Aloha Aulani

The swimming complex at Aulani consists of three main pools (one of which will revert back to being an adult-only pool starting August 5th), two slides, a lazy river, three all-access hot tubs, one adults-only two-tiered hot tub, a children’s mini splash park structure with slides, a toddler’s splash zone, and the beach.  There’s also a pool full of fish you can snorkel with for an extra fee.  While pool opening and closing hours vary seasonally, many of the swimming pools start opening at 8AM, with all of them fully opened by 9AM.  For closing, the last pool is typically shut down by 8PM.

Aulani claims that all swimming pools are heated to between 82 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but on cloudy or breezy days, the pools feel much colder.  Hot tubs/spas are between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  The tropical fish lagoon, Rainbow Reef, is kept around 77 degrees Fahrenheit for the sake of the fish.

To swim, you must have a wristband.  To get a wristband, go to the kiosk over by the Menehune Bridge splash area, or the kiosk by the Ka Maka Grotto pool.  You can also get a wristband at the Rainbow Reef kiosk, but that’s usually a bad idea in the mornings as there’s typically a slow-moving line of people waiting to book snorkling, fish-feedings, or casabellas.  Between 8-9AM, the Ka Mama Grotto kiosk is only open to DVC members.  You will need to show your room key and blue card, and, after asking the names of the people getting bands, the cast members there will put bands on you and give you any towels you may need.  They will also provide floatation devices for free should you need one. 

We highly recommend getting your bands for the next day the afternoon/evening before.  Just go to the kiosks after 3pm and ask for bands for tomorrow.  You’ll need to tell them your name and room number so they can verify you are actually staying overnight.  If you do this, you’ll save time in the morning waiting in the sometimes very long line for your bands (I’ve counted over 40 people in line at times).  There’s usually no line at all in the afternoon.

Finding chairs around the pools can be a challenge.  Many people come down early and claim chairs.  When it’s busy, cast members will take your towels, fold them, and lay them neatly over the back of the chair.  If the towel isn’t taken down within an hour, the cast members will take your belongings and store them.  This doesn’t happen often, but it does happen, so if you see your towel has been folded and draped, pull it down.

The following items are permitted in the pools: Swim diapers, life vests, water wings, infant inner tubes with seats, pool noodles, and googles. 

Snorkels, fins, inner tubes without a bottom, kickboards, large floatation devices without net seats, mesh rings (except for infants), dive toys, and water guns are NOT permitted in the pools. 

On the pool deck, Aulani bans coolers (unless for medical purposes), wheeled items (wagons, carts, scooters, etc), and alcoholic beverages (unless purchased at the resort).  Honestly, the fact that there’s a ban on these items surprised us as we regularly see all three of them there (and have frequently brought them ourselves, oops).   

Keiki Cove Splash Zone 8AM-5PM

While there’s no age limit here, this is designed with your littlest ones in mind.  The Splash Zone is a slight slope down to just a few inches deep and has fountains in which toddlers love to play.  The area has a number of chairs and a few tables nearby where parents can relax and keep an eye on their children.

Waikolohe Pool 8AM-8PM 

This is the main pool of the resort: zero-entry, 8,200 sq.ft., and topping out at roughly 4 feet in depth.   There’s a long tube water slide entering the pool at one end.  Inside the peninsula is a hot tub which is heavily used on cooler days.  Close by, towards the beach, there are two adults-only hot tubs with stunning ocean views.

Wailana Pool 8AM-8PM > 18yo

This pool is reverting back to being limited to those 18 years or older starting August 5th, 2024.

A 1,500 square foot pool, limited to those 18 year old and older, located near the spa, Ulu Cafe, and Wailana Bar and Coffee Stand.

Rainbow Reef  10AM-3PM (hours change seasonally)

A saltwater pool filled with a variety of fish and coral.  The only way to swim here is to pay for a premium experience.  Offerings included snorkeling, supplied air swim, and scuba lessons. 

Slides 8AM-6PM

There are two water slides, one is an open-air tube slide, called Tubestone Curl, that empties into the lazy river, Waikolohe Stream.  You can grab a tube that carries either one or two people.   Make sure to grab a tube before walking up the stairs.  The line for this ride is on the right side of the staircase.

The other slide is a body slide that is completely enclosed, you can’t see anything.  This slide, Volcanic Vertical, empties out into about a 4 foot depth into a grotto in Waikolohe pool.  It’s a fairly fast, fun slide from which you hear a lot of screaming.  Riders may not go together.  This may be too scary for many younger ones.  The line for this ride is on the left side of the stair case.