Ko Olina

Reporting from Ko Olina, Oahu - My 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, has wanted to visit Hawaii since Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" movie came out in 2002. The wacky animated movie about a Hawaiian girl who adopts a pet that turns out to be an alien was filled with surfing, hula dancing and exotic locales. But mostly it was about ohana - the Hawaiian word for "family. " So when we arrived at Disney's new Aulani hotel in Hawaii it seemed like a no-brainer that we'd find Lilo and Stitch here to welcome Hannah to the tropical paradise that filled her dreams and imagination.

Disney characters apparently enjoy the seafaring life. Disney Cruise Lines announced last Friday the addition of a second Hawaii cruise from Los Angeles to its 2012 schedule. The company says in a statement that the cruise was added because "our guests wanted more options to visit Hawaii. " The second cruise leaves Oct. 14 and will feature eight days at sea during the 14-night itinerary. The cruise aboard the Disney Wonder will stop at four islands: Maui (Kahului)

Reporting from Ko Olina, Oahu - Water plays a central role in Disney's new Aulani hotel in Hawaii - from the water-park-like pool and the sunset-facing hot tubs to the salt water snorkeling pool and the adult and youth spas. The $800 million Aulani in Ko Olina on the leeward side of Oahu opened in late August with an official grand opening scheduled for Sept. 22. > Aulani: Photos of Disney's new Hawaiian resort I've been staying at the Aulani for the last few days with my wife, Nancy, and our 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, where we spent a great deal of our time in our bathing suits.

Reporting from Ko Olina, Oahu - My 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, has wanted to visit Hawaii since Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" movie came out in 2002. The wacky animated movie about a Hawaiian girl who adopts a pet that turns out to be an alien was filled with surfing, hula dancing and exotic locales. But mostly it was about ohana - the Hawaiian word for "family. " So when we arrived at Disney's new Aulani hotel in Hawaii it seemed like a no-brainer that we'd find Lilo and Stitch here to welcome Hannah to the tropical paradise that filled her dreams and imagination.

The restaurants at Disney's new Aulani hotel in Hawaii are expensive and limited, unless you like fine-dining food and prices at every meal. The $800-million Aulani in Ko Olina on leeward-side Oahu had a soft opening in late August with an official grand opening scheduled for Sept. 22. > Aulani: Photos of Disney's new Hawaiian resort I've been staying at the Aulani the last few days with my wife, Nancy, and our 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, where we spent a small fortune on food on top of room rates starting at $399 a night.

The Magic Kingdom is about to expand its borders. Disney's new Aulani resort and spa is set to open Monday in Ko Olina, a beach-side development about 17 miles from the Honolulu airport. This Disney venture will rely on Hawaii's natural beauty and culture rather than an amusement park as its drawing card. Until mid-September, Travelocity is offering a $250 discount on a trip to the Aulani. The deal: It's not cheap to stay at this 21-acre resort with pools, a private snorkeling lagoon, an aquatic preserve, a hiking trail, character breakfasts and lots of other Disney touches.

Disney characters apparently enjoy the seafaring life. Disney Cruise Lines announced last Friday the addition of a second Hawaii cruise from Los Angeles to its 2012 schedule. The company says in a statement that the cruise was added because "our guests wanted more options to visit Hawaii. " The second cruise leaves Oct. 14 and will feature eight days at sea during the 14-night itinerary. The cruise aboard the Disney Wonder will stop at four islands: Maui (Kahului)

Reporting from Ko Olina, Hawaii - The new Aulani hotel on Oahu sets out to replace the clichés of tiki torches, totem poles, bamboo furniture and tacky luaus with a resort that celebrates Hawaii's history, traditions and cultures sprinkled with just a small dose of Disney's trademark pixie dust. Although this premise seems more than just a bit ironic for a company that has built its brand on fairytale fantasy, Disney manages to pull it off with style, grace and beauty, resulting in a modern Hawaiian resort that delivers on its promise and its considerable marquee name.

Ground has been broken on what is being called "Oahu's largest master-planned resort development" with the initial phase expected to be completed in late 1988. It is the Ko Olina Resort, situated on 1,015 acres near Honolulu International Airport. The resort will eventually have eight hotels, 5,200 condominiums, four saltwater lagoons, 1.5 miles of new shoreline for a total of nearly 2 miles of beach area, an 18-hole golf course and a marina with mooring for 400 boats.

The Best Way to Aulani From LAX, United, Delta, American, Continental and Hawaiian offer nonstop service to Honolulu, and United offers connecting service (change of plane). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $478. Disney Aulani Resort & Spa, 92-1185 Aliinui Drive, Ko' Olina, Kapolei, HI 96707; (714) 520-7001, resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort . Doubles from $399, suites from $1,038.

The restaurants at Disney's new Aulani hotel in Hawaii are expensive and limited, unless you like fine-dining food and prices at every meal. The $800-million Aulani in Ko Olina on leeward-side Oahu had a soft opening in late August with an official grand opening scheduled for Sept. 22. > Aulani: Photos of Disney's new Hawaiian resort I've been staying at the Aulani the last few days with my wife, Nancy, and our 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, where we spent a small fortune on food on top of room rates starting at $399 a night.

Reporting from Ko Olina, Oahu - Water plays a central role in Disney's new Aulani hotel in Hawaii - from the water-park-like pool and the sunset-facing hot tubs to the salt water snorkeling pool and the adult and youth spas. The $800 million Aulani in Ko Olina on the leeward side of Oahu opened in late August with an official grand opening scheduled for Sept. 22. > Aulani: Photos of Disney's new Hawaiian resort I've been staying at the Aulani for the last few days with my wife, Nancy, and our 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, where we spent a great deal of our time in our bathing suits.

Reporting from Ko Olina, Hawaii - The new Aulani hotel on Oahu sets out to replace the clichés of tiki torches, totem poles, bamboo furniture and tacky luaus with a resort that celebrates Hawaii's history, traditions and cultures sprinkled with just a small dose of Disney's trademark pixie dust. Although this premise seems more than just a bit ironic for a company that has built its brand on fairytale fantasy, Disney manages to pull it off with style, grace and beauty, resulting in a modern Hawaiian resort that delivers on its promise and its considerable marquee name.

The Magic Kingdom is about to expand its borders. Disney's new Aulani resort and spa is set to open Monday in Ko Olina, a beach-side development about 17 miles from the Honolulu airport. This Disney venture will rely on Hawaii's natural beauty and culture rather than an amusement park as its drawing card. Until mid-September, Travelocity is offering a $250 discount on a trip to the Aulani. The deal: It's not cheap to stay at this 21-acre resort with pools, a private snorkeling lagoon, an aquatic preserve, a hiking trail, character breakfasts and lots of other Disney touches.

Walt Zembriski made a hole in one on the par-three 16th hole Friday en route to a seven-under-par 65 and a three-stroke lead in the Senior Invitational at Ko Olina Resort at Honolulu. "I hit the ball with my four-iron, but I didn't know it had gone in until I got halfway down the fairway," said Zembriski of his shot on the 193-yard hole. Jim O'Hern, Bruce Crampton, Jim Ferree and Gay Brewer were tied for second at 68.

Unheralded Gail Graham shot a career-best 67 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over three golfers, including defending champion Lisa Walters and Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, after the first round of the $450,000 Hawaiian Ladies Open. Graham, whose best round in three years on the tour was a 68 and best finish was sixth in last year's U.S. Women's Open, turned in a bogey-free round over the 6,216-yard Ko Olina Course. She turned in 33 and made two more birdies on the back nine.