Hotels in Waikiki, Honolulu

Our first stop on this wonderful vacation had a hotel with a great view. Sitting on the balcony, eating watermelon and watching the sea was so relaxing! Overall, the room was clean and tidy, but it was quite old-fashioned. The housekeeping auntie was really nice and helpful. The resort is super close to ABC Store, the White McDonald's, and the zoo. There are tons of dining options nearby, and the beach is just across the road and very lively. Breakfast was simple, with a Japanese touch, and changed daily, which was a pleasant surprise and quite tasty. However, the housekeeping department and front desk service were just okay. It was hard to get through to them by phone, and the $50 resort fee didn't seem to cover much service, like disposable slippers.

This is a beautiful and spacious hotel, and I stayed for three nights. One unique feature is that the rooms provide individual branded water bottles (resembling thermoses) that guests need to fill themselves. There are special built-in water dispensers on the 1st and 8th floors. Also on the 8th floor, there's a laundry room, costing $4.50 per wash or dry cycle, which is very convenient! However, you can't buy laundry pods there; you need to bring your own. On the same floor, there's a garden – an exit to a spacious balcony with plants and seating areas. And, of course, an infinity pool. Sun loungers are next to the pool, and towels are provided right there. There's also a bar by the pool. The rooms are spacious, with panoramic windows and automatic blackout curtains. There's a coffee machine and a kettle (capsules and tea bags are also provided). For the beach, the hotel provides branded bags with towels, which can be exchanged daily. Getting to the beach isn't so much far as it is a bit of a walk, about 9-10 minutes on foot, because you have to walk around some things. There's also a bakery at the hotel, open from 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM, and there's always a long queue from the street in the mornings! I really liked the hotel – highly recommend it! ✅👍🏻

Everything was great except for the low floor allocation – being on the 6th floor near Kuhio Avenue, it was a bit noisy. I've stayed at the Marriott and Hyatt near Waikiki in the past two years, but if your main purpose is to go out and explore, this Waikiki Malia is really good value for money. It's more convenient for dining and shopping, plus the parking garage is integrated with the hotel, which is reassuring. The pool is small, but it's perfect for kids who are just learning to swim, almost like a dedicated children's pool. The front desk staff were very friendly, and the service overall was excellent.

For our last two nights in Honolulu, we switched to Prince Waikiki because my daughter was scared of the pigeons constantly visiting our Hilton balcony. While this Japanese-style hotel doesn't have a resort vibe, it's quite comfortable, and the yacht club view from the window offers a different kind of scenery. On the first night, we found the hairdryer was broken, but thankfully, they were quick to respond. The hotel elevators are a bit slow, but parking is convenient at $1/hour on the street outside, which is much cheaper than the hotel's parking.

No kidding, I've stayed at this hotel before, about eight years ago, and I had such a great experience that I decided to book it again this time. The hotel's location is fantastic; turn left for the beach and right for the commercial street. I opted for a sea-view room, and sitting on the balcony enjoying the scenery truly gives you that vacation feeling!

The room was well-equipped with a stove and dishes, plus a round table and two chairs which made dining very convenient. It was clean and tidy, and the lobby had a water dispenser for drinking water. The service attitude was good, and they offered luggage storage. The hotel has a pink exterior, making it easy to spot. There are dining options downstairs, and it's a super convenient 2-minute walk to Waikiki Beach. There are also many bus stops nearby, making getting around very easy.

This stay was in the Rainbow Tower, and the ocean view was absolutely fantastic. The room was spacious and newly renovated, which was great. From the room, it was a short walk downstairs to the beach, pool, and the man-made lagoon. There are also restaurants right below the hotel, making breakfast very convenient. The Hilton Village is huge, with supermarkets, restaurants, and plenty of entertainment facilities, giving it a complete resort feel. However, there were a few downsides: 1. The hotel was extremely crowded. Check-in took an incredibly long time; we waited almost an hour to check in at 5 PM. 2. Since the Rainbow Tower is right by the beach, cars can't pull up directly for pick-up/drop-off. The closest drop-off point is the main reception. 3. There's a fireworks show on Fridays, but our room was on the back side (facing the parking lot, while the Waikiki Beach side was the front), so we couldn't see anything. However, for the full fireworks experience, I'd still recommend going downstairs to watch them. 4. The hotel's location is at the far end of Waikiki Beach, making it a bit of a distance for getting around. But if you're planning to just relax and enjoy the resort, it's perfect; otherwise, getting out and about can be a hassle.

We stayed at this hotel from October 29 to November 4. Overall, the staff was polite and the room was cleaned daily with fresh towels provided — which we appreciated. However, several issues significantly affected our experience. First, the accessible bathroom we specifically booked did not match the photos. There was no handheld shower head, which was important for us. Second, the mirror in the hallway was noticeably dirty upon arrival, with visible streaks from a wet cloth — quite unpleasant for a hotel of this level. I also reported that the faucet in the sink splashed water everywhere, soaking the countertop and the floor. I was told the issue would be checked, but nothing was fixed throughout our stay. The two-faucet system used to regulate water in the bathroom was also very inconvenient, and we consistently had problems with unstable hot water pressure. A separate major issue was the parking. I prepaid and reserved parking for 5 days, but on the second evening all the spots were already taken, and I was simply instructed to park in a different building nearby. This was extremely inconvenient — having to carry things from the 3rd floor of another parking structure and waste additional time. It turned out that even if you pay in advance, your parking spot is not guaranteed — anyone from outside can take it. So you pay, but end up without the service you were promised. Overall, the staff tried to provide good service, but the organizational issues, maintenance problems, and poorly managed parking system seriously reduced our comfort. Unfortunately, after this experience, I cannot recommend this hotel.

We stayed in an ocean view room. It was very close to the sea, and the view from the lanai was absolutely stunning. I think it was one of the ocean view rooms with the best views, being so close to the ocean. I'm very grateful that we were allocated this particular room. The housekeeping staff were also very friendly and pleasant, which made our stay enjoyable. The location was also excellent, close to the Duke Kahanamoku statue in the heart of Waikiki. The only downsides were that there was no explanation about the resort points we were supposed to receive as part of our stay. Also, we booked three rooms for six people, but due to their system, we could only process payment for one room at a time. This meant I couldn't use the same credit card for the second room and had to scramble. I'd recommend bringing enough credit cards for each room you book. These two minor issues were a bit disappointing, so I deducted one star from the service rating.

I recently stayed at this hotel in the Penthouse and, overall, had a pleasant stay. However, there were several areas where the guest experience could be improved. Pros: * The location is convenient, with Waikiki Beach approximately a 15-minute walk away. * There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, although I would recommend making reservations in advance as many are very popular. * There are numerous ABC Stores nearby, making it easy to pick up snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and other essentials. * A special mention goes to Ralph, who was outstanding throughout our stay. He was friendly, approachable, and always happy to help with any questions or recommendations. He quickly became our go-to person whenever we needed assistance and is a real credit to the hotel. Cons: * Upon arrival, we were not offered the welcome drink that other guests appeared to receive. We checked in shortly after 3:00 pm, yet we saw guests arriving at around 9:30 pm the previous evening being offered welcome drinks. It was disappointing that this was not provided consistently. * We were never informed that the hotel offers complimentary beach umbrellas and chairs on a first come, first served basis. We ended up purchasing our own before accidentally overhearing another member of staff explain this benefit during another guest’s check-in. * Similarly, we only discovered that the hotel offers a complimentary walking tour after overhearing a different staff member mention it to another guest. It would have been helpful if all guests were informed about the activities and amenities available during check-in. * We booked the Penthouse expecting to fully enjoy the advertised 90-degree views. While the views themselves were excellent, the balcony was much smaller than expected and not really large enough to comfortably sit and enjoy them. * The bathroom, particularly the bathtub, felt dated and would benefit from refurbishment. * The room itself is showing its age and could do with a modern refresh. * The breakfast room is exceptionally small considering the number of guests staying at the hotel. During busy periods it becomes crowded and difficult to find seating. * One morning, a guest was allowed to bring a dog into the enclosed, air-conditioned breakfast room. To my understanding, this is not permitted under Hawaii law unless the animal is a legitimate service animal, and it made the dining experience uncomfortable. * The Skyline floor cannot be accessed using the elevator on the far left, which was inconvenient and not clearly explained. * At check-in, a $200 deposit was authorised along with an additional hold on my credit card. This extra charge was never explained by staff, and I only became aware of it after reviewing my credit card statement. Greater transparency regarding incidental holds would have been appreciated. Overall, the hotel is in a good location with helpful staff, especially Ralph, and provides a comfortable base for exploring Waikiki. However, there were several inconsistencies in communication and a number of facilities that would benefit from updating. Better communication during check-in about available amenities, clearer explanations of credit card holds, and refurbishment of the rooms would significantly improve the overall guest experience.