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The Royal Hawaiian
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is a 529 room, luxury resort located directly on the sands of famed Waikiki Beach. Opened in 1927, this hotel delivers all the excitement of Waikiki Beach combined with the quiet elegance of a property that embraces the history of old Hawaii. The Royal Hawaiian completed an $85 million renovation in 2009 and is now branded as a Luxury Collection Property. The rooms have been renovated, a new pool has been built, the existing one remodeled and the restaurants have been refashioned in true Luxury Collection style. The resort now incorporates a remarkable blend of the history and style of classic Hawaii with the luxury of a modern, world class property
What you first notice is that the hotel is pink ... hence its nickname "The Pink Palace of the Pacific". When I first arrived at the Royal Hawaiian I felt like I was home. There is a feeling of old world Hawaiian charm and style as soon as you step into the lobby. There is a real sense of relaxation and calmness that is an amazing contrast to all the hustle and bustle that exists in Waikiki and Oahu. For us, the allure of the Royal Hawaiian is its connection to classic, historic Hawaii.
Here's our lowdown on The Royal Hawaiian
- Our Favorites -
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| Royal Hawaiian private beach on Waikiki |
BEACH - One of our favorite activities at the Royal Hawaiian is to lounge on world famous Waikiki Beach. The Royal Hawaiian has a roped off section of the beach that is reserved for hotel guests. An attendant or "Beach Boy" helped us get set up and provided us with a beach umbrella which helps provide protection from the midday sun. Many people get down to the beach early to reserve their lounge, but we were always able to get a lounge whenever we wished to enjoy the beach. By staying at the Royal Hawaiian, you are able to enjoy the beach from the comfort of your own, private beach sanctuary.
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| Corridor to the Tower Wing with classic Royal Hawaiian style! |
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| Beautiful Architecture of the Lower Lobby |
HISTORIC HAWAII - When you stay at the Royal Hawaiian, you get a feeling of historic Hawaii from the "old days" ... when travel was elegant and the great hotels of the time had a feeling of glamour. The rooms in the historic wing of the hotel (our favorite wing) are unique and have great character including hand carved native wood doors. Throughout the hotel, you will find amazing examples of the architecture from the early 20th century. When we stay at the Royal Hawaiian, we feel a sense of history and style that takes us back to a kinder, gentler time. If you want a narrative of the hotel, there is a short guided tour of the hotel that provides much insight into one of the grandest hotels in the world. At the Royal, there is history on every wall and around every corner. When you stay at the Royal Hawaiian, make sure you soak up the memories and old world charm of the Pink Palace of the Pacific.
SHOPPING - 
The shopping near the Royal Hawaiian is perhaps the best you will find in any tropical location. Located just a two minute walk from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel are shops from such world class brands as Hermes, Kate Spade, Bvlgari, Cartier, Channel, Fendi, Gucci and many more. But the shopping is not limited to luxury names. At the international market, an island tradition, you can find over 130 carts, shops and artisan stands, in this open-air, casual setting. This is a great place to pick up souvenirs or gifts at low prices (don't forget to use your bargaining skills!).
There really is something for everybody. If you love to shop, the Royal Hawaiian is a great home base.
OTHER ACTIVITIES - Another terrific feature of being centrally located at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel are the many activities to choose from. There is snorkeling at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, touring the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, visiting the Bishop Museum, touring the Polynesian Cultural Center, visiting the Dole Pineapple Plantation, hiking to the top of Diamond Head crater or a drive to North Shore to see world famous Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline. These adventures along with all the ocean activities plus all the excitement of Waikiki, means you will never be bored when staying at the Royal Hawaiian.
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| Mai Tai Bar |
DON'T MISS
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The Mai Tai Bar - I call the Mai Tai Bar my happy place. I just love sitting in the Mai Tai Bar, sipping a Pink Palace (a pink, piña colada cocktail that I love), and watching the surfers on Waikiki with Diamond Head in the background. I never get tired of the views and can sit there for hours (and have!). The Mai Tai Bar is world famous and is a must see for anyone who visits Waikiki. You will see many folks just come by for a drink, just to say they have been to the Mai Tai Bar.
- Other Good Stuff -
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| Abhasa Spa |
Spa - The Abhasa Spa offers treatments in outside cabanas in a tropical garden setting or in traditional treatment rooms. The treatment I had was wonderful (80 min. Lomi Lomi) and there are plenty of massages and treatments to choose from, many with a local Hawaiian flair. The spa had a very nice relaxation room and was very comfortable. The staff at the spa was very accommodating and was very helpful in getting me set up for a treatment. Don't forget to fit in time to be pampered at the Abhasa Spa during your stay at the Royal Hawaiian.
Service - The service at the Royal Hawaiian was exceptional and we felt like everyone took a real interest in making our stay special. We love the feel of the Royal Hawaiian and it seems the staff really connects with the guests. We also felt a sense of Hawaiian heritage and pride from the staff, many of whom have been with the hotel for years. There were some inconsistency in service such as turn down and housekeeping, but any issues were quickly addressed. Front Desk, check-in and concierge were awesome. Whenever we had a question, someone was there immediately to help.
- Other Good, but be careful -
Room - There are two wings at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel - the Historic Building and the Royal Beach Tower. The Historic Building rooms have recently been remodeled as part of the $85 million renovation. We always stay in the Historic Building because we love the old Hawaiian charm that we feel in this part of the hotel. But both wings have great attributes that will fit whatever you are looking for in a room.
Royal Beach Tower
The Royal Beach Tower has both suites and standard rooms. All rooms come with flat-screen television, work desks, high speed internet access and all the amenities you would expect in a contemporary, luxury room. The best attribute of Royal Tower rooms are the ocean views from each room. Each room has a private lanai that that is perfect for enjoying the amazing views of Waikiki. We were disappointed that they did not have soaker tubs in the bathrooms, but the bathrooms were nice size and well appointed. If you are looking for what we would call a traditional luxury room, the Beach Tower is a great option.
Historic Building
If you are looking for an experience of Hawaii from long ago, you will want to give the Historic Building a try. In this wing you get much more of the historical aspect of the Royal Hawaiian. The rooms have been recently renovated and furnished with custom dark woods, flat-screen televisions and new paint and wall coverings. Although the rooms have been updated, there are some things you will want to think about when choosing your room.
- Most bathrooms have been upgraded with marble and glass showers.
- There is a great feeling of history and one gets a true Hawaiian vibe while staying in this wing.
- Rooms can be small. Also, the room size and layout varies from one to another. This is due to the architecture of the property.
- Bathrooms can be very small. If you are expecting a soaker tub or double vanity, you will not find these in the standard historical rooms.
- Rooms do not have a lanai.
Now understand the Royal Hawaiian is one of my favorite places in the world. But we think it is important to give you the full run down on the rooms. For us, the history and charm of the Historic Rooms outweighs and challenges with small rooms, no soaker tubs, small bathrooms and no lanai. If you want a more typical room, the Tower Wing might be a better option. Either way, just be prepared and know all the info going in and you will have a great time at the Royal Hawaiian!
Resort Information
The Royal Hawaiian - [Link to Hotel Website]
2259 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Hotel Photos
Room Rates
Room & Suite Descriptions
Special Offers
Resort Room Prices
When we travel, we always look for the best deal and do not mind traveling during the off season to get the lower prices. This means you may not get to travel at the optimal times based on Temperatures and Rainfall
(see charts below). At The Royal Hawaiian, the rack rates are consistent throughout the year, but during the lower seasons we were able to find some very good deals. During the summer months and holiday seasons, we expect to pay more (as is the case for most of Hawaii).
Packages and Special Offers - Many times you can save some money by taking advantage of packages that the Resorts offer. To see the latest packages that The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is offering, please click the following link: Special Offers - The Royal Hawaiian.
Map of The Royal Hawaiian
View Larger MapWeather in Honolulu on Oahu
The weather in Waikiki, on the island of Oahu is your typical, tropical weather ... mild and beautiful year round. The weather on Oahu is diverse, it can be cooler and wet in the mountains right above Waikiki, while the sun is warm and dry and inviting at the Royal Hawaiian Resort on world famous Waikiki Beach. The most frequent forecast for Honolulu is cloudy or partly cloudy; this is because at some point in the day, you are probably going to get some clouds. But not to worry, this forecast is common for many areas in the tropics and doesn't necessarily mean rain. So be prepared for great weather in Waikiki, and remember if you do get some rain it usually doesn't last very long.
We have been to Oahu many times and rarely have we had trouble with the weather. We have gone in early December and the weather is usually very nice. Any rain is usually just showers and many times we would be back out on the beach in an hour or so. We have always found the weather in Oahu to be great. If you go in the winter months, just realize you have a greater chance for rain, but remember, the sun is usually not far behind.
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| Click to See Larger Chart |
Rainfall - Whenever we go on vacation, trying to avoid rain is always high on our list. My husband is especially fanatical about this. In Hawaii, you get the most rain in the winter months from November to March. But even in the wet months, the rain does not usually last very long. Also, there are many micro climates on Oahu; you can have rain in one area and dry weather in another. The Royal Hawaiian is on the leeward side of the island that gets less rain than most places on Oahu. If you really want to avoid the chance of rain, the summer months offer the lowest rainfall of the year. It can cost more to travel during the high season summer months, but if you really want to avoid rain, this might be a good option for you.
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| Click to See Larger Chart |
Temperature - The chart at the right shows the average temperatures for Waikiki. As you would expect the average temperatures (as well as the humidity) increase fairly significantly in the June-October time frame. The trade winds that blow from the northeast provide some relief from the heat, but it can still get fairly hot in the summer. During the winter months, it can get a little cooler in the evening so it is probably a good idea to bring a sweater or light jacket. Otherwise, sit back and be prepared to enjoy the magnificent Hawaiian weather. Don't forget your sunscreen.
Before you go to Oahu, or anywhere in the Hawaiian Islands, it is always wise to keep a watch on the weather.
Check out the latest weather for Honolulu on Oahu:
Hurricanes are not common for the Hawaiian Islands. Still, it is always good to keep watch on the weather before you leave for your tropical vacation.
To check for storms around Hawaii and the Central Pacific, please click the following link : National Hurricane Center: Central Pacific.
Or check the Accuweather Hurricane Center
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