Halepuna Waikiki: A Boutique Hotel with No Resort Fees – NerdWallet

Although the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani lodge sits within the coronary heart of tourist-packed Waikiki on the island of Oahu, it’s quiet and relaxed. The 284-room boutique lodge affords a refreshing different to the sprawling resorts that dominate the realm.

However the actual 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 increased than Oahu’s common nightly lodge room fee of $272, primarily based on Could 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 damage that the lodge was fairly fancy, too.

In regards to 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 seashore motels. As for the Halepuna Waikiki, this property is comparatively new. It opened in October 2019, however closed for greater than a yr through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lodge 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 motels for his or her upscale model, facilities and repair.

Options embody a rooftop infinity pool with ocean views, plus a glossy 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 one of the best of each worlds in that it has ocean views with out sitting instantly on the seashore. Which means you’ll be able to nonetheless get an amazing view with out the exorbitant beachfront price ticket.

The lodge sits only one block from the seashore on one facet, and one block from Kalakaua Avenue — Honolulu’s foremost purchasing road — on the opposite facet. For the reason that lodge sits tucked away on a facet road, it tends to be a bit quieter than most different Waikiki motels, and it often received’t have as many non-hotel company wandering by means of the foyer.

Halepuna parking is out there, but it surely’s not low-cost. Whether or not you go for valet or self-parking, you’ll pay $50 per day. Given the hefty parking payment coupled with the lodge’s prime, walkable location, you won’t truly desire a rental automobile in Honolulu anyway.

To get there from the airport, it’s often finest to take a taxi or rideshare. Ubers usually value about $30 to $40 between Honolulu’s Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport and the lodge.

Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani has 284 visitor rooms and 4 suites. The most effective views are from the oceanview rooms on increased 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 value 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 bogs 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 an area photographer, and the tub facilities use locally-sourced Hawaiian oils and extracts.

All rooms even have a fridge and low maker. The complimentary refillable water bottles make for an amazing memento.

Key facilities on the Halepuna Waikiki

The rooftop infinity pool on the lodge’s eighth flooring is outstanding.

The world additionally has a sizzling tub, loads of lounge chairs and cabanas obtainable for lease. Conveniently, complimentary sunscreen is out there for lodge company.

A rooftop backyard and grass turf house adjoining to the pool is a pleasant place to sunbathe outdoors of the pool deck.

The eighth flooring additionally affords a gymnasium, which affords pretty customary gear like cardio machines and dumbbells.

One distinctive function caters to the workcation crowd — the enterprise middle and hospitality suite. This room affords work desks the place lodge company can submit up with no reservations required. When you do want to order a personal house, there’s additionally a separate, bookable assembly room that accommodates as much as 24 individuals.

One underrated amenity is a coin-operated laundromat, which can also be situated on the eighth flooring.

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 seashore 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 lodge room fee.

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 lodge foyer. Every dish makes use of high-end and distinctive substances, akin to 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.

Eating choices are slim at Halepuna, however that’s the place Halekulani, its sister property throughout the road, shines. The lodge has a few half-dozen completely different locations to eat, and Halepuna company can cost purchases made at Halekulani again to their room.

Who’s the Halekulani Waikiki finest for?

The Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani affords the right mixture of contemporary but luxurious touches, a tucked-away environment plus a main 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 in search of an opulent and intimate escape in Waikiki, the Halepuna Waikiki is without doubt one of the finest motels in Waikiki.

Reserving the Halekulani Waikiki

There are a number of methods to pay to your keep, so examine costs earlier than reserving. Reserving choices embody:

Direct by means of Halepuna: If you guide instantly on Halepuna’s web site, you’ll be able to make the most of unique affords. These fluctuate by time of yr, however typically embody offers like free breakfast for 2.

I Want Lodge Rewards: The free-to-join lodge loyalty program doesn’t have an enormous presence within the U.S., but it surely serves a whole lot of motels and resorts worldwide. Like most lodge loyalty packages, members can rack up factors to trade at no cost nights. Plus, members have entry to unique charges, early check-in and space-available room upgrades.

The lodge additionally often seems on American Specific Journey, the place it’s a part of the issuer’s High quality Accommodations + Resorts® program. Cardholders who pay with their The Platinum Card® from American Specific can stand up to $200 in assertion credit per calendar yr on pay as you go bookings by means of High quality Accommodations + Resorts® or The Lodge Assortment bookings by means of American Specific Journey. (The Lodge Assortment requires a minimal two-night keep.) Although that card has an annual payment of $695 (see charges and charges), the assertion credit can go a decently great distance in justifying it. Phrases apply.

Plus, AmEx cardholders who guide by means of FHR are eligible for space-available room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit score and late checkout. Phrases apply.