Summer has arrived and with it, expanded flights to Honolulu, Oahu – making it an ideal time to experience plenty of new hotel and restaurant openings in the Aloha State of Hawaii.
With natural beauty, historic landmarks, rich culture, unique cuisine and temperate weather year-round, Oahu has a longstanding reputation as a tropical vacation paradise. This year, the island has continued to reinvent itself with a slew of high-profile hotel and restaurant openings that are revitalizing downtown Honolulu. The birthplace of modern surfing attracts beginners and pros alike with exciting new venues that blend culture and entertainment. Hawaiian Airlines is adding more flights between Honolulu and Austin, Boston and Las Vegas, and increasing daily flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles to meet the growing demand.
Experience Oahu’s First Adults-Only Hotel, Opening this June
Romer House Waikiki, the first adults-only hotel on Oahu, will open its doors this month. An intimate, grown-up hideaway nestled in the heart of lively Waikiki, Romer House is the new cool kid on the block with a moody, sophisticated ambiance and exclusive programming and perks that encourage guests to get out and explore. Designed as a love letter to the neighborhood, Romer House offers mid-century inspired guestrooms, an energetic Japanese-Hawaiian dining concept and vibrant cocktail scene – plus one of the only spots in Waikiki to grab a late-night drink or bite – rotating selection of local artwork and second-floor pool meant for socializing and relaxing sans-kids. Rooms start at $195 per night.
Dine at MARA and Soak in Oahu’s First Ofuro Japanese Tubs
Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa made its debut in February 2024 and offers easy access to the city's bustling center and world-renowned beaches. Guests can savor culinary delights in an array of curated dining options including signature restaurant, MARA, offering a Mediterranean-inspired sea-to-table menu, as well as a private club lounge, coffee shop and poolside al fresco dining. Renaissance Honolulu includes 187 meticulously designed rooms and suites and 112 residences, boasting panoramic ocean views along with luxury poolside cabanas, a Japanese-style spa with Oahu’s first Ofuro soaking tubs, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and more. Rooms start at $332 per night.
Dive Into this Waikiki Swim-In Film Series
A locally conscious hotel experience awaits visitors at the newly reimagined Romer Waikiki at the Ambassador, a 368-key neighborhood-focused property that aims to provide guests with local insights that aren’t found on a standard Google search. From true local partnerships and a made-in-Hawaii swim-in film series, to off-the-beaten-path bike excursions and a dedicated “Aloha Line” for personal advice from anywhere across the island, Romer guests get more than just a great suntan. Romer boasts views of downtown Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean and the third-floor Waikiki Swim & Social Club evokes the feeling of an easygoing neighborhood pool party with weekly poolside programming including fitness pop-ups, readings with an in-house astrologer, and live music with local musicians. Guests can redeem credits included with their stay for a selection of surfboards at Beach Candy Waikiki. Rooms start at $208 per night.
At this Surf-Centric Hotel, Take Lessons from Pipeline Champ Jamie O’Brien
The Twin Fin Hotel has surfing in its DNA. Overlooking Waikiki’s glistening shoreline and gentle waves, the towering property, lovingly named after a surfboard with two fins, just launched an epic new experiential surf school, helmed by nine-time Pipeline champion, Jamie O’Brien. The Jamie O’Brien School of Surf Waikiki specializes in family and group surf lesson experiences with personalized instruction on premium equipment. The surf-inspired hotel also features a partnership with Surfline and real-time surf conditions are streamed throughout the hotel and on its website. A Surfline in-room channel offers surf content to guests, and all hotel guests receive a one-month free trial of Surfline’s Premium subscriber experience. Rooms start at $239 per night.
