My family was very fortunate and visited the island of Oahu, staying at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa. We stayed in an ocean view one bedroom villa using our Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points. The resort did not disappoint!
We discovered a bar/lounge called The ‘Ōlelo Room. It is not oceanfront, but it is a gem! Even if you cannot see the ocean, the patio is next to a beautiful koi pond and fountain. It is open daily starting at 5:00pm. It has full bar service and offers island-inspired appetizers. Even better, they offer a happy hour (sunset menu) with select appetizers and drinks at a discounted price along with live entertainment. Happy hour runs from 5:00-7:00pm each evening. We ended up going here several times. We just loved it.
There is an indoor area as well as outdoor seating. The weather is practically perfect so both options are great. Each evening, entertainment takes place on the patio. There was a different act each night that we were there, all equally enjoyable.
“‘Ōlelo” means “word” or “converse” in Hawaiian. If you look around the room, you can actually learn some of the language. The decor has common objects along with their corresponding Hawaiian words. Look around. You might even spot a carving of Mickey Mouse.
The appetizers were very tasty. The three of us would order 4-5 appetizers and it would be enough to count as dinner! My son’s favorites were the PuPu Pups (mini Portuguese sausage wrapped in sweet bread) and the loaded nachos. We also enjoyed the cheese and garlic bread and the domestic and imported cheese platter. Some of these items were on the happy hour menu and some were not. The items are subject to change.
DIStracted Tip: There is a frosty beverage just for Disney Vacation Club members. It isn’t on the menu and you have to ask for it. Be prepared to show your DVC Membership Card, as we were asked for it. The drink is called a “Pu’U Kilo Punch.” They offered a non-alcoholic version for my son.
One item that my son loved was the dessert offered: Hamburger Macaroon. It looks like a hamburger and french fries, but trust me, it’s not! Two macaroon shells are layered with chocolate ganache, flourless chocolate cake, white chocolate and strawberry gelee (looks like ketchup). It is also served with a Coke Semifreddo. We shared one the first night. On a subsequent evening, my son declared that he wanted his own. I can’t blame him!
Leave a Reply