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 once I realized 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 increased than Oahu’s common nightly lodge room price of $272, based mostly on Might 2024 knowledge from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority), the free museum entry alone went a good 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.
Concerning 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 accommodations. 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 title. That features a AAA 4 Diamond Award, which is a prestigious award recognizing accommodations for his or her upscale model, facilities and repair.
Options embody a rooftop infinity pool with ocean views, plus a smooth 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 foyer on the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani. (Picture by Sally French)
The Halepuna Waikiki affords the very best of each worlds in that it has ocean views with out sitting instantly on the seashore. Meaning you’ll be able to nonetheless get an ideal 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 principal buying avenue — on the opposite facet. For the reason that lodge sits tucked away on a facet avenue, it tends to be a bit quieter than most different Waikiki accommodations, and it normally gained’t have as many non-hotel visitors wandering by the foyer.

The foyer on the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani. (Picture by Sally French)
Halepuna parking is out there, however 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 really need a rental automotive in Honolulu anyway.
To get there from the airport, it’s normally finest 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. (Picture by Sally French)
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani has 284 visitor rooms and 4 suites. The perfect views are from the oceanview rooms on increased flooring (flooring 19 by 23), as they’re not obstructed by the buildings in entrance.

(Picture by Sally French)
These Deluxe Ocean View rooms are inclined to value about 15% greater than the Ocean View rooms with obstructed views and about 30% greater than the usual Waikiki view rooms.

(Picture 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 vainness and magnifying mirror.

(Picture by Sally French)
The rooms even have some nods to the native tradition. For instance, every room has a singular photograph taken by an area photographer, and the bathtub facilities use locally-sourced Hawaiian oils and extracts.

(Picture by Sally French)
All rooms even have a fridge and occasional maker. The complimentary refillable water bottles make for an ideal memento.
Key facilities on the Halepuna Waikiki

(Picture by Sally French)
The rooftop infinity pool on the lodge’s eighth flooring is outstanding.

(Picture by Sally French)
The world additionally has a scorching tub, loads of lounge chairs and cabanas obtainable for lease. Conveniently, complimentary sunscreen is out there for lodge visitors.

(Picture by Sally French)
A rooftop backyard and grass turf area adjoining to the pool is a pleasant place to sunbathe outdoors of the pool deck.

(Picture by Sally French)
The eighth flooring additionally affords a fitness center, which affords pretty commonplace tools like cardio machines and dumbbells.

(Picture by Sally French)
One distinctive function caters to the workcation crowd — the enterprise middle and hospitality suite. This room affords work desks the place lodge visitors can submit up with no reservations required. When you do want to order a personal area, there’s additionally a separate, bookable assembly room that accommodates as much as 24 folks.
One underrated amenity is a coin-operated laundromat, which can also be positioned on the eighth flooring.
Along with the on-property facilities, the Halepuna affords some free occasions and tickets. For instance, visitors can take part in complimentary, every day surf demonstrations held on the seashore in entrance of Halekulani.
Halepuna visitors additionally obtain complimentary admission on the greatest museums within the state, together with the Bishop Museum and Honolulu Museum of Artwork. On condition that basic grownup admission prices $34 to the Bishop Museum and $25 to the Honolulu Museum of Artwork, that alone may go a good distance in justifying the lodge room price.
Halepuna Waikiki eating places

(Picture 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.

(Picture courtesy of Halekulani)
Umi By Vikram Garg: This seafood-centric restaurant open for breakfast and dinner is positioned within the lodge foyer. Every dish makes use of high-end and distinctive substances, resembling 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

Kabayaki fries on the Home With out A Key restaurant. (Picture by Sally French)
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 visitors can cost purchases made at Halekulani again to their room.
Who’s the Halekulani Waikiki finest for?
The Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani affords the proper mixture of contemporary but luxurious touches, a tucked-away environment plus a primary 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 looking for an expensive and intimate escape in Waikiki, the Halepuna Waikiki is without doubt one of the finest accommodations in Waikiki.
Reserving the Halekulani Waikiki
There are a number of methods to pay in your keep, so examine costs earlier than reserving. Reserving choices embody:
Direct by Halepuna: Whenever you e book instantly on Halepuna’s web site, you’ll be able to make the most of unique affords. These range by time of 12 months, however typically embody offers like free breakfast for 2.
I Favor Resort Rewards: The free-to-join lodge loyalty program doesn’t have an enormous presence within the U.S., however it serves a whole lot of accommodations and resorts worldwide. Like most lodge loyalty applications, members can rack up factors to trade totally free nights. Plus, members have entry to unique charges, early check-in and space-available room upgrades.

The lodge additionally normally seems on American Specific Journey, the place it’s a part of the issuer’s Positive Accommodations + 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 by Positive Accommodations + Resorts® or The Resort Assortment bookings by American Specific Journey. (The Resort 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 good distance in justifying it. Phrases apply.
Plus, AmEx cardholders who e book by FHR are eligible for space-available room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit score and late checkout. Phrases apply.