Halekulani

The service was outstanding throughout the property. Restaurants, spa, front desk. business center, everywhere we went the service was excellent. Loved the food especially Le Mer.

We'll always fondly remember the five nights we spent here in February. Yes, it's expensive and the beach directly in front of the hotel is poor. But you can quickly walk down Waikiki Beach, and everything else about the hotel is fabulous. The breakfast buffet outside in the morning is a wonderful experience.

My husband and I just returned to New York from Oahu today. We stayed 4 nights at the Halekulani after a wedding in L.A. This hotel is clean & comfortable, and the staff is friendly. We had a Diamond Head view room & the view was perfect. We spent evenings at the House Without a Key having mai tais and watching hula, which was sooo relaxing & laidback. I'd read some stupid online complaints about the hotel before I booked but I am a fussy traveler (especially regarding cleanliness) and I was absolutely satisfied w/ our stay. We went to Dolphin Quest at the Kahala & felt so thankful not to have stayed there. It seemed cold, austere, and dark compared to the Halekulani (although Dolphin Quest was great). They do have an evening "dress code" but it really seemed to be for La Mer more than anywhere else & we saw all kinds of casual clothes in the public areas at all hours. My husband has stayed at Ritz locations on the mainland for business & he was impressed by the Halekulani, as well. Treat yourself & pick this hotel. It is wonderful. One note: If you have kids, you may want to choose a place geared toward them, with activities & babysitting services.

Sitting on your balcony looking at diamond head overlooking the ocean is heaven. You are right in the middle of a busy area but feel that you are miles away from everything. The ambiance and service of the hotel are amazing and worth the money. We have been there twice and will return. Try the romance package, it wont disappoint you.

We stayed at the Halekulani for two nights this past Christmas (Dec. 22nd & 23rd) and were impressed by the service and special touches. Upon checking-in, we were escorted to our room by the Manager who answered many of our questions about the hotel. A plate of fresh fruit, box of chocolates, and juice(2 bottles) and water(two bottles) were waiting for us in our room--all complimentary. Later that evening guests of the hotel were invited to a "Managers Reception" where they had hot appetizers and an open bar. The food was very good and the champagne plentiful. There isn't much of a beach, but the pool is sufficient. Pool attendants circle the grounds offering cold face towels and fruit bars. I am not a fan of Wakiki/Honlulu, but the Halekulani made our stay worthwhile.

We arrived Christmas eve to an average lobby with barely any holiday decorations. Because we were checking in before 3pm, my husband and I were taken to the lounge to "check-in". We weren't told of the procedure so we had to ask the employee to inform us what was going on. I don't find it necessary to take guests to another location just to check in. We were told our bags would be taken care of while we walked around Honolulu - five hours later we came back to the hotel and saw that our luggage had been sitting outside, in the sun, the whole time. This was unacceptable. We were escorted to our room so we could have a proper tour of the room. When we entered the room, my jaw dropped - stains on the carpet and furniture that clearly is the same since the hotel opened in the 80's. For the $600 we were paying a night, this is unacceptable. The couch had food stains and the glass on top of the TV cabinet hadn't been wiped down in a long time. Also, the TV screen was clearly wiped with a dirty rag as we could see streaks everywhere. When we walked out to the balcony, we saw the chairs had bird poop on them. We always stay at high-end hotels, Four Seasons, Peninsula, etc. and pay the same prices for better quality and clean rooms. As we decided to make the most of the situation, we went to the concierge desk to seek help on what to do after we visit Pearl Harbor. The young man, didn't have any "good" suggestions and was helpful. Overall, I would not recommend the Halekulani Hotel. It is overrated for the area we were visiting.

Outstanding service and lovely location. You will never want to leave.