This hotel has a long history from bad to better to finally arrived. The latest owners worked with designers to make good use of the original bones of the hotel. The result is a fun atmosphere.
The rooms are situated around a small oval pool whose message clearly spells out “Wish you were here” in tiles on the bottom. They offer free aqua Zumba, free surfboard rentals and adult-only swim times from 6–9 p.m. There are three large, comfy cabanas at the back of the pool area that go for a lot for two hours and for that, you get… the cabana. That’s waaay overpriced and should at least come with a masseuse, in our opinion.
The hotel rooms are very nice with small showers but also original art on the walls and Tori Richard fabric headboards that make each room feel really Hawaiian and hip at the same time. There is a smart TV and a fridge in each room but no coffee maker (however, they will bring their special blend coffee to your room, if you request it). There is both a restaurant and a coffee shop on site and nightly musical entertainment, including projected vintage surf movies (no sound) by the pool. There are off-site activities available for an extra cost, such as surfing, Pilates, block printing, etc. Despite the name, this hotel is a long way from the beach.
The place works for us, and the staff is great. Studios (bungalows) are 285 sq. ft., 1/1s are 480 sq. ft., 2/1s are 612 sq. ft., and 3/2s are 914 sq. ft. 1/1 Penthouses are 300–480 sq. ft. Free parking (unheard of in Waikiki), decent rates and no resort fee make this an easy Solid Gold Value.
412 Lewers St, Waikiki