The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki

We had first been to the Royal Hawaiian over 30 years ago and, to our delight, we found that it is still an elite, deluxe destination in the heart of Waikiki. The atmosphere is quiet and the staff is wonderful, from the kind and professional desk staff to the thorough and accommodating housekeeping crew and the courteous and helpful beach staff. Our room in the classic original building was clean and spacious with a beautiful view of Diamond Head out one window and the beach out the other (after we were upgraded to a luxurious suite). The bed was comfortable and the room was quiet. The food in the on-site restaurants was tasty and the service was attentive. There is a row of chairs with umbrellas available for rent along the beach, and these are perfect for a relaxed day on the sand. We very much enjoyed our stay and recommend the Royal Hawaiian to anyone who is traveling to Honolulu.

My family and I stayed at the Royal Hawaiian for over two weeks and the hotel staff were amazing but two particularly stood out for their friendly, humorous and kind personalities. We stayed on the 11th floor and Elsa was our amazing room maid. Elsa couldn’t do enough for us and every morning she greeted us with such cheerfulness and exuberance – in fact any time she saw us her mood never changed– she wanted to make sure that our needs were met and everything was in fact perfect for us. The other person was Chester who has an amazing manner and rapport with all his customers. Chester works in the breakfast area and would tirelessly organise the hungry morning customers with such an upbeat and dry sense of humour that we couldn’t wait to see him in the mornings and were disappointed if it wasn’t his day to be working!! I hope these staff members are acknowledged for the amazing work they do for the hotel to make customers holidays so memorable, we will certainly never forget them. Jane Wilton (the Pratt family) 😊 More

Some hotels are simply places to sleep. The Royal Hawaiian is part of the destination. Like a lot of travelers, I'd admired the Pink Palace in photographs for years. Walking through those famous pink corridors for the first time somehow still exceeded expectations. The property has a timeless elegance that manages to feel both historic and relaxed without ever seeming stuffy. It's one of those rare hotels where slowing down feels completely natural. The location couldn't be much better. Step outside and you're immediately on Waikiki Beach. Restaurants, shopping, live music, and sunset walks are all within easy walking distance, so once I checked in, my rental car became completely unnecessary. After spending most of my Oʻahu stay exploring the island by car, it was refreshing to spend a few days where everything I wanted was just a short walk away. The location also made it easy to simply say yes to the moment. My room struck a nice balance between preserving the hotel's historic character while still offering the comforts you'd expect from a luxury resort. Everything was spotless, well maintained, and surprisingly quiet considering you're in the heart of Waikiki. The staff consistently lived up to the hotel's reputation. Every interaction felt warm and genuine without becoming overly formal. They struck that perfect balance between attentive service and simply letting guests enjoy the property at their own pace. I also appreciated how much there was to enjoy without ever leaving the resort. Whether wandering through the courtyards, relaxing near the beach, or simply finding a quiet place to sit with a drink, the hotel has a way of encouraging you to slow down instead of rushing off to the next attraction. The room was beautiful, quiet, and exceptionally comfortable. I spent a little more time in the room than I'd originally planned—and I have no regrets. The mattress certainly lived up to its reputation. If you're deciding whether the Royal Hawaiian is worth the premium over other Waikiki hotels, I'd say yes—especially if it's your first visit. There are plenty of excellent places to stay in Honolulu, but very few that feel as iconic while still delivering a genuinely relaxing guest experience. This is one of those places that's memorable not because it's flashy, but because it somehow makes you forget to look at your watch. Pro tip: Even if you're staying elsewhere in Waikiki, spend some time walking through the grounds or enjoying a drink on the property. But if your budget allows, staying here for at least a night or two is a completely different experience.

The Royal Hawaiian remains my favourite hotel in Waikīkī. The setting is unmatched. The Mailani Tower oceanfront rooms are beautiful, the pool is intimate and peaceful, and the beachfront location remains one of the best in Hawaii. What concerns me is the gradual loss of amenities and experience at a time when prices continue to rise. Even a few years ago, staying here felt different. We felt genuinely special and part of the Royal Hawaiian 'ohana. The Mailani experience, the personal touches, the beautiful Mālie amenities with the Hawaiian-inspired Kōkeʻe fragrance, and the sense of connection to the hotel's history and culture made the experience unique. Today, many of those touches seem to have disappeared. Mailani benefits have been reduced, amenities have changed, cabana pricing has increased dramatically, and some service touches appear to have been scaled back. Individually these may seem minor. Collectively they change the character of the experience. The Royal Hawaiian is still a wonderful hotel, but it increasingly feels as though guests are paying more while receiving less of what once made the property so distinctive. As the hotel approaches its centennial, I would genuinely welcome a response from management. What is the vision for the Royal Hawaiian experience today? How does the hotel plan to preserve the sense of place, hospitality, and 'ohana that made so many guests fall in love with it in the first place? I still return because the property remains magical. My concern is that the feeling of being part of the Royal Hawaiian family is gradually being lost.

I love the hotel and always stay there however the hotel needs a refresh. Lobby carpets need a good clean or refresh. I would like to get a chair poolside but that is not possible unless you book in advance. Dining options are very limited. Long, long line to lunch venue and NO in-room dining! I wanted to spend a relaxing day in the room and getting room service, forget it! Hotel rooms need a good clean as well - too much dust - and more outlets! Checkout is always an issue in Hawaii. Early checkouts and late flights. The Royal Hawaiian has a hospitality suite but you can only access it for an hour???? What is the purpose? Finally, I stayed at the hotel through the 4th of July. City fireworks display was lame and only lasted TEN minutes. Very easy to see display from the hotel but there was zero security. Anyone could walk through the lobby and hotel. Check out hotels in Las Vegas. At night, people should have to show their room key to access the property.