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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 various 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 once I discovered about how a lot it included. Notably, it supplied 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 sometimes run over $300 an evening (barely greater than Oahu’s common nightly lodge room fee of $272, based mostly on Could 2024 information 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 simple — and it didn’t harm 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 Seashore at Waikiki —one of many oldest (and most well-known) Waikiki seashore resorts. 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 lodge reopened in April 2021 with a number of awards and titles to its identify. That features a AAA 4 Diamond Award, which is a prestigious award recognizing resorts for his or her upscale model, facilities and repair.
Options embody a rooftop infinity pool with ocean views, plus a modern foyer designed with customized lighting fixtures, vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling home windows that provide up a light-weight and ethereal aesthetic.
The Halepuna Waikiki location
The foyer on the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani. (Photograph by Sally French)
The Halepuna Waikiki affords the most effective of each worlds in that it has ocean views with out sitting instantly on the seashore. Meaning you may nonetheless get an excellent 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 predominant buying road — on the opposite facet. Because the lodge sits tucked away on a facet road, it tends to be a bit quieter than most different Waikiki resorts, and it often gained’t have as many non-hotel company wandering via the foyer.
The foyer on the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani. (Photograph by Sally French)
Halepuna parking is on the market, 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 lodge’s prime, walkable location, you may not truly desire a rental automotive in Honolulu anyway.
To get there from the airport, it’s often greatest to take a taxi or rideshare. Ubers usually value about $30 to $40 between Honolulu’s Daniel Okay. Inouye Worldwide Airport and the lodge.
An Ocean View room on the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani. (Photograph by Sally French)
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani has 284 visitor rooms and 4 suites. One of the best views are from the oceanview rooms on greater flooring (flooring 19 via 23), as they’re not obstructed by the buildings in entrance.
(Photograph by Sally French)
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.
(Photograph by Sally French)
The rooms have fashionable facilities, like a bedside and costume 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.
(Photograph by Sally French)
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 bathtub facilities use locally-sourced Hawaiian oils and extracts.
(Photograph by Sally French)
All rooms even have a fridge and low maker. The complimentary refillable water bottles make for an excellent memento.
Key facilities on the Halepuna Waikiki
(Photograph by Sally French)
The rooftop infinity pool on the lodge’s eighth flooring is exceptional.
(Photograph by Sally French)
The world additionally has a sizzling tub, loads of lounge chairs and cabanas accessible for lease. Conveniently, complimentary sunscreen is on the market for lodge company.
(Photograph by Sally French)
A rooftop backyard and grass turf area adjoining to the pool is a pleasant place to sunbathe exterior of the pool deck.
(Photograph by Sally French)
The eighth flooring additionally affords a gymnasium, which affords pretty normal gear like cardio machines and dumbbells.
(Photograph by Sally French)
One distinctive function caters to the workcation crowd — the enterprise heart and hospitality suite. This room affords work desks the place lodge company can publish up with no reservations required. In case you do want to order a personal area, 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 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
(Photograph by Sally French)
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.
(Photograph courtesy of Halekulani)
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, corresponding 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.
Halekulani eating places
Eating choices are slim at Halepuna, however that’s the place Halekulani, its sister property throughout the road, shines. The lodge has a couple of half-dozen completely 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 superb spot for Waikiki brunch particularly, in addition to Waikiki afternoon tea given its ocean views and various menu that embraces each Asian and American delicacies.
(Photograph by Sally French)
Home With out A Key: Then there’s one of the crucial 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 via 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.
(Photograph by Sally French)
It’s all out of doors seating, although there’s an expansive, coated space providing an open-air, indoor-like place to eat.
Kabayaki fries on the Home With out A Key restaurant. (Photograph by Sally French)
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 right mixture of recent but luxurious touches, a tucked-away environment plus a main Waikiki location – all at a aggressive value, 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 likely one of the greatest resorts in Waikiki.
Reserving the Halekulani Waikiki
There are a number of methods to pay in your keep, so evaluate costs earlier than reserving. Reserving choices embody:
Direct via Halepuna: Once you e-book instantly on Halepuna’s web site, you may reap the benefits of unique affords. These fluctuate by time of 12 months, however typically embody offers like free breakfast for 2.
I Desire Lodge Rewards: The free-to-join lodge loyalty program doesn’t have an enormous presence within the U.S., nevertheless it serves a whole bunch of resorts 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 Wonderful 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 via Wonderful Motels + Resorts® or The Lodge Assortment bookings via American Specific Journey. (The Lodge Assortment requires a minimal two-night keep.) Although that card has an annual price of $695 (see charges and charges), the assertion credit can go a decently great distance in justifying it. Phrases apply.
Plus, AmEx cardholders who e-book via FHR are eligible for space-available room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit score and late checkout. Phrases apply.
How one can maximize your rewards
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