Hotel Renew Named 'Great for Active Travelers'
HAWAII MAGAZINE
Flights aren’t cheap—especially to Hawaiʻi. So it helps to find a hotel that fits your budget. (By budget, we mean these hotels offer rooms for less than $200 a night.) Oʻahu offers dozens of value options, from hostels in Waikīkī to family-friendly stays along the island’s eastern shores. And you don’t have to compromise style, cleanliness or amenities, either. Here are some of our favorites.
The Imperial Waikīkī Resort
Located across the street from Waikīkī Beach and all the shops and restaurants at Waikīkī Beach Walk, this recently renovated hotel has everything you need for a relaxing stay on Oʻahu—without breaking your budget. Rooms range from studios to two-bedroom suites, with lānai (balconies) and great views. The rooftop pool deck boasts panoramic views of the ocean, city and mountains. There’s also a fitness room, spa, cultural classes and live music. Everything—shops, restaurants, the beach—is within walking distance, too.
Queen Kapiolani
This historic hotel is named after the beloved Queen Kapiʻolani, the consort of King Kalākaua, who reigned from 1874 to his death in 1891. Its location—on Kapahulu Avenue, across the street from the Honolulu Zoo—makes it ideal for visitors who like to get outdoors. The 200-acre Kapiʻolani Regional Park—with its walking path and grassy spaces—and Waikīkī Beach are both directly across the street. The hotel itself has undergone a transformation in recent years, with a stylish lobby and a third-floor terrace and pool with a postcard-perfect view of Lēʻahi (aka Diamond Head). It’s on the eastern end of Waikīkī—read quieter and less busy—and you can leisurely walk to restaurants on Kapahulu Avenue or to the popular Kaimana Beach. Get drinks at the Deck Restaurant & Bar at the hotel.
Hotel Renew
This oceanside boutique hotel in Waikīkī is great for active travelers—and it’s less than a block away from the beach. The hotel provides complimentary beach gear—towels, boogie boards, snorkel gear—and offers free yoga classes on Saturdays in the park. Its 72 guest rooms have a tranquil vibe, with in-room exercise equipment and natural bath amenities. Bonus: It’s pet-friendly. (There’s a $35 nightly fee for your pooch.)
Waikiki Wayfinder
A couple of blocks from bustling Kalākaua Avenue, the Wayfinder Waikīkī is one of the neighborhood’s newest hotels. (It used to be the Waikīkī Sand Villa Hotel.) It’s a great option for travelers who want to be near the action, but not in the action. The pool is tucked away, surrounded by lush vegetation and palm trees; you won’t feel like you’re in Waikīkī. Dine at Redfish Waikīkī, the hotel’s in-house restaurant; it serves great fish places and pokebowls.
Paradise Bay Resort
Escape to Oʻahu’s Windward Side at this unique resort, nestled in a sleepy residential neighborhood adjacent to Kāneʻohe Bay. It offers cozy studios, spacious suites and standalone cottages with views of either the Koʻolau Mountains or the bay. There’s an outdoor pool and hot tub, barbecue grills and a guest laundry room. You can also borrow kayaks and snorkel gear. Located in Kāneʻohe, you can easily hit nearby Kailua and its shops, restaurants and world-class beaches, or head toward the North Shore, stopping at Kualoa Ranch, Polynesian Cultural Center and historic Haleʻiwa. It’s also pet-friendly!
Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber
With its wall-size murals to one of the most popular coffee shops in Waikīkī, the Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel prides itself as Hawaiʻi’s only “craft hotel,” meaning its design and vibe has been crafted by local artists to provide guests a unique experience. Many of its stylish rooms and suites have ocean views, and the open-air pool deck hosts sunrise yoga and dive-in movies every Saturday night. Maui Brewing Co. is the island’s largest bar, with locally crafted beers, specialty pizzas and live music—we recommend its happy hours—and the Instagrammable Hawaiian Aroma Caffe serves Kona coffee, acai bowls and sandwiches.
Hampton Inn & Suites
Imagine staying at a hotel at the mall. That’s exactly where you’ll be if you book a room at the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton in Kapolei. Conveniently within Ka Makana Aliʻi, a lively outdoor mall in Central Oʻahu, this no-frills hotel boasts an indoor and outdoor pool, free parking and free buffet breakfast. Plus, you’re right at the 750,000-square-foot mall, which features more than 100 stores, restaurants and a state-of-the-art movie theater.
Coconut Waikiki Hotel
This family-friendly hotel is located on Lewer Street, facing the Ala Wai Canal and a couple of blocks from Waikīkī Beach. The rooms are stylish and comfortable, with private lānai and kitchenettes—key for families or groups of friends. The pool is small but charming, and the lobby has board games and books, complimentary coffee and tea all day, and a popcorn machine in the afternoon. Each booking comes with a complimentary breakfast. You’re within walking distance of all the shops and restaurants in Waikīkī and Ala Moana Center, the state’s largest mall. Dogs are welcome here, too, and the public Ala Wai Dog Park is right across the canal.
Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra
This recently renovated hotel is next to the world’s largest open-air shopping mall—Ala Moana Center—and a short walk to Ala Moana Beach Park. It’s huge, too, with over 1,000 rooms that boast mountain, city or ocean views. Some of the larger suites include kitchens—though with the hotel’s proximity to great restaurants, you may not need one. In the hotel, on the 36th floor, is The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood, one of the best steakhouses on the island. Its corner table offers a stunning view of the Friday night fireworks from the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort. And recently the popular Pint + Jigger gastropub opened in the hotel’s lobby, offering craft cocktails and a stellar brunch on weekends. The outdoor pool and sundeck are great, too.
Courtyard Oahu North Shore
In 2015 the old Lāʻie Inn on Oʻahu’s east side was transformed into the Courtyard Oʻahu North Shore, a 144-room hotel that’s ideal for business travelers, families and anyone who wants to escape the bustle of Honolulu. (It’s located 35 miles north of Waikīkī.) It’s next door to the Polynesian Cultural Center and a short drive to Oʻahu’s North Shore, with its picturesque beaches, food trucks and beach-y boutiques. There’s a small beach across the street and the outdoor pool is fun for kids, too.