Kālepa’s Store is one of four shops on-property at the Aulani, Disney’s resort resting on a beautiful beach in Oahu, Hawaii. Located just off of the lobby, it is the shop with the greatest variety of merchandise.
In true Disney fashion, the decor in Kālepa’s Store is all expertly themed. As you enter, just look up and you are treated to a view of a light fixture made to resemble a traditional shave ice machine, complete with “balls” of the frozen treat hanging from the contraption.
Lining the walls of the shop are photos of general stores throughout Hawaii. One of those pictures even plays a part in the Menehune Adventure Trail!
Duffy the Disney Bear, Shellie May, and now, Gelatoni
Gelatoni the cat was introduced to English-speaking world when he made his recent debut at the Aulani. The artistic feline took the form of 15-inch Gelatoni plushes (with Aulani-themed outfits sold separately), pre-dressed 13-inch plushes, pouches, magic towels, keychains, and magnets. Gelatoni looked like he was relatively popular at the resort. It should be noted that the poor kitty still isn’t available on the U.S. mainland.
Like Gelatoni, Duffy the Disney Bear and his girlfriend, Shellie May, have Aulani-exlusive outfits that are available for purchase at Kālepa’s Store. The more pricey outfits are boxed and come with several accessories. There were also costumes on hangers for the bears that were slightly less expensive.
One of the particularly special outfits available to both Duffy and Shellie May were the Tori Richard-branded Hawaiian-style print shirt and dress. The material is very nice and matches the shirts and sun dresses made for humans, which are available at the store down the hall, Hale Manu.
Apparel and accessories
The Spirit Jersey craze made it all the way to Hawaii, apparently, and Kālepa’s Store have a variety available. Well, I say “available” but these suckers sell out fast. And it can be a while before new stock gets in. During my trip, the supply ran out after day two and the cast member mentioned that they probably wouldn’t be back for another two weeks.
There were also Alex & Ani bracelets for purchase, emblazoned with Aulani’s logo and even a hidden Mickey!
As you might imagine given movie’s setting, Moana‘s titular princess is also represented in merchandise offerings for both kids and adults. The majority are exclusive to the Aulani but I did spot the Pua and Hei Hei plushes that are found at the Parks as well.
Fun and (relatively) inexpensive jewelry decked out with plastic versions of Hawaii’s iconic flora and Mickey Mouse silhouettes was eye-catching. There were bracelets as well as necklaces in this style.
While not very practical, these plastic leis with light-up Mickey Mouse bulbs mingling amongst the petals were something unique and sure to be a hit with children.
Other fun items
There was a whole bunch of merchandise with the Fab Five (and Duffy!) drawn in the style of the new Mickey Shorts cartoons. Besides what is shown in the picture, there were shirts, towels, snow globes, luggage, and even ear hats.
There was also plenty of 2018-dated merchandise. The journal in that style looked appealing.
Plushes everywhere and I imagine the most popular are Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in Hawaiian outfits. The famous couple were available in a modern style, as well as a more old-school look. The retro ones are wearing the same Tori Richard print seen on Duffy and Shellie May’s outfits (not to mention the apparel for people sold at Hale Manu).
Kālepa’s Store had plenty of Disney Emoji-themed items for sale. While I personally don’t understand the appeal, there must be a demand for this stuff. There were keychains, socks, shirts, and backpacks available.
The ornaments display was chock-full of Aulani-exclusive pieces. The ear hat ornaments had a somewhat understated charm while the Duffy and Shellie May ones were bursting with character. All of them had the Aulani logo somewhere on the product.
A small panel on one of the store’s walls housed D-tech accessories for phones. They had cases with some resort-exclusive designs, such as the ones pictured, as well as a few that are available in the parks, like the one with the Finding Nemo seagulls yelling “Mine Mine Mine.”The earphone jack phone charms featured Mickey Mouse drawn in the Mickey Shorts-style. There used to Duffy and Shellie May ones sold and a few were actually spotted in the clearance section.
If you were looking for a nice gift to bring home to loved ones, the Aulani shortbread cookie boxes are a good option. Made in Hawaii, these treats are individually wrapped to preserve freshness. We brought some home for my father (he shared them with everyone, though) and they disappeared quickly.
Occasionally some Aulani merchandise makes its way to Shop Disney (not to be confused with the Shop Disney Parks app), so keep your eyes peeled if you want some of these goodies but can’t make a trip out to the resort. Bear in mind that calling in and ordering items directly from the Aulani is not an option. Trust me; I asked.
I hope you enjoyed this look at some of the items I found at Kālepa’s Store. It was far and away my favorite place at the Aulani to shop. If you want to catch on up on the previous trip reports, please enjoy Part One, Part Two, and Part Three. There is more coming down the pipeline so stay tuned!
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