In December last year, as Hawaiian versions of classic Christmas songs echoed across the busy streets of the tropical paradise, I spent two nights at the recently renovated Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort.
The US$80 million renovation has seen the iconic resort (with its origins dating back to the 1950s) reimagined with updated rooms, facilities and the addition of the much lauded Monkeypod restaurant – now the fourth location in the State from Chef Peter Merriman.
Though many hotels in the city – which serves as an easy entry and exit point for US travel for Australian travellers thanks to direct flights from Jetstar, Hawaiian Airlines and Qantas – trade mainly on views, location and comfort as you explore the city, this is a resort in both name and nature.
As I came to find on my recent stay, the Outrigger Reef serves to deliver everything you need in the one location. Suffice it so say, you won’t need to – or even want to – leave. Which may leave some with a conundrum – after all, this isn’t a destination without other things to do, and no trip to the region is complete without exploration of Honolulu and its surroundings.
So what makes this resort so special, and what do the renovations mean for your next stay at the hotel? Read on to find out.
Getting to the hotel
More than likely, you’ll be arriving into Honolulu at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport – Hawaii’s largest. Jetstar, Hawaiian Airlines and Qantas fly here directly in and out of Australia.
The hotel doesn’t offer any transfers, and public transport options are limited, but by 2031 the airport will be connected by rail to the city centre. You can track the progress of the 18.9-mile line, which is now partially open, HERE. In the meantime, Ubers are available and are generally your best option, with plenty of car rentals, taxis and shuttle services also serving as direct transit options. It takes 20-30 minutes to get from the airport to the Outrigger Reef, depending on traffic.
Once you’re in Honolulu, it’s easy to rent a car for the day or longer for excursions, which usually works out more affordable than renting at the airport and parking on site. This goes for most hotels and resorts in the region.
Checking In
Relative to resorts you may have stayed at elsewhere in the world, the Outrigger Reef takes up limited real estate on the crowded Waikiki Beach. But they fit a lot into the space, with an impressive water feature at the entry, a spacious pool in the centre, and 658 rooms across three towers. There’s ten floors in the Ocean Tower (which is where I stayed), 18 floors in the Pacific Tower and five floors of the Diamond Head Tower. This used to be an office space and was recently converted to include accommodation options (including a stunning two floor suite with its own massive outdoor entertaining area), a gym and more.
In spite of the sheer amount of hotel rooms, there was no wait when I checked in. Staff were friendly, and the facilities well designed – there was a lot of room to relax here, had there been a wait. You can also fill up your water bottles here (and if you don’t have one, you will get one complimentary in the room), with Flowater water purifiers in lobby for that very purpose.
A beautiful, massive Herb Kãne painting sits behind the front desk (a replication of an original you’ll find at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum) and there’s a Kãne in every room. They also have the Herb Kãne Lounge opposite check in, with Marques Marzan’s rope art (titled Eia Hawaii, He Moku, He Kanaka) representing the Hawaiian islands sitting against it, separating you from the pool area. Marzan not only designed this piece, but also the leis the Outrigger team wear, ensuring local art is presented in every aspect of this resort experience.
I was staying on the top floor of the Ocean Tower, which meant after checking in, I was able to use an express elevator that took guests to the 9th floor, with a short walk up to the 10th. It was also a club level booking, which meant I had access to the Voyager 47 Club Lounge, and was able to access the facilities of the hotel – including the room itself – through a special wristband. I’ll detail more about the Club Lounge later in this article, but it’s definitely a worthy addition to the experience.
The Room
We were lucky enough to stay in a corner room with one of the most spectacular views of Diamond Head I’ve ever seen (you can see the balcony view at the top of this article).
Getting to wake up to this every morning was truly a privilege – the bed positioned to give you a constant view of the iconic volcanic cone – as was hearing the sound of the waves crashing outside. You very much feel like you’re on TOP of the water in this room – especially on the balcony. And at times, the tide pretty much is directly below you.
As we sat out on the balcony in the morning, we saw turtles swimming around below us, and other marine life in the distance, making us very much feel enveloped by nature.
Naturally, the water view comes at a premium – but no matter the size or location of the room, you’re going to get a similar experience in respect of the interior. And you won’t have any difficult hearing the waves from anywhere in that hotel, I’d have to imagine. You couldn’t be in a better position for it.
We decided to sleep with one of the doors open during the night to fall asleep to the sound of the waves – this meant that the air conditioning turned off, but it was well worth it.
The room itself was spacious and clean – with the sort of carpet designed to keep sand from getting into it (a commonality across designs of most Waikiki hotels). Warm blues, greens and whites set the beach aesthetic, while a large flat screen TV, complete with Chromecast, sat floating in the corner of the room; a smart design choice to give the room as much floor space as possible. In addition to the ability to stream from your phone, there were dozens of live channels to enjoy.
The bed was large and comfortable, with two types of pillow types to meet the needs of a variety of travellers. A tote bag was left on the bed, a gift for every guest. Reusable water bottles were also supplied, with refill stations in the lobby and around the hotel.
Connected to the bedroom was an impressive master bathroom, with two sinks, a private toilet, deep bath and well sized shower. Incredibly comfortable robes were hung on the wall, with equally comfortable slippers sitting beneath them. It will prove a crime not to lounge around the hotel in them.
The window above the bath provided yet another view of Diamond Head, and the fresh orchids in the bathrooms were a beautiful touch.
Our room had a living area as well, which again comes at a premium, but provides ample room for relaxation. With limited time in the hotel, I can’t say we spent too much time in here, but the couch was incredibly comfortable. There’s another TV here, a table and chairs to dine on, as well as a small kitchenette with a sink, microwave and fridge. Perfect for someone who wants to heat up leftovers, but doesn’t necessarily want to cook themselves (there are other suites in the hotel with a full kitchen, however).
A smaller bathroom, complete with shower, sat behind the kitchenette, against the hallway entry. So should you have some kids sleeping in the living room (an additional rollaway bed would no doubt be available on request), they would have their own bathroom to give the parents a bit of privacy.
Given how recent the remodel of these rooms was, there are thankfully USB chargers in the lamps, and ample places to ensure your devices don’t die during your stay.
In addition to a Herb Kãne piece featured in every room, you’ll find other art and photos throughout that showcase a history of the region, provided by the Bishop Museum. These are scattered throughout the resort hallways as well.
Though this room sits on the higher end of the experience at the resort, the bedroom itself is roughly the same in any layout, and the ample availability of additional “resort view” rooms will sit the hotel in an affordable range for many.
The Resort
With a view and a level of comfort like that, it’s difficult to want to leave the room. But luckily the resort gives you so much to enjoy, you’re just going to have to.
Naturally, the pool is going to be your most common destination. The 9ft deep pool – the deepest in Waikiki – sits at the centre of the outdoor area, and is open from 8am to 8pm. There are plenty of pool chairs to lounge on, and day beds that you can reserve. The day beds are comfortable for two people, and can be rotated to avoid direct sun.
There are burgers, bites, cocktails and more available from the Kani Ka Pila Grille, with waiters walking around the pool area to take your order. Towels are available with a card they provide you with when you check in. The grill has live music nightly from 6pm to 9pm, featuring local award-winning artists, plus talent searches once a week. And when they aren’t performing, you’ll enjoy some local Hawaiian tunes as you swim. As we were there just before Christmas, these were of the Christmas variety – which, let’s be honest, is better than regular Christmas music.
The Outrigger Reef is one of only seven resorts in Waikiki with direct access to the iconic beach, and as mentioned, they have embraced that by helping you feel like you are hugging the water in the room. And it’s all easily accessible via a staircase, with some showers right before you hit the sand so you can wash off when you are coming back into the hotel.
Elsewhere in the hotel you’ll find the A’o Cultural Center, with lots of inclusive activities you can sign up for. You can see the activities of the week HERE. I was told that vow renewals are very popular, and happen in the morning twice a week. So definitely make a reservation in advance if you’re interested in that one.
For other activities, you’ll find the Outrigger Activities and Experiences concierge service, and there are a number of local vendors to ensure you have just about everything else you need on site. Anyone who’s been to any hotel in Honolulu before won’t be surprised to learn this includes an ABC Store (a convenience store for tourists), and a Starbucks.
In the recently added Diamond Head Tower, you’ll find a ballroom space, and a 24 hour fitness centre. A yoga instructor is there twice a week (the A’o Cultural Center can set you up with a reservation here), and otherwise you’ll find all the regular gym equipment – including indoor and outdoor Pelaton bikes.
Also in this tower is the Voyager 47 Club Lounge, which we had access to thanks to staying in a club room (more details about these rooms can be found HERE).
This is open for select hours during the day – for breakfast and a pre-dinner treat – with inclusive drinks (like Mai Tais, which are permanently available), and different food every day. We enjoyed everything from tacos, chicken satay and steak, to pesto tortellini, coconut shrimp and “killer bread”, across our two days. On the first, we enjoyed some amazing guava margaritas as the cocktail of the day, as we witnessed a humpback whale breach in the distance from the lounge’s patio, as though they were on retainer from the resort.
Access to this Club Lounge comes with a special wristband which also gives you entry into your room, and the express elevator – which is a great bonus, and gives something of an “all-inclusive” experience.
And that’s not all! The Coral Kids Club just opened, and coming soon to the Diamond Head will be a space for spa services. Elsewhere in the hotel, a banquet space, with one of the resort’s best views, will be turned into a wedding chapel. So keep an eye out for that!
And then there’s Monkeypod…
Chef Peter Merriman’s Monkeypod is honestly worth the trip to Honolulu alone. If you had 5 hours here on a stopover, and could head into town for one meal, this is the one to do. Its farm-to-table approach is second to none, and prices are incredibly reasonable considering the quality – plus they have some amazing lunch deals.
The seared Ahi Tuna (pictured above) was – without exaggeration – one of the best meals I’ve ever had. A mix of flavours unlike anything you’ve ever experienced – my friend described it as a thanksgiving dinner, but with sashimi instead of turkey. Which I thought was quite apt. The perfectly seared tuna was paired with greens, jalapeno mashed potatoes and a gravy to make a mix of flavours that shouldn’t have worked but absolutely did.
Their pizzas are wonderful, too, and they do some great deals on them at lunchtime. Of course we had to try the lobster pizza, and it was delicious – especially with a little squeeze of lemon.
They make their own Ginger Beer and offer 30 beers on tap, and bake their own pies, with monthly specials. In December it was a Ginger Snaps White Chocolate. All this was enjoyed with some live music – on our evening it was courtesy of Kona Abergas. You’ll enjoy local performers through the day and night at this restaurant, a common feature of the region, as well as something you’ll find at all of Monkeypod’s locations across Oahu and Maui.
But yes. This new addition to the resort is outstanding and worth the trip alone.
The Surrounding Area
While you don’t need to leave Outrigger Reef, of course you should. Honolulu is an amazing place worthy of exploration. Taking a walk along the beach – known as the “Waikiki Beach Walk” – is a must for any visitor. And the Holokai Catamaran Company, who offers experiences out of a brick and mortar establishment at the hotel, dock just a short walk down the beach to take guests out on daily cruises. We did their sunset cruise, which is one of the best ways to watch the sun set in Honolulu.
The Sunset Cruise (which retails for around $80), has you meet at the Outrigger Reef hotel, before walking up the beach to board the vessel. The experience includes drinks, and you’ll enjoy Kona beers, a take on the Mai Tai as their on board cocktail, and they have soft drinks and White Claws too. About 50 people set sail with us on this beautiful experience, where I caught the sun make its infamous “green flash” as it disappeared over the horizon. Sadly, it turned out that Humpback we saw the day before may have not been on retainer after all, as we didn’t see much wildlife.
Head to https://www.sailholokai.com/ for more details about their services and to make a booking.
And though you’ll find most of what you need at the on site ABC Store (Honolulu’s most prominent convenience store), there is a Longs Drugs (CVS) a very short walk from the hotel, which is a little more affordable and will have a much wider selection of just about anything you could need while you’re on holiday. It’s also open 24 hours, and we spotted a number of great looking food options along the way.
If you’re looking for more variety, one of my favourite places to eat in Honolulu is the Kuhio Avenue Food Hall, which you’ll find in the International Market Place.
This used to be the site of a lot of local vendors, who were positioned around a giant, 100+ year old Indian Banyan Tree. Sadly, while the tree remains, the local vendors have been replaced by international luxury brands in what is ultimately a fancy outdoor mall now.
But thankfully, some of the spirit of the original Marketplace has been retained in the Kuhio Avenue Food Hall, giving you a number of local options, and a chance to have a beer and try a number of delicacies of the area at once. And yes, you’ll even get to hear some live music here as well.
Head HERE to see all the vendors and the menus.
Final Verdict
With the beauty of Waikiki Beach and Honolulu as your surroundings, staying in a resort that you don’t want to leave may seem like a fairy tale. It doesn’t even ultimately take up that much square footage of the beach! But what the Outrigger Reef have created through their smart design and recent renovations is a destination into itself.
Monkeypod is sensational, the pool area fabulous and the rooms are perfect in their comfort and amenities – not to mention views (depending on your room type, of course). And with tonnes of inclusive activities, its positioning on the beach giving you easy Catamaran access, and local vendors keeping you fed and supplied, this is truly one resort that you won’t want, or need, to leave.
But it’s Waikiki – so all the same, definitely do.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
To book your next stay at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (2169 Kālia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815), visit their official website.
All photos by the author except the pool photo, which was provided by the hotel. The author stayed as a guest of Outrigger Reef for two nights.
