In Hawaiian, Oahu means “gathering place.” But you’ll find out it could also mean “something for everyone.” Foodies, discover hot new flavors in Kaimuki and Chinatown. Trend spotters, shop till you drop at our eclectic fashion boutiques. History buffs, tour the memorials at Pearl Harbour. Swimmers, surfers, snorkelers and SUP-ers, play in our warm waters.
And everyone, just relax. Head to the beach with a shave ice or acai bowl. Waikiki, Pipeline, and Lanikai are known for their postcard famous white sand beaches. Perfect for sinking your toes into and forgetting mainland worries.
We stayed at Waikiki Sunset for a week. Never realised each apartment is individually owned. We got an upgrade to the penthouse which was nice. Very spacious apartment with very comfortable beds. There was no jug for boiling water and three ceiling lights did not work but not too worried as not there to much.
It would of been nicer if the dust behind the bed, all mirrors had been cleaned properly. The carpet looked like it needed replacing as worn.
Aston Waikiki Sunset needs to invest some money back into the property. Outside windows were filthy, had a great view and would of been nice to take some photos but they wouldn’t of come out well. Main reception needs a modern upgrade. Check in was pleasant but checking out the lady seemed like she could not be bothered as very grumpy!
If you are after a reasonably priced place but not too modern then you might want to check it out. It is Diamond Head end of Waikiki so pleasant on the beach as not over crowded. Very close to the zoo.
Aston Waikiki Sunset overlooking..... Diamond Head!!
311anne
(Canada)
Very nice hotel. Our unit was facing Diamond Head, a nice view. Our unit has probably been renovated (24th fl.), kitchenette well equipped, comfortable bed (even the sofa bed).
We were a family of 5, the Aston was perfect . Also the Aston is located off the main Waikiki beach strip, although only 2 minutes away by walking.
Very friendly and caring staff. Thanks to Kala'ele (front desk) and the Housekeeping staff.
I would strongly recommend the Aston Waikiki Sunset. I would personally stay there again if I ever would go back to Honolulu.
Needs renovating badly
Maz2244
(Sydney, Australia)
Stayed here for 3 nights pre cruise and paid way too much compared to the accommodation we had post cruise. The Aston Sunset is really in need of renovating and I think that was reflected in the attitude of the staff who also seemed lack lustre. It is true you get what you pay for but in this instance we paid way too much for what we got. This is our 3rd trip to Hawaii and when we go back it will not be to the Aston Sunset. Having said this the rooms were clean and well serviced.
Average accommodation
stenedy
(Christchurch, New Zealand)
We stayed for 9 nights in a 1 bedroom apartment with our adult daughter using a sofa bed on the 34 floor. First impression of the hotel is tired & dated especially the entrance & hall areas. Lifts extremely slow. Sofa bed had springs sticking out of mattress and when we advised reception were told a mattress topper would be sent to room to fix problem. We received two blankets instead. These didn’t help the sag in the middle of the bed. Reading previous reviews regards the sofa beds I don’t think they are great in any of the rooms. Room was spacious and clean, nice to have a balcony with nice view. Kitchen amenities good but no dishwasher. Service charge over the top for basic services like room safe & internet. Before I booked I looked to see if they had parking available which they do but no charge mentioned but found out on arrival it is $20 per day, next door at the Hyatt they have $12 parking. Good location to nice beach at end of Waikiki and out of the overcrowded area. Staff were pleasant. Accommodation a little disappointing for price once all fees are added so wouldn’t stay again.
Too many hidden fees
rod1701
(Los Angeles, California)
We stayed one week at the Aston Waikiki Sunset in June 2018. We had a two bedroom suite on an upper floor with a view of Diamond Head. The view was fantastic. The "suite" was clean but heavily used and in need of updates.. Curtains were threadbare. The furniture was worn and chipped. The hallways had dirty carpeting, peeling Paine and water stained near the sprinkles. And worst of all, there were not enough elevators for a 35 floor high-rise! Most of the time, one was out of service causing long waits. No service elevators so we had to let the few that came go by because they were full of housekeeping carts. There were also going to be scheduled power outages (to make repairs), but couldn’t tell the difference when they were in service or being repaired.
The hotel has few amenities. Yes, there is a pool, a room safe, and "free internet," but they are all part of a $25 daily "resort fee." Parking is $20 daily. The beach is a few blocks away. The hotel is not on the "strip" with the other hotels, but on a side street and a short walk to Waikiki beach.
Worst part was we purchased a package deal for hotel and air and hotel for 5, with 7 days/6 nights. At check in, we were told in order to sleep 5 we would need to rent a fold out for additional $180/wk. or an upgrade to 2 BR would be almost same (no TV in queen BR but TV in closet of twin BR and 5 sharing a single bath).Then with $25/day resort fee plus $20/day parking we ended up paying additional $600+ at check out (no room service/PPV/tours).
Room was clean and close to Waikiki beach, dining, and activities but would not stay here again or recommend.
We had a nice stay! Just nice size of hotel, the room was clean and I love the interior. Location is great. Can walk to everywhere. The Pool size is enough for my 5years. Also good iced mocha by Olive and Oliver.
Surfjack is the hotel you'd build if you could build one.
JoshSmall
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Couldnt more highly recommend the surfjack hotel. If youre going to Honolulu this is the place you have to stay. The restaurant and coffeee shop is all local and fantastic. The staff is incredible. Even knows you by name. Great location. Close to everything.. And the best part.. the rooms.. every detail is thought about from the soaps and body wash to the interior decoration and design. Very high level, clean, and nice. Its so hip you'd like to take it all home with you.
very nice
Na Young L
everything is perfect! The staff greeted me kindly every day.We liked everything of interior of guest room, swimming pool, restaurant and so on. I want to visit again next time. Unfortunately, one kinds are, Walk to Waikiki Beach for about 10 minutes.
Good place if you are not on a family vacation. Service is overrated.
bgpappa25
(Citrus Heights, California)
Stayed here two nights in July 2018. First, plan on valet parking and paying the high fee. There is no place to park. There is generally no place at first to leave the car for valet. So you end up driving around the block several times.
The staff were generally too busy trying mingle with the young singles to help anyone else. There is one gentlemen who worked there, a bigger guy, who was very friendly and who deserves special attention. I wish I would have caught his name. Generally, though, the staff want little to do with guests except for receiving tips. The restaurant staff was the worst and they generally didn't even acknowledge people.
The pool is small but nice. It was closed on one evening for a "pool party." Consisted with a band, speakers, and drinks. Ended right at 10 so no problem there. However, the nonguests who came for the party stayed very late, pulled the fire alarm, and generally made noise well into the next morning. The staff did nothing about this. The entire event made it uncomfortable to get to the rooms.
The room was clean. Our "three bedroom" was really two different rooms. The setup was akward. No microwave, coffee pot, etc, in the room despite advertising that there was. We had a view of nothing. The hotel is surrounded by bigger buildings so don't expect much in that regard.
The hotel is centrally located, which is nice. Generally, if you are young and looking to party it is a great place. If you are anyone else, probably want to stay elsewhere.
The day after we checked out and traveled to Maui, we realized that the hotel put a charge onto our credit card for over a thousand dollars. The amount made no sense. We paid for the rooms as far back as October. I called three times, spoke to three different people, who did nothing to help. The charge went away after 5 days, but why does this place think it is ok to control over a grand of someone's else's money? No explanation was ever given. I always had to call back to speak the manager who apparently is never there.
Planned on staying there.
sclem755
(Hilton Head, South Carolina)
Seemed good from the reviews. Almost booked,then stayed elsewhere. Stopped in for drinks anyway...curious.
The Good:
Staff
The Bad:
Unless you are in your 20s/early 30s and up, this is not the place for you or the place for families with young kids.
It is what it is and the is, is a great place for young adult liberals. Probably akin to Mecca.
If you're over 21 or conservative, even on the fence of being Conservative-stay away.
It was clean though.
Aqua Bamboo is a nice little hotel. The rooms do need remodeling and we did have some troubles with our bath tub stopping up while there. However, the staff were VERY ACCOMODATING. The front desk sent maintenance up to our room right away and when he could not fix the problem they moved us upstairs to a suite. It was a "bumpy" start, but the customer service went above and beyond. The free movies, water, and coffee in the lobby are a plus as well! We would recommend this hotel to our friends and family anytime.
Great location and pool area!
Thetravellersbug
(Sydney, Australia)
We stayed at Aqua Bamboo twice over the last few weeks after my parents recommend this hotel. Friendly staff & best location in Waikiki for the price. Would recommend to anyone looking to stay on a budget. Special mention to Aja at the Front Desk, great personality and enthusiastic approach to her work.
Don't stay here!
Aileen D
(Morinville)
Filthy noisy room. Very dated and worn out. Curtains were torn and dirty, bathtub was stained with dirt and filthy behind the toilet. The room smelled old and stale. One of two elevators was not running and hadn't been in a while. We cut our stay short and got a new hotel. The only nice thing about the hotel was the pool area. Do not stay here.
Just perfect for us !
AustraliaEinstein
(Australia)
We had a really lovely holiday here ! The room was clean, beds comfortable, fluffy towels and endless hot water, friendly, personable staff, close to our favourite swimming spot and restaurants, spa and pool easy to access (great spa after a flight from Sydney!)and , because we were celebrating a special birthday, we were presented with bubbly and chocolates !! Happy to reccommend and will definately return. Thank you !
Excellent Location
Jill S
(Melbourne, Australia)
Fantastic location very central. Staff excellent. Rooms somewhat outdated & in need of some work. Court yard & pool area very nice to relax in. Close to beach & all shopping. Otherwise overall good. Had a lovely holiday.
Decent hotel for the price. It was a few blocks from the ocean and in a good area. We slept comfortable and the rooms were clean. The coffee shops was great. It was close to shopping and good. We enjoyed our time in Oahu.
Budget hotel
Wal W
(Palmerston North, New Zealand)
Showing its age but staff friendly and very helpful.
clean, No double glazing, louver windows every room so noisy, stayed in a bigger room on arrival to Hawaii for 1 night, and several weeks later was in a smaller room for 2 nights prior to departing.
It is showing its age but Was ok for the price. and only a couple of blocks to the beach.
The restaurant however is another world.
Evening meals it is a feeding trough for bus after bus of Asian tourists, you find a table and sit to eat and a bus load arrives, seems like is on a time limit to eat then out before the next bus arrives.
Breakfast ! well, the lady needs to go on a course for host responsibility.
The "free" continental breakfast does not come anywhere near a continental breakfast as far as I have seen in many hotels around the globe.
Normally a choice of cereals, Toast, butter, spreads for toast, fruits cheeses yoghurts etc etc BUT here there were only 1 cereal, milk watered down so much it looked more like dirty water, toast and butter only, and pancakes.
And her attitude to patrons when asked about the breakfast, got a to the point rebuttal !
So if you want cheaper accommodation close to the beach and don't mind a bit of noise, then spot on. but find somewhere else to eat.
You Just Get Three Stars Because I like YOu
pally1070
(Sydney, Australia)
Ok I just got off the plane and arrived back in Australia. This place is a short walk to everything good, so location is ticked for those that have not been there. This is my third stay at the Aqua Aloha Surf. I like the place. It's older and has a comfortable feel about it. The check in staff are happy to see you, but don't jump the counter. When I checked out, the lady was pretty cold, but I wasn't after a hug. It's not the five star joint where they pretend we are family. I have some complaints on this trip that I'm not happy about. I did the 15th floor for three nights. Construction drilling at 8.30am on two of the mornings removed my relaxation and I was annoyed by it. Very loud drilling. I did call the counter to be informed by an indifferent male that construction would be from 8am to 4pm. I personally think they should do the loud stuff after 10am. The first day my shower water pressure didn't work and I couldn't shower. Annoying.
I liked the cagey house keeper. She asks you if you want your room turned over. This is in the hope you decline. Not normal for hotels. She does it in a nice way. But read between the lines on that work ethic. And made the room up to an outstanding standard when asked to do it.
So this trip Aqua Aloha Surf you only get a three star from me. In my two priors it would have been a five if I had rated. Don't be discouraged by my comments. Plus don;'t dare reply with something generic.
OK for a 2 night stay
OliverAloha
(Oslo, Norway)
Great location in the heart of Waikiki. Perfect for a short-term stay. However, the breakfast was sub-par especially considering that you can get a healthy and delicious Acai bowl somewhere else for about the same price. My room on the 2nd floor was infested with cockroaches and I could only change to a higher floor room after paying the difference in room price per night for the better room...
Exceptional staff, location & comfort
Globalvoyagergirl
We really enjoyed staying at Aqua Aloha. From the moment we walked we were welcomed by Hawaiian hospitality. The hotel is in a great location. The room was comfortable & had a great view. The breakfast was delicious.
Stayed a night at this property. The first room we were given smelled bad, a/c wasn’t blowing cold and there were stains on the bed sheets and carpet. Contacted the front desk and given an “upgraded” room.
The “upgraded” room had stains on the carpet, curtains, & bedsheets. The lamp
shade was torn and furniture worn. The bathtub was extremely horrible too! I’m a local resident and I will say I will never go back to this property!
Perfect little clean hotel
Debbie P
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
What a lovely experience here at this hotel. It is attached to the world famous Wailana Restaurant that is still up and running since I was a little girl. The staff here is amazingly friendly and helpful. Coffee, lemon water, apples available in the lobby area. Great for the hot summer days getting back from the beach and the cool evenings. The lotion, shampoo, conditioner is Hawaiian coconut scent. I just think the bed pillow is too bulky but for 3 nights, I can live with it. The room is spacious and the sleeper sofa is perfect for additional guests. Also, a DVD station in lobby. Fun past time to choose your own movie to watch after you get back to relax.
Average hotel
Charlotte H
(Derby, United Kingdom)
We booked a package holiday and our weeks stay in Hawaii had us staying at this hotel. The hotel is basic and quite dated however it was fine for what we needed - a bed to sleep after our busy days exploring the island. The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant on site, just an iHop attached next door which we enjoyed. Our stay wasn’t bad but we’d probably choose somewhere different next time.
Average but no value for money
AmieC747
(Auckland Central, New Zealand)
I booked our stay at the Aqua via Trip advisor. Specified 2 adults & 1 toddler. Paid just under $3k for 7 nights and the room was barely big enough for 1 adult let alone 3 people. No water was given, we had to drink from plastic cups in the lobby area. I travel a lot and stay in many hotels but never in my life have i stayed at a hotel that didnt give complimentary water in the room.. our linen was never changed in 7 days, i know because my daughter spilled some of her milk on the bed and it was still crusty on day 7. Even after asking housekeeping to change the linen nothing happened. Yes the hotel does offer beach chairs, towels to take to the beach plus the complimentary shuttle to the local malls etc, however that does not compensate for their short comings.
There is no eatery in the hotel you have to eat at the ihop, or other places around meaning no room service. Lucky they do provide microwaves, so you can buy from other places and heat it up later.
The draw for us was the proximity to the Hilton village, the shopping at the ala moana centre is about 5 mins drive, loads of shopping on kalukalau blvd too. The views of the other hotels look good from this one.
Would i come back no- not in a million years!! Would i recomend - only to people who are desparate for somewhere to stay or want to flush money down the drain..
One of the better cheaper hotels in Honolulu
Trollatc
(Kwajalein Island, Marshall Islands)
I have stayed here many times before. Always Clean and the front desk is always great. I have had a few problems with the showers in the rooms before, low pressure or not draining. But never anything that will cause major problems with my trip. Each room has a small refrigerator and bathroom come with toiletries you need other that a razor. Parking was $25 day the last time I stayed there (about the same as every other hotel in the area). They clean everyday, and the cleaning ladies do a great job.
Wonderful hotel, great location, extremely helpful staff. Richelle went out of her way to bring me my blouse that I left behind when I moved to another part of the island! Loved the room and the balcony to enjoy the sea view!
Waikiki and Oahu Visit
Dennis V
Very good location and excellent location. Hotel extremely clean. Staff very helpful. Restaurant only fair. However, overall, I really enjoyed the stay and would stay at the hotel again when I return to Oahu.
Luxury suites close to Waikiki beach
Christina F
(Vaxjo, Sweden)
We spent 7 nights at this nice hotel and suites close to Waikiki beach, Honolulu Oahu. We got a studio at the 24 th floor with ocean view! Double bed and sofa as extra bed. Balcony for romantic evenings. Great kitchen fully equipped! Beach towels. Good connections with shuttle bus outside the hotel. Calm and quiet during the night. Concierge in the lobby. Washing machine in the hallway. Entertainment in the evening. Small pool as the only negative experience. Highly recommended for family’s and couples.
Nice apartment, cleaning needs attention.
LEO554
(Mooloolaba, Australia)
My husband and I booked a condo through Waikiki Rentals. This is a privately owned apartment in a large hotel apartment complex. There are also apartments available directly through the Ilikai Hotel website.
We stayed in a room facing the lagoon on the 17th floor.1733.
The view is beautiful and if you are staying in Waikiki you really do need to have a view of the sea.
The apartment was not very well cleaned. The shower and bathroom were pretty gungy. There was broccoli and rice in the dish washer and some of the glassware, crockery and cutlery were dirty. I think this is a shame as I am sure the owners would not appreciate the fact that the cleaners are not doing their job efficiently.
There were plenty of kitchen utensils, crockery, cutlery, glassware but I do feel that there should be a quantity of dishwasher powder and laundry detergent as having to buy these for a short stay is most frustrating and a waste of money.
The bed was very comfortable and the room was relatively quiet.
The bus stop is outside the door although we did struggle to work out which buses were available for the general public to ride as many of them are private tours only.
We did not use the pool as it was always very crowded. For the size of the complex we considered the pool to be much too small.
We went to the free hula show and even though it rained and the show had to be cut short I consider it to be the best hula show we saw in Hawaii. Don't miss it if you are there on the night it is on.
Always an amazing stay and the BEST Customer Service
CoupleCastaways
I'm a huge fan of this property. They really make you feel the ALOHA when you stay here. Wes, the Manager, is the BEST! Love the spacious studio room (and the kitchen!), the modern decor, the grounds (with convenient shops, coffee, and eateries), the restaurant downstairs has an awesome menu, and the Friday night fireworks at your balcony are the cherry on top! It's also a skip away to the Modern hotel, as their pool and outdoor area is around the corner. Loved my last two stays there and will definitely be back! I also always highly recommend it to my friends and family. Thank you Ilikai!
Spend a little extra money and go somewhere else. This place is not worth the few bucks you’ll save in the long run. My husband and I needed a last-minute hotel, and we also didn’t want to spend a ton of money on an expensive resort-type hotel, so we landed on the Pagoda. The pictures online are deceiving. The place is an absolute dump. In addition, they required a $200 deposit that we’re still waiting to receive back.
Great front desk
Gerald Y
(Paia, Hawaii)
Pagoda is a long time local destination. Lynda at front desk was great for customer service. aloha g can't think of anymore details; location is great for all the restaurants in the area. jlakjds;lfkjsa;dlkjsd;alfkdjsa;lsdkjf;ds
Wonderful Time
jerry f
(Hoolehua, Hawaii)
Well from the Booking to the Checking in all was awesome, the website help a (1) night deposit however i was wanting to pay my reservation in full, they were friendly and fast. Upon checking in Carlos was awesome and they had one room available as the other was being cleaned and was able to precheck all rooms and guest at the same time. This was a wonderful weekend with the Ohana and will recommend for future visits.
Great Place
lxqsit
(Oakville, Canada)
We flew in from Sydney and stayed here for one night before boarding the ship. Our room was not ready, but the lady at the front desk kept our luggage in a safe location. Our room was ready earlier than expected. It was clean, the shower worked well, the bed was also comfortable. We had a late dinner in the floating restaurant. The service was really fantastic at the front desk and in the restaurant. It's a close walk to Walmart, Sam's Club, and the famous Ala Moana Shopping Center, as well as all kinds of different restaurants. The free shuttle bus picked us up right at the hotel and took us to the waterfront where we could walk and explore Oahu and get on the Hop on Hop Off tram. We loved staying at this budget-friendly place.
Adequate
warrenville111
(Warrenville, IL)
We used this hotel as a place to stay for less than 24 hours - a place to shower, and sleep a bit before heading out on a 1:45 am flight. The hotel seemed clean, but a bit dated. That being said, our room was clean and the shower had good temperature and water pressure. Mattresses were a bit saggy. The elevators did have air fresheners - I am not a big fan of artificial smells...but the room was not bad. The air conditioner worked well. No view for us.
We walked to the Walmart for some miscellaneous items and also walked for dinner. Many Asian-based restaurants in the area. There were a lot of homeless on the street which always is difficult to see.
As we had a rental car, the meters on the street stopped at 6:00 pm, so we just paid the meter for 2 hours, and left for the airport at 11:00 pm avoiding the hotel parking fee (thought it was reasonable for Waikiki). The front desk allowed us to waive the resort fee as well because were were only there for 5 hours and did not use the public facilities or internet. Very kind an good customer service.
Overall - a more budget based hotel on Oahu. If I were staying for more than a day or two - I would definitely look for something closer to the beach. But, the hotel worked perfectly for our purposes and budget.
The laundry area was fairly large - easy to get a washer or dryer. The ice was located in the laundry room on the first floor.
Both bed linens obviously were not changed. One had hair in it and the other had rice in it. Bathroom is way below par. We wore our sandals in the shower. Their answer to mold is to paint over it. The location is good though, close to the beach shopping and restaurants. We stayed out of the room most of the time and explored the island. Also parking is very tight and there is no elevator to the lobby so you have to carry your luggage up a flight of stairs, not fun.
Pillows for boogie boarding
Darren B
(Bend, Oregon)
The checkin took a long time. The bathroom was very dirty. The bed cover was stained in multiple locations. The noise in the surrounding area was so much, that we couldn't sleep till 3 am. I would definitely not recommend this hotel.
Move along smartly...
Robert W
(Osan, South Korea)
This hotel is severely dated, moldy, and stinks like oily skin. My room was located behind elevator shaft. Heard nothing but loud whooshing noise all night long. This hotel could be a museum piece from the 60s.
Hotel Stay
charri693282
(Melbourne, Australia)
Bathroom was run down and needing renovation. Staff were lovely. The rooster which resides at the bar next door continually crowing from 4.30 in the morning was very annoying. The bed in the room was comfortable and the location of the hotel was close to bars and nightlife. A little walk from the beach but not too far
Staycation
leipugay
(Waipahu, Hawaii)
Very convienant for me it's right across my job. Walking distance to everything, food, restaurants, bars, beaches, etc price for the hotel very reasonable, just the parking area kind of tight though but could bare. Oh yea when I made Saimin in the room there was no forks at all only spoon. Thank God the instant saimin bowl came with a fork. Other than that my stay was nice and relaxing. Hope to go back soon in the future. Already told people about this hotel.
Wonderful hotel, great location, extremely helpful staff. Richelle went out of her way to bring me my blouse that I left behind when I moved to another part of the island! Loved the room and the balcony to enjoy the sea view!
Waikiki and Oahu Visit
Dennis V
Very good location and excellent location. Hotel extremely clean. Staff very helpful. Restaurant only fair. However, overall, I really enjoyed the stay and would stay at the hotel again when I return to Oahu.
Luxury suites close to Waikiki beach
Christina F
(Vaxjo, Sweden)
We spent 7 nights at this nice hotel and suites close to Waikiki beach, Honolulu Oahu. We got a studio at the 24 th floor with ocean view! Double bed and sofa as extra bed. Balcony for romantic evenings. Great kitchen fully equipped! Beach towels. Good connections with shuttle bus outside the hotel. Calm and quiet during the night. Concierge in the lobby. Washing machine in the hallway. Entertainment in the evening. Small pool as the only negative experience. Highly recommended for family’s and couples.
Nice apartment, cleaning needs attention.
LEO554
(Mooloolaba, Australia)
My husband and I booked a condo through Waikiki Rentals. This is a privately owned apartment in a large hotel apartment complex. There are also apartments available directly through the Ilikai Hotel website.
We stayed in a room facing the lagoon on the 17th floor.1733.
The view is beautiful and if you are staying in Waikiki you really do need to have a view of the sea.
The apartment was not very well cleaned. The shower and bathroom were pretty gungy. There was broccoli and rice in the dish washer and some of the glassware, crockery and cutlery were dirty. I think this is a shame as I am sure the owners would not appreciate the fact that the cleaners are not doing their job efficiently.
There were plenty of kitchen utensils, crockery, cutlery, glassware but I do feel that there should be a quantity of dishwasher powder and laundry detergent as having to buy these for a short stay is most frustrating and a waste of money.
The bed was very comfortable and the room was relatively quiet.
The bus stop is outside the door although we did struggle to work out which buses were available for the general public to ride as many of them are private tours only.
We did not use the pool as it was always very crowded. For the size of the complex we considered the pool to be much too small.
We went to the free hula show and even though it rained and the show had to be cut short I consider it to be the best hula show we saw in Hawaii. Don't miss it if you are there on the night it is on.
Always an amazing stay and the BEST Customer Service
CoupleCastaways
I'm a huge fan of this property. They really make you feel the ALOHA when you stay here. Wes, the Manager, is the BEST! Love the spacious studio room (and the kitchen!), the modern decor, the grounds (with convenient shops, coffee, and eateries), the restaurant downstairs has an awesome menu, and the Friday night fireworks at your balcony are the cherry on top! It's also a skip away to the Modern hotel, as their pool and outdoor area is around the corner. Loved my last two stays there and will definitely be back! I also always highly recommend it to my friends and family. Thank you Ilikai!
LOCATION... LOCATION...LOCATION... CAN NOT BE BEAT!!!
NoraNeil
(Miami, Florida)
This hotel gets a solid 3.5 stars. Were it not for the fact that the Circle Hotel is in DESPERATE need of updating, as in a complete overhaul, they would’ve received 5 stars! The hotel is quaint, small (by comparison), has unbeatable views from any room, good customer service, and is directly across the street from the beach... which in and of itself is INCREDIBLE! There is even an equally small but VERY popular restaurant on the premises (10% discount), and an ABC convenience store next door (you will pay for the convenience).
The bathroom, and rooms them-self are very small, with 2 beds, with an OLD looking carpet and bathroom fixtures, not to mention a dingy/slightly grimy tiled shower floor that needs a good scrubbing/cleaning/tile restoration. It’s as if the ENTIRE hotel is stuck in a time warp from the 70s! Meanwhile... a complete renovation of a same sized hotel is going on right next door (get with the program Aston Circle!!!). It’s s good thing that one doesn’t really go to beautiful Hawaii to spend all that much time in the room.
YOLO... true... and it is Hawaii, so remember to bring LOADS of money for excursions, to eat, and to buy such little things that we take for granted on the mainland (e.g., water $5 for a 6-pack; $2.50 for a chocolate bar; and inflated prices for what we’d consider cheap staple foods... McD’s, Subway, BK, and Kentucky to name a few. If you find the staple restaurant prices to be expensive, then you’ll really get sticker shock when it comes to restaurants you’d typically visit to eat dinner at... PF Chang’s, Hardrock Cafe, Tony Romas)!
Take your own favorite snacks and pack water in your checked luggage if you have space/weight limits available. Flip flops, a good pair of sneakers, shorts, t-shirts, and sundresses are the only attire that one needs (and perhaps a poncho...pick one up from Dollar Tree or Family Dollar before you go, because you’ll not find those stores there!)!
Handy spot
smaude
(Melbourne, Australia)
We arrived at 1030 local time after approx 15 hours travelling and they were kind enough to check us in to a room then. Friendly and helpful staff at the front desk.
Clean and comfortable with twin double beds. Right across the road from the beach, we could sit on the balcony and get a great view.
Ideal location. Nothing fancy about it but secure and comfortable with the basics.
Friendly, casual and super location
Ekaterini71
The Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel is nothing fancy. It’s on the older side and has a very basic front office, BUT the staff are super friendly and it’s a comfortable, relaxing and casual atmosphere. The rooms are small, very clean and comfortable enough. The view from the rooms on the front of the hotel is simply spectacular. There’s a TV, PlayStation and a bar fridge in the room. There’s even a small office nook/kitchenette. Air conditioning unit is a tad noisy but not annoying. Room servicing is regular and they do a great job. Oh, and you get a newspaper daily!
The hotel is located above the famous Eggs n Things. McDonald is next door on one side, and an ABC store on the other. It’s located opposite Dukes statue across from Waikiki beach.
Great location!!!
CourtDelafuente
My family of three stayed here a week, and had an enjoyable stay. The location is amazing! We stayed in room 906, which is a double bed, ocean front room. The view was spectacular! It was nice to be able to walk right across the street and be on the beach. Great restaurants and shopping in walking distance! The staff is friendly and helpful! I only have two complaints...the size of the room and bathroom, and the fees they tack on at the end of your stay. The bathroom really doesn’t have anywhere to hang wet towels or swimsuits. Fees totaled almost $200 for one week, and the parking lot was full when we checked in, so we had to park a couple blocks away at the Banyan hotel ($80 cash for a week, which was much cheaper than parking at the hotel lot any way). Would probably not stay here again, only because I would prefer a condo with a washer and dryer, and a kitchen so we didn’t have to eat every meal out. All in all, an enjoyable stay though! 😊
Retro Cool on Waikiki Beach
markbrammer
(Lincoln)
I've been aware of Aston Circle Waikiki since my first visit to Oahu in 1982. I visit twice a year and stay in a variety of mid-price to expensive hotels. However, this time I was going to be in Waikiki for 18 days, prompting a slightly more economical approach to choosing my hotel. Aston Circle Waikiki- the Chinese Lantern Hotel- offered everything I was looking for in a room, parking, and location for an extended stay, so I chose a "partial ocean view" and booked it for the entire 18 days. I have to say, I enjoyed this cosy retro-hotel more than the larger ones I've stayed in over the past several years. The room was spotless, the staff were extremely helpful, parking was available in the underground lot (You get an dedicated garage access key remote you keep for your entire stay). The room is on the more compact size, but not tiny. It worked very well for my spouse and I, though I'd seriously not consider more than a couple with one small child for the room. Toiletries were provided daily, along with beach towels, free local calls, a daily newspaper
Great hotel with updated rooms, in the middle of downtown Honolulu. Great views, has a pool, laundry facilities on-site(and some in the rooms), kitchenettes, and some of the best rates on the island! (Below the tourist trap Waikiki!). Lobby is clean (actually below street-level) and while hallways are dated, they have been maintained. Will definitely use as my go-to place when doing business in Honolulu!
Mixed thoughts about this one
prefbid60
(Huntsville, AL)
The room size can not be beat. It is like getting a Condo instead of a room. However, my room seems to have some maintenance issues. The shower leaks around the head, the bed is not the most comfortable I have ever had and the air conditioning goes through periods where it just doesn't seem to be able to catch up. It isn't bad, just not top notch. The lobby layout is a little confusing and takes a couple of passes to realize how to go from one area to another.
I won't stay here again
Lady_Katie_Kate
(Australia)
This hotel is very overpriced for what you get. It needs some serious updating.
I'm a little confused as to why it rates so highly on TripAdvisor.
The corridor leading to our room had a very strong smell of smoke, which was not nice. The room itself was quite run down and the aircon was not good, it was freezing the whole time we were there. The bathroom was falling apart.
The staff were not very welcoming when we were checking in, but the check out staff were lovely.
Overall it was ok but not worth the price they charge and I won't stay here again.
The location is ok, as this was our last night we wanted somewhere closer to the airport, however I would have rathered stay in Waikiki and just gone the extra distance.
I love it!
TEE19
(Naples, Italy)
I loved every moment spent in my Ocean View suite. All members of the staff were very patient, helpful and friendly. The hotel had all the amenities both in the room and outside. A little study/den, a kitchenette, a living room, a nice bathroom with a Jacuzzi and 2 TV sets situated in the bedroom as well as in the living room . The hotel also has a swimming pool which I did not get a chance to use, unfortunately, due to my schedule and is situated in a central area full of shops (Walmart, Ross etc.) and restaurants; Chinatown, the Iolani Palace, the waterfront with the Aloha tower and more attractions are all within walking distance, the bus stop and the rental bicycles are right there too. I loved that it was away from the Waikiki caos but still just 15 mins from it by bus. Great place! 😍
Good hotel close to Holland American Dock.
LIndyLee52
(Los Angeles, California)
So If you want a hotel really close to Holland American this is it. There is a Starbucks next door and walking distance to the ship. Two blocks. But with luggage I would still get a car.
It’s not in what I would call a great area. Lots of homeless. There are a few good restaurants close and a real china town nearby.
The bus stop is right out the door to the beach. But, if you want beach book near the beach.
The room was nice, bed good, kitchen and frig.
Good for the day.
Room was comfortable and quiet. Don't agree with being charged a resort fee - for what?
Squirmin
(Vancouver)
Stayed four nights in Waikiki, and as per my rating, it is an average hotel. I certainly can't rate it as "very good" or "excellent". Our room on the 10th floor was quiet, and so we had good quality sleeps. Overall the room is basic, and our view was of the neighbouring hotel. If you went out on the small lanai, and looked left, you could see the ocean between the two buildings. I really don't like the daily $25 resort fee, as I'm not sure what you get with that. We didn't use the pool, and other than a beach towel service, I think it's a bit of a scam done by a number of Waikiki hotels. Coffee maker as part of the resort fee - please give me a break. So average rating, the staff were pleasant enough, and we slept well, but this is a basic hotel overall.
Very neglected
Maryanne N
Don't stay here, the furnishings in the foyer are old and and stained, as the carpet was. Unhelpful staff,had hoped the room would be better. It was so smelly, old and unclean. I was shocked when I walked in. No bench in the bathroom. Again, stains all over the carpet.Not even a spoon ! Bedding all old, not fresh at all.Curtains didn't close properly, very poor lighting. One lamp was broken. It was so neglected. Tried to change rooms. I was just told, we are full. Staff didn't care. Nightclub downstairs at night. Very hard to sleep. Then on check out you are hit with an obscene amenities fee. Stay anywhere but here.
Beat all expectations!
ewr2phx
(Chandler, Arizona)
This is a top notch hotel, from the staff to the room and location. A bit overpriced, but it is Waikiki. Clean rooms with breathtaking views of the oceans Diamond Head. I can’t say enough of how much our whole family loved the Park Shore Waikiki. We can’t wait to go back next year.
Great Waikiki hotel
Elaine M
(North Hollywood)
This hotel is located at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, with a fantastic view from the room. The hotel staff were very helpful and the room was extremely comfortable. We enjoyed being near the beach and away from the hectic Waikiki area. Will definitely stay here again.
Great Place - Great Beach Access
dick422018
(Langhorne, Pennsylvania)
We found the Park Shore Waikiki turned out to be an excellent choice. It is located directly across the street from the beach, which we could also watch from the balcony of our room ... as well as the pool and Diamond Head. You can then either walk along the beach of sidewalk all along the Waikiki area or jump on the City Bus ($2.75 one-way or $5,50 for an all day pass which will take you anywhere; and depending on thw bus you take the most you have to walk is one block. While the room was not huge, we spent little time there and most of that we was on our balcony, Staff excellent and upgraded us at no charge. These a a good, open-air restaurant with excellent views of teh beach and sunsets.
As a budget traveler, I'm used to dated rooms, but this one really was in bad shape. It had multiple dark stains in the shape of an iron on the carpet, the bathroom vanity was missing doors on the bottom, the bathroom smelled of bleach, the room itself smelled musty, and the shower looked iffy enough that I wore flip-flops into it. To top things off, there was Wi-Fi only in common areas. Seriously? In 2018, no Wi-Fi in the room? Ugh.
Normally I'd say you get what you pay for, but with tax we paid a good $200 for this place!
The location was okay -- walking distance from Waikiki Beach and the Ala Wai Canal, with plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. And we appreciated the hotel's flexibility when we needed a late check-out.
Budget spots in Waikiki seem hard to come by, but there must be better options.
Much Cheaper than other hotels
M Hanifah N
I needed a place to stay while waiting on an apartment. This was the least expensive. The staff were friendly and helpful. It's located in Waikiki and a quick walk to the beach. The hotel is worn and could use some updates! I killed three roaches over the few days that I was there. There is no parking at the hotel, but you can unload. They will give you parking options.
Great Location- An Oasis among skyscrapers
cbkrays
(pune)
We stayed here for three nights from 23 to 26 May 2018. Very Good location. No breakfast or restaurant in the hotel. Plenty of small / big eateries, grocery shops, malls & beach very close by. It’s a three storied building surrounded by skyscrapers all around. It has a small swimming pool with trees around. When one sits in the balcony (Our room was facing pool), one has a feeling of being in oasis in a desert.
Rooms are slightly on the smaller side. Toiletries generally ok. Micro, cooking range etc available. Cutlery & crockery not of good standard. One day’s rent is deducted on booking as a deposit.
Hotel does not have a lift (not given in the website). However, luggage were taken up to our second floor room by the staff. The corridor was stinking. Most of the gadgets in our room were dysfunctional. It took more than 24 hrs for all to come in line. However, I was given a financial compensation for the same (I asked for it). Hotel was planned to go for renovation. But that doesn’t mean that there should be stink or the gadgets would not work.
Two of the front desk staff (both male) were impolite & also not helpful. In fact one did not intimate me an important message (about discount) for about 24 hrs. When asked, he started giving lame excuses. Also he totally forgot to intimate the staff that I would pay the bills in cash & not by credit card. This caused a little confusion at check out time, but resolved.
The ladies in the front desk were helpful.
Being a part of the Aqua group, this hotel had many free / concessions from many shops around. This was not told to guests. They just kept a small notice on the front desk. Accordingly we missed many such facilities. It is in the hotel’s interest & for their publicity that they should intimate the guests.
All airport shuttle service providers touch this hotel for pick up & drop.
WiFi is just in the lobby & not inside the room.
Hotel has a luggage room where they keep luggage.
Besides all these problems which I am sure are getting looked into during renovation, we shall stay here if we again visit Honolulu just for two reasons… great location and the joy one gets just being in an oasis amongst the skyscrapers
A green oasis in the middle of Waikiki highrises
jjrkeenan
(Boulder, Colorado)
This hotel was perfect for me, non-glitzy, reasonably priced, very clean, a bit dated but well maintained, good shower stall with a line to dry things on, convenient location in Waikiki, quiet. Staff all friendly and helpful, both the front desk and housekeeping.
Bedding was good, a bit firm for me personally (sleep # 30). It's basically a U-shape with a courtyard in the middle with a pool, hot tub, koi pond, and beautiful landscaping. Surrounded by a solid wall so the only entry is the walkway by the front desk. 3 floors, no elevator, but multiple times, staff members offered to carry stuff up the stairs for me. Parking on site at standard Waikiki rates. (Spaces, also like many Waikiki places, are tiny!) Room 302 had a lanai looking onto the courtyard - I loved it!. I was even with tops of some trees which provided partial privacy from other lanais. Looking up, I saw high rises partly blocked by higher trees. Rooms on the outside of the U seem to face the privacy wall or, on upper floors, a parking garage. This room had a kitchenette with small fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and electric range. It was basically but decently stocked with dishes, flatware, a good knife, corkscrew, can opener, dish soap and drainer, and a few other basic utensils - everything I needed. I had to move the coffee maker to find a plug (or unplug the microwave) - not a problem for me. Coffee and fixings replenished every day. This room had a connecting door to the next with absolutely no soundproofing. When I mentioned that at the desk, they immediately offered to move me to a non-connecting room. I found that keeping my air conditioner running (set it to fan) was enough white noise to drown out most of the noise from the connecting room.
Ok value I guess...
63oliverb
It was ok value and an ok ambiance cause we are a young hip family but I wouldn’t recommend for older couples looking for tranquillity.... no internet in the rooms so forced to sit in the lobby on your device when needed.... social experiment possibly?? Has a pool and rooms ok.
We decided to stay at this hotel after a horrible experience over at the halekulani hotel. We came upon this hotel after eating at the Wisp. My kids loved this restaurant they asked if we could come back the next day. So we decided to move over to this hotel after not being satisfied at the halukulani. Which was supposed to be one of the top hotels in America. We were greeted by Jr who was nice and accomodated us quickly and got through the reservation quickly as he noticed our kids were tired He asked them if they wanted snacks which was in the hotel lobby. Kind gesture that the hotel gave away free snacks and wine in the afternoon. Room was clean and facing the park which my kids loved. Downside is elevator is a little old and very slow. They have movies available in the business room which my kids got all excited upon learning this. Nice quiet experience from the hustle and bustle of downtown waikiki. Had breakfast and dinner mostly at the Wisp downstairs. 5 stars! Free hotel shutttle took us all around waikiki and Alamoanas. Free coffee and bottled water also available in the morning downstairs in the lobby. Overall great hotel and great staff. Will be back next year to this sweet hotel!
Room OK, amenties less so
swedensm
(Stockholm, Sweden)
The room was OK - paid extra for sea view - but it was over a car park! The front desk staff were helpfull and friendly. There is a toal rip-off "boutique charge" of 25 USD per day. I asked what this was for and was told, "wi-fi, free coffee, free wine and other things" - I never found out what the "other things" were. The real let down to this place is Wisp restaurnat - which they are at pains to tell you has nothing to do with the hotel.- But it IS the hotel restaurant! If you are hoping to eat breakfast there beware, they close it for private functions. And if you do go there, the service and food is awful. So, hotel just about OK, restaurnat terrible.
Noisy
Christine O
Disappointed with the noise being on level 3 you csn hear the restaurant and school reunion below us into the late hours.
On top of this we booked a room with mountain view and being on level 3 got a car park view with partial mountain view when you stepped out to balcony.
Could not fault the room itself comfortable bed neat clean tidy room and nice front desk customer service from Rebekah.
Magnificent Management
reallifepastor
(Ellerslie, Georgia)
From Front Desk to Maintenance to Housekeeping to Valet, we were treated and taken care of like family. Every time we were greeted, asked if we needed anything...just made us feel special! We will always remember our first time at Lotus Honolulu and already making plans to return!!
Nice place in hidden waikiki
leimomi_madoka
(Tokyo, Japan)
I really liked the view of the diamond head, the good size of the lanai and room. Refrigerator and microwave was very convenient as well. Only a mimutes walk to the beach and beach chair was ready to use.
My husband, daughter and I booked a 5 night stay in a one bedroom condo. Rooms very small and quite dated but the main problem was that whilst it was marketed as being able to sleep 3, the third bed was a blow up mattress!! Also nowhere to put the blow up mattress so had to move furniture around to use it and as we didn’t want the hassle of pumping it up every night, we had to stand it up against the wardrobe during the day which made access difficult. Quite good location and nice pool area, close to beach and near bus stops. If booking for only 2 people would be fine, but if looking for room for a third look elsewhere!
Lousy hotel
Mary R
So over priced for very old and dated property. Paid up frount in Australian dollars in October last year.On arrival asked to pay another $25 US per day for resort costs. E.g. Wi-Fi to room and safe. All things that should be included in cost as NOT a resort at all. No restrants,bars. Pool closed for cleaning during day. Twice in 10 days.Arrived at 6am check in 3.30 pm. Although I had flights out at 6am of departure. Very poor organizing that they could not organize cleaning staff to have rooms ready for overseas travellers. Good by Hawaii. Back to Asia next time.
totally rundown and dated
SammyDog10
(Massachusetts)
The pros: location, parking on site ($20/day), and very friendly and helpful staff in all areas of the property.
The cons: property has a decent lobby but room we had and amenities (pool area) are rundown. The room decor and furnishings were very dated and worn. Kitchen had old linoleum tile. The bathroom also had old linoleum tiles that are separated due to water damage so moldy in the seams. Tub was so old and worn it looked dirty. (Totally gross - I do like to have a clean room.)
Bottom line: I would not recommend to anyone unless you have no other options.
Showing Her Age
johncK6328VL
This hotel is in a great location, but is starting to show the wear and tear. Repairs in the hotel room are a bit rough. Holes in the wall have been roughly plastered over, but not sanded smooth. Then painted over but not in an exact matching paint. Sliding doors that separate the bedroom and lounge area are a bit worn and rattle. Bathroom is very compact. If you are looking for a cheap overnight accommodation this may suit, but would not recommend for a longer stay.
Nice Condo with a very good view
MarianB86
(Mountain View, Hawaii)
Our group stayed in two different rooms. One on the 15th floor and one on the 12th floor. We rented through KoKo and they were very helpful. Nice condos with everything we needed for our short stay of three nights. A big plus....parking was included in the parking garage. We were able to walk to many restaurants, Waikiki beach, and shops. Convenient location to restaurants and shopping without using the car. And elevators were fast and got you to your floor quickly. Eight of us were here and we all agreed this is a great place.
We had a great stay at this hotel for a week in a 1 bedroom apartment. It was clean, the kitchen was well equipped, all the staff were very helpful, nice balcony with table and chairs, bed and sofa bed were comfortable. Basically it has everything we needed for our stay. It has a wonderful location too, only a couple of small blocks back from the beach and an ABC store very close by. We’d definitely stay here again. I do have one negative comment and that is the noisy aircon.
Great location, retro style
brysc01
(sydney)
Felt like walking through an old episode of 5-0 (with Jack Lord!) but in a cool way. Looks like Aqua are trading on this classic feel with their hotels and it fits the Waikiki vibe for us tourists.
We were grateful for being upgraded to the one bed with a huge lanai. It was on a lower floor (8) so there was noise from Kuhio Ave, but the days we were there windy and reckon the higher floors would mean it too breezy to leave a door open let alone step outside for any time.
Surrounded by load of places to eat - one block from the beach, and the full kitchen with coffee maker, full sized fridge and even a full stove - was just like your own apartment.
Very windy pool area
Sopranocorry
(Melbourne, Australia)
We enjoyed our stay at Aqua Pacific Monarch and the service from reception staff in particular was excellent. The rooms are nicely appointed, and we enjoyed the view of the city and partial view of the ocean. The hotel is in a very central location. Hawaii is a very big city, with lots and lots of highrise buildings within a very small city area. Everything in the city is super expensive, and having the ability to make some quick/simple breakfast snack items for yourself was very welcome, as our room had both a microwave, coffee dripfilter as well as a cooktop and dining area in the room. I particularly enjoyed opening the balcony door, but watch out for the seagulls flying in!
The pool area on rooftop was quite small however, extremely windy. You were unable to sit outside without glasses, towel, book etc blowing away even though there is fencing around the area. If there are children (or noisy adults) around, it is not a relaxing area. The hotel provided a happy hour with some snacks and drinks available in an upstairs room, which was quite nice and friendly, but was not well attended as there are some 500 rooms in this building. We enjoyed our stay.
Excellent position and value
shortyholiday
(Sydney, Australia)
Very helpful staff, rooms were excellent, clean, so close to Waikiki beach. Free shuttle service to shops and other points of interest. Near bus stops. Great views, great swimming pool. Have no hesitation in recommending this hotel.
Worth an upgrade to the partial ocean view
KiwiTraveller04
(Auckland, New Zealand)
We stayed in a partial ocean-view room from May 30-June 4. We thought the room was nice. Hey its nothing fancy but its comfortable. Full kitchen was great, really handy to have. Couch was big and the pull out sofa bed wasn't too bad. The bed was nice and comfy. Great view and so close to the beach (approx 2 blocks back) At the end of the street you come out at the beach by the Duke statue so a great location. Worth the upgrade to the partial oceanview due to the view (otherwise you are looking at other buildings/ the road!) and the balcony which is a great size. The lead in rooms have tiny balconies. The air con is noisy but we only used it when we went out to make the room cold. The pool is nice. They have a spa too. View from the pool deck is lovely. Bathroom is an ok size.
We were only on the 9th floor but didnt find road noise too excessive. Sure theres a bit as you are in the city so its to be expected.
Pretty much its not 5 star fancy but you wouldnt expect it for the price. I think its the pick of the bunch in that price range. Front desk were helpful for us.
We booked through AirBNB, and stayed for three nights. The view was breathtaking! Our unit was great. We had a kitchen and washer and dryer. There are tons of restaurants and shops within walking distance.
our therd time stay
yukaryu
(Tokyo, Japan)
This time, early check-in, I got upgraded from the partial ocean view to the ocean view. The view is wonderful in a large room, the kitchen and dining are very easy to use. There were plenty to eat in the room, so it was still good if there was a small bowl.I think this is the best condominium that can be used in Honolulu for 5-6 people.
Awesome location and very friendly staff
Steve W
Our 2 bedroom suite was ideally located across the road from Waikiki beach. Awesome place to stay and location, our only regret was assuming we had a renovated suite and will request this next time we stay. Supermarkets and ABC stores close by.
Perfect for families!
Peter C
Very family friendly! In room laundry, full kitchen. Great pool and hot tub. All high end finishes. For ocean view rooms, this is cheaper than any hotel if you have a family. This is far superior than 2 rooms at Royal Hawaiian or Moana surfrider (stayed at both). Basically, this has all if not more amenities than the Ritz, but is actually beachfront. The new renovations are amazing. We have come here for years and the old decor was good enough and worth the price. Now, it's another level above. I'd say 5 star level. It's almost too nice as I'm more nervous when the kids run around in the suite! There are only 4 units per floor, so it's not like staying at the Sheraton Waikiki where there are thousands of people milling around and elevator waiting (though they have a great pool for kids with slides even though it's crowded). You're not as worried about the kids running off at the pool here because it's a much smaller and private space. Also a plus, no fighting to reserve chairs or cabanas (which we've always had issues with at Sheraton, Aulani and other big hotels). This level of luxury is a total bargain if you have a group since you only need to book one suite vs 2 or 3 rooms at another hotel.
Also a plus, is free parking at a Waikiki beachfront hotel. Who ever heard of that?
Very good but...
Anthony S
A really nice place to stay. Very convenient, great location. Staff were really friendly. BUT, the beds were as hard as rocks, and the curtains were paper thin. Would love to stay there again but the beds and curtains would need to change first.
Would not recommend at all- Far better places in Waikiki
GreenCombi
(Melbourne, Australia)
Very surprised to find any positive points about this hotel on other reviews. My "highlights" were......
1. Very old decor everywhere
2. Rooms had a strange musty smell like they hadn't been properly cleaned for ages
3. The air-conditioners were unbelievably noisy. I'm a pretty deep sleeper though the old style air-cons kept waking me up
4. The balcony was useless as there was no privacy. From our balcony I could easily see partly onto at least onto 6 other balconies, with one literally ~ 3 m away with no screening at all
5. The beds were poor. For some bizarre reason the under-sheets were too small for the beds and so kept riding high during the night. As for house-keeping, one day I found they had simply pulled up the top sheets, as the under-sheet was still pulled up high from the night before...lazy housekeeping effort there
6. The "buffet breakfast" was a joke- easily the worst I have seen in 30 years of travelling. The "restaurant" was a tiny room with enough space for only 4 tables- for the whole hotel!. There was an extraordinarily small range of food offered and it was of very average quality.
7. The front desk staff seemed to not care about their customers. One was blatantly rude to us. On other days I saw two separate parties arguing with front-desk staff over some issue. One staff member did smile at us several times, though the others seemed happy to just stand around and ignore guests.
8. The Hotel location is at the wrong end of Waikiki and right next to a very noisy petrol station. Street noise was very noticeable.
9. The pool is tiny
10. Ridiculously expensive daily resort fee for the all the "services" offered (yes I know what they are- they're just really poor all-around). To call itself a "resort" is a joke.
So if it was a youth hostel or was advertised as a 2 star hotel, then The Luana would be acceptable. However I found it to be extraordinarily over-priced for the very poor quality and services offered. Do yourself a favour- find somewhere else to stay; ANYWHERE else.
Great stay at Luana Waikiki
dapits2018
Great place. Close to everything, but quiet. Nice coffe shop and beautiful inside. Great views, nice swimming pool and a private BBQ area for guests. Close to all the hot spots, ocean front with extremely short walk through the lush park to the best Waikiki beach.
Disinterested staff, high "resort fee" and very poor breakfast
Suzanne S
(Mt Eliza, Australia)
We booked this hotel literally the day we flew out from Australia, as our original flight to Bali was cancelled due to the volcanoe, so suddenly we found ourselves being flown to Honolulu instead. Would not stay here again. We arrived at 8.30am and were told there were rooms we could check into immediately, but not the type we needed (two twins - we had two teenage children with us and they could not provide interconnecting rooms, so we had to have one parent stay with each child ie two twin rooms). Alternatively if we waited to check in til 3pm, we would have the two twins, so we chose to do that. Walked around Waikiki for 7 hrs, with no opportunity to swim or change clothes (as we couldn't unpack) and then arrived back to be given two double rooms ie a queen bed in each, not even adjacent rooms. When we went to raise this with the staff, they had the attitude that "there's nothing we can do about it" and shrugged their shoulders. We asked for the Manager, and she was the same, and even got quite narky in the way she was speaking to us. We then were told we could speak to the General Manager, Clem, and while he was more empathetic, he would not believe our telling of the situation and took no responsibility for the clear error someone on his staff had made. We were then put into adjacent rooms with a queen bed and a pull-out sofa in each - better, but still not ideal as the sofa bed in both rooms had a dip in the middle and both my husband and my son had a sore back the next day from sleeping on these. We re finally moved to suitable rooms on Day two of our visit - only then could we actually unpack and access things to go to the beach etc, so properly start our holiday. The breakfast buffet room has barely enough seating for 10-12 people, and was a very minimal menu, so even if you could get a seat (which was difficult - we waited for 20 mins two days in a row, then decided to breakfast elsewhere in future), the food was poor. The resort fee is supposed to account for this - you get vouchers back to use for breakfast - but what is the point if you can't use them? A resort fee should be to pay for things the resort provides on top of the standard inclusions a hotel would normally give: I don't call towels or chairs for the beach "resort extra's" when you are staying at a beach hotel! So on check out we paid around US$600 resort fee for our 8 day stay for essentially nothing.
First trip to Hawaii
Nina G
Hotel was ok. I was disappointed at first. Our flight got here at 8:30. Great welcome from rep at airport with flower lei and good ride to Hotel. Had called earlier and was told would honour waiving of resort fee for govt workers. At desk was told no because booked through Costco. Was given breakfast vouchers - no assistance with the bags at all and no additional information or recommendations from John. The room was small and just average. I thought with the comment from John I must have gotten an awesome deal with Costco. Apparently not. Nothing in the fridge. No microwave. Coffee burnt on the coffee maker. And tiny bathroom. Started off on the wrong foot but I have to say the rest of the staff are good. Breakfast was decent and it was convenient to have this available on site. Its not open all day so no lunch or dinner options on site. Open for Dinner only on Friday and Saturday. The parking fee is $35 per night. If Hawaii's primary industry is hospitality, this place falls short. We weren't even told the extra vouchers could be used to to get water for the fridge which would have been nice. I am disappointed with Costco and the Luana. They need to make better arrangements for late arrivers and some kind of info or orientation time regarding the amenities. Maybe I have just gotten used to A class service from Costco so expected similar from Costco travel and the Luana if they have partnered. Overall I did enjoy my time in Hawaii.
Possibly the most underrated hotel in Waikiki.
jmcyow
(Ottawa)
I have no idea why this place is not better rated on Trip Advisor. It has everything one can hope for. Classic Hawaiian style lobby and mezzanine. Rates are very competitive (probably some of the best you'll find in Waikiki). Location is very nice, right next to Fort Derussy and its beautiful beach (much wider than the central Waikiki beach). It's right at the edge of the Kalakaua strip, so not as busy as the other hotels right in the middle of it. Check-in was professionally handled by Chastity, who, at our request, arranged for a room with a better view for a nominal daily fee. We ended with a "partial ocean view" room on the 16th floor (the highest one). In reality, we had a very good view of the ocean along with a wonderful view of Waikiki and the Diamond head. Rooms are spacious and clean, with a balcony. Our room had a granite counter with a large sink and small fridge, but no microwave or hot plate (which are found only if you book a studio kitchenette). Granite counter also in the bathroom. Mattresses were firm and particularly comfortable. There is a safe in each room. AC worked well. The pool was only slightly heated and we found lots of hair in it (filtering issue?). Of note, there are two large, very nice natural gas Weber BBQs available; we used them on two occasions when we didn't feel like going out to restaurant. Laundry facilities were modern and functioning properly. Three times a week, there is a "manager's reception" on the mezzanine, where they offer wine, local beer, cheese and crackers at no cost. We found the wines to be actually quite decent. Bikes are also available for free (see the bell boy). Buses pass at the front door should you wish to go to places like the Diamond Head or Hanauma Bay (where parking is tricky). Staff were friendly and helpful at all times.
All in all, I'm not sure what else someone could ask for. Having said this, I am knocking off one star in my overall rating because of the so-called "amenity fees" of $25 charged on daily basis. This is basically a surcharge for such things as pool towels and beach chairs which should be part of the basic accommodation charges. Nothing we saw justified that surcharge. Most Waikiki hotels charge it but that doesn't make it acceptable. It really comes across as a scam, a gimmick, a money-grab. Puts a damper on an otherwise very fine establishment.
I'm staying right now at one of the units in this hotel.
I have come to Hawaii about 10 times and stayed for over 80 days in total (over 2 months in total).
Front desk staffs are friendly and kind, but not perfect.
[Roach story]
I saw several roaches in this 2 nights.
I have experienced to struggle with many roaches in a condo before, where I ordered to change room. So I am not surprised to see roaches in hotel rooms equipped with kitchen or kitchenette. This time, I bought yesterday a roach killers (not a pesticide) at a Long's Drugs to make our stay better, and set them around kitchen and bathroom because I don't like to see them. I hope they will work soon. I killed some roaches after that.
Next to my room is a trash chute and so noisy until 10 at night, but it is closed since yesterday for an emergency repair, which makes us inconvenient but calm.
I think the trash chute is one of the cause of roaches.
Anyway, I come to be afraid to continue staying here because I don't want to take roaches back to my home packed in our baggages. How awful!
[TV story]
They have cableTV tuners in guest rooms, but it is so difficult and takes time to understand how to use.
Moreover, I could not watch TV's because of a signal loss until the second morning. I reported it to the front desk and they sent a room keeper.
The guy said that not just our room but many are the same. They don't seem to have solution to this problem, so we still cannot watch TV. OMG!
I'm afraid I can't watch TV until we check out. Too silent!
I'd like to request a room change if it won't get better tomorrow.
They should refund part of the amenity fee because we can't use them. We pay twenty-five dollars for the amenity.
[Kitchen]
Small fridge cannot stock many foods, so we can't protect our foods away from roaches.
I don't want to place foods on the kitchen board.
The sink is located in washroom which we should use for both kitchen and washroom, which makes us inconvenient to cook.
[Air Conditioning story]
AC is fantastically! noisy as someone reported before.
Water produced in AC is collected in a bucket placed at Lanai (balcony) and become full in a several days... so far, so good. Once it becomes full, the room keeper (I hope it is not guests) turns over the bucket at Lanai, and heavy rain fall down to the lower stories. Sudden heavy rain in a really sunny day! I can't understand what happened and looked over the sky, and found blue clear sky with no clouds.
I remember the same story in another condo several years ago, It was, in fact, a condo of Aqua!
It's better not to collect waters from AC's.
[Overalls]
Condos and Kitchenettes are convenient for long stayers, but many of them are old.
You need to manage which hotels or condos to choose and what and how to cook ... like ... using hotel rooms with microwave ... etc. Maybe hotels WITHOUT kitchen have fewer bugs.
My booking will last for another six nights, and I don't expect to fully enjoy hour time in this hotel.
I will update info later.
See ya later.
Very Affordable unit
misspig52
(Port Macquarie, Australia)
Stayed for 6 nights Nice clean facilities Two giant beds and a nice big shower The balcony overlooked the pool and we had sea breezes of a night~Staff were fabulous and helped with all our needs GAve us tips on where to eat as well
Not as expected
Natalimac
(Pisa, Italy)
Hotel is dated. More like efficiency dorm rooms. No ac except in bedroom; open windows was like a wind tunnel. Excellent view & convenient to downtown shopping and beaches. Parking expensive and small
I WOULD NOT RECCOMEND ISLAND COLONY STUDIOS
Masami012
I stay in unit 4218 and it was the worst stay I have encounter.
1) I was instructed to check in at the front desk and collect my keys to get through the doors and I get to the front desk the lady at the front desk said we had to contact the owner of the unit because I wasn't on the list. whatever list she was talking about.
2) I then was instructed to go to the security desk to check in. Getting already frustrated from a long flight and then to this. Security gaurd was very rude I believe his name is Todd.He was very RUDE!! how can you have someone like that work there? anyways he rudely almost like shouting at me to go back to the front desk to check in. I told him that I was told to come to see secruity he said "NO GO TO THE FRONT DESK TO CHECK IN NOT HERE WE DON"T DO CHEK INS HERE" now i'm pissed
3) I went back to the front desk and told the lady there in a very mad voice that someone better know something about my reesrvations because i'm getting sent here and there and no one wants to check me in , I paid for my stay and this is BS!! the lady at the font desk Teri was nice enought to ask me for my confirmation and help me check in. she called the numbe that was on my confirmation and she got someone to come downstairs and help me check in. Sy or Si came down and checked in me. Finally i'm checking in.
4) I get to my room and it's a nice room, nice view. Loving the the view that i'm getting.
5) middle of the night my AC stop working and my kids and I are buring in the room, I open the sliding door to let some air in the room but it doesn't seem to work. I call the agent about 10 times and leaves voicemails on every phone call that I made. it got to the point where I had my kids sleep on the chairs on the patio as I keep calling this people about the AC. The next morning still no one calls me back about my messages. I called and a guy name Zack answered and i'm already angry from the night before and I tell him about the ac and that we had to move the couch outside and in his defense he says that he doesn't work 24/7 so that's why he doesn't answers. I angrly tell him that when you have a business your phone should be on 24/7 regaurdless if your off or not. My kids had to sleep outside on the patio sitting up on the chairs because I couldn't get any help from them and he tells me "well ma'am what do you want me to do? by another ac unit because your unit's ac is broken? how do we know if you didn't break it and trying to pin this on us?" I was really surpised with what he told me I told him to refund me the rest of my 10 nights here i'm going to another hotel I don't tolereate this BS especially from someone that's getting paid a paycheck becaue of us. He tells me that he only can refund me for 8 nights because I used up 2 nights already. I demanded my refund and asked him to speak to manager because he needs to be fired to written up. He transfer's my call to a woman name chelsey and she's even worst then Zack. I packed up my things and went to their office on the 6th floor and demand my refund for 10 nights. I waited for them for about 1 and half in their office. Finally get my refund, my kids and I tells them that they are the worst and will not refere anyone to them, they just shrug their shoulders and laugh. VERY VERY VERY RUDE PEOPLE!!! I didn't stay in the room for more than a day and we get treated like this, thankfully we checked in to the Hilton hotel where there is more friendly and professional staff.
I WOULD NOT RECCOMMEND ISLAND COLONY STUDIOS WITH ZACK AND CHELESY...VERY RUDE PEOPLE...
Welcome to the house of inconvenience!
Africa075
(Dakar, Senegal)
Travelled for +20 hours. Staff not helpful with early check-in options. I'm in business attire (not like the other shirtless beach bums walking around), and closed my eyes in the chair in the lobby. Got woke up and asked to leave the lobby if I couldn't stay awake while waiting for my room. Looking for some other place to spend my money where I won't inconvenience the staff! Not impressed at all with this place ($25 per day parking also).
Awesome location lovely staff but hidden charges the anemities cost you 17.00 a day extra on your bill. Not sure why everything can’t just b straight forward
That charge was for newspaper which I never saw and shuttle service which I never used and internet we are in the middle of a medical emergency and really don’t need the surprises added to an already expensive scary time
Just the right location
travelocityknome
(melbourne)
The Ewa Hotel was just what I wanted. It's a budget conscious hotel near the beach, waikiki strip, the local bus and an awesome food truck (Mami's Empanadas). It is a good hotel (decor is of the 80's) with friendly staff. It's maybe not as fancy as those on the strip, however it is clean, friendly and recommended for its price point. The rooms have enough space for you to spread out, bathroom is good and beds are comfy and on site laundry at an affordable price. We opted for a kitchenette to save $$ on meals and opted to do breakfast ourselves most days using the facilities and getting supplies from ABC Store or Food Pantry. Good location at the Honolulu Zoo end of the strip.
Good value hotel.
MrThrill
(Adelaide)
Considering it's in Waikiki and only 5 minutes from the beach, this is a good choice for the budget conscious traveller. Yes, it's a bit dated but our room was huge and the beds comfy. The 3pm check-in time is a bit late, if like us, you had a long overnight flight.
Not the best...But a comfy bed
Jacqueline D
Run down budget hotel. Would be amazing if they put some repairs into it, and cleaned it up.
I don't think I would stay here again. Our room was large, but unwelcoming.. We got one of the bigger suites on the roof and it had so much potential. Very quiet.. Almost too quiet...
Nice hotel
Nicole1958
(Ottawa, Canada)
Great location. Clean and quiet. One of the cheaper hotels in the area. A few minutes walk to the beach. Microwave and fridge in room. Coffee machine in room. No breakfast included. Slow and small elevator. Receptionist very friendly and answered all my questions about Diamond Head.
Rooms and bathrooms are quite large although very old and outdated, no ceiling lights which I found odd. Staff were friendly. Breakfast is only served till 9am so I didn’t experience that. Pool is very small. They offer a free area shuttle which comes past every 20-30mins or so. In a good location although I’ve stayed at better hotels closer to the main shops for the same price. Probably would not stay again.
Friendly staff and great location
Rosa11
(Melbourne, Australia)
Our family stay at this hotel was very enjoyable - especially the friendly and helpful staff (especially Nicole who is at reception - she was always happy to help with any queries).
Also, the customer service from the rest of the staff who clean the rooms and do the daily breakfast was EXCELLENT.. I would definitely go back there as it was also in a central location regarding access to shops and only a short walk to the beach. Additionally, the free shuttle service to the Ala Moana shopping mall was very convenient. Thanks again to Nicole and all the staff for making our trip FABULOUS.....
Room for improvement
magpie2111
(Sydney, Australia)
Stayed 2 nights here at the end of our stay in Hawaii.
This hotel has some good points - it is well located, some of the staff are excellent and the room was spacious.
Our negative was that we arrived to find a blocked toilet. We reported this in the evening and were informed that there was no maintenance available until 8am the next day. The hotel seemed initially very casual in their response - rather than finding us another room they gave us access to the public toilet on the ground floor (5 floors down) and seemed to think this would suffice! We reminded them that we had paid for an en suite and so we should expect this. On checkout however, the management waived our resort fee as a gesture for the inconvenience.
Breakfast was provided - very basic and lots of room for improvement but better than nothing (only available until 9am though!)
Concierge not particularly knowledgeable on the attractions in Waikiki.
Positives to the hotel are location and the nice outside courtyard area with good WiFi access. Apart from the approach to the maintenance issue , the staff were friendly and attentive.
Amazing staff, location and room!
madielise
A friend and I stayed here and the room size was massive compared to what you normally get. The location was perfect and the breakfast whilst not extensive was delicious and you don't really need much more - fresh fruit and bakery items, perfect!
The staff at Aqua Oasis are so wonderful, friendly and helpful. They always have a smile on their faces and are happy to help out with anything!
Would 1000% stay here again :) Thanks so much Aqua Oasis!
AMAZING Staff, Service & Hotel!!!
jessicamcewan
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
We stayed here with our 3 young kids for 2 weeks before an international military PCS & from the moment we arrived the wonderful staff looked after us in every way possible!!! We had a tight schedule with all the last minute move stuff & had 2 vehicles to valet at one point. Mike, Mark & Steven made everything smooth & seamless with respect to our huge number of bags, taxis, rentals, timings etc & did so with a grin & a kind word- all the while keeping everything & everyone else on time too. The rooms were beautifully presented & well taken care of each day & the kiddos loved the couple of opportunities they got to enjoy the pool. We would absolutely stay here again in a second & fully recommend it to anyone for business, vacation or prior to a move from Hawaii. Thank you Niki, Mike, Mark, Steven & Analyn for everything you did & do!!! We’ll be back!!! The Dunn’s.
Watch big wave surfing on North Shore Oahu at some of Hawaii’s most famous beaches, Waimea Bay and Ehukai (Banzai Pipeline); then grab a tasty cone of chocolate Haupia (coconut) shave ice at Matsumoto’s.
Hike the easy, scenic Lanikai Pillboxes trail in Kailua. The path leads to Lanikai beach, the perfect place to trade your hiking boots for a bathing suit and cool down.
Everyone loves paradise, and that can cause a bit of traffic congestion. Try to avoid the freeway between the hours of 3 - 5 p.m.
We can’t overstate how important it is to pay attention to the signs on the beach about changing weather conditions and strong currents.
Yes, shark sightings do exist. But more than feared, sharks are of important significance in Hawaiian culture, as they are believed to be guardians and family protectors known as aumakua.
Must Do
Culinary
Bite into a sweet, doughy, crispy malasadas and savor succulent pork that has been slowroasted for over 8 hours above an Imu fire pit. Ono! (Delicious!) Hawaii is a great journey for your palette as well as your soul.
Water-Sports
Learn to surf where the locals do at Hans Hedemann’s surf school in Honolulu, then hit up the calm waves at Laniakea and world class surf at Ehukai beach. If stand-up paddleboarding is more your speed, go to the local favorite, Kailua beach. Want to experience something new? Snuba, a supercool hybrid of scuba and snorkeling, allows you to experience the thrill of scuba diving without any lengthy lessons or certification.
Hiking
Trek to the top of Diamond Head trail to see a panoramic view of the city and ocean. If you are seeking a more challenging trail, hike Kaena Point to view tiny pools of crustaceans and other small fishes.
Hawaiian History and Culture
See Iolani Palace. The last residence of Hawaiian monarchs King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani, until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. The palace was reopened as a museum in 1978 and features important Hawaiian cultural and historical artifacts.
“Oahu is a mix of urban life and a tropical paradise. We’ll check out a food festival in town then hit the surf for a sunset session all in the same day”
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