Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
by the TopOfHotel team
Alohilani is the newer-feeling 5-star in the middle of Waikiki — its fresh design and ocean-view rooftop pool make the Hyatt and Hilton rates next door feel like the worse deal.
Alohilani is the newer-feeling 5-star in the middle of Waikiki — its fresh design and ocean-view rooftop pool make the Hyatt and Hilton rates next door feel like the worse deal.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 839 rooms are done in a modern white-and-blue palette with high ceilings and big glass windows. Ocean View rooms cost about 30-40% more than the entry rate, but reviewers say they are worth it for the full view of Waikiki and Diamond Head. Even the standard rooms feel premium, and guests call out the soft beds, good-quality linens, and roomy bathrooms with rain showers. Rates start around $329 a night.
Food and amenities
The two headline features are the floor-7 rooftop pool and the 280,000-liter ocean tank in the lobby. Momosan, from chef Masaharu Morimoto, serves ramen and Japanese fusion that reviewers like, and there are more restaurants and cafes around the pool deck to choose from. The rooftop pool has a bar pouring cocktails all day that stays open late, with sunset views over the ocean.
Location and getting there
The location is excellent — you cross one street to reach Waikiki Beach, and it is a 10-15 minute walk to the International Marketplace and the Royal Hawaiian Center. The hotel sits on the ocean side of Kalakaua Avenue, which puts you in the middle of Waikiki's shopping and dining without being buried behind other buildings.
Things to know before booking
The big one is cost: a Resort Fee and parking are billed separately and add a real amount to the final total, so budget for them up front. The lobby and common areas stay crowded all day because non-guests come in just to see the tank. And rates sit at the high end for the category — the Ocean View rooms in particular run roughly 30-40% over the base price.
Our take
This is the pick for couples and families who want a newer-feeling 5-star in Waikiki. The design reads fresher than the Hilton and Hyatt options in the same area, and being right across from the sand means you can spend a whole easy day moving between beach, pool, and tank. Mind the Resort Fee and parking on top of the room rate — if you can live with that, it is one of the better-value choices at this level.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Sits directly across from Waikiki Beach — cross the street and you are on white sand in about a minute, which matters when you are running back and forth all day.
- The floor-7 rooftop pool comes with loungers and a bar, and the sunset over the ocean from up there is the kind of view people book this place for.
- A 280,000-liter ocean tank fills the lobby, and both kids and adults end up watching the fish for an hour at a time.
- Momosan, the in-house restaurant from chef Masaharu Morimoto, serves ramen and Japanese fusion, and there are several other dining spots on site so you rarely need to leave.
- The whole resort was renovated recently, so the rooms and common areas feel newer than the older 5-stars in the same stretch of Waikiki.
- A Resort Fee and parking are billed separately from the room rate, and together they add a meaningful amount to the final total — budget for it before you book.
- The lobby and common areas stay crowded all day because tourists who are not even staying here come in to see the ocean tank.
- Rates run high for the category, and Ocean View rooms cost roughly 30-40% more than the entry price for the full Waikiki and Diamond Head view.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Book an Ocean View room on a high floor if the Waikiki and Diamond Head view matters to you — it runs about 30-40% over the base rate but it is the reason to stay here.
- Ask up front what the Resort Fee and parking add per night so the real nightly cost does not surprise you at checkout.
- Catch the rooftop pool bar near sunset on floor 7 — it stays open late and the ocean view is the best free thing on the property.