Read mixed reviews on the Halekulani. Is it worth it. we will probably do sightseeing and drive to other beaches. what hotels will likely upgrade us. What about Kahala, Moana Surfrider or Royal Hawaiian, Hyatt or Hilton. We figure Waikiki area would be good since only 3 days before we move on to Maui. Any thoughts would be breat

Here's my thought - don't expect upgrades. Get the room you want and can afford. If you get upgraded, great. If not, at least you have a room you like and can afford.

Kahala is the only one on your list that is not in central Waikiki. Do you care about being right on the beach? They Hyatt is not, for example. Personally for a honeymoon I think the classic Royal Hawaiian would be the most romantic place to stay.

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The Hyatt and some others (the Marriott for ex.) overlook the beach, but you have to cross the street to get to the beach. There are many others that aren't "on" the beach at all.

I think the Halekulani is a fine hotel, right on Waikiki Beach, yet a bit away from the busiest, most congested parts of Waikiki itself. The Kahala is a beachfront property and as suze points out is away from Waikiki, about a 10 minute drive. But Kahala beach is really not great for swimming or surfing, although fine for beach side walking and the hotel has a nice pool area. The Moana is a classic hotel, right in the center of Waikiki, which can be good or bad depending on what you are looking for.

The Hyatt is not at all special. I would chose the Halekulani over the Hyatt any day.

The pool at the Halekulani is gorgeous.

sf7307~ Yes, I agree. There are lots of hotels not on or overlooking the beach in Waikiki. But I was referring to the list the OP asked us about. Those are all ON the beach except the Hyatt & Marriott, right?

thanks for the responses. we would like to be able to walk to good restaurants, walk out to the beach. we do not use the pools much. we also would like if we could do water activities and snorkelling within walking distance to our hotel. but we will most likely drive to some of the sites since only there 3 days. Which hotel would allow us easy access to activities, dining, parking and goint to diamond head, hanauma bay, waimea bay and historical stuff. after that we are going to maui for 5 nights. So it would be nice to find a nice hotel that would allow us to do all of these things easily. We are renting a car

We spent four nights at the Kahala, and it is lovely, but kind of a snooze. Not walkable to restaurants and sites, but also not congested, so it is very relaxing. It might be just what you are looking for after the wedding excitement, as you will be moving on to Maui.

We drove into town to the Hau Tree Lanai for dinner and sunset on the beach. http://www.kaimana.com/dining.htm It is very romantic and an easy drive from the Kahala.

I agree with suze. The Royal Hawaiian would be my pick. It has just recently been completely renovated, too.

Any of the hotels except Kahala are equally convenient to activites, shopping, the beach, restaurants in Waikiki imo.

Agreed. You'll have to drive to all the places you mentioned anyway - Waimea, Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head.

Suze, you're right - I was just trying to get across that while that there is more than one "level" of "on the beach"/"not on the beach". There are hotels where you walk out and are on the sand, hotels where you walk out and have to cross the street right in front of the hotel to get to the sand, and hotels that are neither on the sand nor on the street that is on the sand!

True enough ;-)

We love the Royal Hawaiian and they have totally renovated the hotel but still retaining that old Hawaiian feel..
plus, how can you mess up with a place that has a Mai Tai room!

thanks again -- still not sure which way to go. royal hawaiian now versus halekulani

oh -- which hotel of the RH vs Halekulani have the best ocean front rooms - like being able to see the ocean well from a lanai and watch the waves come in at sunset.