Halekulani Hotel

Absolutely loved this hotel, so elegant and well designed. Great location in Honolulu, right next to all the action, but tucked away on a quieter side street. Facilities were excellent - plenty of comfortable loungers at pool, tasty food and drink service from restaurant, small beach to enter the water from. The beach isn't big enough to have chairs set up on it, but it is perfect for entering the water and enjoying the ocean. Must do - sunset dinner or sunset cocktails at House Without a Key. We did both, the food at the restaurant (especially the fish) was excellent, the mai tai is as good as they say it is and the views/Hawaiian music/Hawaiian dancers are wonderful. Also, our last night we stopped by the jazz bar for a drink after dinner. Again live music, chic speakeasy type vibe. All staff were excellent, very friendly and helpful in every interaction. I give a lot of good reviews on this site since I tend to research properties in advance and end up at excellent places other people have praised, but this hotel is even better than my regular review, really just spot on well done right down to having its own bakery across the street with excellent coffee and pastries so we could enjoy a casual breakfast every morning out on our balcony.

A couple of years ago, my boyfriend and I stayed in Waikiki (not at the Halekulani). One night, we went to House Without a Key for drinks and live music, and I was impressed by our glimpses of the Halekulani. At the time, I thought it would be a pipe dream for us to stay there. Unbelievably, staying at the Halekulani became a reality when my boyfriend (now husband) and I went to Kauai and the Big Island for our honeymoon in September 2025. For the last night of our honeymoon, we stayed in an ocean view room at the Halekulani before our flight back to the mainland. I made the reservation through a Virtuoso travel advisor, so the room rate included breakfast and a $100 food and beverage credit. From our arrival, the team at the Halekulani anticipated all of our needs. Once our taxi pulled into the driveway, the porters immediately whisked our luggage away. After we checked in, Yui at the front desk accompanied us to our room and opened the window shades to show us our lovely lanai and view. The tasteful design (different shades of white) was perfect for a room near the ocean, and the room was immaculate. The room had several bottles of water, and a welcome gift of fruit and cookies. Our luggage was brought to our room minutes after we arrived. The toiletries in the bathroom were excellent quality. It may be strange to mention a toilet in a review, but the Toto washlet was amazing--it warrants a mention! The bed linens were heavenly, and I'm determined to get our own set. When my husband and I returned to our room after an early dinner, we had a message on our phone that a food amenity was waiting for us. When I called the dining service team to confirm we were in the room, they requested "some time" to bring the amenity to us. Less than five minutes later (barely any time at all!), sparkling wine and a charcuterie plate were brought to our room in honor of our honeymoon. Our room had a great view of the stage at House Without a Key, and so I was hoping to watch live music from our lanai. Unfortunately, it drizzled during the afternoon, and so live music at House Without a Key was canceled. Although I was initially a bit disappointed, we went to Lewers Lounge and had a great time listening to jazz there. Breakfast at House Without a Key was high quality: there was an omelet station and a lot of variety in the offerings. We had done a bunch of swimming and snorkeling in Kauai and the Big Island, and so we weren't looking for pool or beach time in Waikiki. That said, we had an excellent view of the pool from our room, and we had a good time walking by the ocean on the morning of our departure. (We spotted a turtle in the ocean!) The Halekulani is in an ideal location: close to restaurants and attractions in Waikiki but removed from the most bustling areas. After checking out, we had access to the hospitality suite, which we greatly appreciated. We left our big bags with the porters (the team was always so quick and proactive), but we stored a couple of our smaller belongings in a locker in the hospitality suite so we could walk around Waikiki comfortably. During our stay in Oahu a couple of years ago, my husband didn't enjoy Waikiki at all. He thought the crowds were overwhelming, and the "giant mall" vibes didn't suit him. However, the Halekulani was a retreat from the hubbub of Waikiki. The hotel was serene and calm, even with the presence of babies and toddlers. In fact, my husband noted how quiet the Halekulani was without my prompting him. The Halekulani did the impossible: it made my husband warm(er) to Waikiki. This stay was a splurge, but it was a dream to stay at the Halekulani. We felt so lucky to enjoy the hospitality and tranquility, and we look forward to returning!

We've stayed in luxury properties all over the world, and while a lovely property the Halekulani just didn't cut it for us. At over $2,000 night for a clean but dated smallish Diamond Head room, the value just wasn't there. Let's cut to the chase: The Good: 1) Beautiful immaculate grounds with outstanding floral arrangements 2) Gorgeous pool with plenty of loungers 3) Excellent buffet breakfast (if included in your room rate - better check!) 4) Lovely views of Diamond Head in premium rooms. The Not so Good: 1) Duplicitous Reservations Staff: If booking direct you'll get a higher rate than if booking through their managing company (Leading Hotels of the World) - but they won't tell you that on the phone or clarify on-site afterward. 2)The beach is practically non-existent due to erosion. 3) The grounds are overrun with loud guests from other hotels for the hula show and restaurants, ditto for weddings and conferences - negating their advertised "calm peaceful vibe". 4) Our room usually wasn't cleaned until late in the day due to staffing shortages, and then only upon request. Verdict: Doubtful return.

Tranquility and luxury are not often used to describe Waikiki and yet Halekulani offers both in abundance. This hotel offers a quiet and refined level of service with great attention to detail without sacrificing any of the warmth associated with Hawaiian hospitality. Rooms at the hotel are comfortable and immaculate with an emphasis on the spectacular views of the Pacific and Diamond Head. Thoughtful touches are everywhere from the Kona Coffee Nespresso pods to the turn down gifts on your pillow each evening. While the hotel is more expensive than its neighbors--the quality and service is far above any of the other beachfront hotels. Dining at the hotel is exceptional with breakfast at both House without a Key and Orchids being the highlight. All the staff are excellent at remembering small details from prior stays--for example--as non-drinkers, we were delighted to find an alcohol free "sparkling wine" waiting for us in the room (Thank you David and the wonderful Concierge Team!) and at check in, the charming Miss Joy at reception asked us who was looking after our little dog back home. Tom at the pool remembered where we liked to be seated and throughout the property, we were always respectfully addressed by name. You will be well looked after at Halekulani and as a return guest--you are made to feel like family. We look forward to returning!

The rooms, the views, the private pools, the proximity to the sea, the dining, the staff's hospitality—in every respect, this is a top-tier hotel.