As Waikiki’s Queen Kapiolani Hotel goes through a $35 million renovation, it’s paying tribute to the past while fashioning a memorable, four-star accommodation in the present.
The Oahu landmark debuted in 1969 with midcentury modern architecture and a welcoming ambiance that lured a mix of locals and visitors.
And when the property relaunches in early fall as Queen Kapiolani Hotel, Waikiki Beach, it promises to regain its status as a popular home base for a range of clients, from adventure enthusiasts and wellness buffs to fans of culture, art and food.
“The current renovation creates spaces for guests to experience the best of both retro and contemporary Waikiki,” said Joy Tomita, director of marketing for Queen Kapiolani Hotel. “It honors the hotel’s heritage and incorporates modern enhancements that meet the needs of today’s travelers.”
The upgraded property is billing itself as more than just a place to sleep, Tomita adds.
“Queen Kapiolani embodies a fun and unique Hawaiian lifestyle, showcased through its art, decor, relaxed vibe and on-site activities,” she said.
Prime Location and Rooms with a View
Hugging the east edge of Waikiki, Queen Kapiolani enjoys an enviable address. From its front door, clients can walk across the street to the beach and Kapiolani Park or stroll to shopping, dining and entertainment draws. At the same time, the hotel provides an easy exit to the rest of Oahu.
“Queen Kapiolani is also a destination within itself, with so much to experience and explore through our various programs and events,” Tomita said.
The reinvented hotel will offer surf lessons, painting workshops, mai tai-making classes and live music by island performers, for example.
Capitalizing on its location, the revamped, 19-story hotel will also include a spacious, open-air lobby and an 8,000-square-foot lanai on the third floor. Nicknamed the hotel’s “outdoor living room,” the lanai will boast a new restaurant, bar, lounge and pool, with Diamond Head and the sea as stunning backdrops.
Additionally, the hotel is in the process of renovating its 315 guestrooms with hues inspired by the adjacent beach and ocean. Private lanais and large windows will help to bring the outside in, and among the in-room amenities will be 49-inch televisions, refrigerators, Bluetooth-enabled alarm clock radios and multiple USB charging outlets.
Large windows showcase the surroundings in Queen Kapiolani’s updated guestrooms.
Credit: 2018 Queen Kapiolani Hotel, Waikiki BeachTapping Many Markets
The reimagined Queen Kapiolani also responds to several current travel trends, Tomita says.
“For adventurous tourists, it’s uniquely positioned for hiking, biking, surfing, paddleboarding and swimming,” she said.
Meanwhile, health and wellness aficionados can take advantage of the hotel’s state-of-the-art, 2,100-square-foot fitness center, which is set to open Aug. 6.
Corporate clients and groups can book any or all of Queen Kapiolani’s 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, and families will like its proximity to Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium; both are a short walk from the hotel.
Art and culture lovers can pay a visit to the property’s second-floor gallery, which will display paintings of Hawaiian royalty that were part of the original hotel. Additionally, throughout Queen Kapiolani, vintage reprints selected by Honolulu’s Bishop Museum will pay homage to Hawaii’s days gone by. And colorful artwork in public areas will depict cherished Hawaii pastimes.
“The renovation has also preserved the exterior’s iconic woodwork and playful arches that defined the 1960s,” Tomita said.
For foodies, Queen Kapiolani is introducing two new eateries. Deck, an alfresco restaurant set on the third-floor lanai, will feature contemporary American cuisine that highlights Hawaiian flavors with an emphasis on locally sourced seafood. The lobby-level Knots Coffee Roasters is open and is currently serving espresso drinks, beer, wine, cocktails and grab-and-go items.
Deck restaurant at the renovated Queen Kapiolani Hotel makes the most of the views from the third floor.
Credit: 2018 Queen Kapiolani Hotel, Waikiki BeachWith Travel Agents in Mind
Following the renovation, Queen Kapiolani will extend higher-than-usual commissions for travel agents during certain seasons, Tomita says. Additionally, the hotel will provide industry rates for advisors, along with fam trips, sales tools and booking incentives.
“Queen Kapiolani will be one of the most creative and engaging four-star hotel products in Waikiki, with great year-round promotions and packages,” she said.
For a limited time, the property will run introductory rates from $199, which is good for travel this fall.
The Details
Queen Kapiolani Hotel, Waikiki Beach
www.queenkapiolani.com
