Understanding/tolerance for the state of Aulani in 2021 seems to correlate a lot with how people are experiencing the Covid situation in their day to day lives.
For example Aunties: Where I live in CA child care has been open only with steady pods, significant precautions, and staff is in very short supply. I don't know a single parent who would send their <12 child to an indoor, mixed group of 20+ kids from all different places - which was how Aunties operated pre-Covid. Sure, a few resorts with fewer kids (and maybe different physical space) are open, but Aunties not being open doesn't surprise me at all. We love it, but are going back knowing its going to be missing this trip.
Same with a lot of other things like gyms, restaurant/drink specials, etc. If you live in a place that's been more careful with Covid and feel the pandemic is still not over, this is all easy to understand. Especially with what's been going on with the Delta variant in Hawaii. If you live in a place that has few restrictions, its more jarring I guess?
I just keep seeing these threads about why things are different and it highlights the different perspectives. Regardless, all of the restrictions are right on the Aulani homepage so shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
I was just looking to book the Luau and pictures are included for VIP but not regular - seems pretty simple, although not exactly the same as WDW (nor should one expect it to be).