Cabana for Crawford - 08.02.26
Today was our first full day in paradise and we spent it in luxury.
Well… We started our day off by shopping at the infamous Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace which may not be luxurious, but we all found some unique treasures. This is Hawaii’s largest open-air market where the locals shop for the best deals in town. There are over 400 vendors, crafters, and artists from all over the world! Admission is cash only, $2 per person for ages 12 and older. Admission is reduced to $1 per person for Kama’aina (Hawaii/State ID) and Active Military with valid ID. Admission is free for those 11 years and under.
Our group had a fun time exploring the different vendors, buying local, and tasting some of the local fruits, vegetables, and meats. I was able to secure a majority of my souvenirs through the Swap Meet at a reasonable cost.
We limited our time at the Swap Meet as we had rented a cabana for the day at Aulani. We were sectioned in the adults only pool area which was a peaceful oasis. Our cabana came with plush seating located both in and out of the sun. We also had included water bottles, towels, a fruit tray, mini fridge, safe, TV, and personal waiter. We were able to order additional beverages and food at cost as we had the rental for the whole day. I loved having a cabana as it gave us peace of mind while leaving our belongings behind as we explored the many aquatic features.
We started our aquatic adventures by going to the lazy river, which was very fun, minus that it was a tad crowded. We then went over to the gorgeous ocean where we floated about merrily. After all that activity, we went back to the cabana to order lunch. I had the Today’s Catch Tacos (locally caught sustainable fish, shredded cabbage slaw, guacamole, Pico de Gallo, chili-lime sauce) which were delicious and featured mahi-mahi. After we fueled, we went back to the water to explore the pools, ocean (again), and hot tub. I was a very happy Pisces.
We met back at the cabana as Avery had a salon appointment to get his hair cut. He headed back to the room to freshen up, and I stayed in the cabana with his family as we ordered cocktails. I ordered the Mango Mojito (old Lahaina silver rum, mango, mint, house-made sweet-and-sour, and soda water) which was tasty and refreshing. While sitting and chatting amongst ourselves and with our waiter, we spotted a mongoose. I was highly excited by this as I grew up watching Rikki Tikki Tavi with my cousins. Mongooses are small, carnivorous mammals from Africa and Asia. They are banned from import into the United States because of their ecological damage in introduced areas. Mongooses were first brought to the U.S. in the late 19th century, primarily to Hawaii and Puerto Rico, to control rats in sugarcane plantations. I just think that they are cute and impressive little creatures.
I joined Avery on his salon adventure, and his stylist even gave us a magical moment and gifted us a Disney pin at the end. I, of course, had some pins on me and gifted her one in return although she deemed it unnecessary. All of the staff that we interacted with at Aulani were friendly and warm, sharing personal stories and their connection with the islands. On our way back to the room, Avery and I stopped for Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bars which never disappoint.
We then all got ready for dinner at Mekiko Cantina, which we walked to as it was across the street from the resort. I had the Kalua Pork Quesadillas (large flour tortilla filled with a blend of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese and served with a side of traditional salsa) and the Guava Lime Margarita (Jose Cuervo Tradicional Plata, guava, lime, ginger, finished with a li hing mui rim). Everything was delicious and I even had some leftovers to take back with me. After dinner, we stopped in the ABC Store to pick up some souvenirs, in particular we bought medium sized wooden surfboards to collect Disney character signatures at the resort as a keepsake.
We went to bed shortly after we got back to the resort as tomorrow was our first day exploring the island. Trust me, you won’t want to miss a second of the adventures.
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