Although the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani resort sits within the coronary heart of tourist-packed Waikiki on the island of Oahu, it’s quiet and relaxed. The 284-room boutique resort affords a refreshing different to the sprawling resorts that dominate the realm.
However the true standout about this boutique oasis? No resort charges.
I visited Halepuna Waikiki for 2 nights, as a part of an extended journey to Oahu. The resort initially caught my consideration for its lack of resort charges. I grew much more after I discovered about how a lot it included. Notably, it provided complimentary entry to a number of museums that I had lengthy been craving to go to given my household’s Hawaiian heritage.
Although nightly charges usually run over $300 an evening (barely larger than Oahu’s common nightly resort room price of $272, primarily based on Might 2024 knowledge from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority), the free museum entry alone went a great distance in justifying it. With out that complimentary entry, my journey companion and I in any other case would have spent greater than $150 mixed on museum tickets.
That made the choice straightforward — and it didn’t harm that the resort was fairly fancy, too.
Concerning the Halepuna Waikiki
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani is the sister property of Halekulani, On the Seaside at Waikiki —one of many oldest (and most well-known) Waikiki seaside lodges. As for the Halepuna Waikiki, this property is comparatively new. It opened in October 2019, however closed for greater than a 12 months throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resort reopened in April 2021 with a number of awards and titles to its title. That features a AAA 4 Diamond Award, which is a prestigious award recognizing lodges for his or her upscale fashion, facilities and repair.
Options embrace a rooftop infinity pool with ocean views, plus a smooth foyer designed with customized lighting fixtures, vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling home windows that supply up a light-weight and ethereal aesthetic.
The Halepuna Waikiki location
The Halepuna Waikiki affords the most effective of each worlds in that it has ocean views with out sitting immediately on the seaside. Meaning you’ll be able to nonetheless get a fantastic view with out the exorbitant beachfront price ticket.
The resort sits only one block from the seaside on one facet, and one block from Kalakaua Avenue — Honolulu’s essential purchasing road — on the opposite facet. For the reason that resort sits tucked away on a facet road, it tends to be somewhat quieter than most different Waikiki lodges, and it normally gained’t have as many non-hotel company wandering by means of the foyer.
Halepuna parking is accessible, nevertheless it’s not low cost. Whether or not you go for valet or self-parking, you’ll pay $50 per day. Given the hefty parking price coupled with the resort’s prime, walkable location, you won’t really desire a rental automotive in Honolulu anyway.
To get there from the airport, it’s normally greatest to take a taxi or rideshare. Ubers typically price about $30 to $40 between Honolulu’s Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport and the resort.
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani has 284 visitor rooms and 4 suites. One of the best views are from the oceanview rooms on larger flooring (flooring 19 by means of 23), as they’re not obstructed by the buildings in entrance.
These Deluxe Ocean View rooms are likely to price about 15% greater than the Ocean View rooms with obstructed views and about 30% greater than the usual Waikiki view rooms.
The rooms have fashionable facilities, like a bedside and gown charging station with ports for USB and HDMI, plus a Bluetooth connection. Shades are distant managed, and loos have good options like a lighted self-importance and magnifying mirror.
The rooms even have some nods to the native tradition. For instance, every room has a novel photograph taken by a neighborhood photographer, and the bathtub facilities use locally-sourced Hawaiian oils and extracts.
All rooms even have a fridge and low maker. The complimentary refillable water bottles make for a fantastic memento.
Key facilities on the Halepuna Waikiki
The rooftop infinity pool on the resort’s eighth ground is outstanding.
The realm additionally has a sizzling tub, loads of lounge chairs and cabanas accessible for lease. Conveniently, complimentary sunscreen is accessible for resort company.
A rooftop backyard and grass turf area adjoining to the pool is a pleasant place to sunbathe exterior of the pool deck.
The eighth ground additionally affords a fitness center, which affords pretty customary tools like cardio machines and dumbbells.
One distinctive characteristic caters to the workcation crowd — the enterprise heart and hospitality suite. This room affords work desks the place resort company can put up up with no reservations required. Should you do want to order a non-public area, there’s additionally a separate, bookable assembly room that accommodates as much as 24 folks.
One underrated amenity is a coin-operated laundromat, which can be situated on the eighth ground.
Along with the on-property facilities, the Halepuna affords some free occasions and tickets. For instance, company can take part in complimentary, every day surf demonstrations held on the seaside in entrance of Halekulani.
Halepuna company additionally obtain complimentary admission on the greatest museums within the state, together with the Bishop Museum and Honolulu Museum of Artwork. On condition that normal grownup admission prices $34 to the Bishop Museum and $25 to the Honolulu Museum of Artwork, that alone may go a great distance in justifying the resort room price.
Halepuna Waikiki eating places
The Halepuna has two eating places:
Halekulani Bakery: This morning spot serves espresso and pastries, and it’s most well-known for its Halekulani Coconut Cake.
Umi By Vikram Garg: This seafood-centric restaurant open for breakfast and dinner is situated within the resort foyer. Every dish makes use of high-end and distinctive substances, reminiscent of fried rice made with seafood, bacon and koshihikari rice. Even the pancakes are elevated; the “Mai Tai Pancake” is served with caramelized pineapple and a rum-coconut essence.
Halekulani eating places
Eating choices are slim at Halepuna, however that’s the place Halekulani, its sister property throughout the road, shines. The resort has a couple of half-dozen totally different locations to eat, and Halepuna company can cost purchases made at Halekulani again to their room.
La Mer: The award-winning La Mer serves French delicacies with ‘flavors of Hawaii.’
Orchids: Although it’s open all day, Orchids is a good spot for Waikiki brunch particularly, in addition to Waikiki afternoon tea given its ocean views and numerous menu that embraces each Asian and American delicacies.
Home With out A Key: Then there’s one of the vital well-known eating places in Waikiki: Home With out A Key. Although it’s not fancy, it’s nonetheless an elevated spot for lunch, dinner or drinks. Don’t plan on dashing by means of a meal right here, because the draw is having fun with the Hawaiian music and hula performances held in entrance of the restaurant’s century-old kiawe tree.
It’s all outside seating, although there’s an expansive, lined space providing an open-air, indoor-like place to eat.
The meals is simply nearly as good because the vibes. There’s all kinds of burgers, fish and flatbreads. The spotlight, although, is discovered on the sundown cocktail menu: kabayaki fries. With this dish, fries are doused within the well-known Japanese sauce, after which topped with furikake, garlic, onions and kewpie mayonnaise. Don’t miss it.
Who’s the Halekulani Waikiki greatest for?
The Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani affords the proper mixture of contemporary but luxurious touches, a tucked-away environment plus a first-rate Waikiki location – all at a aggressive worth, particularly contemplating the absence of resort charges.
The complimentary cultural entry and unique privileges on the Halekulani elevate the expertise even additional. For vacationers looking for an opulent and intimate escape in Waikiki, the Halepuna Waikiki is likely one of the greatest lodges in Waikiki.
Reserving the Halekulani Waikiki
There are a number of methods to pay on your keep, so evaluate costs earlier than reserving. Reserving choices embrace:
Direct by means of Halepuna: Whenever you e-book immediately on Halepuna’s web site, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of unique affords. These differ by time of 12 months, however typically embrace offers like free breakfast for 2.
I Choose Resort Rewards: The free-to-join resort loyalty program doesn’t have an enormous presence within the U.S., nevertheless it serves tons of of lodges and resorts worldwide. Like most resort loyalty applications, members can rack up factors to change without cost nights. Plus, members have entry to unique charges, early check-in and space-available room upgrades.
The resort additionally normally seems on American Specific Journey, the place it’s a part of the issuer’s Effective Motels + Resorts® program. Cardholders who pay with their The Platinum Card® from American Specific can stand up to $200 in assertion credit per calendar 12 months on pay as you go bookings by means of Effective Motels + Resorts® or The Resort Assortment bookings by means of American Specific Journey. (The Resort Assortment requires a minimal two-night keep.) Although that card has an annual price of $695 (see charges and costs), the assertion credit can go a decently great distance in justifying it. Phrases apply.
Plus, AmEx cardholders who e-book by means of FHR are eligible for space-available room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit score and late checkout. Phrases apply.