Where to Book a Stay in Oahu, Hawaii, for a Local Experience

Every once in a while, you get a hotel makeover that manages to blend a cool, modern aesthetic with affordable rates and local flavor. In Hawaii, that’s the Surfjack, where the wave-loving vibe and design highlights, such as the tiled Wish You Were Here message on the bottom of its plunge pool, make for a memorable stay. Graphic prints and wood accents enliven the uncluttered rooms, which include a refrigerator and private balcony. Other perks include free beach bike rentals, a rotating calendar of events, and the poolside Mahina & Sun’s, for elevated Hawaiian fare and American standards.

Following a spruce-up, the Queen Kapi’olani Hotel is now a hip, modern stay, with a lobby that features colorful, pop-art prints by local artists Mike Field, Nick Kuchar, and Katie Borde. The rooms’ main USP remains the same: views of Waikiki Beach and the majestic Diamond Head crater. But updated amenities – flat-screen TVs, Serta Dream mattresses, laptop-sized safes, Hawaiian Tropics goodies – are more than welcome. Wondering who Queen Kapi’olani is? Check out her portrait on the second floor Royal Art Gallery, alongside other members of Hawaiian royalty. Drop by before heading to the third-floor rooftop pool deck for food and cold brews.

There’s a bit of a ritzy-beachy vibe happening at the Halekulani Hotel, from the whitewashed rooms, bathed in shades of white with marble and wood accents, and overlooking Waikiki Beach and the magnificent Diamond Head, to the formal dress code required by Franco-Hawaiian restaurant La Mer and its prime position on Grey’s Beach, once used by Hawaiians as a place of healing. The resort’s freshwater pool, while smaller than most, must be the prettiest in Oahu, with an orchid design said to be crafted from more than a million mosaic tiles. The hotel also offers weekly behind-the-scenes tours, as well as a legacy tour that retells its storied past.

Calling all millennials: make yourself at home at the Laylow Hotel, where rooms come with sturdy platform beds, mid-century chairs, and Instagram-worthy monstera-leaf wallpaper. This urban bolthole is not just style without substance, though: guest perks include exclusive Lather bath products, a welcome basket with two pairs of their signature slippers, cruiser-bike rentals, and a ukulele (because, Hawaii). Not to forget there’s the Hideout, serving modern hapa Hawaiian cuisine and some of the finest mai tais in town.

Sixty steps – that’s all it takes to get from this hotel to Waikiki’s sandy shores. Renovated in 2018, this hotel is all about the wow factor. There’s the huge aquarium in the lobby, filled with colorful tropical fish; two restaurants from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto; an infinity pool that’s popular with local scenesters; and rooms decorated in an understated luxe style (imagine cream hues and warm-wood accents). Shell out for one of the nine suites and all-day access to the Longboard Club is thrown in, plus there are deep-soaking tubs and expansive lanais (verandas) for extra bragging rights.

In the olden days, koa wood wasn’t allowed to be owned by anyone except Hawaiian royalty. Today, it’s used everywhere in Hawaii, whether it’s constructing surfboards and outrigger canoes or decorating hotels such as Hotel LaCroix Waikiki, where hardwood floors and wooden headboards impart Hawaiian chic to all spaces. The hotel sits at the crossroads of Ainahau Triangle and Fort DeRussy Park. Skip the smallish standard rooms for an upgraded corner studio or the kitchenette rooms, which come with a spacious balcony. For a real splurge, though, the Platinum City View opens out to a large lanai (veranda) overlooking the city. Amenities-wise, there’s a pool, sauna, and compact fitness center, and they’ll happily welcome your furry friend, too.

Cool-seeking couples will find no issue with a stay at Hotel Renew. This wallet-friendly option is bathed in minimalist black, grey, and pink hues, within whistling distance of Waikiki beach. Handy on-the-house extras include a free brekkie, in-room PS3 console, beach gear, and admission to the Honolulu Museum of Art and Bishop Museum. While rooms don’t have balconies, the menu of essential oils is a nice touch that’ll make you feel right at home.

If staying in a hostel has been a no-go since you upgraded to a suitcase, you might reconsider for the Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel. Located an easy surfboard-carrying stroll away from Kuhio Beach, the rooms are well maintained and come with air conditioning. Regardless of which room type you choose (with the exception being the semi-private rooms), there’s an ensuite bathroom, while the one-bedroom suite includes a full kitchen for longer stays. As at every decent hostel, there’s a roster of affordably priced tours, excursions and events, including a free pizza night. They also loan you boogie boards, beach floats and chairs, and the rooftop space is a great meeting spot if you’re looking to connect with like-minded travelers.