Aloha, Susan!
What can I say except you're welcome to planDisney! Thank you so much for surfing by with your question. How exciting that your Hawaiian adventure to
Aulani Resort is just on the horizon. Our family visits Hawaii every year, and has stayed at Aulani several times. I know the island of Oahu quite well, so I am happy to help you with your question.
Susan, our family prefers to rent a car when visiting Aulani, which might be your best option to ensure transportation is available for you, given your flight schedule. We prefer it to shuttles because Aulani is about 45 or so minutes (depending on traffic) from Honolulu, and having our own car makes getting around the island to explore much easier. Some of the tours won't pick up in Kapalua, and often require Guests to meet them in a location different than Aulani. You can take a ride share to the location, but having our own car to see the must-see sites like Waimea Valley, Kualoa Ranch, Haleiwa, and the North Shore, and so much more makes our trip even more special.
Now, if having a rental car is not an option for you, you can take a
ride share or a taxi from the airport to Aulani, which would be available as a last-minute option. If you prefer a shuttle, Aulani recommends the Hele Hele Shuttle, and it can be booked right from the
Aulani website. They also recommend Platinum Limousine Service, which can also be booked from the Aulani website. When it comes to getting from Aulani to other locations, there is a shuttle from the Resort that will take you to a few nearby locations, including shopping centers, but having a rental car will give you the most flexibility.
I hope this helps you, Susan! If you have any further questions, sail back here to see me. Here at planDisney, we know the way to help you plan the most magical vacation on earth.
A Hui Hou,
Keri