Guests Staying at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, on the white sandy shores of Ko Olina on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, got a real scare on Saturday when phones lit up around the island with an inbound Ballistic Missile Alert. Aulani guests evacuated, along with resort staff, as soon as the alert came through.
On Saturday January 13, 2018, An emergency alert was sent to smart phones in Hawaii at 8:07 a.m. The alert simply read, “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”
Fortunately the there was no threat and it was only a false alarm, but until the all clear was given it was a very frightening experience not only for Disney guests , but for every person on the island.
According to witnesses at the resort, guests were evacuated to a nearby field. The move prompted many to wonder why they weren’t seeking shelter as the alert directed them to.
Many guests took to social media during the emergency:
AULANI evacuated the whole hotel?? Made us go to the grassy field outside??
— aimee m. (@aimzzm) January 13, 2018
@cnnbrk Here in Hawaii, Kaiser High School was locked down: students and teachers for their key club meeting, Aulani was evacuated, people were calling loved ones… my goodness…
— ❤’Ānela❤ (@anela808) January 13, 2018
IM SO GLAD IT WAS A MISTAKE coz I’m staying at aulani and would rather not die here
— aurora 💛 (@aurora_aimee) January 13, 2018
Aulani needs a refresher bc you’re supposed to find shelter not put yourself out in the open https://t.co/dwLWXRhcRe
— B (@brookiechinen) January 13, 2018