Despite growing up in Oahu I never really stayed at a hotel on the island with the exception of the night my sister got married. I’ve stayed in numerous hotels in the world but it never really came to mind whenever I visited home. This past month I decided to do a “staycation” at one of the hotels in town and chose the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki after some research into the current options in the area. I opted for this modern boutique hotel instead of the more typical Sheraton or iconic Haleakulani and would absolutely recommend the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki for both tourists and locals alike.
Location
The Shoreline Hotel Waikiki is perfectly located in the heart of Waikiki, within steps of many restaurants and shopping centers and close to Waikiki Beach. It’s across the street from the Royal Hawaiian Center and next door to the Waikiki Shopping Plaza which has a cute Japanese food court. Though it’s not a beachfront property, the beach is two blocks away and easily accessible.
The Property
Recently renovated, the hotel’s vibrant and modern interior design absolutely makes it stand out from the typical Waikiki hotels. The neon colors and tropical accents provide guests with numerous Instagrammable opportunities. The ambiance completely changes from day to night (still snap-worthy). You definitely don’t want to miss out on the neon gradation wall entrance, colorful hat wall, and tropical printed wall on the rooftop pool.
The Room
I stayed in a spacious Junior Suite with a comfy king-size bed, a lounge area with a Missana couch, and a small private lanai (balcony). The room had a partial ocean view and you could see the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in the distance. Each aspect of the room is chicly designed, from the wall art map from Moss and Lam to the Monstera leaf print drapes. My favorite part? The amenities!
Amenities
The Shoreline Hotel Waikiki has some of the best hotel amenities. While most hotels charge you for snacks (and sometimes even bottled water!), you’ll get a welcome package full of Hawaiian snacks, beverages, and a Hawaiian Kukui Nut Lei necklace on arrival. For a returning local, you can’t imagine just how happy I was to dive into the Hawaiian Sun juice and Maui Style onion chips. You also get daily replenishment of local coffee, tea, and bottled water in your room.
Hotel Services + Amenities Rundown
- Secured underground valet parking ($30/day)
- Same-day luggage storage
- Laundry/dry cleaning service (for a fee)
- Complimentary beach accessories (towels and chairs): Seriously convenient because who has the luggage space to store towels when traveling?
- Complimentary local newspaper with USA Today insert
- Complimentary lobby refreshments featuring local coffee, assorted teas, fruit-infused water, and apples
- Bell service
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- 100% Non-smoking hotel
Activities
There are a lot of food and shopping options near the hotel. From luxury brands to local shops, everything you need is a few blocks away. ABC stores have great souvenirs and their snacks/drinks are pretty reasonable. If you’re still hungry for more shopping, Ala Moana Center (Hawaii’s largest open-air shopping center) is a quick rideshare away.
If you’re up for a long drive outside of Waikiki, here are some of my favorite local spots:
- Lanikai Beach / Kailua Beach: One of the softest sands and blue waters on the island. Go early and on a weekday to avoid the crowds
- Byodo-In Temple: A smaller replica of the temple in Uji, Japan created to celebrate the 100 years since the first Japanese immigrants came to Hawaii.
- Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden: In recent years due to Instagram, the garden has become an island attraction (particularly the entrance road view). Due to crowds standing in the middle of the entrance “for the gram,” stopping in the middle of the road for photography is no longer allowed (as well as drones).
Book directly through The Shoreline Hotel Waikiki’s website and they’ll waive the amenity/resort fees!
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