Aulani Community Outreach
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Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, has combined Disney storytelling traditions with the art, stories and history of Hawai‘i. The result: a destination unlike any other. Committed to honoring the islands' vibrant culture, Disney has worked diligently with the community, from teaming up with artists to weave the islands' stories into the art and architecture of the resort, to collaborating with students to produce a photo collage showcasing the beauty of Hawai‘i.
In Hawai‘i, people strive to practice the spirit of giving. Disney has a long tradition of corporate social responsibility, especially when it comes to improving the lives of kids, families and communities. In addition to consulting community members throughout the design and construction of Aulani, we reach out to organizations that benefit the people and environment of our new “home”.
Here is a sampling of the ways Aulani has supported, and continues to support, the local community, the environment and our workplace. Want to know more? Read the full 2010 Community Report.
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Local Schools
The Children's Digital Image Rainbow Project is the result of a collaboration between Aulani, the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance and the State of Hawai‘i, Creative Industries Division. Focusing on a specific color of the rainbow, students across the state submitted photographs showcasing the beauty of Hawai‘i, as seen through their eyes. Of these student photographs, 138 were selected to form a rainbow photo collage that is displayed behind the check-in desk at the resort.
Aulani community outreach has also included:
- Working with students at Nanaikapono Elementary School to create artwork for a map of Hawai‘i that will be featured at the resort.
- Donating $25,000 to a New Tech model at Nanakuli and Wai‘anae High Schools, enabling each student to receive his or her own laptop.
- Donating funds to the Think: We! program, which teaches students how local issues and world challenges are interconnected.
The Environment
White sandy beaches, crystalline waters and vibrant sea life are among Earth's precious natural resources that Disney is committed to protecting, so they can be enjoyed generation after generation.
- To fund research that will help us better understand how changed land use has affected endangered green sea turtles, Disney awarded $25,000 to the University of Hawai‘i Foundation.
- On behalf of Aulani and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney also donated $10,000 to The Nature Conservancy, which works to protect our planet's natural resources.
- Disney donated funds to Ma‘o Organic Farms as part of the organization's annual celebration and fundraiser to benefit youth education programs. Disney also worked with Ma‘o Organic Farms to create the kalo–also known as taro–farm that thrives at the front of Aulani.
Our Workplace
From fostering safe and respectful work environments, to offering a variety of training and developmental opportunities, Disney invests in its Cast Members and their workplaces. Our Cast Members are encouraged to give back to their communities, through programs like the VoluntEARS.
Djuan Rivers, vice president of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai'i, currently serves on the board of the local Boys & Girls Club, in addition to the Child & Family Service board. Elliot Mills, managing director of Aulani, serves on the board for the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, while Todd Apo, Public Affairs director at Aulani, sits on the boards for Special Olympics Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i State Workforce Development Council.
Other organizations in Hawai‘i supported by Disney community giving programs include:
- Wai‘anae Sunset on the Beach
- Help, Understanding and Group Support (HUGS)
- ‘Aha Punana Leo o Wai‘anae
- Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i
- Hawai‘i Food Bank
- Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children's Beads of Courage program