorts in Florida including the Grand Floridian. This is one of the aspects of Aulani that I saw and why I say that Disney is raising their game.
Pool area

The Spas-Painted Sky and Laniwai

Inside the Waianae tower are the spas. Painted Sky is the first spa on Oahu for teens and next door is the big spa Laniwai for adults. Painted Sky has the Rip Swirl yogurt bar that's open to anyone in the resort. Teens can get pampered with facials and mani-pedis in a semi-private area. Just outside the door by Painted Sky are the Wailana pool area and the Laniwai hydrotherapy area. As you look up you'll see clouds that will change color giving the idea of the painted sky. Game consoles and computers for the teens are included in this area.

The main spa Laniwai is spectacular. I entered and started talking to the staff. All very friendly and wired up with ear buds to communicate with each other. I had stopped by in the early afternoon to take a look at the spa and was told there was a tour at 6pm. When I returned for the tour, I was offered a seat and then given a glass of water with an infusion of pineapple. While waiting for the tour a local gentleman came in and wanted to buy a package for his wife and daughter. They graciously assisted him using what looked like an iPad to take his order.

The person who gave the tour needs to work a bit on his presentation. He seemed a bit nervous and was speaking like he had memorized a script. It wasn't as natural as some other tours that I've taken. He also didn't know how to keep the group together and everyone in place before he started talking. The looks and feels as you go through the spa are very calming. The main spa is 18,000 square feet and the hydrotherapy outside called Kula Wai Gardens is an additional 5000 square feet and is unique. No other location in Hawaii has a hydrotherapy area. In the Kula Wai Garden are special showers that are like a hard rain, soft rain, side spray and several other choices. There was a hot whirlpool and a cold bath. The water was kept at 52 degrees if I remember correctly. In several locations throughout Laniwai, small snacks and fruits are available.

Going back for a moment to the man who was buying the gift package. He was surprised at the cost. According to him it was affordable. Personally, I've never been to a spa so I have no reference for cost. In any case, the atmosphere was very soothing. Even though I was rush, rush, rush to try to do so many things, just being in Laniwai for the 15 minute tour was very calming! The tour guide also pointed out the driftwood art that was present throughout Laniwai was from driftwood that had been found on the beaches there on the west side of Oahu. Very nice!
Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 Pic 4 Pricing and brochure

The Lava Shack

Back in Waikolohe Valley is The Lava Shack. It had a few logo items for sale plus some food. Outside was another location for your refillable mug. Inside was a refrigerator that sold food and drinks. What was funny was the way the shack was themed. All sort of little trinkets and odds and ends. Locals will get a real kick out of exploring this location. Two items that I found particularly of note were a picture of Angela Perez Baraquio and a bobble head. Anglea is notable as being a sister in law for a local radio talk show host and a Miss Hawaii who went on to become Miss America. I sent a note to the host Rick letting him know that his sister in law was now immortalized by Disney at their new resort. The bobble head is funny. We have a person who spent part of his childhood in Hawaii and then went on to become the 44th President of the United States of America. Yes, Barrak Obama is being noted for his ties to Hawaii with a bobblehead of him in a surfing position!
Angela bobble head

Shave Ice

Across from The Lava Shack is a location where you can buy the local treat called shave ice. Many people confuse shave ice with a snow cone. There is a BIG difference between the two. A snow cone is ground ice whereas shave ice is as its name says, shaved. It's much lighter and fluffier than a snow cone. Japan visitors might know it as kakigori. This stand is backed by the Rainbow Reef and next to the reef viewing area.

Hidden features

As I walked around Waikolohe Valley throughout the day I tried to take pictures of the different animals hidden in Puu Kilo, the big volcano like structure within the valley. All throughout the day new animals kept appearing. I might have looked at a location in the morning receiving direct light and didn't notice anything. I come back later in the afternoon when the sun had shifted position so there were shadows and BOOM! a new life form was staring back at me. Within the rock work you'll find hidden creatures out by the lagoon going all the way in towards Maka'ala.
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Na Menehune

And speaking of BOOM! The same is true of the menehune. They are all over the place! Make sure you look up, look down, look behind you, in rafters, behind branches. In case you don't know what a menehune is, in Hawaiian legends, the menehune are crafts people who live in the forests who come out at night and use their superb skills to create structures like ponds, temples and roads overnight. You'll find both male and female menehune. Although I have pictures of any that I saw, you might not find them there. They are mischievous and could move at any time. I was surprised at some of the locations where I found them. So keep on the lookout because you just don't know when and where you will see them!
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Disney Characters

Over the course of the day I did see Mickey, Minnie and Stitch. When I asked about Lilo, I was told that she’s staying over on Kauai and one CM said that she’s in school over there! During the Character Breakfast at Makahiki, you’ll see more than just the three I mentioned above. Still no sighting of Duffy Bear! Character appearances can be found in The Daily 'Iwa.

Oahu Ohana Disney Pin Traders & 10th floor Three Bedroom Suite

I did two things to finish off my day. The first was the chance to meet up with the Oahu Ohana Disney Pin traders. The second to visit the tenth floor three bedroom suite. I haven't gotten into the pin trading because I know that I could very well go overboard. Although I do have some pins; my claim to fame is having the complete framed collection of the Walt Disney World Fifteenth Anniversary Coke pins with plaque and when I was a cast member I collected pavilion sponsor pins like Kikoman’s and AT&T. I had the chance to meet some of the collectors here on Oahu and see parts of their prized collections. In the suite, I took pictures of it with the interior and views from the lanai (patio) looking out onto the beautiful Pacific Ocean while down below people were gathering on the lawn.
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Kamaaina Rates

For Hawaii's local residents, the question about Kamaaina rates has come up. From what I understand, the hotel rooms have a 25% discount. For other discounts on parking, meals or merchandise, there none at this time. What I would think is that after they have been open for a number of months Disney will go back and reevaluate what they are offering the local residents. Just as the Florida and California resorts offer specials for locals, I would expect them to eventually offer discounts to help fill up the slow seasons. But for right now, only the room discount is available and future discounts are just speculations.

Last First Day Thoughts

At his point, my day was just about over. I was tired, hungry and a little sun burned. I headed back down and was surprised by a menehune in the elevator. So really, keep an eye out as these little guys could be hiding ANYWHERE! My last treat for the night was running into Joe Rohde again. I asked if I could get his picture and he said sure. He back up a little bit to head to Maka’ala where I took the shot. I once again thanked him and he went along his way. So that was a great way to cap off the evening and my visit to Aulani on its opening day.

To see the complete set of over 600 pictures from opening day, click here
To see all the video of the site before any construction started, click here
To see the complete collection of pics of Aulani as it was being construction, check here

Finally, as a special gift commemorating the opening of Aulani, right click here and then choose the save option.