We recently stayed at the Aqua Bamboo for 4 nights in suite 807. We loved the fact that there was a kitchen (eat in if you like) a beautiful pool and the location can't be beat. It is about 1 1/2 blocks from the beach, near Honolulu Zoo, the bus route and lots of great restaurants. The hotel also offers beach towels and chairs. I would definitely recommend this hotel.
Staff were great but
Extraordinary827904
We stayed for 8 days. The rooms were neat. Our first room was good size but opened up to the broncs neighbours. Moved up to high floor on opposite side of building which was smaller room but heaps better view and less racket. Rooms are quite when doors closed but the air conditioner was old and very noisy. Noisy with street traffic if doors open. Location was okay.
Good Location, friendly staff
premkala16
(Medford, Oregon)
We booked this hotel through an Air BnB because the pictures of the pool were so inviting and the location to Waikiki Beach. Unfortunately the pool was closed for refurbishing when we went but we did sneak a peek and it is a beautiful setting. The rooms and the hotel interior is very dated, like many of the hotels in Waikiki. The rooms, elevator and lobby are small. Many of the rooms look out onto the busy street or an alley with a brick wall. Ask for a pool view. Location is fantastic for quick and easy access to the bus ( right outside the door) or the beach ( a very easy 5 minute walk). You are about a block and 1/2 from the international market which is pricey but a nice place to walk around. There is a car rental agency within a 3 minute walk of the hotel but no parking on site. We realized that parking for rental cars is almost more than the daily rental. Often 20 to 30 dollars for over night. close Restaurants are mostly local Hawaiian plate or asian food. Burger King and McDonalds are a few minutes walk away for those who want a quick cheap meal. This hotel is for the budget minded who want a nice pool retreat when not at the beach.
Nice
C3495ZTmarias
Priced well, great location. The parking filled up and we had to park next door. Not super inconvenient but a bit of a drag with luggage. Stayed for 4 nights and only had room cleaned once. They didnt give us fresh towels or replenish toiletries. Just made the bed and took out trash. No breakfast, the pool was under construction while I was there, not enough washers and dryers, also the washers and dryers are old and coin operated ones and I'm not sure how "clean" they really made my clothes. All in all it's a great spot for the price in the center of Waikiki/Honolulu. I was comfortable in my room and enjoyed my stay. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Keeping in mind this is by no means a 5 star hotel I would still recommend it as a place to stay if you want to be close to Waikiki beach. A few suggestions I have are updating the air conditioning to central air or something, the overall smell of the building was musty and they try off setting it with ALOT of what smells like off brand fabreez but that's just in the lobby area and elevators not I the actual rooms.
Nice place
anul644
(Kangasala, Finland)
Place is nice, but the staff never smiled. Few times I got smile from younger boy. The man who took care of the yard was very nice and polite.
Even if you did not need any cleaning in your room, they make sure that you pay anyway the cleaning.
Not every unit will necessarily be the same as this great review
ProblemPage
(Fordingbridge, United Kingdom)
We stayed at apt #2023. The block has maybe 1000+ units (huge!) and as fifty years old this year, I am assuming not every apartment is the same level of refurbishment nor appoitment. The reference to building amenities will be common.
Recommended for long or short stay. Very comfortable, excellent base.
Nicely appointed apartment in huge apartment block. Pretty well everything you need is at this apartment which has been refurbished since the block itself is 50 years old. Despite this there is no signs of its antiquity! Plenty of coffee and cleaning materials etc. Beers in fridge. Decent wi-fi. Aircon works well. Lots of elevators. Shops within complex open late. Self check in works very well but you must follow email instruction as the resort itself will cannot help if you are not prepared (if arranged via the owner rather than resort). Attractive pool(s) ith towels provided. Friendly pool staff. Easy to get to the apartment from airport - we used ride hailing app.
Very little not to like. The apartment, unlike some in the block, looks out to the street not to the ocean but I don't think it was stated otherwise in the blurb via agency we used
Loved Our Stay!!
Natalie S
What can I say about the Ilakai... we loved it! the staff was wonderful, we enjoyed Cinnamon's for breakfast every morning. The room was lovely, the bed... it was not comfortable, but honestly most hotel beds are not for me (bad back). We would definitely come back. The beaches are within walking distance. We especially loved the Ala Moana beach/park it was not crowded. The buses and shuttles are super close by.
Lovely accomodation and great location
Vanessa H
Thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Ilikai in Apt 1923. A beautiful condo with a city view and all of the things we needed. Good standard accomodation if you’re just needing a place to lay your head at night.
BED BUGS BEWARE
Heidifunk
(Danville, California)
Beware of staying at this property. I experienced bed bugs here. I captured a live bed bug in a solo cup and took it to the front desk. There was no manager on site so they brought down the housekeeping manager to speak with me. She confirmed it was a bed bug but did nothing about it. She questioned why I was bringing it to her attention on my check out date. I explained that was the first time I saw one. She basically accused me of “planting” the bed bug. As if I have the resources or desire to do something like that. I was treated with total disrespect. I had to catch my flight home so I didn’t have time to inspect my luggage or belongings before packing. It was a total inconvenience for me upon returning home to have to leave my luggage and content in my backyard until I had time to thoroughly inspect every item for bed bugs. Bringing these critters home could be disaster. They can live up to a year without feeding and it takes 122 degrees to kill them. I will NEVER stay at this hotel again. The property is 50 years old, dirty, and in need of a total face lift. The only positive was the valet staff were all very friendly, fast and efficient with my car every day.
Dated but clean
Andie2010
(Brisbane, Australia)
We booked through a travel consultant that recommended Ilakai due to no resort fees. We had a 1 bedroom ocean facing condo which was clean had a full kitchen but the oven door would not open due to the double door fridge......
There are 2 double beds which we struggled even being 5'6 & 5'7 both very firm mattresses and were told the unit was only for 2 people so thought yes a queen size or even a king configuration would have been acceptable.
Now this is a private owned room 1616 as I said spectacular veiws to the ocean pool and lagoon, in saying that though there is the right hand side of the Ilikai also looks onto your balcony also on the left another hotel peers in. You get a free show nightly like groundhog day is great first day or two but becames a pain after that. Proximity to Ala Moana shops is great also the number 8,20,19 & 42 will take you past War Museum also to the International shopping complex also the opposite direction to Ala Moana. As I write this August 2019 day pass on the bus for 2 was $11 to hop on and off for the day is the most economical way to see yourself around to walk to free War museum is 2424 steps and a nice walk either along beachfront or roadway paths .
But on finishing
There is free wifi, a kitchen to cook,tv if you watch tv, you get a few pool passes and 2 rolls of toilet paper. There are ABC convenience stores nearby save you dockets bring what you can from home as food is expensive. ALOHA enjoy and Mahalo
Great location a few blocks from beach & central to Waikiki. Reasonable price for quality of room. Could use upgrades in bathroom and flooring in room. Pool was small but refreshing. Enjoyed cocktails and meals next door at Lava Tube.
Waikiki overnighter
Companion21681552250
Great affordable property. Rooms are compact but good enough for 2 people comfortably. Loved the kitchenette. Parking just too small for even a mid size car, steep awkward driveway that wasn’t to safe to come out of.
Not bad
csuda39
We had coffee the first day but we drank it and she never left us another bag of coffee the next day and all she did was fold the blankets and she never emptied our trash cans and she never left us any shampoo and soap so we had to go and buy some.
Handy spot, comfy rooms
Madnesss
(Melbourne, Australia)
This is the second time staying in this hotel. Can not fault the friendliness and helpfulness of all the staff we encountered. Checking in late at night was easy and quick.
The pool area is small, but just nice enough to get a little sun in the morning and shade in the heat of the afternoon.
There’s a shuttle bus free and it takes you to a variety of places, Ala Moana shopping centre for one. Which is huge and great to go for a day. The bus was air conditioned and the driver super friendly.
Our room was tight, for two single people. But still ok for us. The beds were super comfy. My friend didn’t like the sheets saying hers kept coming untucked and scrunching up. I didn’t have that issue.
Twice the room wasn’t made up, though I thought sheets were clean enough anyway. We had the kitchenette and in hindsight didn’t really need it. Thought we’d make coffee etc.
there’s National hire car directly across the road if you’re looking to drive around the island. If you want a mustang, book a couple of days in advance and book it from open time so you get one. Otherwise you may get other type of convertible.
Now, although the tiki bar in the hotel complex is apparently not part of the hotel, it’s still there and I have to mention this.
Having sat in there having drinks for majority of the afternoon, hosts were very friendly, however we believe something was amiss with our bill. We didn’t get an itemised bill as one of our party out it on their card. But the Aussie dollar conversion for the bill was $684 dollars.
Now - we might be able to drink a bit, but we would not have drank that many drinks for the bill to be that high. So my warning to anyone staying at this place, CHECK YOUR BILL if you go into the bar off reception.
Other than that this stay was very good
Old hotel, needs upgrades. Resort and parking fees were relatively high.
ussalac
(Phoenix, Arizona)
Air Conditioning was not cooling the room well, even when set to high.
TV was very old, did not have any modern ports. Front desk was not able to supply any adapters.
Bathroom and kitchenette were very old and dirty. Cups were not clean.
Floors had numerous stains.
The twin bed in the room sloped outwards, making it uncomfortable to sleep on.
Parking and resort fees increased the room rate by almost $60 per night, so add that to your budget. Street parking was very difficult to come by, in fact, they did not even have a temporary area to park your vehicle so you can pop in to check-in.
We only had one night here, a friday night, and wish we had stayed longer. We arrived early after an overnight flight, and they were so accommodating. Allowed us an early check in (9am), upgraded us to a penthouse suite, and breakfast was included. The penthouse suite was huge. Worked perfectly for a family of 4 with a fully equipped kitchen. The pool is small, but warm and easy to access. The breakfast included was great, cereal, bagels, coffee, all the basics. Perfect for feeding hungry kids first thing in the morning. Location is great, short walk to the beach, about 15 minutes to the zoo. The local bus stops really close to the hotel.
Best Week in Paradise!
Lucky23Herschel
We super loved our time at this Waikiki Hotel! 🏖Every amenity that we wanted, was met - Complimentary Breakfast, Location, Pool, next door Steakhouse & delightful Pub just a few doors down ... and the STAFF 🍍Rachel specifically at the Front Desk was top notch! A delight to talk with, and so helpful and courteous! Highly recommended place - would love to travel there again! 🏄🏻♀️
Best location
Samir L
(Sydney, Australia)
I stayed at this cozy hotel in the heart of Waikiki from 6 August to 13 August 2019 with my wife and two daughters. Upon our arrival we were greeted by Olivia who ensured our holiday began in good spirit.
Being in great location everything is at footsteps. The free shuttle to and from Ala Mouna through out the day is an extra bonus.
They have a nice little pool, concierge, breakfast area by the pool where the continental breakfast is served everyday.
All the staff members including house keeping, reception specially Olivia and Rachel were really amazing.
Wouldn't mind staying here again if I happen to visit Hawaii again in the future.
The best staff on Oahu
Lloyd G
I stayed at the Aqua Oasis for 42 days while I looked for a house. Not only are the military friendly...they are friendly in general. For anyone moving to the island on TLA take advantage of this gem. The location is great, continental breakfast is free every am and parking is free. If you get a room with burners you still receive full per diem. I want to give a S/O to Maria, Olivia, Mike, Mark, Stephen, Josh, Yuta, Rachael and anyone else that I missed. You guys helped make my stay in Waikiki a memorable one.
Room 801
Fantastic location and service in the heart of Waikiki!
hayleyep
(Sydney, Australia)
While there seem to be some other negative reviews on this place, I have to say having stayed there for a week, this place was excellent for a stay in Waikiki. Not only is it loacted in the perfect place for city transport, shopping, restaurants plus walking distance to the beach, the service here was outstanding! Maria (?), Rachel and front door man Mike were genuinely lovely, and helped us with any issues we had. They had free breakfast, a concierge service with Diana (who was fantastic) and the rooms were spacious and comfortable.
The only one suggestion I would have is to provide a kettle instead of a drip coffee machine and tea for those Australians who like tea as an alternative to drip coffee.
I would recommend and would stay here again on a trip to Waikiki. Thanks!
The place is fine. Old and holes in most of the furniture. But, watch out for the staff! They barely tolerate you there. From not being allowed to stop on a floor because a staff member won't let you to hearing the parking attendant scream at people who don't speak English. Also, the power went out twice and they finally changed our room.
No concern for guests
Yvonne393
(Geraldine, New Zealand)
Fire alarms went off and they had no idea what the problem was. Nobody checked even tho they said they thought they could smell smoke but couldn't find anything. We were on the top floor which was 37th. When I went down the stairs it was a joke. If it had been a real emergency it would of been disasterous. Cords etc running down the stairs and across to the rooms. They did not seem to have any plans in place for any emergency and were more concerned with checking people in and out. Would definitely not stay here again
Accomodation in waikiki
echo1064
(Sydney, Australia)
3 of us are staying at the Aston Waikiki sunset and even though its 2 short blocks from the beach the hotel itself is tired and could do with a refurb. For the cost of AUD $2,000 for 4 nights for 3 people in a holiday destination I suppose that's the going rate for a 2 bedroom room.
The rooms are clean but dated. The furniture could do with replacing but the view is pretty nice. The travel agent recommended it so I can't complain too much.
Dated But Good
rayofsj
It is located down the street from the beach with an ABC store on the way. The hotel is in definite need of an update. The shower fixtures need to be replaced (old and crusty). We stayed in a one bedroom suite. The sofa bed was hard but the actual beds were good. Good views of Diamond Head. Pool and bbq area have good views. This hotel gets the job done if you don’t intend to stay in the hotel the whole time. Overall, it’s ok but needs to be upgraded and updated.
Convenient!
chee2s
(Los Angeles, California)
This place is located near the beach. Walking distance from the city bus. It has 4 elevators some reviews said that elevators were always packed and took a long time, but I didn’t have no problem with that. The AC worked fine
The kitchenette is fully stocked if you plan to cook. The pullout bed on the living room was a bit to squeaky the bed was comfy I was at the 11th floor
The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club was the perfect escape for a much needed vacation! If you want a more laid back vibe and friendly atmosphere, this is the place. The staff are some of the best I have seen in their business. They make you feel like family as soon as you check in to the time you regretfully have to check out. With added perks of free coffee, sunscreen, beach bags to use during your stay and wonderful music by the pool each night, we couldn't have asked for a better time. The bed was so comfortable and the rooms were kept very clean. The restaurant food was very good. In fact, we ate there a couple of nights during our stay to enjoy the wonderful musicians. We are already looking forward to going back! Mahalo to all of the Surfjack Staff!
Awesome, Renovated Hotel with Great Pool/ Restaurant
Brandon B
(Warwick, Rhode Island)
The open air of the central area is awesome. The front desk, restaurant, and pool are all in the same open-air area on the ground floor. We ate breakfast at the restaurant on back to back days because the food was so good. During the late afternoon, there is a good happy hour deal. Bed was comfortable, room was clean and nicely decorated. Highly recommend this hotel.
Warden
477toddt
(Phoenix, Arizona)
Mixed a little business with a few days of vacation. The room was great, food was excellent, the staff was responsive to anything we needed and went out of their way to make us feel at home. Great family atmosphere around the pool. Music every night with top tier musicians. Perfect place to get away. We will be back hopefully for many years to come. Lynette your staff are the best. Thank You
Surfjack Hotel Rating
nlangh747127
Great hotel in a central area with lots of cool perks added during our stay! Loved the pool, dinner credit, sunscreen and water in the lobby, as well as a cute beach bag that we could use. Would recommend to family and friends.
Kinda famoly friendly in a great location
Meg M
(Auckland, New Zealand)
Great location, friendly staff, really cool place. We stayed in a one bedroom room on the end, which meant the stairs cut into the size of it. It was furnished beautifully.. But to have room to open up the sofa bed, and fit a portacot, we had to put an ottaman in the cupboard, and move a chair into the bedroom. My sisters room next door was a lot bigger, at the same price. Avoid the end rooms if you are a family. While the hotel insists its kid friendly.. Which it is, it kinda also isn't. Just a lack of facilities or particularly kid friendly food. No change table down by the pool. No cups or anything in the room. You can definitely make it work, and there are more pros than cons, namely the location and relaxed feel.
The Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki Hotel is perfectly located near the Royal Hawaiian Center and Waikiki Beach. I recommend asking for a high-up room that overlooks the canal because it is a gorgeous view. The hotel has a pool and underground parking available for guests. The rooms are in good condition and we greatly enjoyed our patio with chairs to sit in. I would definitely stay here if I were in Waikiki again.
Good Hotel terrible staff
KyleeSunshineCoast
(Sunshine Coast, Australia)
The Hotel was good and close to everything awesome little coffee shop in the lobby which we loved! But the staff in the hotel (There was one nice lady) were so grumpy especially the older man in the restaurant he was terrible, it was so unbelievably we nearly laughed, it’s ashame the staff bring down this place
If Snakes on a Plane were a hotel
Ben N
Sometimes something is so bad that it makes it comically good, thats almost the case here and then you realise that you did actually pay money to stay here so its not that funny. On the positives - it is relatively cheap for the area, it is located close to the beach and the room did have a bed in it.
Thats about when the good parts of the experience end - I cant speak for all the check in staff (so there might be some good ones), the one we had was just particularly surly (always a top trait for someone that works in hospitality), there is the $25 a day resort /amentie fee which is of course a joke as you have no option to pay it (just include it in the room price ffs) but this is a standard gouging across Hawaii so I wont blame this hotel specifically for that, however where it does get amazing is when you do look at the amenities - the gym aka "Exercise Area" which is a single broken wieder multi gym sitting outside the lobby, Im not sure if you could legally describe it as something safe to exercise on, Ive added a photo as I found it particularly amusing - note the fact that if you did roll the dice and actualy use that machine it is located almost in the lobby and next to the vending machines adding to the special ambiance they have created. The rooms have a bed, TV and bathroom in them, we were concerned the bathroom door was going to fall to pieces in our hands every time we touched it but it did manage to survive our stay (win!), the use of PS3s as inroom DVD players is an interesting one I guess you could look at that as a positive. The air conditioner definitely worked you had a choice of either OFF or MEAT LOCKER COLD, we chose to dance between the two settings throughout the evening to keep things interesting.
A few reviews have mentioned the breakfast and they are reasonably spot on, the angry greeting by the woman cooking pancakes is a bit of a low light but then the pancakes themselves are somewhat of a highlight of the whole hotel experience so its a real roller coaster of emotions throughout breakfast. It is served in an Asian buffet restaurant complete with large fishtank and ornate oval tables which does make for an interesting touch.
If you are looking for a cheap hotel close to the beach and can overlook getting any sort of pleasure out of the hotel you are staying at on holiday then this is a fabulous choice, if not perhaps spend a few more dollars and keep hunting around
No Aloha at the Aloha
Chale14197
(Menifee)
We stayed here through VRBO and the Ali'i beach rentals. The property is a bit dated, but pretty nice overall. The staff, however, is what I'd call apathetic and unfriendly. They are often also unavailable. They have a hotel where they have regular guests, Airbnb, and VRBO all staying under one roof. They freely admit they treat their guests differently than the VRBO or Airbnb. Understand you only need staff for onsite issues like parking and use of facilities. Seems easy right? These guys sold our parking space while we were still parked in it! They couldn't tell my wife where the swap meet is? You live here, right? They refused us pool towels causing a trip all the way back to the 16th floor? Like we wouldn't bring them back. Worse than all of that, they are flat out rude. Their apathy is obvious and they are unapologetic about it saying we are here staying with their competitors? Just wow. If they had treated us equal they may have gotten good reviews. Heck, I may have considered them as an option next time I come here, but after this experience I never would. Ali'I beach rentals are thoughtful and listen to their guests. I'd use them again just never to stay here!
Boutique Hotel to Avoid
LTibbs3
(Auburn, Washington)
We stayed at the Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki on our recent vacation in Honolulu. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. During our first night our air conditioner put out a horrible moldy smell all night. We complained and were moved to another room. All the rooms are very cramped and old looking. The breakfast buffet provided isn’t very good. The person running the buffet each morning is grouchy with guests and rude. My wife complained to the hotel of the way she was treated by this person. She was told that it was t run “officially” by the hotel, but was contracted. No excuse! I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.
Nice hotel. It is in a good location. Walk to beach. Opposite the Hilton so can walk over the road to all their shops. They have a free shuttle bus to the shops and town. The rooms are ok nothing flash but has everything you need. Fridge is cold. Staff were good and helpful. Would stay here again.
Excellent value for Waikiki
MichaelShainsky
(12345)
This hotel has a great value for Waikiki and for being right accross the street from Hilton Hawaiian Village and its wonderful beach. Erik Scruton, reservations supervisor was really outstanding in making my stay comfortable and inexpensive! Thank you, Erik, VERY MUCH!!!
Free Service from Staff
NYCBnB
I booked a room here with my husband and our 8.5 month old daughter, for a romantic getaway. My husband got drunk and couldn't find our room. The woman at reservations, Melony [-], who even took the information for our room, instead offered him a place to sleep on her couch. Really, Melony could’ve given my now ex-husband a key to our room or told him where his room was; but, I guess this hotel does not have a professional standard for not fraternizing with guests, particularly those whose spouses and children are upstairs. I guess if you're looking for free service in Honolulu, this hotel’s staff provides.
Vacae
Global727586
It’s my second visit at the hotel.
I find it to be pleasant near shopping,restaurants and a short beach walk.
Rooms clean
The parking is kinda of cramp
The pool is small,for us anyway
4-5 people and that’s it full
But honestly for
For a family with a budget it’s ok
Can’t go wrong
Ohau, Hawaii
Sharmila P
(Wellington)
Loved our stay in Hawaii. It was so central to big malls, beach, shops, eateries, cultural centre, activities.
Hospitality comes to mind; like one big family.
Fresh fruit available at reception, with water and hot drinks.
We took a few trips in our short stay.
The Chiefs Luau was spectacular. Buffet with island specialty in its true island style outdoors in the evening. This was held at Wet n Wild location. We were bused to this location; great way to see the rest of Oahu with commentaries all the way. On arrival, we received cocktail and got to try out making headbands from coconut frond, fresh coconut tasting and other activities.We were greeted with Hawaiian leis which we were able to take away as souvenirs.
The performances followed the buffet. So amasing with all the different islands doing their traditional performances and relating their ancestral stories. The world champion fire dancers lining up the waterfall was truly spectacular.
So memorable.
We also took a sunset cruise. Another great evening with amasing buffet, cocktails and the amasing performances; truly hawaiian hula! Wow; unforgettable time in Hawaii......
The place doesn't look like the pictures and it should be listed as a motel. Parking is $47 which is outrageous. I was unwell and needed a bed ASAP, so I was willing to pay. I'd say if you're not driving and it's four to a room (there are two beds) this might be ok. The women at the front are very nice. I guess it's a 'know before you go' type of thing.
Hotel Needs Renovating!
NateaBar
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
Stayed one week in this hotel because it was centrally located, away from the crowds of Waikiki, close to Ala Moana Shopping Center, Walmart and Ross. Not disappointed with the location - easy to find restaurants and places to eat and to shop at. However, the hotel needs renovating and is showing its age. Room air conditioner was loud and there were black stains on the ceiling above it! We might have been breathing that soot or mold everyday. Minimum of toiletries in bathroom: small soap bar for sink use and for taking a bath. Hotel staff friendly and helpful. We were given a video card to see free movies in the room, but after getting a disc, could not figure out how to use video machine. Minimum of on-site parking stalls. Most are located in the parking shared with the Ross store across the street and this entails an addiitional cost, paid at the hotel. Beds are comfortable. Maid service is adequate.
Additional hidden charges
e M
They charge a deposit of $165 and they don't tell you about it. It's like a surprise and it's too late when you notice it. I'm a local guy here and I feel that's a huge amount for just a overnight stay.
Always a pleasant experience
michaelmD744RU
(Lihue)
The Pagoda hotel, ball room, restaurant and "carp", is a part of our island history. For many locals, it represented a special night when staying there or attending a family or social event. Today, it still draws many neighbor islanders and travelers who are looking for a reasonable priced not "Waikiki" hotel without high material expectations. What wins you over is the staff who goes out of their way to greet, assist, make you feel appreciated and a part of their family. Debbie Arakaki is one of those special down to earth and positive people who always greets you with a smile and acts in your best interest. The Pagoda Hotel should be very proud to have Debbie on their team!
Locals favor this budget hotel, but understaffed, older property
DanaLosAngeles
(Los Angeles, California)
Locals do favor this budget hotel as the prices are low and the location is central. The rooms and service leave much to be desired. Deferred maintenance can be seen in the rooms and bathroom, and the front desk service was perhaps the worst I have experienced in a long time, Friendly, but one person for many people resulted in an hour long wait for a key.
Not every unit will necessarily be the same as this great review
ProblemPage
(Fordingbridge, United Kingdom)
We stayed at apt #2023. The block has maybe 1000+ units (huge!) and as fifty years old this year, I am assuming not every apartment is the same level of refurbishment nor appoitment. The reference to building amenities will be common.
Recommended for long or short stay. Very comfortable, excellent base.
Nicely appointed apartment in huge apartment block. Pretty well everything you need is at this apartment which has been refurbished since the block itself is 50 years old. Despite this there is no signs of its antiquity! Plenty of coffee and cleaning materials etc. Beers in fridge. Decent wi-fi. Aircon works well. Lots of elevators. Shops within complex open late. Self check in works very well but you must follow email instruction as the resort itself will cannot help if you are not prepared (if arranged via the owner rather than resort). Attractive pool(s) ith towels provided. Friendly pool staff. Easy to get to the apartment from airport - we used ride hailing app.
Very little not to like. The apartment, unlike some in the block, looks out to the street not to the ocean but I don't think it was stated otherwise in the blurb via agency we used
Loved Our Stay!!
Natalie S
What can I say about the Ilakai... we loved it! the staff was wonderful, we enjoyed Cinnamon's for breakfast every morning. The room was lovely, the bed... it was not comfortable, but honestly most hotel beds are not for me (bad back). We would definitely come back. The beaches are within walking distance. We especially loved the Ala Moana beach/park it was not crowded. The buses and shuttles are super close by.
Lovely accomodation and great location
Vanessa H
Thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Ilikai in Apt 1923. A beautiful condo with a city view and all of the things we needed. Good standard accomodation if you’re just needing a place to lay your head at night.
BED BUGS BEWARE
Heidifunk
(Danville, California)
Beware of staying at this property. I experienced bed bugs here. I captured a live bed bug in a solo cup and took it to the front desk. There was no manager on site so they brought down the housekeeping manager to speak with me. She confirmed it was a bed bug but did nothing about it. She questioned why I was bringing it to her attention on my check out date. I explained that was the first time I saw one. She basically accused me of “planting” the bed bug. As if I have the resources or desire to do something like that. I was treated with total disrespect. I had to catch my flight home so I didn’t have time to inspect my luggage or belongings before packing. It was a total inconvenience for me upon returning home to have to leave my luggage and content in my backyard until I had time to thoroughly inspect every item for bed bugs. Bringing these critters home could be disaster. They can live up to a year without feeding and it takes 122 degrees to kill them. I will NEVER stay at this hotel again. The property is 50 years old, dirty, and in need of a total face lift. The only positive was the valet staff were all very friendly, fast and efficient with my car every day.
Dated but clean
Andie2010
(Brisbane, Australia)
We booked through a travel consultant that recommended Ilakai due to no resort fees. We had a 1 bedroom ocean facing condo which was clean had a full kitchen but the oven door would not open due to the double door fridge......
There are 2 double beds which we struggled even being 5'6 & 5'7 both very firm mattresses and were told the unit was only for 2 people so thought yes a queen size or even a king configuration would have been acceptable.
Now this is a private owned room 1616 as I said spectacular veiws to the ocean pool and lagoon, in saying that though there is the right hand side of the Ilikai also looks onto your balcony also on the left another hotel peers in. You get a free show nightly like groundhog day is great first day or two but becames a pain after that. Proximity to Ala Moana shops is great also the number 8,20,19 & 42 will take you past War Museum also to the International shopping complex also the opposite direction to Ala Moana. As I write this August 2019 day pass on the bus for 2 was $11 to hop on and off for the day is the most economical way to see yourself around to walk to free War museum is 2424 steps and a nice walk either along beachfront or roadway paths .
But on finishing
There is free wifi, a kitchen to cook,tv if you watch tv, you get a few pool passes and 2 rolls of toilet paper. There are ABC convenience stores nearby save you dockets bring what you can from home as food is expensive. ALOHA enjoy and Mahalo
A very unique hotel as it is a circle. The check in and concierge area are open air. The rooms were very nice and clean. The beach is just across the street. All rooms have a patio and the view is awesome. Mahalo!
Hotel is steps away from beach and has beautiful views from the lanai, of the ocean!!
SuzyQIllinois
(Illinois)
This hotel’s staff are very friendly and helpful! We were in Room 1202 which is an ocean view room and the view was beautiful! No pool but with ocean few feet away, who needs a pool! The hotel is located in a very pretty area with restaurants nearby. I would suggest getting a 8th floor or higher room due to traffic sounds etc.
Very comfortable place!
130Doug
(Kennett Square, Pennsylvania)
This place took us by surprise, I have to admit. We’d reserved a “partial” ocean view room, but when we arrived, we were immediately asked if we’d like to upgrade to a “full” ocean view room! Of course we accepted, and the next 3 nights were spent in great comfort. The balconies are great, but watch your trunks! One dude’s pair flew off and wound up on the roof of the adjoining restaurant.
My only complaint is that the doors slamming tend to echo throughout the entire floor. If you’re a light sleeper such as I, this might be a problem, but even I’ll admit it wasn’t THAT bad, and it only happened one night....at 3am.
Next door is a GREAT restaurant called Eggs ‘n Things that gives a 10% (15%?) discount to hotel patrons who show their key card.
Super noisy
Mauilove65
We were given a second floor “Ocean Front”room right above the restaurant. Room 204. Not much view as it’s so low. Just the restaurant roof top and the street. Very disappointed. Super loud with the elevator and guest letting their doors slam shut. Couldn’t sleep past 6:00. I’m typing this as I’m in bed Not Sleeping at 6:15 am. We are visiting from Maui. Won’t stay here again and don’t recommend due to the noise. Not relaxing in the least. Also very tiny bathrooms.
One positive is our room is very clean and that is super important so great job housekeeping team!!!
Hotel
HunterN24
(Gold Coast, Australia)
Being one of the first hotels on Waikiki Beach it is showing its age, but still a nice place to stay, you are only in there for a short time, to sleep.
Very handy , right on Waikiki Beach, walk across the street and there is the famous beach.
This place has a lot of potential. It’s in a decent location and the building has common areas that show its former class. But the hotel needs a complete remodel. When I saw the bathroom tub - I immediately thought of the Brady Bunch. The place is clean and comfortable. The beds and linens are nice and the views are great. But a small investment in updating this place would make a world of difference. It feels like a 1980s hotel inside and its 2019. Time for a much needed remodel for the price. I won’t return without a remodel.
Beautiful views and Comfy accommodations!
kdooka
(Wailuku, Hawaii)
After staying here numerous times, i am so happy to say this was my best stay. I requested a room with double beds and happily the request was fulfilled. Upon arrival i was greeted with the reception knowing my name.. that was impressive. The room was beautifully decorated and updated to the nines! I hope i can get that room again! Thank you Aston Executive Center!
Beware. Terrible “Hotel”
MV-Luv
(Marion, CT)
We stayed here due to its proximity to NCL Cruise pier. It is an urban hotel that is really a set of condos. Arriving at 9 pm there were already numerous homeless people on the street in close proximity to front entrance, which is an escalator. Our Uber driver told us not to walk around after dark. The woman at the front desk told us, yes, there were numerous homeless out there, but “if you leave them alone, they won’t bother you.” Not the Aloha welcome we were expecting. So the location, other than being close to pier, is really bad and should be avoided.
To make bad matters even worse, the hotel is just a set of condos managed by a management company and is not managed well. I agree with other reviews that their employees don’t care because it’s not their property, a common issue with like properties. They know nothing of the rooms. We upgraded to a water view and I posted a photo of the view. Hardly any water and lots of industrial equipment. The rooms are suites, but there is no curtain on the French doors dividing the bedroom from the living space. So it cannot be used as a suite, as someone cannot sleep while your partner is watching TV or even reading in the living area. The room was sparse with nothing to sit on except a low quality pull out couch that slid when you sat on it. No rugs or carpet, our room looked more like a dressing room in Macy’s than a hotel room. The air travel above hotel is very loud and disturbing, and our room had a steady set of loud thumps that came on a regular basis, also very disturbing. As a added bonus, if you stay on the weekend, the restaurant is closed. Not even a coffee bar in the lobby with muffins. Nothing! Instead they give you a map to venture among the homeless outside to find a nearby Seven Eleven or Starbucks. The TV operation is also incomprehensible to operate with a explanatory card providing numerous sets of codes to just turn it on. It didn’t work the first five times we tried to turn it on. The simple on/off switch on the remote does not work normally.
In short, I would avoid this “hotel” as it is not a hotel at all and is not safe at night. Need to take Uber to dock anyway do I would recommend staying at a real hotel in a safe area that has basic amenities that this place lacks.
I wish that the room was like the photo
guy d
(Hamilton, NZ)
We stayed here as it is closer to the airport than most hotels in Honolulu. Unfortunately we found that the rooms are run down. The walls in the rooms are in poor condition and the bathrooms are extremely dated. Our suite was very clean and the carpet had been shampoo'ed recently. A large bed as advertised. There are some good restaurants in the neighborhood (10 minute walk). The pool is very basic.
Terrible stay with staff that don’t care and can’t even apologise
T4127SMjohnc
(Sydney, Australia)
Paid for a corner suite with a king bed, get in the room, has two singles. When we raised it with the staff we were told not there fault, they don’t know what are in the rooms.... got moved to a room which was half the size with half the features and no compensation... told we would be called if a room matching our reservation came up (we were staying 4 nights) guess what no calls... I would of let it go if the staff could of admitted the fault and apologized, instead all I got was it’s not their fault and they don’t know what’s in the room... clearly not true! Would not recommend booking here... no guarantees you will get what you paid for! At least our friends on the same booking did... half right!
We are here at the moment in the middle of a 12 night stay. Our daughter us just beginning her study at University of Hawaii so have made this our holiday. Fantastically located in Waikiki, we are on 32nd floor with great views of the ocean and the mountains.
The staff have been extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms are clean, functional and the beds comfy. Great pool area on the 6th floor with loads of loungers. It was a long journey from the UK but glad we are staying here as it is so close to everything. Beach is literally 2 minutes away. Definitely recommend.
No room, no contact, no concern
voyagers51
(Ballarat, Australia)
We were booked into this accommodation for 10 days by a very reputable travel company only to discover upon our arrival that there wasn’t any condominiums available! We weren’t given any explanation for this other than the front desk person telling us that they had “lost” some inventory. Asking why they didn’t contact me the reply was that they didn’t have our details. Why wouldn’t they have contacted the travel company to inform them of the conundrum?
Very unsettling and disappointing to find out that you have to scramble to find accommodation elsewhere even though you have paid for it months in advance!
After several phone calls to our travel consultant in Australia to inform her of our situation, we were eventually directed to a property for our stay some 3 hours later.
No real concern was shown by the Manager but we were thankful that we had a great consultant back home that came to our aid.
Great Location and Nice Condo
329rebekahr
(Sydney, Australia)
I recently stayed at the Banyan in May 2019, we had a 1 bedroom condo with an ocean view on the 7th floor, the room was clean and comfortable with all the amenities including a washer dryer on each floor. Cant wait to get back in November 2019. Its close to everything Waikiki has to offer.
Beware -- Confirmed Reservation with Deposit doesn't guarantee you a room!
Michael K
(Brisbane, Australia)
We showed up at 9PM after a long day of travel with a small child, with a reservation that had been in place for months and a deposit paid, and were told there was no room for us!
Due to an 'overbooking' our reservation had been switched, without any notice or consultation, to another hotel on the far other side of Waikiki. We had been in touch with the hotel as recently as five days before our arrival, and there had been no mention any problems. The staff people had no information about the alternate hotel or what kind of room we had.
With no time to research alternatives, we had to schlep our stuff back outside and wait for another cab. The Banyan said they would pay for the cab (how generous!), but they underpaid the route, leaving us with an ugly situation with the driver on the other end. Now we're spending our vacation in a hotel we had no input in selecting, on the end of Waikiki we didn't want. (We had chosen the Banyan in part for its location near the zoo and its tennis court.) We've stayed at Aston properties literally a dozen or more times. Never again.
Disappointing
Freedom816789
(Idaho Falls, Idaho)
Our room was old, outdated and uncomfortable! Nothing like the photos show. The only things they have going for them is location, price and the pool deck. We arrived at 2:56 and were told we had to wait until 3 to check in because our room wasn't ready, it took more than 4 minutes for the actual check in but whatever. Upon check out they tried to charge me for a roll away bed and when I said we didn't use one they made me wait for someone to physically check my room like I was lying! No ice machine but there is a bucket, the rental kiosk wouldn't let return my movies so here's hoping they don't charge me for those later because I had to return them at the desk and so far they proved to be pretty incompetent!
My wife and I recently stayed for 8 x nights at the Aqua Pacific Monarch. We are both retirees and so the location for us was perfect. 2 x minutes walk from Waikiki beach. Close walking distance to shops and restaurants.
Good feature is the free use of beach towels and also beach chairs. Lovely roof top pool with great panoramic views.
Great cleaning room service and friendly helpful desk staff.
Only slight criticism is that the decor is a little "tired", but that does not detract to the overall good experience of staying here.
Would recommend to potential travelers.
Fabulous Hotel!
beachbunnypei
(Charlottetown, Canada)
I checked alot of reviews and was particular about where we were going to stay, Pacific Monarch had great review and it didnt disapoint. We were on 31st floor with great views of ocean and city. layout was great, bed in one end and dining in middle with living one on other end and a galley kitchen. I was wanting a balcony to sit on but our patio doors opened to a small skinny balcony with was even better as the doors opened about 10 feet bringing the outside in! Staff were great! Beach 4 minute walk, and the hotel has beach chairs, towels and mats, perfect! Location was the best (I am in the hotel busienss so I checked out other properties and can honestly say this was best for value - clean, location, excellent staff, I would stay again!
Friendly helpful staff
geeswayne
(Mount Maunganui, New Zealand)
We were on 22nd floor with great views all over Waikiki from our two balconys. Separate bedroom was nice and comfortable with lots of storage for clothes in drawers and a safe. There was a fully equipped kitchen with oven and microwave and a dining table and comfy couch as well as good outdoor furniture on the balcony. This was great for drying our wet swimming gear and towels. Not too far to walk to the beach and loved the little restaurants close by which were inexpensive.
Excellent location, nice room view and good service
Docelibra
(Shanghai, China)
The location is excellent - 4 minutes walk to Waikiki beach and surronded by numerous ABCS Stores, overall, not noisy but close enough to everything.
Fabulous room view, we like the balcony a lot as we enjoy the wind from the ocean, but there is always a BBQ smoky smell coming from some restaurant nearby. Also the hotel provides beach towels which is quite good.
It's a pity, however, that the hotel doesn't keep luggages overnight. So for those customers who will re-check in after travelling to other Hawaiian islands, they have to take all the luggages with them...
Pacific Monarch
Chris66emma
(Raymond Terrace, Australia)
Love this place and staff so much (especially Danny) that we have returned 9 times in 9 years. Great location. All the staff are sensational from front desk staff, maintenance and cleaning staff. Treat you like family. Wouldn’t stay anywhere else. Just a few blocks from Waikiki beach and central to everything. Rooms are good and the kitchen facilities save you heaps on eating out all the time. Really recommend!
I had been scouting hotels on Oahu for several months before we booked. Places like the Hilton which I’m a loyalty member we’re just massive. Found the Tower with lots of great reviews and decided on it. The place is not inexpensive paying over $800 a night for a 2 bedroom on the 33rd floor. But was traveling with family and there are not many options for two bedrooms on or near the waterfront. Technically the Tower is not on the water but you are just steps to the beach across the road that is in front of the hotel. The staff was incredibly friendly from the front desk to the maintenance staff. Spent one week there and it was truly a great place to stay. Lots restaurants and shops within walking distance. The area is quite busy kind of like the Vegas strip without casinos. We had a full kitchen nicely equipped and actually had a good set of chefs knives. Our unit had a great soaking tub that was enjoyed each night after walks. Only disappointment was the number of homeless in the area that would cause some havoc from time to time. Last day there a couple of homeless got into a fight and one had to go to the hospital all occurred right in front of hundreds of tourists. Overall a great experience and would recommend if you can afford it.
I Will Sure to back here
masahikomurakami
I was able to spend it comfortably.Thank you for upgrading and for arranging your rental car.
The location was good and very satisfying.Just one point,Housekeeping is coming too early.
I'll definitely come back next year.
One of the Best!
llhaynes
Great place to stay! Very clean and the staff was extremely courteous and helpful! Great location, excellent service and very good ammenities. I would definitely stay here again! Oh, we had an oceanview room, but it was beyond my expections! The view was awesome!
Fantastic Family Girls Trip in Paradise!
Elizabeth L
(South Wales, United Kingdom)
Stayed a full week with my mom, grandmother, and aunt the beginning of August 2019. WOW!!!! We had a lovely, spacious 2 bedroom suite with fully equipped kitchen, 2 full bathrooms, laundry facilities, living room/dining room, and a a beautiful patio/lanai area looking out onto the beach. The location cannot be beat! We were directly across the street from Waikiki beach; and we were within easy distance to many shops and restaurants.
All of the staff members here were phenomenal! Any request or question we had was handled professionally and efficiently. The customer service was amazing! Everyone on site was so kind and helpful. The valet service was always very quick and friendly. And they offer nightly turn down service!
I would highly recommend this hotel...waking up to the sound of the waves and beautiful sunrise each morning was refreshing for my soul!
Great service
citadel83
(Mechanicsville, Virginia)
We stayed 4 nights here while on vacation in Waikiki. This place is incredible. The service is fantastic and our view was incredible. The rooms were great and comfortable. I would definitely stay here again. They were friendly and helpful! Our son made several friends at the pool during our stay and despite the language barrier (Japanese) they still had a good time. Also, in the afternoon, they hotel provides ice pops at the pool.
I stayed for a week and appreciated the location, close to the beach and shopping. The room itself was average, the tile floors didn’t appear to get cleaned each day so were gritty underfoot, the shower was big but the shower hose was positioned so water went all over the floor and there wasn’t anywhere to put your products except balanced on the rails and no where for bar of soap.
Please pass on this one
kimevans69
(Beallsville, Ohio)
We stayed 4 days at the Luana. Was going to give this hotel a solid 3 stars out of 5 but while waiting to be picked up by our transfer shuttle I decided I better use the restroom before getting on the shuttle. I was told that I must have a room key to use the restroom......this was 10 minutes after handing mine in. Due to poor customer service I can only give 2 stars. The pool closes at sunset!!! What hotel has these rules?? Had we known about this prior to booking we would have definitely passed. They also advertise that there is a bar, we never seen it open and the restaurant is only open for minimal hours in the morning. Very outdated. Not sure how they can charge a “Resort Fee”.....
Awesome staff
Naimah_ham
I had a great stay at the luana hotel. I had an issue with the first room I was in and Kim and Jessica at the front desk worked hard to solve my problem with an upgrade to allow me to cook during my long stay there. Besides that, all of the staff was amazing, from the valet to the housekeepers to the pool staff. The hotel is always clean, the pool area was great, and the location is perfect. Would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone!
Friendly Staff
I3841TUkimberlyb
(Las Vegas, Nevada)
The hotel was in a convenient location. It is just a short walk to the beach and local shops. The staff was also very friendly and welcoming. The room was clean and had the usual amenities. My only complaint is the bed and bedding. The bed was not very comfortable and the bedding was something you would expect from a one star motel. It was cheap and there was only a single sheet on the bottom that did not stay tucked in and made for a very restless night.
Pretty amazing for a 3-star hotel!
familytime77
(Christiansburg, Virginia)
A real feeling of belonging here. Everyone was so friendly and helpful, the real Aloha spirit! The room was a suite with small kitchen, 2 burners for cooking, and all of the utensils needed. We cooked daily, which saved our budget for special eating out occasions. I enjoyed their Fish Hook restaurant for breakfast. The cooks and servers made us feel so at home. Very good bacon! Generous portions.
The hotel is kept so clean, and smells so good when you enter. Peaceful Hawaiian music is piped into the lobby and open Mezzanine levels, as well as the workout room. Complimentary pool towels and beach towels, as well as beach equipment, at no cost. Swimming pool is small but nice. Barbecue grills available for cooking out by the pool. Gardens to explore on both sides of the hotel with mant exotic plants and birds. Walking distance to many stores and restaurants. Valet parking for everyone. Balcony with great view.We just loved our time here.
My family and I are locals living on the west side. Because of the absolutely ridiculous prices in Waikiki, we usually only stay there when absolutely necessary. Memorial weekend was not one of those times, but our family was in absolute need of some “alone” time and needed a stress free place to recharge. That is what we found at the Aqua Skyline. From the friendly smile at check-in to the 4 walls & 2 beds, our 2 nights of peace and quiet is exactly what we needed to recharge. Thank you Aqua!!
Family weekend stay
Bonez179
(Waianae, Hawaii)
Friendly staff, rooms were a little small but very clean. My room had no kitchen sink, which I found strange. I had to do the dishes in the bathroom sink. The stove worked ok, refrigerator didn’t keep my drinks as cold as it should, but hey that’s what they make ice for.
Awesome location & excellent value - highly recommend
Djterry40
Such a cool vibe when you walk into the open air lobby! The staff was very accommodating and provided beach towels when we needed - everyday. :) Shout out to Michael who was especially helpful in recommending local favorites including restaurants, beaches and other activities. Our room was clean, nothing fancy but just for sleeping and showering anyway. Even though we didn’t pay for a “beach view”, we could still see the ocean from our balcony. That combined with the city and mountain views were breathtaking! Awesome location with just a quick walk to tons of local & chain shopping, restaurants and of course - the BEACH! I was impressed with level of security which required scanning your room card for access to elevators/rooms as well as a security guard manning that area 24/7. There’s also a little shop on the 6th floor in case you forget something like your razor or sunscreen, which I did :) Great experience overall and highly recommend!
Very clean hotel and friendly staff.
Holland B
The room was clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful, especially Michael C. He was always greeting us at the entrance with a huge smile and made my first trip to Hawaii amazing. Even the garage parking attendants were charming and personable! The pool was beautiful. Overall, excellent trip!
Excellent hotel staff and superb manager's kindness saved my wedding anniversary!
GoPlaces526866
Excellent hotel staff and superb manager's kindness saved my wedding anniversary!
The Short Story:
Reserved and paid AirBnB 10 months before.
AirBnB host cancelled last minute. I only found out when I arrived at the building.
Island Colony manager gave me a special deal so I could afford to stay there.
My family could stay at the Island Colony Hotel for 21 nights in August 2019.
Hotel was excellent.
Great Location (Center of Waikiki, 1 block to T-Galleria/Waikiki Business plaza)
Clean and spacious rooms. (Large lanai, good view)
Kind and responsive staff.
Free 43F rooftop cocktail hour on Tuesdays with amazing views!
Great pool.
Nice extras and facilities included.
Free DVD rental, daily newspaper and PlayStation in room.
High power hair drier.
Very good security (key cards needed to enter building and operate elevators)
Free pool/beach towels
Convenience store on hotel 6F open until midnight.
Washers/driers on 6F.
Long Story:
First of all I want to say a big thank you to Marlon (the manager), Rick (the security guard at the main entrance desk), Mike (at the front desk), and the Island Colony Office staff on the 6th floor. Without their kind help, my 10 year wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii would have been a nightmare.
The Island Colony building has both hotel rooms and privately owned condos. I had originally booked and paid for a rental condo on AirBnB 10 months earlier. I always book early to get the lowest prices, otherwise there would be no way I could stay 3 weeks in Hawaii in August. I flew from Japan and got a taxi to the hotel for 31 dollars pre-booked with Charley's Taxis. When I arrived at the hotel and tried to open the lockbox for the room key, the code I had received did not work. I called my condo rental contact and he said "Didn't you get my email?" You can guess the rest. He had sent me an email while I was already on my flight to Hawaii saying that he was cancelling the booking. His reason was "the laws have just changed in Hawaii and this kind of condo cannot be rented for periods of less than 30 days." It turned out that the law had been changed on August 1st, but the condo I reserved 10 months previously had a 30-day minimum stay requirement anyway. So 10 months previously he knew that rule, ignored it and took my reservation anyway. Cancelling my reservation last minute was ridiculously unprofessional. Then, the condo rental contact gave me a number for AirBnB and told me to call that for more assistance. He basically cancelled me last minute and gave me a phone number.
It was at this moment that Rick (the security guard at the entrance desk to the Island Colony building) saw something was wrong and asked me what the problem was, took my name, checked it on the computer, said my name was in the system for that room, and told me to go up to the 6th floor office to get more assistance. He could have sat there and done nothing but he actively helped me and directed me to the office.
At the 6th floor office, another staff member kindly let me use their phone to call the AirBnB number. After speaking to AirBnB they said they would find another Airbnb property of similar price for me and that I should wait for their email. The Island Colony Office staff then personally took me downstairs and suggested I try the hotel front desk to see if they had any spare rooms in case we couldn't get another AirBnB place, and also at least to have somewhere just for that night. She explained my situation to Mike at the front desk and he then searched on the computer for what was available. He managed to find a room, but the price was well beyond my means, but I thought I at least needed somewhere for that night as backup, so he gave me a key to go and take a look at it. It was a really nice room, so I understood the price.
When I went back down to the lobby Mike had taken the initiative to speak to the manager and had been able to get a reduced rate for me due to my unlucky situation. That was really good of him to make that effort when he didn’t have to. So again, another member of staff at the Island Colony had made an effort to help me without me having to ask for it. That was really great in such a stressful moment. AirBnB got back to me and said they could not find another AirBnB property so I should find a hotel instead and they would refund my reservation and cover some but not all of the extra cost. After looking at the internet, I realized even by paying 50% more than I had budgeted, my family of 3 was going to end up in a 1 star small room somewhere in Honolulu, not Waikiki. I could not afford the Island Colony and my anniversary was going to be a nightmare. I even checked how much it would cost to change my tickets and just go back home.
I went back to the front desk and asked one more time if they could lower the cost. I didn’t think they could, but I had to try, and Mike again went back to his manager and asked for me. This time, Marlon, the manager himself came to the front desk and did some magic on the computer and gave me a special price that I could afford. Mike then spent 15 minutes on the computer doing more magic and fixed it to get us a better room with two large beds instead of one king and a rollaway that had been offered before. The manger even added in a complimentary bottle of wine and chocolates to helps us celebrate our 10 year anniversary. I couldn’t believe it! They had saved my vacation. Suddenly needing to find a room with 2 beds and a kitchenette for 21 nights on August 5th in Waikiki on a slim budget? Mission impossible. The extra mile that the Island Colony hotel went to really helped get through an impossible situation. A thousand thanks to all of you!
The Hotel
I usually stay in vacation rentals for longer vacations, but my experience at the Island Colony made me reconsider things. I really did enjoy the daily housekeeping, fresh sheets, clean bins, fresh coffee, toiletries, clean towels, prompt support and other benefits that come with staying at a good hotel. With a vacation rental, you are on your own and when I have had problems in previous vacation rentals (blocked sinks, broken fixtures, ants, cockroaches, no hot water, broken internet), it took time for support or help to come and fix things, and sometimes not at all.
I recommend the Island Colony hotel very much.
Room
The room was a good size and the three of us had no problems living there for 3 weeks. It had two large beds with space to walk around both sides of each bed. It had a bedside table with drawer, light and socket plugs for phone charging. It had a long drawer/shelf unit in front of the beds under the TV with 4 spacious drawers, 2 shelves and desk area with large mirror. There was enough space to open three large trunk cases on the floor and still be able to walk around the room. There is also a double door closet with hangers, shelf space, security box, iron, ironing board (full-size, not mini).
Lanai
The wall with the lanai is all windows to let lots of light in. The lanai was much bigger than my previous experiences in Hawaii. You could fit two king size beds side by side on it. There is a large table and two chairs there so you can eat your breakfast out there or have a drink and stare at the beautiful green mountains on one side. You can also see the beach and ocean through the other buildings on the other side. My room also had a good view of Diamond Head in the distance, too. The hotel is right next to the canal at the back of Waikiki, which gives a nice open feeling. You don’t feel boxed in by other hotels and buildings at all.
Kitchen
It had a fridge, sink, 2 electric hobs, cupboard space above, cooking utensils, cutlery, coffee maker with daily refills of filter coffee (not instant), both caffeinated and decaffeinated. It had a microwave, rice cooker, toaster and also frying pan and a cooking pot. You can use the coffee maker to make hot water for instant noodles, etc if needed.
Bathroom
The bathroom was very clean, with shower and bath. Toiletries were replaced daily and included shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion. The hair drier was surprisingly powerful which was good. (In other hotels I have had the problem of low power hair driers taking ages to do the job and twice actually shorting out the electrics in the whole room.) There were plenty of towels with extras on the shelf under the sink.
Housekeeping
The room was well cleaned and housekeeping was very responsive to our requests. Due to jet lag we were sometimes up late and a quick phone call to the front desk made sure our room was cleaned even if we went out at 3pm. On the second day the housekeeper asked me what coffee I liked and then gave me my preferred caffeinated coffee for the rest of my stay. A small but nice personal touch. When my child left his soft toy on the floor, we returned to find it cutely waiting tucked up in bed. Again, a small but nice touch. When I mentioned the DVD player skipped a few times, the same day it was replaced. In all cases there was fast and courteous responses to our requests.
Staff
I found the staff to be very polite and welcoming. You can build a nice hotel, but you need the staff to make it a great place to stay and this hotel is lucky enough to have that. At large resorts, it is hard to feel that personal touch, but in the Island Colony some staff quickly remembered my name and helped create a welcoming atmosphere. The hotel had an event each Tuesday where from 5-6pm there were complimentary cocktails and snacks on the rooftop (43rd floor, I think.) with some staff members and the manager. The 360 degree views were amazing and it was nice to have a few drinks up there. It all added to a relaxing, friendly atmosphere.
Location
The hotel is in a great location. I have previously stayed at both extremes of Waikiki, near the Marriot on one end and at the Hilton Village and Ilikai at the other. The Island Colony is right in the middle of Waikiki. It is just a short walk (1 block) to Kuhio Avenue and T-Galleria, The Waikiki Business Plaza, Nordstrom Rack, Ross, 24-hour McDonalds, ABC marts and so on. Then just 1 more block to the Royal Hawaiian Shopping center. You are close enough to easily drop off shopping bags in your room and go out again or even take an afternoon rest and go back out again. The location really changed the feel of trip since we were right next to the center of Waikiki. There also major bus stops just at the Kuhio Avenue so you can catch the E bus to Waikele, or the 42 to Pearl Harbor or 13 + A to Pearl Ridge. If you have a JCB card, you can ride the pink trolley for free which also stops nearby.
Beach
You can walk to Waikiki beach and the quickest way is actually to walk straight for 2 blocks, past Ross, through the Royal Hawaiian shopping center, through the pink colored Royal Hawaiian hotel to the beach. We could walk in our flip-flops from the hotel to the beach and never felt it was too far. In fact, we went to the beach more times than we have done on previous holidays because it was so easy to pick up fresh towels from the hotel, walk down to the beach, enjoy it, come back and hand the towels back. Very little hassle. I don’t think the Island Colony can advertise to people that they can walk through the Royal Hawaiian Hotel to the beach, but it is the quickest route.
Other Details
Taxi from airport to hotel 31 USD with Charley’s Taxis. Took less than 30 minutes to get there. Can make online reservation.
Bus to Pearl Harbor Museum 5.50 USD one day adult ticket. (Children 5 or under do not need tickets). Take the No. 42 bus direct to the museum. Took about 1 hour with no changes.
Bus to Waikele Premium Outlets 5.50 USD one day adult ticket. Took about 1h20m with 1 change. Take the E bus, then change to the 433 bus.
Bus to Diamond Head 5.50 USD one day adult ticket. Took about 20 minutes with no changes. Take the number 2 bus to Kapiolani Community College (KCC) and walk from there. Takes about 1 hour to walk up and down the main trail once there. There is a 1 USD entry fee per person including children.
Pink trolley is free for JCB card holders. Before you go to Hawaii, see if your credit card provider can give you another card with JCB instead of VISA. Then you can get free trolley rides when needed between Ala Moana and Waikiki.
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Once again, thank you so much to Marlon, Rick and Mike for saving my anniversary trip. I highly recommend this hotel for anybody considering staying in Waikiki.
I booked this hotel last minute, 5 days prior to stay via Hotels.com, then tried to cancel 4 days prior because of an emergency. They were "happy to cancel" but no refunds were allowed. On hotels.com, I could cancel but Ewa hotel would charge a penalty that was the same amount as my stay. I think that's a great business model, to then make the room available to "other guests who may need a place" so they can sell the room again. But I am not ever going to stay here for the unsympathetic and inflexible approach they have to making money.
Eww...
Wandererz808
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
I checked in here as me and a friend were going out for a night of drinks and did the responsible thing and got a room to avoid a DUI. So we checked in and out the door in 5 minutes. This morning when we woke up I found BLOOD ON THE WALL and a chair has a dent on it!! Like someone had a party before I checked in. I better not be charged for this as I reported this things. I was told housekeeping will be up.. No housekeeping ever came. I felt disgusted looking at blood on the wall and no one coming I showered in case there are more blood in the area. With having the feeling that this isn’t important to them I checked out and reported to the gentleman in the front. His excuse was “maybe they were waiting for you to check out” so to tell me you rather wait for someone to have contact with blood that can contain viruses that can survive 1 week outside of the body. Didn’t have the feeling they cared enough with my complaint as I wasn’t yelling and remain calm and respectful.
Side note. Hotel runs out of parking quickly so be aware and get parking early. Room was nice and good. Except the main complaint above. Hotel is a bit hidden but value was great. Great place for the price but customer service isn’t their strong ability.
Awesome budget hotel
Mitchhawaii
(Kealakekua, Hawaii)
This is one of the better budget hotels. It is also an older property but the amenities, especially for Kamaaina's makes It a great deal.
The staff is extremely helpful and friendly, and you bet I'll be staying here again, versus Pagoda or Ambassador Hotel.
I stayed her for 6 nights for work, so needed parking. The day I checked in, parking was sold out, so they recommended the zoo which is close by.
My room had a comfortable bed, and room was clean. Shower was clean, and water hot. AC cool, no problems at all. My only complaint is one elevator, but it is an older hotel.
Kamaaina use their website for specials because it is an Aston Hotel property.
The person I interacted with the most is Justin at the front desk, who was very friendly and helpful.
I read all of the reviews on another review site, and it's like people pay cheap and expect high class. In this hotels case, you get way more then you pay for.
Midweek staycation
danatsuchitori
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
This may not be a high-end resort like the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach, but their staff, especially hotel manager, Maryknoll, made sure my requests were followed through. Upon my arrival, I had no complications whatsoever like I had at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach. My room with a king bed was ready on a high floor at the end off the hall, just as I requested with hotel manager, Maryknoll, day before my arrival. Upon my checkout at 12noon, hotel manager, Maryknoll, sincerely apologized for no late checkouts, because of a group arrival, and extended her arm with her business card and said if you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to call me. Overall, this hotel may not be a high-end resort like Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach, but their staff and manager just know how accommodate their guests needs without complications.
Suited our purpose
Nomadgirl1946
(Batehaven, Australia)
Staying here beginning and end of May to break the trip between Australia and the US and Canada and return to Australia we found the motel handy to the shops and Waikiki Beach and surrounds.
First stay found us in a clean and comfortable room with lanai. Staff friendly. However, lift was broken for 1 day which meant carrying our bags up 4 flights of stairs.
Return visit we were placed in a very small room adjacent to lift - part of an adjoining suite I assume as there was a locked door in room and we could hear the voices and TV of next room. Felt very uncomfortable with little walking space and one partner had to get out of bed by climbing to the end of bed as it was against the wall. Tap on bathroom basin faulty and we worried we might be held accountable if it completely failed. Not acceptable. We requested another room and the staff obliged.
Our biggest problem was the $15.00 per day service fee which includes US Today (overseas visitors have no topical interest in this paper), water in the foyer (why would you bother sitting in a small foyer to drink water), replenish coffee in room daily (this is normally a part of motel service and the coffee sachets only allow for 2 cups a day), shuttle to Ala Moana shops which one would only use once in a short stay of 3 days and local phone calls which most US motels provide as a part of room costing. This fee also allows for Internet access and in room safe which most motels provide free of charge anyway and additional inclusions (whatever that means). One has to pay this fee but in my opinion it is a form of "made up greed" for more money.
An old motel but clean and tidy overall.
