Ancient Hawaiians navigated the open ocean without instruments, using the stars, sun and waves to determine where they were — a method known as wayfinding. Similarly, the new Wayfinder Waikiki Hotel in Honolulu, which celebrated its grand opening on May 25, connects to the surrounding community, allowing clients to know exactly where they are.
Formerly the Waikiki Sand Villa, Wayfinder Waikiki is the second Wayfinder Hotel created by Dovetail + Co. (the other is in Newport, R.I.). The completely transformed boutique property features 228 guestrooms (including three suites) in a location beside Honolulu’s Ala Wai Canal. It offers an escape from the hubbub of Waikiki, yet it’s only a 10-minute walk from the lobby to the sand.
Wayfinder offers laidback exploration rooted in personal stories, experiences and connections to help guests discover the best Oahu has to offer on a local level.
“We’re so excited to be opening our second Wayfinder hotel in the dynamic neighborhood of Waikiki,” said Phil Hospod, CEO and founder of Dovetail + Co. “Wayfinder Waikiki has been a project we’ve been carefully curating and crafting with talented local collaborators since its inception to offer a truly unique boutique hotel.”
The building itself was designed in 1969 by Joe Farrell, one of Hawaii’s leading architects, in the Brutalist style made popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
The hotel’s interiors echo a “Hawaii Five-0” era aesthetic, with authentic elements from local artisans coupled with amenities modern travelers want, including a large saltwater pool and hot tub and an on-site gym featuring Peloton- and Mirror-branded equipment. There are also three dining outlets: The B-Side lobby coffee shop; Redfish Poke, the first full-service restaurant from renowned local favorite Foodland market; and the Lost + Found poolside speakeasy, which serves handcrafted cocktails and local micro-brewery beers.
Wayfinder Waikiki also offers beach chairs and boogie boards for daily use; Moke electric vehicles available for rent; and complimentary Wi-Fi, sunscreen and aloe — must-haves for any Hawaiian vacation.
Immersive Hawaiian Experiences
In addition to incorporating the work of local artists and design elements that honor the unique culture of Honolulu, Wayfinder Waikiki says it also aims to “curate impactful experiences that resonate with guests and give back to the community.”
To that end, the hotel offers on-site cultural workshops such as poolside “board meeting” surf lessons; ukulele and hula introduction sessions; and lauhala (hala tree leaf) weaving. Weekly poolside movies celebrate Hawaii with accompanying food and drink specials, and three exclusive itineraries tailored to adventure, wellness and food and wine allow clients to step off the beaten path and explore “the B-side of Oahu.”
The redesigned Wayfinder Waikiki has 228 stylish guestrooms.
Credit: 2023 Wayfinder Waikiki/Read McKendree“Wayfinder offers laidback exploration rooted in personal stories, experiences and connections to help guests discover the best Oahu has to offer on a local level,” Hospod said. “We’ve partnered with a network of local brands and experts to further the guest experience and discover hidden gems and moments. We’re particularly excited by the comprehensive collaboration with Foodland to bring the island’s best poke to the Wayfinder with Redfish as our all-day restaurant.”
Opportunities for off-site volunteer experiences rooted in sustainable tourism are also available, including taro field restoration at Ka’koo Oiwi Farms and cultural education and sustainability initiatives with the Bishop Museum, Hawaii’s premier natural and cultural history museum. (One dollar from each night’s stay is donated to the museum, and admission is free for hotel guests.) Clients interested in Hawaiian music can listen to a custom playlist curated for Wayfinder Waikiki by Roger Bong, who founded Honolulu-based record label Aloha Got Soul to “help tell — and help build — a story about Hawaii’s music.” Aloha Got Soul also hosts live poolside listening events.
When travelers plan their Hawaiian vacation, they expect sun, surf and sand, but the Aloha State is so much more than that — and Wayfinder Waikiki is the perfect place to discover everything Honolulu has to offer.
