While plenty of premium hotel brands crowd the loud and live streets of Waikiki on the island of Oahu, Renaissance is bravely carving its own identity in the growing Ala Moana neighbourhood with Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa.
The new 39-floor luxury hotel opened earlier this year and has already become a popular place to stay on the island, perfect for shoppers – the Ala Moana Shopping Center is minutes away – as well as conference goers, given the Hawaii Conference Center is a 15-minute straight-shot down Kapiolani Blvd.
There are 187 rooms and suites and an additional 112 residences across the massive property, which is a hospitality powerhouse with a full-service spa and yoga studio, wellness amenities, and Mara, the ground-floor Mediterranean restaurant that’s been one of the buzziest openings of the year.
As expected of the Renaissance brand, there’s a searing residential feel that sets it apart from nearby high-end hotels and an all-encompassing Sky Deck with BBQ facilities, a 25-metre lap pool, two hot tubs, a saltwater swimming pool and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. There’s even a coin-operated laundry, which adds to the residential feel and is a significant value-add for travellers who may be hopping around Hawai’i for weeks.
Swapping beaches for shopping is a bold move for a hotel brand on an island like Oahu. And while there’s a regular shuttle to zip guests down to Waikiki in minutes, a big part of the value is the peace you’ll get from staying off-strip. There’s also the bonus of having no nearby high-rises to contend with, meaning the views from the rooms are spectacular and take in more of Oahu than you’d get at any Waikiki hotel.
Depending on your status, Marriot Bonvoy members also have access to the light and airy Coral Club, where breakfast comes epic views of the island.
Located 15 minutes by car from the airport, the contemporary hotel rests on its convenience, not boxing you into Oahu’s chaotic tourist area.
Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa
Address: 1390 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
Contact: +1 808-921-6155
Nightly rates begin at US$332 per night.
