Aulani is a Disney resort and spa in Hawaii, and they are serious about the spa. They’re also serious about making sure kids feel right at home. One space dedicated to teens is the Painted Sky Teen Spa, a 1,500-square-foot space space exclusively available to their teen guests between ages 13 and 17.
Painted Sky is the only teen spa in Hawaii and when we visited the resort, my teen visited for a facial. Here’ is a review of Painted Sky Teen Spa at Disney’s Aulani by a teen. This is her unbiased opinion. (We paid for her services and have received no compensation or experiences and this isn’t sponsored in any way.)
Recently my family took a trip to Aulani and I visited Painted Sky Teen Spa for my first facial!
Logistics and loveliness
To get to Painted Sky, you first enter Laniwai Spa, the spa for adults. (There are doors to Painted Sky, but they were locked the day I visited.) The cast member was very kind. She checked me in and directed me to Painted Sky, which is next door.
Going in, the waiting space was welcoming and had a mature yet fun feel to it. Although I only had to wait a few minutes, there was comfortable seating, magazines to read, and beautiful decorations making the atmosphere alone something to enjoy.
Painted Sky was smaller than the Laniwai Spa but still had a comfortable feeling to it. The color scheme and zen spa music began to relax me even before the treatment began.
I was a bit nervous going in, given that I never had a facial before this. I worried it could be awkward, or that I might miss out on other activities. Also, I wondered if it was worth the money my parents generously put in for me to experience this. Luckily, I didn’t have anything to worry about. I was glad to be there and it was definitely worth it.
Fantastic Facial
I opted for the Clarity – Completely Flawless Skin facial. The aesthetician was kind, calm, and positive. She was excited my first facial was with her and her inviting nature made it easy to trust her. It felt incredible in the moment, with the exception of extractions), but they weren’t bad. The products smelled wonderful, adding to the relaxing atmosphere. It’s worth noting that you can say you want to skip extractions when booking the facial and before it begins.
The appointment isn’t long – just 25 minutes. Going in I had doubts about what could get done in that time, but I had time to fully relax and for my skin to significantly improve. It’s been about three weeks since I received this facial, and I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my skin. It’s stayed soft and acne-free, which is a huge relief for my typically oily and acne prone skin.
During my time at Painted Sky Teen Spa, there was only one other teen girl who was waiting as I made my way out. There weren’t other teens hanging out or making friends. Being the introvert that I am, the alone time was a nice treat and I enjoyed being by myself. I think most teens wouldn’t be opposed to a little more than half an hour away from their parents on vacation, I certainly didn’t!
Painted Sky vs. Laniwai
This being said, time together is good, too. Teens ages 14 and up can enjoy the spa when accompanied by an adult. I experienced the Laniwai spa for a family treatment – a mother-daughter massage with my mom.
One benefit of that is access to Kula Wai, the only outdoor hydrotherapy garden on O‘ahu. It was incredible and fun to be there with my mom. There were rain showers, soaking tubs, hot tubs, plunge pools, a steam room, a sauna, water and snacks, a relaxation room, and lounge chairs. You get access to Kula Wai with an appointment at Laniwai, but not through Painted Sky. I think most teens would rather do this with someone else and activities like this are often better with someone to share the experience with. However, going to the Painted Sky solo didn’t leave me feeling lonely or feeling that I would’ve had a better experience with somebody to share it with.
Overall thoughts
On a scale of one to ten, I would give the Painted Sky spa a nine.
The only thing that could’ve improved my experience is if the service lasted longer. Although there was enough time for relaxation and skin improvement, I would’ve loved to stay longer.
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At the time this was published, Painted Sky is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours are subject to change. Services offered include a few different kinds of facials, a lomilomi massage, as well as manicures and pedicures. You can find details on the Painted Sky website here.
Painted Sky is located in the Waianae Tower near the Wailana pool and pool bar, which is for adults 18 and over. It’s a great place to enjoy some time to yourself while your teen is at Painted Sky, and an easy spot for your teen to locate you when they’re finished with their experience there.
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