Chale14197 (Menifee) 05/07/2019

We stayed here through VRBO and the Ali'i beach rentals. The property is a bit dated, but pretty nice overall. The staff, however, is what I'd call apathetic and unfriendly. They are often also unavailable. They have a hotel where they have regular guests, Airbnb, and VRBO all staying under one roof. They freely admit they treat their guests differently than the VRBO or Airbnb. Understand you only need staff for onsite issues like parking and use of facilities. Seems easy right? These guys sold our parking space while we were still parked in it! They couldn't tell my wife where the swap meet is? You live here, right? They refused us pool towels causing a trip all the way back to the 16th floor? Like we wouldn't bring them back. Worse than all of that, they are flat out rude. Their apathy is obvious and they are unapologetic about it saying we are here staying with their competitors? Just wow. If they had treated us equal they may have gotten good reviews. Heck, I may have considered them as an option next time I come here, but after this experience I never would. Ali'I beach rentals are thoughtful and listen to their guests. I'd use them again just never to stay here!

LTibbs3 (Auburn, Washington) 05/06/2019

We stayed at the Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki on our recent vacation in Honolulu. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. During our first night our air conditioner put out a horrible moldy smell all night. We complained and were moved to another room. All the rooms are very cramped and old looking. The breakfast buffet provided isn’t very good. The person running the buffet each morning is grouchy with guests and rude. My wife complained to the hotel of the way she was treated by this person. She was told that it was t run “officially” by the hotel, but was contracted. No excuse! I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.

159charlottem (Reading, United Kingdom) 05/05/2019

The hotel was clean with free breakfast buffet every day. Good laundry facilities and we loved the hire towel system. Spa on site but pricey, mind you, so is everywhere in Waikiki. This hotel was in a fantastic location- which did mean we could hear a lot of traffic from our room. There was a car park in the basement (very tight considering everyone has enormous trucks here) which is expensive at $30 a day. Remember they chuck a resort fee at you too- $25 a day to include everything you could ever want... NOT (free water in lobby, a newspaper, tea and coffee in room- ours didn’t have any) The staff weren’t quite up to scratch. Seeing as I work in hospitality, I do always expect a nice welcome- ours was far from it. I detest when they take your credit card as a ‘bond’ and automatically charge it when you check out, despite making it clear that I actually wanted to use another card. This caused big and unnecessary issues for us!! They also don’t explain anything about resort fees or parking when you arrive. I did hear a colleague say to the woman who checked us in ‘Don’t be so down about it, you can always try again’ so she was clearly having a bad day- which turned into a bad week for the whole time we were there. I did feel bad for her, however ...her bad attitude shouldn’t have been put onto me & her customer service.

lindap51270 (Canyon Lake, California) 04/23/2019

My 18 year old son and I stayed here for five nights. The hotel staff were so courteous and helpful. Our room had two twin beds that were really comfortable. This hotel is not fancy so if your looking for luxury don’t stay here. But if you’re looking for great value in an excellent location that has absolutely EVERYTHING you need to be comfortable then I highly recommend this place. The room had absolutely everything we could need. The cleaning staff kept it clean and stocked with plenty of towels and toiletries. We had a refrigerator an iron with full sized ironing board a microwave a coffee maker and a big flat screen tv and a safe. Even though we were in Hawaii and come on let’s face it with so much to see and do we weren’t in the room that much but when we were we had everything we needed. We did have the free breakfast option as well. Again not fancy but you could get full on the delicious fluffy pancakes scrambled eggs and toast every day. They also had cakes coffee water and juice daily. There was also an assortment of Chinese options which my son really liked. The location was great too. So close to shopping Main Street to the beach and the bus stop. You do not need more than this for the price we paid it was a fantastic value! Thank you Aqua Aloha Surf! We will be back!!!!!

Lisaag58 (Redcliffe, Australia) 04/13/2019

I stayed here for a shopping holiday with my daughter and we loved the convenience of being centrally located close to the main tourist areas the beach, restaurants and shopping. The hotel is very Hawaii with suf decor. The staff were very friendly and helpful and as two ladies travelling we always felt safe. The amenities at this hotel are not what I call resort like, as the pool area is small and restaurant is limited but it is a very comfortable, clean and practical hotel. I usually go at least four or five star but would happily return as my holiday base for Waikiki.

holidaybound1212 (Nanaimo BC) 04/11/2019

How is it that we feel so at home at Aqua Bamboo? I think the start of a welcome from staff like Kawana, and Aja, sets the pace for a wonderful stay. We had a peek-a-boo view of the ocean, overlooked the pool / hot tub area - and then enjoyed those hotel amenities (whenever we weren't taking the short walk to Waikiki beach). We'd heard that there were renovations happening, but aside from some work being done to pillars out near the pool ... no sign of workers and equipment, no noise at odd hours ... just a perfect, wonderful, memorable stay!

mforkner (Pataskala, Ohio) 04/10/2019

We stayed twice on recent visit pre and post cruise on Pride of America (see separate review). Total stay was for five nights and cost was well under $800. $154 a night (including all fees and taxes) in heart of Waikiki, a short walk to the beach, right on The Bus (see separate review) line . Very friendly, helpful staff - good sized, clean room (showing some age, but remember where you are). Not sure a better deal can be found. I relied on Oahu Revealed and TripAdvisor reviews and we were well pleased with our choice. If you want to take advantage of the free DVD's, brush up on your PlayStation skills (I have none and was frustrated). If you want a luxurious resort. look elsewhere. If you want a friendly, convenient, excellent value this is a great choice. The pool area looked inviting, even though I did not use it. Free coffee and papers in lobby, great cost. Not perfect, but a great value.

Richard L (Auckland) 03/11/2019

We returned to the peaceful and serene Aqua Bamboo Waikiki February/March 2019 for a 7 night stay. Having stayed at some of the Waikiki Beach front Hotels in previous years (e.g. Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Outrigger Waikiki, etc), and valuing safety and security 24 x 7, we feel that Aqua Bamboo Waikiki is probably the safest Hotel in Waikiki. There is card only access into the Hotel after say 10.00 pm at night and before say 7.00 am in the morning with a late evening and early morning security guard outside the front doors of the Hotel. We always pay for the previous night's accomodation so that we can check in as soon as our flight lands (early in the morning) and not have to wait until the 2.00 pm normal check-in time. Additionally, if you want more time in your room if you have a night flight from Honolulu, you would be wise to pay for that night because check-out time is 12.00 pm midday. This latter option gives you more hours to rest, bath, pack, have a drink, go out, etc before you leave the room. The comments which we have made in previous reviews remain and, as far as we are concerned, the only Hotel to stay at when you are in Waikiki from a security, safety, serenity, close proximity to Waikiki beach, very helpful and respectful staff, etc is the Aqua Bamboo Waikiki. Happy holidays and we hope that this review is helpful. Mahalo from Janet and Richard

sar_bar_de_mar (Vancouver, Canada) 02/28/2019

I would highly recommend Aqua Bamboo Waikiki - the staff were friendly, our room was nice and had everything we needed. It was centrally locates and I liked the decor. They have a free Americano making machine in the lobby and ice cold water. The pool and hot tub were nice. What more could you ask for? My only advice would be to be a tiny bit more diligent in regards to cleaning hair out of the bathroom.

natcook (Ocean Grove, Australia) 02/25/2019

Back for our 5th visit to the Aqua Bamboo, great to see all the lovely friendly staff still there and Kimari for organising our booking. Our room was spacious and clean housekeeping do a great job. Love the pool area and the bamboozle cocktail night. Utilised the free shuttle to the shopping centre a few times and I love how it is so close to the beach and great places to eat. Looking forward to seeing the renovations on our next trip. Mahalo for making our trip wonderful.

Nicole N (San Francisco, California) 05/20/2019

I stayed here twice on the same trip: one in a jr suite (a surprise upgrade) and second in a regular king bed room. The rooms were both pretty clean and generally basic. The jr suite actually had more issues than the regular room such as: the thicker curtains do not close all the way to the edge, and one of the edges is closest to the head of the bed. I am not sure why this is, but it's irksome if you want privacy or want to sleep in longer when jet-lagged. However, the regular room had normal functioning curtains. Additionally in the suite, there was fluctuation in the water pressure of the shower. It was short lived but surprising (and again, the regular room was fine). Also while not a big deal to me, there was confusing channel navigation and unreliability when using the TV (I did not try the TV in the regular room). The AC in both rooms was right above the head of the bed, and even at the lowest setting and at the highest angle, it still felt too strong at times (and this is coming from a person who loves AC.) Bed linens were a slightly scratchy and a little too thin for when the AC is too strong. AC control was a little confusing for what some of the settings meant and some instruction for what those meant (like does the water drop symbol mean? Does it mean it's humidifier? or a dehumidifier? Is it different from the "cool" setting?) would have been nice. Finally there was a lot of street noise in the Jr. suite. I'm not sure why but if there's a rowdy crowd outside or from the karaoke bar, you will hear it, even from the 7th floor. Check-in was OK but having emailed Aqua corporate about the parking rates, I was quoted $35/day but the check-in form said $39/day. It was fine since on the first stay, I wasn't using a rental car, and reception said that they would make a note of it for my second stay. However, they did not and I was disappointed to bring it up again upon checking-in for the second stay. After much conversation and showing proof of the email, they did honor the quoted price and that was much appreciated even if only to save a few bucks. It should also be noted that due to Hawaii policy, you can be taxed on parking so those few dollars saved will pretty much cover the tax. Additionally when checking in, you will have to pay a $25 amenities fee (plus tax) per day for amenities (with the exception of Wifi) that you probably won't use (like getting the newspaper?). I wish this was just included in the reservation price so it doesn't feel like you're getting nickel and dimed. Despite all the quirks and irks, the location was pretty good and it felt safe regardless of locals telling me that Waikiki is kind of sketchy at night. The breakfast didn't appeal to me but it is in close walking distance to a popular udon place whose shortest line is in the morning. By far my favorite things about staying in this hotel were the generous welcome basket of goodies (chocolates, cookies, water, chips!), the washlet toilet and the rice cooker (nice touch even though i didn't cook anything) in the jr. suite, the closable curtains in the regular room, and the coin laundry (super handy when you get unexpectedly muddy while hiking). I'm not sure I'd stay here again but if I did, I'd consider the requesting a quiet regular room over the junior suite.

Mary M (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) 05/17/2019

This hotel was half a block to the main shopping strip. The room was spacious and had all conveniences except a kettle. My sister and I had king single beds and they were very comfortable. The staff were very friendly and couldn’t be more helpful.

christinaisakson (Indianapolis, Indiana) 05/15/2019

not nearly as great as other Aqua properties we've stayed with previously. The room appeared to have some cosmetic updates but the carpet was filthy. The bathroom with the strange step in garden tub/shower was in desperate need of some updating. There was a good sized gap around the hotel room door which made for increased noise and light (especially because we were right by the elevator). The front desk staff seemed annoyed by any questions or inquires and when we approached the front desk person we never once heard "how can I help you?" or "what can I help you with?". Getting anything more than a "hi" was like pulling teeth. The "pool" is roughly the size of a hot tub and I don't think I saw anyone in it the entire time we were there. The hanging egg chairs were nice as were the gardens all around the lobby. We had two of the most amazingly helpful valets and enjoyed the coffee and fruit in the morning. Overall, I probably wouldn't stay there again.

Sandra O 05/14/2019

We really enjoyed our stay here although we only had one night on arrival. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed with the Aloha spirit. We had an early international flight arrival and got to the hotel before 7am. The staff were so lovely, a room was available and we were able to check in immediately which was a real bonus for us as we were very tired. We were also offered breakfast, again another bonus which we were not expecting. The room was quite large compared to other hotels in Waikiki and had a fridge, a coffee maker and microwave. It was very clean and the bed was very comfortable. There was a good size balcony and a large bathroom. It was a very quiet room and we had a great sleep. The breakfast was very nice and included juices, cereals, fresh fruit, toast, bagels and donuts, all in ample supply with freshly brewed Kona coffee. The iced water always available in the lobby was also a nice touch as very refreshing when coming back in on a hot day. We have stayed in Waikiki many times and found this hotel great value compared with any other hotel we have stayed in here. We would definitely highly recommend this hotel and are happy that we are returning to stay here again on our last night of our vacation before flying home.

978kerriel (Fern Bay, Australia) 05/14/2019

We just spent 18 days at Aqua Oasis in Waikiki. We stayed in a 1 bedroom suite (ADA as hubby uses a wheelchair). The apartment was spacious if dated & well provisioned. Brekky was good; cereal, fruit, toast/bagels etc. All the staff were helpful & friendly so the drawback? It’s noisy...it’s very noisy. After the first night I got earplugs (I didn’t think I was a light sleeper). The noise from the karaoke bar 2 doors down, rowdy people in the alley & then garbage trucks at 6am added up to interrupted sleep most nights. It’s a shame because without the noise we would have happily recommend staying here but if you are ok about the noise & you sleep really heavy then I guess you will be fine.

jkkauai (Lihue, Hawaii) 05/20/2019

The hotel is centrally located in Waikiki within easy walking distance of the beach, shopping, and restaurants. The staff were all really friendly and made us feel welcome. The hotel may not be the fanciest in Waikiki, but we felt it was very good value for money. The room was clean and comfortable. . We didn't go to Waikiki to sit around in the room, so why spend significantly more elsewhere when this hotel met our needs very nicely. The small kitchenette was also a nice touch. You could make a snack in the room if you didn't feel like running out to grab something to eat. We definitely will stay here again next time we are in Waikiki.

Stay45634319605 (Vancouver, Canada) 05/18/2019

Most likely to comeback. Location wise 4-5 min walk to Waikiki beach. Housekeeping was efficient and very friendly. Had problem checking in, I reserved 3 beds room for us but when we arrived they had a prob of looking for one. So we had to wait 10-15 minutes. Shuttle service a plus too. Very nice drivers always on time. Shower room quite tight not good for people with Claustrophobia.

Explore41994385189 (Newcastle, Australia) 05/17/2019

We requested a kitchenette room hoping we’d have some basic facilities to reheat some meals, but we found that what was provided didn’t suit what we had hoped to do. The lighting was poor in our room as well. Bed was clean and comfortable though. The concierge desk is brilliant, hands down had the best luau recommendation. Great local advice offered.

Julie L (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii) 05/15/2019

A value hotel in a great location. You'll get friendly service, decent rooms with kitchenette, and a location near everything. No need a car, walk, take a shuttle, there's shopping, restaurants, beaches, the zoo, and night life all around..

Go25780781232 (Tacoma, Washington) 05/15/2019

ladies at the front desk where great. perfect location, public transportation right outside the front door. walking distance to shopping. pool area small, rooms could use alittle up grade. i would stay here again

camperbear (South San Francisco, California) 04/22/2019

This hotel needs a lot of upgrades it’s old and dated, the carpets need to be replaced and a good paint job. There is no hotel owned parking you pay extra and it’s next door The pool is small but adequate but there should be some umbrellas for shade. There is only one very small ac unit in the rooms it’s not enough and our room never got below 80 degrees even with the ac running 100% all the time. Who builds a hotel in Hawaii with out central air conditioning???? On the plus side the location is very good and the staff is great very helpful and informative. The rooms are small but efficient and for three of us it was ok The view of the ocean was very good ask for an upper room on ocean side Over all we recommend but hopefully you enjoy hot rooms

sapphiregirlkaren (Johnstone, United Kingdom) 04/16/2019

This hotel is in need of much modernisation throughout. The rooms are old fashioned, dated and tired even by taking into account the traditional Hawaiian theme that many of the hotels in Waikiki seem to aspire to. That being said, my husband and I thoroughly loved our stay here. The room was well equipped with kitchen area and balcony which was great as we could sit on the couch with the patio doors wide open enjoying the tropical breeze and the heat. The pool area was very small but great for sunbathing. The hotel staff were mainly friendly and attentive to our requirements. There are self laundry facilities on site which is handy however the parking garage isn’t owned by the hotel and is expensive and not secure if you chose to have a car while there. The location of the hotel is excellent as it is within about 2 minutes walking distance to the beach and the main shopping street of Kalākaua Avenue. If you’re looking for plush this isn’t the hotel for you but if you’re looking for a reasonable priced clean base to stay then I’d recommend.

chathamgirl (Hawkesbury, Canada) 04/13/2019

The Pacific Monarch is in a busy and safe area of Waikiki. It is close to Waikiki Beach, International Market Place, Pharmacies,Food stores,and restaurants. It is on the regular bus route which can take you just about anywhere on the Island of Oahu. The pool on the top of the hotel is quite large with a great view. There are studios where you can prepare some of your own meals if you are watching your pocketbook.I think the hotel is a little tired but clean and great employees who make your day. There was nowhere for me to put the date of Nov 2017 when I stayed there so had to click on Nov 2018.I definitely would stay there again.

Christel B (Velbert, Germany) 04/13/2019

We stayed fro 8 nights in an appartment with ocean view on the 31st fooor. It had a living room with a sofa bed, a fully equipped kitchen, a separate bedroom, a bathroom and a very spacious balcony. The bed was very comfortable, and also the sofabed was good according to our kids (ages 21 and 24). There was a rather old table with four comfortable chairs on the balcony, so enjoyed our breakfast there, which we brought from a nearby supermarket. The view from our balcony was breathtaking: e.g., the sunset, the fading ligh (blue hour), the lights of the hotels at Waikiki Beach, Waikiki at night, the sunrise over the mountains, a rainbow. The noise from traffic etc. was much less than we had expected, so we could leave the doors to the balcony open. We did noit use the air condition. On top level there is a pool with lounge chairs and a great view. We only used the pool once in the evening, as we preferred the beaches. The beach was close by, as well as many restaurants, bars, shopping centers, shpos and supermarkets. A shuttle to the Ala Moana Shopping Center is for free and parts right across the street. Hula shows are for free at the beach and at the International Shopping Center nearby. Many public busses, which take you to almost every place on Oahu, depart just across the street form the hotel.

9rob61 (Brisbane, Australia) 03/31/2019

The reception and cleaning staff were wonderful. The room dated but immaculate. The cleaners do a absolutely brilliant job. There are food trucks a short 5 mins walk away and the meals we got there were delicious. Only 1 lift was working for 3 days then the second lift was fixed and made things a heck of a lot better, but still had to wait in boiling hot corridors for lifts to come. Very old aircon in lounge and only a fan in the bedroom. Need to have another fan for the lounge, if they can't afford to put in decent airconditioning.

JMcIver77 (Kailua, Hawaii) 05/19/2019

Just an average stay. -Know going into this experience that there is no valet parking, and the structure itself is not for the faint of heart. -Staff was pleasant enough, checked in without hassles. Free WiFi, DVD rentals, etc included, nothing too spectacular or noteworthy. -We did not use the pool, but the area looked clean and the pool was pleasant to look at. -Rooms are small, even by Waikiki standards. The best feature of the room was the floor stand fan that allowed us to sleep with the AC off and still feel comfortable. (We live on Oahu without AC, so we freeze when staying in hotels where it is "always on." -The bathroom was clean but tiny. The shower was poorly lit. -One of the most disappointing aspects was the shower floor... it was incredibly slick, to the point of feeling unsafe on your feet. Overall, we rated this hotel as Average. If there was a 2.5 star rating this would be it. The property was dated but clean, nothing special or "wow-worthy." Would not stay again as there are other properties in this price range that we prefer in other areas of Waikiki.

sabrinateays (Portland, Oregon) 05/08/2019

This place is past “out dated” or fallen on hard times. Honolulu is filled with hotel rooms, and this hotel should not be considered. The hotel is located on an incredibly loud street and the property is dirty, and uncomfortable. Staff persistently knocked on my door today to examine the bath tub, which I did not request and refused to provide a badge or ID. Lobby is not secure and elevators to rooms are fully accessible from a parking garage by-passing he front desk. Mold, stained carpet, torn mattress, worn pillows sheets, stained furniture and curtains are just the short list of issues.

Chris W 05/07/2019

It was a nice place very convenient lots of shuttles to take you to the beach! Very expensive to eat at surrounded restaurants, the hotel had a great breakfast deal. Loved that. Apparently they have an issue with ants. But they sprayed right away!

Orchid Z (Vancouver, Canada) 05/05/2019

We stayed here two nights before our cruise and found the hotel to be very convenient to restaurants, transportation and the beach. Our room was clean and comfortable. On Wednesday evenings, 5:00, there is an "appie" party in the lobby for an hour with drinks and music which was lovely.

adeandwend (Leeds, United Kingdom) 05/03/2019

Stayed here for 3 nights after travelling round the islands and before flying back to the UK. This hotel is fine for one night in transit but if you want anything more then look elsewhere. The noise from the road is incredible, the air conditioning was so noisy we had to switch it off and the extractor fan so noisy that we rarely switched on the bathroom light!! Pool area is OK but it is also roadside so is from relaxing. Otherwise, room was clean if a little dated and in need of renovation.

Mandy B 05/14/2019

We booked this hotel for a family vacation - two separate rooms, as my parents were also traveling with us. The price was right and the pictures on the website looked nice. We were wrong - when we arrived I thought we were at the wrong hotel. The hotel hallways were dated and the rooms were even worse. They were filthy, the curtains had holes in them and mould was growing along the edge of the tub. We could have moved hotels but we would had to pay an arm and a leg as we booked though a 3rd party - so we tried to not be in our rooms as much as possible. The only good thing about this hotel was the pool, fast elevators and friendly staff. My parents room had cockroaches and we overheard another couple complain about what likely was bedbugs. We will never stay at this location again.

SusieGG7 (Hermosa Beach, California) 05/02/2019

Found this hotel/residence tower thru my timeshare travel agency who gave it good reviews . Great price For an efficiency room with a small kitchenette and great views from the lanai. The facility had a weight room, laundry facility, hot tub and pool with grilling facility and a small convenience store. It was off the beaten path and very quiet. We will stay there again as it’s easy walking distance from the main strip. The hotel in cleaning staff were extremely nice and accommodating.

dm_everitt (Malaga, Spain) 04/19/2019

My husband and I stayed here from 16/4 - 19/4 prior to catching our Carnival Cruise. Our room number was 3110 on the 31sr floor. Amazing views from the balcony. You can see the mountains to the left of you and the sea to the right. When booking ask for a room as high up as you can get. We arrived late after a delay at Los Angeles airport. The check in was very smooth and easy, the guy on reception was very friendly and helpful, even though it was 1 am. First impressions was, the room was a little tired from wear and tear, so could do with a little refurb. However it was very clean, we had everything we needed and the beds were very comfortable. The towels were really white and fluffy which is always a plus. Main lounge was very comfortable. The hotel is in a excellent location, 5 mins walk to Waikiki Beach, has ample shops, cheap and high end stores. Plenty of ABC stores where your can get all your souvenirs and practically anything you need. We visited the Cheesecake Factory which is a few mins walk from Waikiki beach. The meals were amazing, huge portions so we actually didn’t have enough room to have a cheesecake as a desert.😂😂 I would definitely recommend this hotel. It is a fair 3 stars rating which is reflected in the price. We hope to return some day.

899aussie (Adelaide, Australia) 04/18/2019

We loved staying is our studio apartment. It was clean, kitchen had everything we needed and well priced. The onsite management is very good and the place is secure. The pool area was spacious, the BBQs looked after and the gym and laundry were a good size. So close to everything you could possibly need.

LarryE335 04/09/2019

We were on the 46th floor and had an amazing view of the city. The hotel is older, but well kept. Our room was clean and spacious and had a coffee maker, stove-top, microwave oven and refrigerator for our convenience. Hotel amenities included a hot tub, swimming pool on the 6th floor, open to the outdoors and a great place to lay out ant get some sun. Parking was a tad expensive as the hotel does not have private parking, you are forced to find parking elsewhere. The closest garage is right next to the hotel and is $25 per day for hotel guests, who are getting a $5 discount from the regular price of $30. All in all, we had a good time visiting Honolulu and the Aqua Skyline was fairly priced.

Lisa L (Middle River, Maryland) 05/07/2019

Last time we were here we stayed at another Aston property a little ways down from here. We really enjoyed this one much more it had so much more to it. The accomodations were like a home. The folks that were living there or this was there second home couldn't have been any nicer same with the staff. Also like that there was a shopping center with a grocery store and eateries across the street. Walking distance to many places to eat and a short drive to Lahania. Love Love Love the cats and their care.

Wozy82 (Weyburn, Canada) 05/05/2019

First impressions are everything... And Papakea delivers in spades. It starts with immaculately kept grounds and amazing views. The grounds are beautiful, from the well manicured trees and shrubs to the sprawling 12 hole putting green. There is a large lively Koi pond with various water features that is well maintained. There is a decent sized pool/hot tub/Bbq area that is very neat and well laid out. Unfortunately this is the area that ranks the lowest. The BBQ’s while immaculately kept, heated very poorly and despite notifying staff multiple times, the middle burners on half the BBQ’s wouldn’t light. There also weren’t enough BBQ’s to go around as we had to wait well over an hour on multiple occasions to cook our meals(part of the problem being it taking 40 mins to cook a burger). The pool was nice and well kept, but fairly small, and somewhat useless in design. Half the pool was 5-7 ft deep and the other was 3-5. The pool is too small to be of this orientation. There was no room to be in the pool most of the time as it was overflowing with children and the end too deep to be in was empty. The hot tub was fairly large and of decent design. However the entire time it felt considerably too hot. I have a hot tub at home and I like to keep it at approx 104. This felt significantly hotter and everyone we talked to agreed it was unbearable for more than a few minutes at a time. There was also a spot that must have been where the heated water returned to the tub. This should be marked as it was scalding hot. Also, the hours of the pool area weren’t great. It opened at 9 and closed at 10. There were people constantly trying to get into hot tub from 7am onwards and we would have liked to be able to get into there as well. Also, the 10pm seemed early as many days by the time we got back from our touring and waited hours to cook our meals, it was around 10 by the time we were ready to get into the hot tub. It would have been nice if it were say open till 11 and maybe adults only from 10-11, as it was a zoo with kids around the pool area. There is a nice gazebo area besides the pool that could be useful for small gatherings. There is also a large outdoor shuffleboard which was pretty cool, but only 1 which was constantly in use. There was a large area of grass full of beach chairs in front of the rock wall/ocean. The view was breathtaking and the chairs were comfortable! The villas are more case by case to review as I understand that each are individually owned, thus finished/decorated differently. Ours was a 2 bedroom that was nicely finished and decorated. All the amenities one could want(except maybe a margarita maker 😁) Unfortunately though we had a few issues with the unit we stayed in. The A/C did not work. This was a huge deal and made the nights somewhat unpleasant. The rest of the issues were minor in comparison. The water and ice from the fridge tasted strange, yet tap water was good. The dryer vented back into the condo which made the lack of A/C even worse. And the screen door was bent up and kept falling off track. Other than this the place was very nice and accommodating. I probably won’t return as I’d like to try a couple other places, but if the units a/c worked, I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Papakea to others. Maui as a whole is gorgeous!! Great vacation!!

SarahGrajeda (Washington) 04/20/2019

I always take bad reviews with a grain of salt...you never know the full situation, how particular the person is, or why they felt they had a negative experience. With that said, my husband and I have traveled a lot, both all inclusive and not. We’re apart of two different time share companies, so we understand the random variances from locations & rooms, fees, rules, and “catches” that sometimes come along with hotels/resorts/locations. I knew when booking this trip that each room was individually owned, however, I was under the impression that it would still be like a resort with amenities and services like they claim on their website. We were part of a big wedding group, with about 12+ rooms being reserved on the property. About half of the group was happy with their rooms and the other half had major issues. I can only speak for our experience, which was not positive. Check in was easy & totally fine until I was asked for a CC to be charged $300 for cleaning services (we weren’t given a heads up about this and thought we paid in full already). I’ve heard of daily resort fees before, but they’ve always been minimal, and we’ve never been charged cleaning fees on top of the cost of the rooms. This room cleaning fee ONLY covers for when you check out...NOT for any cleaning services during your stay except for trash removal. You want fresh towels, clean bedding, or anything else? You have to pay a min of $11 each time (varies on what you need and the size of your room). Good luck getting housekeeping to actually come to you though. We called housekeeping several times and they never actually came to our room. Don’t bother calling the front desk for it, they just tell you to call housekeeping. Our reservation was for an ocean front room with a king size bed. The view was AMAZING. LOVED being ocean front. We had a full bed. Not a queen. And the room hadn’t been updated from the 80’s/early 90’s. It was clean, but not CLEAN clean. TV sucked- huge delay (not that we watched tv much at all but on the rainy nights it would of been nice) AC was NOISY & rattled. Ice maker was NOISY... would wake us up throughout each night. We don’t spend much time in our room on vacation, but we do sleep there, and we both slept like crap all 7 nights. I called the front desk after seeing our room and asked for a better room. They did actually let us view another available room but it was almost exactly the same... when I asked about anything better, (because I know they had updated rooms as others in our party got upgraded just because) the front desk was slightly rude & not helpful...the girl literally just shrugged her shoulders & gave me a blank stare. Didn’t apologize at all for the mix up or inconvenience. Some of the group members got room upgrades or dining credits (without having any issues at all) for no reason at all, but we did not even after I requested a room change..... We did have friends in our group that did get a room change for an ant infestation....and I’m talking ants everywhere....in between the plates in the cupboards, all over the bathroom & kitchen counters, etc. but they were first asked if they’d like the exterminator to come. Uh, yeah, no sh*t. They had to wait a day & a half to change rooms. So our situation could of been worse lol We also tried to rent equipment early (8am) for a beach day but concierge wasn’t available for 2+ hours. Just as an FYI, “Fully equipped kitchen” doesn’t come with salt/pepper/coffee filters/etc... I packed salt & oil spray just in case & I’m glad I did. We’re apart of a time share that has fully equipped kitchens that provides these basics & assumes this condo would as well. No storage containers with lids or foil/zip locks/plastic wrap...just an FYI! They do provide dishwasher soap (for multiple loads) & laundry detergent (for 1 load), but I did bring several Tide 3 in 1 detergent pods! Also, they want you to recycle but no recycling bin in room, and you have to drive it to the ABC store recycling disposal area. Our room did not have chairs, mats, coolers, umbrellas, or anything helpful in it, but some of our friends rooms did. We did bring a collapsible cooler I got off amazon which was amazing to have! You can rent those things at different places (or concierge if you can get ahold of them) but it’s obviously cheaper if it’s already in your room! Positives? The grounds were very well kept, two nice pools & hot tubs, and two nice gazebo areas. Overall, we HATED our stay here & would not recommend it.

Kerri N (Yellowknife, Canada) 04/18/2019

The is our second stay at the Aston. Our condo the first time was amazing, clean , updated and modern, so we were really disappointed when we saw our room this time. Mold on the pictures, ripped carpet, missing mouldings and the kitchen cabinets were a mess. I am shocked that a unit in this condition could even be rented. Be very careful on which unit you rent, this was unit F202

Sabrinacook (Nashville, Tennessee) 04/17/2019

We stayed here for 10 days while in Maui. The front desk receptionists are helpful. The room was clean and stocked with usual necessities. The grounds are beautiful. The pool looks clean. There is a hot tub as well as a 12 hole putting green. Be sure to look in closet for tennis racket and balls, golf clubs and balls and coolers. We bought a cooler before we had looked in there so we left it. Our room had a partial view of the ocean and grounds. But we really didn’t stay in our room that much as there is so much to see and do in Maui. There was ample parking near our condo plus restaurants and shops within walking distance of the condo. Great place to stay.

CandiM37 05/09/2019

We loved our time at Poipu Kai. Our one-bedroom condo unit was immaculate and equipped with everything we needed and then some! A well-equipped kitchen, large bedroom with plenty of closet room and dressers, a roomy bathroom and a well furnished living room/dining room. And then there was beach towels, beach chairs, snorkel masks, beach reading and even a guidebook that helped us explore. The office staff was friendly and the grounds were always being "buffed up". The pool overlooks the beach (for those of you that don't love sand!) and never had more than 5 people there. Great location to walk to the beach, 2 great casual restaurants or over to the Grand Hyatt. I can't recommend this spot enough and we are already planning our next trip.

Peter W (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) 04/21/2019

We had a one bedroom booked for a 4 day stay. When we arrived we were told a one bedroom wasn't available and they gave us a 3 bedroom unit. (Unit 420) As it was just the two of us the larger unit wasn't a concern. The photos you see on the web site are not what you get. As this is a VRBO managed by Aston; the rooms will vary widely. The poor quality is a result of the property management not enforcing room standards that are made available for rental. There is no air-conditioning and it is far from the beach. What was a concern was the quality of the refrigerator which was rusting and bubbling paint. (See photo) The unit is not air-conditioned and was hot. The bathroom shower cleanliness wasn't very good. Overall this was condo complex built in the 80s and it really shows. The bed mattresses were the soft squeaky kind you get in a cheap sleazy motel. They let kids with diapers swim in the pool so there were feces in the pool. Disgusting. The customer service in the office was just appalling. Not to mention they charge a $150 US cleaning fee upon checkout. This vacation condo rental is not recommended at all.

joanh830 (Portland, Oregon) 04/04/2019

We had a nice stay in the Poipu Sands section unit #233. It was a top floor unit with a nice balcony, a sufficient number of fans and a portable A/C. Good amount of space for our group of five. There was a parking lot being constructed in the adjacent resort which was very noisy with lots of loud beeping trucks and machinery the week we were there. However, I assume that’s atypical and in general this lodging was a good choice for us.

LabMD13 (Seattle, Washington) 03/22/2019

This was our first stay at this property, so only have experience with one unit. We stayed for 6 days at one of the 2 bedroom vacation homes managed by Aston at Poipu Kai. The home was perfectly clean and stocked with a pretty complete kitchen which made making some local fish dinners a breeze. There was a beautiful side garden for coffee in the morning, and we didn't have any mosquito trouble. It's a brief walk to great local beaches like Shipwreck, Brenneckie's, and Poipu. The walk to Brenneckie's and Poipu is even a pedestrian greenway that avoids road traffic. It's also relatively close to one of the main roads around the island (5-10 minute drive), so it's convenient for leaving the Poipu area and exploring the western part of Kauai as well. Checking in was easy and the staff very friendly. We didn't have a lot of interaction with staff, it's a pretty independent style of place to stay.

jorgenhaa (Orebro, Sweden) 03/01/2019

First of all every apartment is different. We had 411 and that was a really nice apartment, close to one of the pools with a hot tub. There is no AC in apartment 411. Alot of barbecue grills in the area. They have a expensive cleaning fee that's not included in the price.

Lorrie55 (Home) 05/06/2019

We stayed here a few nights after a cruise. I too have mixed thoughts about this hotel. The service was fantastic, the location was alright for downtown. You can catch a bus to almost anywhere in Honolulu within a block, and the bus service is very good in town. The room we had was large with a separate bedroom and kitchen. The view was okay from the sitting area and better from the bedroom. The room just really needed a coat of paint. It was clean, the bedding was spotless, but just a little dingy with an unrepaired leak spot on the ceiling. Oh! It did have great HVAC, a good thing in Honolulu. I’d consider staying here again.

trvlin_man (San Fran) 04/27/2019

This is a condo hotel downtown with all that this means. An older high rise with some rooms with very nice views (I was on 29th floor, could see entire port, ocean, mountains). Couch and bed were comfy. Rooms were a nice size, bathroom smallish but jacuzzi tub. So normally this would rate a good to excellent rating. But the serious downside is the neighborhood. After dark every doorway is filled by homeless along with junkies and hookers. You do NOT feel safe and garage is creepy. If you double-lock the door, have some take-out and watch tv you’ll be fine, but you won’t feel comfortable going out at night, and anyone walking after 8 or 8:30 is braver than I am. I can’t blame the hotel for the sketchy neighborhood, but I don’t understand why reviews don’t mention this with more seriousness. I would not send a woman here alone, or a family with young children. And wandering around after dark is not a great idea ...

GirlOutWest (Scottsdale, Arizona) 04/05/2019

I got the best room here in advance, partly because I saw how the rooms vary. This suite was clean. That's the only good thing about the whole thing. Be prepared to pay for parking just to check in. The lobby area is nice. The parking garage is creepy. The elevators opened onto a hallway better suited to a 1980 horror film, narrow, totally unappealing, big padlocks on the doors, a lawyers office. And it smelled. It hit you in the face as soon as you stepped into the hall. Super creepy. The view was terrible, barely ocean. Cheap furnishings, uncomfortable furniture. The good reviews for this place sound like they were on an entirely different property. I would never stay here again. It is managed by Aston and while the staff are nice enough, they're just a managing agent and really don't care.

Damianz666 (Princeton Junction, NJ) 03/28/2019

Executive Center is the only downtown Honolulu location. It is a condominium hotel. If you have baggage can be a challenge as the main lobby is accessable by an escalator or you have to find the single elevator that is not obviously marked and use an intercom for access. The staff is accommodating, friendly and helpful. the location is great if your business is downtown, you are needing a nights accommodation before or after taking a cruise. The rooms are dated and in need of a refresher. Wall paper peeling, carpets frayed, cabinets dated. the linens were good and the soaps and amenitities. The unit had a small frigdge and an old dated electric cook top. TVs are new with cable and internet provided as part of the package. Parking is available for an additonal charge and like many downtown places spaces are tight but at least they are available when you have a car. Being downtown you get all the noise of the city even on the 25th floor. It was great for our use since we had to work at the court house within easy walking distance.

kdooka (Wailuku, Hawaii) 02/28/2019

I love coming to this business hotel because of the easy access to the area in downtown honolulu. i never get the same type of room twice. The room i had was a large corner room with two double beds with a separate living area. The bedroom had lots of space and nice mountain views of diamond head. My plane came in late so unluckily all the eating places i wanted to eat at were closed. It was a quiet and comfortable evening though.

Melissa L (El Mirage, Arizona) 05/19/2019

The unit is a little outdated, but it was comfortable and had an awesome view of the ocean from our little patio. At night you can hear the waves crashing. The two room unit had separate entrance which was great for my Son and godson who came along. They also had a separate patio of their own. We could walked right across the street to the beach. There were a ton of little eateries, and pretty much easy to get anywhere you needed to go on the island. I do think they need more trash cans in the unit or bigger ones. there was one tiny one under the sink and one tiny one in the restroom. We bought food to make so there was a little more trash.

Gurj B (Delta, Canada) 05/16/2019

We stayed in a spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit (T-209). It was at the end of the complex which was nice and quiet. This complex doesn't have an elevator. This property is located across the street from Kameole Beach 2, which is a nice beach with a lifeguard.

Khufu8 (Oakville, Canada) 05/15/2019

This lower-end hotel fits in this lower-end town on the island. Front desk staff were accommodating, but they needed to be because of the inadequacies of the two rooms we rent for our 3-day stay. First, in our daughters’ room the door leading to the next suite was open and could not be locked. Moreover, the pocket door for the bathroom could not be closed. Staff had to move them to another room, which was adequate except for the non-functional telephone. The missus and I were not fond of the shag carpeting in the rooms; it is a literal Petrie dish and the lingering odour of disinfectant reflected that. Our bathroom pocket door also would not close, but we chose to live with it. And the air conditioner had not been serviced in years, judging from its odour as well. Outdoor facilities, like the available BBQs and pools, looked quite good, but with only a small ‘fridge in our room and no on-site restaurant we had to eat out the whole time. This is a good example of getting what you pay for.

JonnyPuertoRico (Tysons Corner, Virginia) 05/13/2019

Look this place is probably ideal for families, as we booked a two bed room room which had a full kitchen and laundry but there was just something missing. They don’t have breakfast on the grounds or a hotel restaurant so you have to go out if you want anything. The beach was just a short walk across the way, which was good for boogie boarding, but not for surfing. And the staff was just ok, not exceptional but not to the point it ruined our stay, they were just... there

Dennis W 05/07/2019

BANYAN was a great experience only block from beach,great room on 20 th floor.view over looking golf coarse and mountains just great ,huge 1 bedder full kitchen all appliances were all spotless you could not fault .easy ace's to shops and transport.