Pros

  • Prime beachfront location with ocean views
  • A short walk from attractions and main strip
  • Bright rooms with furnished lanais, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs
  • Excellent restaurants including formal fine-dining at La Mer
  • Chic cocktail bar serving drinks, plus live jazz lounge
  • Heated outdoor pool with sun loungers and beach access
  • Modern fitness center and tranquil full-service spa
  • Stylish business center with six meeting rooms
  • No resort fees and free Wi-Fi throughout
  • Free access to local museums and cultural spots
  • On-site parking for a fee
  • 24-hour room service
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Cons

  • Lack of children's activities
  • Pool area can feel crowded at times
  • No coffeemakers in rooms
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Bottom Line

This four-pearl, 453-room resort has a prime location on Waikiki Beach plus a refined atmosphere. Just a short walk from the busy main strip, this property offers stunning ocean views and direct access to the beach. Air-conditioned rooms are bright and modern, equipped furnished lanais and bathrooms with deep-soaking tubs. Formal and casual restaurants feature alfresco dining and nightly entertainment, and there's a chic cocktail bar and live jazz lounge. Leisure facilities include an outdoor heated pool with sun loungers and shady umbrellas, plus a modern fitness center and tranquil spa. Corporate clients are well-catered for with a stylish business center, but kid-friendly facilities are noticeably lacking. Alternatively, the Sheraton Waikiki has more to offer families, including a kids' club and two outdoor freshwater pools with a 70-foot water slide.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Halekulani Hotel

Scene

Upscale beachfront hotel with peaceful vibe, though can be a bit formal in places

The Halekulani Hotel was first opened in 1907 as a residential hotel. Now, the towering property is made up of five buildings on a five acre oceanfront lot, offering guests unobstructed ocean views, many overlooking the iconic Diamond Head Crater. The breezy open-air lobby with wood-paneled walls and tropical floral displays has a peaceful feel, while the immaculately-manicured grounds seem to be spotless, with barely a leaf astray on the ground. While it's mostly a breezy and laid-back place, the vibe here is more upmarket than many Waikiki properties. In fact, some areas of the hotel have a formal dress code, including the fine-dining restaurant, La Mer. Open only for dinner, this is one of the few places in Oahu where you’ll see men dining in jackets. While some restaurants here are formal, the resort is filled with vacationing families, mainly from Japan. The Italian glass-tiled outdoor pool is a prime spot to kick back during the day, though it can get crowded and noisy with lots of kids running around.

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Location

Oceanfront location in the heart of Waikiki, a five-minute walk from Kalakaua Avenue

This hotel is located directly on Waikiki Beach next to the boardwalk. It's just around the corner from the shops and restaurants at Waikiki Beach Walk, while the main strip, Kalakaua Avenue, is less than a five-minute walk away. The surrounding area is busy and hectic, though the hotel is situated on a slightly less crowded stretch of beach that feels a bit quieter than many neighboring stretches of sand. It's well-located for anyone exploring the area by foot, with most attractions within easy walking distance from the hotel. The Fort DeRussy U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii is just next door, while Honolulu Zoo is a 20-minute walk away. The famous Diamond Head State Monument is around a 15-minute drive from the hotel, while the Pearl Harbor monuments take around 30 minutes to reach by car. Honolulu International Airport is roughly a 20-minute drive. 

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Rooms

Bright, modern rooms with furnished lanais and deep-soaking tubs, plus air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi

With a total of 453 rooms, this sprawling hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites featuring pool or ocean views. They're all decent-sized and similarly decorated with soft neutral tones, light wood furniture, and beige carpeted floors. Ocean-themed paintings add a beachy vibe, while sliding glass doors open out onto funished lanais with tables, chairs, and single sun loungers. Beds are dressed in white Egyptian cotton sheets, and all rooms have cozy seating areas for relaxing. In-room amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges with free bottled water, safes, phones, and free Wi-Fi -- but there are no coffeemakers. Free robes, slippers, and welcome snacks are a thoughtful touch. Bathrooms are simply decorated with neutral tiles, and all include glass-enclosed showers, bathtubs, marble vanities, and free toiletries. Guests should note that some traffic can be audible in the rooms owing to the hotel's central location.

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Features

Outdoor pool, multiple restaurants and bars, nightly entertainment, fitness center, full-service spa, and no resort fees

Halekulani Hotel features all of the facilities that you would expect from an upscale beachfront resort, including multiple restaurants and bars. Just keep in mind that some venues are a bit more formal than what's found elsewhere in Waikiki. Orchids offers alfresco dining in a casually elegant setting, while the acclaimed La Mer is a fine-dining restaurant serving French-style cuisine with spectacular ocean views towards Diamond Head. A dress code is enforced at La Mer. House Without a Key has a casual vibe and an oceanfront terrace, hosting nightly sunset hula shows underneath the hotel’s iconic kiawe tree. For drinks, guests can grab a signature mai tai at the French-inspired L’Aperitif Cocktail Bar, or enjoy some live jazz at Lewer’s Lounge. A varied a la carte or buffet breakfast is served daily (for a fee) and room service is available around the clock.

The small (albeit reasonably-sized by Waikiki standards) outdoor pool is marked by an impressive glass-tiled orchid design, surrounded by white padded sun loungers and shady umbrellas. There's direct access to a small stretch of Waikiki Beach, and other leisure facilities include a modern fitness center with poolside views and a tranquil spa with Polynesian treatments. Business facilities include a computer station and six stylish meeting rooms. On the downside, kid-friendly amenities are lacking with no Kids' Club or play area. Hotel services include 24-hour room service, laundry, tour assistance, and free Wi-Fi. There is no daily resort fee, which is surprising in Waikiki, but on-site parking will cost extra. The hotel does provide free access to many museums, including Iolani Palace, the former residence of the royal family. 

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Things You Should Know About Halekulani Hotel

Also Known As

  • Halekulani Hotel Honolulu
  • Halekulani

Room Types

  • Diamond Head Room
  • Diamond Head Suite
  • Executive Luxury Suite
  • Garden Courtyard View Room
  • Junior Ocean Suite
  • Luxury Suite
  • Ocean Front Room
  • Ocean View Room
  • Orchid Suite
  • Partial Ocean View Room
  • Pool View Suite
  • Premier Suites at Halekulani
  • Royal Suite
  • Vera Wang Suite

Address

2199 Kalia Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815-1988, United States

Phone

(808) 923-2311

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Halekulani Hotel

Scene

Upscale beachfront hotel with peaceful vibe, though can be a bit formal in places

The Halekulani Hotel was first opened in 1907 as a residential hotel. Now, the towering property is made up of five buildings on a five acre oceanfront lot, offering guests unobstructed ocean views, many overlooking the iconic Diamond Head Crater. The breezy open-air lobby with wood-paneled walls and tropical floral displays has a peaceful feel, while the immaculately-manicured grounds seem to be spotless, with barely a leaf astray on the ground. While it's mostly a breezy and laid-back place, the vibe here is more upmarket than many Waikiki properties. In fact, some areas of the hotel have a formal dress code, including the fine-dining restaurant, La Mer. Open only for dinner, this is one of the few places in Oahu where you’ll see men dining in jackets. While some restaurants here are formal, the resort is filled with vacationing families, mainly from Japan. The Italian glass-tiled outdoor pool is a prime spot to kick back during the day, though it can get crowded and noisy with lots of kids running around.

See More Scene

Location

Oceanfront location in the heart of Waikiki, a five-minute walk from Kalakaua Avenue

This hotel is located directly on Waikiki Beach next to the boardwalk. It's just around the corner from the shops and restaurants at Waikiki Beach Walk, while the main strip, Kalakaua Avenue, is less than a five-minute walk away. The surrounding area is busy and hectic, though the hotel is situated on a slightly less crowded stretch of beach that feels a bit quieter than many neighboring stretches of sand. It's well-located for anyone exploring the area by foot, with most attractions within easy walking distance from the hotel. The Fort DeRussy U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii is just next door, while Honolulu Zoo is a 20-minute walk away. The famous Diamond Head State Monument is around a 15-minute drive from the hotel, while the Pearl Harbor monuments take around 30 minutes to reach by car. Honolulu International Airport is roughly a 20-minute drive. 

See More Location

Rooms

Bright, modern rooms with furnished lanais and deep-soaking tubs, plus air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi

With a total of 453 rooms, this sprawling hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites featuring pool or ocean views. They're all decent-sized and similarly decorated with soft neutral tones, light wood furniture, and beige carpeted floors. Ocean-themed paintings add a beachy vibe, while sliding glass doors open out onto funished lanais with tables, chairs, and single sun loungers. Beds are dressed in white Egyptian cotton sheets, and all rooms have cozy seating areas for relaxing. In-room amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges with free bottled water, safes, phones, and free Wi-Fi -- but there are no coffeemakers. Free robes, slippers, and welcome snacks are a thoughtful touch. Bathrooms are simply decorated with neutral tiles, and all include glass-enclosed showers, bathtubs, marble vanities, and free toiletries. Guests should note that some traffic can be audible in the rooms owing to the hotel's central location.

See More Rooms

Features

Outdoor pool, multiple restaurants and bars, nightly entertainment, fitness center, full-service spa, and no resort fees

Halekulani Hotel features all of the facilities that you would expect from an upscale beachfront resort, including multiple restaurants and bars. Just keep in mind that some venues are a bit more formal than what's found elsewhere in Waikiki. Orchids offers alfresco dining in a casually elegant setting, while the acclaimed La Mer is a fine-dining restaurant serving French-style cuisine with spectacular ocean views towards Diamond Head. A dress code is enforced at La Mer. House Without a Key has a casual vibe and an oceanfront terrace, hosting nightly sunset hula shows underneath the hotel’s iconic kiawe tree. For drinks, guests can grab a signature mai tai at the French-inspired L’Aperitif Cocktail Bar, or enjoy some live jazz at Lewer’s Lounge. A varied a la carte or buffet breakfast is served daily (for a fee) and room service is available around the clock.

The small (albeit reasonably-sized by Waikiki standards) outdoor pool is marked by an impressive glass-tiled orchid design, surrounded by white padded sun loungers and shady umbrellas. There's direct access to a small stretch of Waikiki Beach, and other leisure facilities include a modern fitness center with poolside views and a tranquil spa with Polynesian treatments. Business facilities include a computer station and six stylish meeting rooms. On the downside, kid-friendly amenities are lacking with no Kids' Club or play area. Hotel services include 24-hour room service, laundry, tour assistance, and free Wi-Fi. There is no daily resort fee, which is surprising in Waikiki, but on-site parking will cost extra. The hotel does provide free access to many museums, including Iolani Palace, the former residence of the royal family. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.