Heaven in Hawaii: the Laniwai Spa at Disney’s Aulani

Outdoors in: Guests enjoy open-air massages at Aulani – a Disney Resort & Spa. Credit: David Roark/Disney Destinations.

By Jill E. Cooper

Nestled inconspicuously on the first floor of the Wai’anae tower of Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa, you’ll find one of Oahu’s newest hidden treasures – the Laniwai Spa.  “Laniwai” is a Hawaiian word that translates to “freshwater heaven” for English speakers.  “Heavenly” is an apt description for an afternoon spent at Laniwai.  As you amble about the grounds of Aulani, you won’t find this enchanting 18,000 square foot tropical retreat by accident.  You must look for it, but the search is well worth the rewards that await you there.

Leave it to Disney to design a spa that can be both a secluded, indulgent retreat for adults and a destination for the whole family to enjoy.  I arrived at Aulani for the grand opening celebration earlier this fall as a solo traveler.  To say I was eager to sample the extensive menu of offerings at Laniwai would be an understatement.  After looking through a lengthy, multi-page menu of possible options, I settled on Kilikili — an 80-minuteexperience that incorporated gentle running water with a deep tissue massage. The treatment was imaginative and refreshing.  It was the fastest 80 minutes of my life as I lay there on the treatment table designed exclusively for Laniwai guests.

Gentle rain at the perfect pressure and temperature showered down upon me as the healing hands of the Laniwai spa technician worked their magic.  Following my Kilikili experience, I swaddled myself in one of the spa’s signature robes and curled up under the world’s softest cashmere blanket in the Relaxation Room.  If I didn’t have another obligation that afternoon, I think you’d still find me there, with a refreshing glass of spa water and a magazine in hand, basking in the beauty of this gorgeous facility.

If you have the good fortune to travel to Aulani with your spouse and children, you’ll definitely want to look into the family treatment options at Laniwai.  While adults enjoy a Lomilomi massage or some other treatment of their choosing, the older children in the family can slip next door to Painted Sky, the portion of the spa reserved exclusively for teens.  They will love the yogurt bar, exercise classes and mixology stations designed with them in mind. There’s even something for the little ones in your travel party here.  Following the phenomenal popularity of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience at Downtown Disney and the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Laniwai offers children 12 and under the chance to book a “Minnie Me” experience, during which they will be transformed into beautiful young Hawaiian “kaikamahine” or “keiki kane,” complete with adorable Hawaiian garb, hair, makeup (for the girls), temporary tattoos (for the boys) and a subtle dusting of pixie dust, if desired.  What little boy or girl wouldn’t want to arrive at Aulani’s enchanting performance of the Starlight Hui dressed appropriately for the event?  Or, if you want to make Laniwai a true family bonding experience, reserve a family treatment room where you can all indulge simultaneously in the magical de-stressing treatments of this magnificent spa. No matter your age, I guarantee that a trip to Laniwai will be a beautiful memory from your Aulani vacation.

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Jill E. Cooper has been an aficionado of the Disney theme parks since age seven.  She is an ecstatic addition to the 2011 Disney World Moms Panel.  She and her small family have recently added Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney vacations to their portfolio of magical Disney travel experiences.

Tagged: Disney, Family time, Hawaii, Hotels