New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Oahu, Hawaii, United States

Hau Tree Lanai restaurant

It may not be the most luxurious or the most intimate, but the New Otani Kaimana has a slower, more relaxed pace than most Waikiki hotels -- think beachhouse meets quirky 125-room boutique. Chirping birds are audible from the room, joggers can go for a run right outside the door, and swimmers enjoy direct access to Sans Souci Beach, significantly less crowded than other sections of Waikiki Beach.

The mellow vibe tends to attract a mid-40s-and-up crowd, while the proximity to the University of Hawaii brings in visiting faculty and staff. Though it's run by a Japanese company, just a small portion of guests hail from Japan.

One of its standout features is the Hau Tree Lanai a cozy, beachfront restaurant set around a beautiful hau tree, with pink tablecloths and a wooden railing that's a vestige of the original Victorian-style residence of the McInernies, a once prominent Honolulu family.

Short of tucking away to Oahu's North Shore or over to the JW Marriott Ihilani in Kapolei, the New Otani Kaimana -- and its neighbor, the Lotus at Diamond Head (which boasts nicer rooms but fewer amenities) -- is about as close to quiet as it gets on Oahu. Plus, it's still within walking distance of all the action.

The concierge

Although the staff is warm, prompt, and knowledgeable -- helping patrons with luggage as soon as they arrive at the porte cochere and facilitating rapid check-ins -- it's more laid-back than at hotels in Waikiki's center.

• Turndown service only in suites, unlike at the Lotus at Diamond Head, where it's offered for all rooms, replete with an orchid
• Casual service can veer into forgetfulness -- the signature "pineapple boats" (delivered to rooms after check-in) never appeared on a recent visit. Management is quick to apologize, however.
• Housekeeping delivers special requests quickly.
• No dedicated concierge, but front desk staff recommends Waikiki restaurants worth trying.
• Room service is provided by the on-site Hau Tree Lanai from 7 to 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 5:30 to 9 p.m.

View on a Larger Map

The New Otani Kaimana's location, about a 15- to 20-minute walk from the center of Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue, is for those who value quiet over noise and crowds. The restaurants, shopping, and more congested beaches of the central part of town are pretty far away in Waikiki terms, but not unmanageable if you have a car.

• Direct access to the calm, clean, uncrowded Sans Souci beach
• Across the street from the massive Kapiolani Park and the Honolulu Zoo
• A few minutes' walk from the Waikiki Aquarium
• Parking is $18 per night; taxi into Waikiki is $8 to $10.

The beach

The hotel is located directly on Sans Souci Beach, a relatively clean, calm section on the far eastern end of Waikiki that attracts more locals than tourists because it's off the crazed and well-paved Waikiki Beach. It's on the small side, and not the most picturesque -- it's bookended on one side by the rather unsightly natatorium, an abandoned WWI memorial -- but it's significantly less crowded than most of Waikiki's beaches.

• Shallow coral reef near shore keeps waters calm -- good for swimmers and novice snorkelers.
• Coarser sand than in Waikiki proper; occasional debris like cigarette butts
• No public umbrella rentals
• Hotel rents chairs for $5 a day; towels and mats are free.

The Moderate Room

Upgrades are worth it at the New Otani Kaimana, where standard rooms are cramped and decor is middling, at least compared to its competition next door at the Lotus at Diamond Head, which has larger, more elegant rooms, but fewer amenities and no direct beachfront access. The hotel's 125 rooms are spread between two buildings; most are in the main nine-story building, and the remaining are located in the three-story Diamond Head wing. The latter doesn't have an elevator, but offers more spacious (though outdated) rooms better-suited to families. Rooms in 17 different categories range between 202 square feet and 434 square feet, but most are around 300 and come with a balcony, and a king, queen, or two twin beds. About one-third of the hotel's rooms are the 202-square-foot "moderate" rooms, aka standards, and are located in the main building -- none have views, but all come with those dorm-size fridges you see in most Waikiki hotels and a safe big enough for a laptop.

• Moderate rooms are very small -- there's nowhere to put things except in the tiny closet or on top of a shabby purple formica counter.
• It's worth the upgrade from the moderate rooms to a Diamond Head view or an Ocean View deluxe -- you get an extra 80 to 100 square feet, and generally speaking, a much nicer space. Also, the Ocean View and Ocean Front Superior rooms were fully renovated in 2010.
• Free Wi-Fi
• Some decor looks shabby; chipped formica, small stains on the comforter, stained blackout curtains.
• Beds are comfortable with a mid-weight comforter and basic cotton sheets, but some kings are really two twins pushed together -- request a real king.
• Bathrooms are small and basic with middling showers and weak water pressure; but toiletries are via L'Occitane.
• Electronics include a clunky Sony clock radio and a 31" Sony TV (TV size increases in higher categories).
• Beware of the pay-per-view: Once a movie is selected there's an immediate charge.
• No sheer curtains behind the thick ones, so the room is either fully dark or fully bright
• Significant renovations to 19 oceanfront rooms are expected to be completed by spring 2010.

Neighboring Kapiolani Park

With the exception of Sans Souci Beach and Kapiolani Park at its doorstep, plus two standout restaurants, the hotel is pretty barebones features-wise -- no pool, no Jacuzzi, and no gym. Guests can purchase a pass for the fitness center at Healthy Habits Spa located on the ground floor of the Diamond Head wing and get treatments at Juju'be, another spa located on the second floor of the hotel's main building -- but it's $15 a pop and by appointment only. The good news is that there's ample opportunity to exercise outside the hotel: a bike path, a jogging trail around the park, and a hiking trail up nearby Diamond Head.

• There's no business center, but there's free Wi-Fi in rooms.
• Juju'be, the unaffiliated spa on the second floor, has four treatment rooms; their specialty is the Cleopatra body wrap that claims to detox and cleanse the lymphatic system in 2.5 hours for $160.
• The small guest laundry ($1 per wash, $.25 per eight minutes in the dryer) is a slight hassle to use because guests need to get a key first from the front desk.
• Two restaurants: the charming beachfront Hau Tree Lanai and the second-floor Japanese Miyako

Families are better off with a One Bedroom Suite

The New Otani is located in a kidtastic part of town across from Kapiolani Park, next to the Waikiki Aquarium and just a few minutes' walk from the Honolulu Zoo, but the hotel itself doesn't have a particularly family-friendly vibe given the crowd of mostly older couples and the lack of some amenities. The comparably priced Marriott Waikiki Beach or the Aston Waikiki Beach, both with bigger rooms and pools (the Aston even includes a free breakfast), are better options for families. They might also consider the newly renovated Sheraton Waikiki, which is in the heart of Queen's Beach, and has an impressive kids program.

• Free cribs, but rollaways are a steep $50 per night and won't fit into standard rooms.
• Families are better off in a larger one-bedroom suite with microwave in the Diamond Head wing.
• Proximity to park, zoo and calm Sans Souci Beach is a plus for kids.

The lobby

The public areas are clean and well maintained, but rooms are less so. Higher category rooms seem to be better maintained.

• Stained upholstery, chipped formica, small stains on the comforter
• An ant problem around the desk and bathroom trash can

Breakfast at the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant

There are two restaurants on the New Otani's property, Hau Tree Lanai, which serves fantastic chops and seafood, and Miyako, a traditional Japanese restaurant with tatami mats available.

Hau Tree Lanai

• Charming setting on the hotel's back porch beneath the weathered branches of the hau tree where Robert Louis Stevenson allegedly wrote some of his novels in the late 1800s.
• Breakfast and lunch entrees range from $12 to $17; dinner from $30 to $44.
• Handles the hotel's room service, available from 7 to 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Miyako

• Serves sushi, sashimi and Japanse fare on a second-floor patio overlooking the ocean
• Pricey fare -- tuna rolls go for $17.50 and an assorted sashimi plate costs $38
• Closed Tuesday nights