Halekulani Hotel

This is a tough review to write as usually a hotel meets my expectations or it doesn’t - this one was a little of both. Since this was our anniversary I wanted something special and all reviews pointed to Halekulani as the best. First let me say that this IS a 5-star hotel. It is beautiful and well maintained with excellent service (except for one hiccup which I will Point out latter). I booked thru American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts. Since it was our anniversary I wanted the best room available so I paid an extra $400/night for an Ocean Front room. Of the hundreds of hotels I have stayed an ocean front room is just that (ocean front with unencumbered views of the ocean. Not here - the room we got was a partial ocean view in any other hotel in the world. As a matter of fact we had a better view of the building across from us and the roof of the restaurant below than we did the ocean (maybe they should change the room category to roof front room?). I honestly felt cheated. Did t say anything because it was our anniversary and didn’t want to get my wife (or myself upset) over arguing with front desk. But VERY disappointed…The grounds are absolutely beautiful but take off 1/2 star for pool area and seating areas….while the lounge chairs in the pool area are very nice there are ZERO views of the beach from ANY seated area anywhere on the property. They have shrubs that block all views of the beach/ocean and worst of all block the ocean breezes so hot and stuffy. In short when you are sitting in your lounge chair around the pool you could be in Indianapolis, Indiana as far as you knew…..just lounge chairs packed in around a pool. Talking about the pool we chose a couple Lounge chairs where there seemed to be a breeze but no umbrella (the stand was there but no umbrella). We asked the you lady pool attendant if she could get an umbrella and she sharply said “NO” then said “none left” - just not 5-star… Finally, if you are coming to Waikīkī for paradise get ready for drug addicts all over the beaches certainly not the hotel’s fault but I can’t believe that if all the hotels got together and put pressure on the city that they couldn’t get something done. Such a shame…. So executive summary on Halekulani hotel. Beautiful five star hotel that misrepresents their rooms and needs to remember that people come to Hawaii for the beaches and to hide the beaches is not very smart…

One of my best hotel experiences in the world. For its location on Waikiki Beach, the property preserves a serene and calm air. The pool area is expansive and access to the beach well granted. But it was the outstanding attitude to service and the delicious food and drink at the charming House Without a Key that truly blew me away. I requested Ernest Hemingway's Table 97 two nights a row and the restaurant graciously accommodated me. BRAVO!

Halekulani focus is on guests as a priority in the staff attitude, their service, the rooms and their amenity and the facilities, such as the pool and Spa. The dining options are excellent. We went to Le Mer 12 years ago and it was still prefect offering an interesting and flavoursome menu and flawless attentive but not intrusive service. House with No Steps 5pm cocktails (made with real juice) with Miss Hawaii and the band is a fun and enjoyable experience. Breakfast at Orchids or House with No Steps yummy. The team at the Spa did an amazing massage / therapy. Thanks to the Halekulani team for our stay, we loved coming back after 12 years and seeing that your service to guests was still perfect and your accommodation, location on the beach is lovely. Cheers, Roderick and Catherine.

The Halekulani is the gold standard on Waikiki at every level. The presentation and quality of the accommodation is unmatched and presents a real oasis and privacy away from the main Waikiki strip even though it is so easily accessible to it. The helpfulness of the staff and the quality of the food and service make it a genuinely relaxing stay.

Been staying at the Halekulani Hotel for 10 years. A beautiful resort with very strict rules for kids. Not a very kid friendly resort. The strict rules continue to be more and more strict every year. I think their goal is to eventually be an adults only resort.