True to its name, Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa is energizing Oahu’s Ala Moana area. Opened in February and located about 1.5 miles west of Waikiki, it’s Hawaii’s first full-service hotel built from the ground up since 1990 — everything in this 39-story tower is new, classy and contemporary.
Renaissance Honolulu includes Marriott’s first individually owned Renaissance Residences in the world, and it is the company’s first hybrid property, with 112 residences and 187 guestrooms.
The majority of residences are available for booking, and all are furnished with washer-dryers and either kitchenettes or full kitchens with Wolf, Bosch and Sub-Zero appliances. One-, two- and three-bedroom suites include a spacious living room with a pullout sofa bed.
Location and Ambiance
Although it’s not oceanfront, Renaissance Honolulu occupies a prime parcel across Ala Moana Center, the world’s largest open-air mall. It’s a 20-minute walk (or less) to the Hawaii Convention Center; Ala Moana Regional Park; the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Oahu’s top entertainment venue; and the outskirts of Kakaako, a vibrant neighborhood known for its boutiques, street art, restaurants, craft breweries and Saturday morning farmers market featuring 140 vendors.
Guests won’t be greeted with a lei or find hula lessons at Renaissance Honolulu, but Hawaiian culture has not been overlooked. For example, the 10-foot-high steel gate in the lobby is always kept open as a gesture of “e komo mai,” or “welcome.” Designed by renowned Hilo artist Sig Zane, its linear pattern represents a reef teeming with fish and the generations of fishermen who have fed Hawaii’s people since ancient times.
A Premier Ocean View room
Credit: 2024 Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & SpaIn our Premier Ocean View room, my boyfriend and I were delighted to find fresh orchids strewn on counters and nightstands, and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in an abundance of natural light.
Hawaiian History and Culture
The first thing I did after unpacking was head to the Discovery Center, which is staffed by two “navigators” (the hotel’s term for concierges).
A beautiful exhibit of coral, scrimshaw, a ukulele, a poi pounder and other items sparks conversations about Hawaiian history and traditions, and I pretended I had a lot to learn.
“What’s that wooden item on the top shelf?” I asked.
The navigators correctly identified it as a replica of a leiomano, an ancient Hawaiian weapon made with shark teeth.
“Where’s the best snorkeling site on Oahu?” I asked.
Hanauma Bay, about a 30-minute drive away with no traffic, they said, adding that I needed to make reservations online in advance.
The Discovery Center features an exhibit with Hawaiian items.
Credit: 2024 Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa“Can you recommend restaurants nearby that local people like?” I asked.
Their suggestions: Liliha Bakery, Scratch Kitchen and Side Street Inn, all less than a mile away.
“Three of my favorites,” I thought, noting that the navigators know their stuff.
Their nook is also stocked with an excellent selection of Hawaii-themed books, running the gamut in subject matter from the lei, legends and plants to volcanoes, surfing and marine life. All can be borrowed and read in the comfortable lobby.
Amenities and Restaurants
With two hot tubs, cabanas with barbecues, an 82-foot lap pool, a heated saltwater swimming pool and a fitness center that holds yoga, nutrition coaching and other wellness classes, the eighth-floor Sky Deck is a great place to slip into Hawaii’s hang-loose vibe. Clients will surely want to find time for pampering at Uhiwai, a spa with steam rooms, Himalayan salt saunas and the first traditional Japanese ofuros (soaking tubs) in an Oahu hotel. This haven is where soft-spoken Yumiko used deft hands, warm stones and an aromatic blend of essential oils to coax the knots out of my body.
Dining is an important part of any travel experience, and Mara, specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, is a must. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, bar bites and dinner services transition seamlessly from opening at 6:30 a.m. to closing at 11 p.m.
Mara is a standout dining venue at the property.
Credit: 2024 Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & SpaIf time permits only one visit to Mara, make it dinner. I must rave about a few dishes, because I can’t imagine how they could have been any better. The Tasting Trio includes two enormous hearth-baked pitas and house-made hummus, tzatziki and stracciatella with walnuts, roasted beets and pomegranate molasses. Also perfect with pita is saganaki (fried cheese, a Greek specialty), which comes to the table sizzling in a pan. Makai Market of the Sea presents a choice of five seafoods (I picked the pistachio-crusted ahi) and three preparations (Moroccan-style with spices, preserved lemon and kalamata and castelvetrano olives made a marvelous pairing).
Ube lattes and matcha lemonade initially lured me to the on-site Lamill coffee shop, but equally enticing was its array of Hawaii-made eats, including chocolate, granola, cookies and popcorn — all wonderful as snacks or to take home as gifts.
The Coral Club Lounge, meanwhile, is a boon for families; it includes a breakfast buffet and evening hors d’oeuvres that are hearty enough for dinner for two adults and two children 17 and younger. Midday munchies include chips, fresh fruit and granola bars. Although this concept is not new, few hotels in Hawaii offer it.
Another thing I love about Renaissance Honolulu: Bucking the trend, there’s no resort fee. Complimentary perks include access to the spa and fitness center; a late-afternoon cocktail reception four days per week for guests 21 and older; and scheduled shuttle transportation to Waikiki, the Ala Moana Center and Ala Moana Regional Park. Perhaps best of all, it’s a conveniently located springboard for adventures all around Oahu.
