1. OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort
The beachfront OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort has refurbished guest rooms, artwork celebrating the islands’ culture, a pool deck with cabanas and a revamped cultural centre offering activities such as hula, ‘ukulele and lei and bracelet-making lessons. Its Wellness Wing has an on-site restaurant, Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, Voyager 47 Club Lounge, a state-of-the-art gym, treatment rooms and a Coral Kids’ Club, which has a strong focus on ocean conservation.
2. Waikīkī Malia
This hotel offers an affordable and convenient option in the heart of Waikīkī, with renovated rooms, an on-site pool and spa, and weekly complimentary cultural activities. Its central location makes it easy to explore nearby attractions such as Honolulu Zoo, Waikīkī Beach Walk and world-class shopping.
3. Holiday Inn Express Waikīkī
With a recreation deck featuring a pool with private cabanas, a nine-hole mini-golf course and games such as shuffleboard, giant chess, ping pong and foosball, Holiday Inn Express Waikīkī is a great option for families. Located three blocks back from the beach, it also has a kids’ games room, a gym and offers a free hot buffet breakfast.
4. Prince Waikīkī
This luxurious hotel has an infinity pool overlooking the Ala Wai Boat Harbor alongside a second pool, and offers floor-to-ceiling ocean views from all its guest rooms and suites, award-winning dining at its signature restaurant, 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar and the casual poolside Hinana Bar. It’s also affiliated with a 27-hole golf club.
5. Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikīkī Beach Walk
Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikīkī Beach Walk offers complimentary breakfast and a social evening gathering nightly on the Grand Lānai (balcony), which has a bar and a pool with a spa and shallow section for young children. It’s also home to Roy’s Waikīkī restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Giovanni Pastrami and Yard House brew pub.
6. ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach
With an infinity edge pool with a large deck and cabanas, light installations projected on its walls every evening and hip restaurants and bars, ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach is a stylish stay. As well as being powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, it has a 280,000-gallon oceanarium. It’s also revamped its on-site wellness centre, Fit Waikīkī, to include activities such as rooftop aerial yoga and a spa.
7. Hilton Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa
The contemporary Hilton Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa has a large recreation deck with a pool, hot tub, open-air bar, cabanas with televisions and refrigerators, fire pits and a nine-hole mini-golf course. It’s lobby level eatery M.A.C. 24/7 Restaurant + Bar serves modern American cuisine, while its Asana Spa offers lomilomi massages and therapies featuring a healing volcanic mud.
8. Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
The boutique, pet-friendly Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club has 1960s vintage vibes, with a restaurant called Mahina & Sun’s specialising in local cuisine, a tiki-style bar and a pool. It also offers excellent coffee at its on-site café ARVO at The Surfjack. Pop in for ‘meet and greet Tuesdays’ to say aloha to the resident hotel dog, Jack.
9. Romer Waikīkī AT THE AMBASSADOR
The refurbished Romer Waikīkī at The Ambassador (formerly The Ambassador Hotel Waikīkī) has one of the neighbourhood’s only full-sun pool decks, Waikīkī Swim & Social Club, with live music on weekends, free Pilates classes, a gym and an in-house restaurant and bar.
10. Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort
Located on the site of one of Queen Lili‘uokalani’s summer homes, Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort and Spa has Italian, seafood and steakhouse restaurants and is home to the Pā‘ina Waikīkī Lū‘au. It has a family pool surrounded by day beds and cabanas, an adults-only pool, Royal Kaila spa, a gym and a large rooftop deck.
11. Waikīkī Resort Hotel by Sono
Just one block back from the beach, Waikīkī Beach Resort Hotel by Sono has a lobby bar, Surf Bar Waikīkī, and offers a free continental grab-and-go breakfast. It also has a pool and a 24-hour front desk service and is close to International Market Place, Honolulu Zoo and Royal Hawaiian Center.
12. Halepuna Waikīkī by Halekulani
This upmarket hotel boasts a rooftop infinity pool, a gym and a bakery serving artisan breads, pastries and coffee, as well as seafood-centric noshery UMI by Vikram Garg. It opened in 2019 as a sister property to Halekulani, just across the road, where you can dine at the acclaimed La Mer and oceanfront Italian-inspired restaurant Orchids.
