Preliminary stages of a trip in which we will have one week in Hawaii in July 2019 (after one week in Alaska - I know this is bizarre but work with me here lol). I have enough Starwood/Marriott points to stay for 7 nights so if anyone has specific experience with any of their hotels in Oahu I'd appreciate input. Does it make sense to move geographically across this island and stay in two different locations during the week? Travelling with two teenage boys and our goal is outdoor exploration/unique experiences for this region (for example, Pearl Harbor is a must....I'm seeing pineapple farms might be interesting...).

Any input on the "where to stay" to make the most of this week would be appreciated!

If it was me, I would go for the Moana Surfrider - one of two vintage Waikiki hotels and good with your Starwood points. It's beautiful, historic, beachfront and central to Waikiki. You can not go wrong, IMO.


Stay here the whole time and do some day trips. It's a manageable island. Waikiki Resorts | Moana Surfrider - A Westin Resort & Spa | Waikiki Beach



If you don't do vintage, do the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani

Oahu Resorts | Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel | Waikiki Hotels

I'd stay put. The Marriott hotels that aren't in Waikiki are the Courtyard North Shore (I wouldn't trade a nice hotel in Waikiki for a Courtyard), and the Ko Olina Beach Club (very nice, but removed, in a planned development). Waikiki is well-located for both staying put and for traveling to other locations (Kailua/Lanikai/Diamondhead to the east, Pearl Harbor to the west, the north shore beaches and Haleiwa to the north, etc.)

Even though Waikiki isn't the greatest beach and Kalakaua Ave, especially around the Moana can be a jungle of tourists, noise, traffic, and the ubiquitous ABC stores which sell everything I agree that the Moana IS a better choice than the Marriott.

Let's face it, years ago that street had the hotels and was full of t-shirts shops and that's about all. And then the Japanese and later the Chinese tourists started to show up and things changed forever. It's Honolulu and its Waikiki and to deny that it exists is crazy...go there at least once and enjoy that hotel with its "tower" and its dark upper hallways and the legendary Sunday Brunch (make reservations NOW) on the lanai.

HOWEVER, be warned that the hotel has recently undergone a worker strike action.

Most of the beachfront hotels in Waikiki are now under the Starwood/Marriott umbrella. Like others have said, I do love the Moana Surfrider, but the Royal Hawaiian is lovely as well. There is a Sheraton right next door to it as well. Go to the Marriott site and take a look at your options. The one I don't recommend is the Marriott, which is across the street from the beach.

Thanks all - truly appreciate the insight and now I feel good about booking 😀

Does it make sense to move geographically across this island and stay in two different locations during the week?

No. I would pick one hotel in Waikiki and use that as your base (sorry don't know about the starwood/marriott properties).

Not on the beach, but we quite liked The Laylow. But we viewed our stay as a city break rather than a beach vacation. Still, the pool was nice and it had a good boutique vibe.

another vote for the Moana and staying in one place.

My dad was an exec with Sheraton for years and I have stayed in all the Sheratons/Starwood/Marriotts in Hawaii. In Waikiki, the Moana and the Royal Hawaiian are the grand old ladies...vintage hotels on the beach. Great, pricey and with a vibe that is great. Both have been updated over the years so they have modern amenities. The Waikiki is also a nice though more modern hotel also on the beach. The Princess kaiulani is more of an older budget hotel. Acrosss the street and a little dowdy. I wouldnt bother there.
You can cover pretty much anything you want on Oahu by car operating out of Waikiki (I grew up a mile out of Waikiki and with a car it never stopped me from hitting the North Shore for waves or parties etc). You will experience some traffic as our population is lots bigger than it used to be. It is also an early to rise society driven by the sun, past lives on plantations driven by the agriculture cycle. Waikiki stays open later at night but some of the suburban areas are shut down by 10pm. You can drive around the entire island though it does get a little slow sometimes on the North Shore but we have some major highways too.