Kama`aina Staycation at the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki

Playing at the Skydeck

This past weekend my son and I checked into the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki and since it was our first time staying there, we had so much fun exploring the hotel and its amenities. First off, the 44-story hotel is located on Kuhio Ave. at the beginning of Waikiki and within walking distance to restaurants, shopping, and the beach.

Our room was bright, modern, and clean. It's no wonder too as the rooms were renovated just 4 years ago following a $30 million rebranding and renovation. Staying on the 39th floor, we had an amazing view of Diamond Head and Waikiki. The room didn't have a lanai (which I think parents with young children will appreciate) but guests have the option to open the window. But don't worry, a safety latch prevents the window from fully opening. The rooms also have free wifi, a microwave, compact refrigerator, and Keurig coffee maker.

Bright and modern room decor.

Room amenities include a microwave, compact refrigerator, and Keurig.

Bathtub and shower with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash dispensers on the wall.

Our sunset view from the 39th floor.

Each morning we picked up the complimentary grab and go breakfast. It was very convenient as the hot foods were already packaged and we then had our choice of cereal, fruit, yogurt, milks and juices. After a quick stop at the coffee bar, we were on our way back to the room to enjoy our breakfast.

Large, airy lobby.

Hot grab and go breakfast is complimentary for all guests everyday!

One of the coolest amenities of the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki is their 5th floor skydeck that features a 9-hole mini-golf course, shuffleboard, giant chess game, ping pong, and foosball. The skydeck is also home to the pool and jacuzzi and open daily from 9am to 5pm. There are plenty of pool chairs available and 5 private cabanas which are first come, first serve with no fee. We also took advantage of the complimentary beach day essentials (beach towels, beach chairs, sand toys and boogie boards) that are available from the 5th floor Pool Attendant.

Giant Chess Board!

9 hole mini golf course.

Competitive foosball game in process.

Pool deck with private cabanas available.

Outdoor pool and jet spa open from 9am to 5pm daily.

I enjoyed watching the kids play from the comfort of this cabana.

Complimentary beach essentials are provided for guests' use.

Short walk to the beach.

The kids had so much fun playing in the ocean with the borrowed boogie boards.  

Holiday Inn Express Waikiki made everything so easy!

Other great amenities to note is the 24 hour indoor fitness center and unlimited filtered water in the lobby. Plus, the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki is a pet-friendly hotel so there's no need to worry about leaving your pet behind (see their website for the pet policy). 

Currently, the hotel is offering an amazing deal for kama'aina: Free Parking; Complimentary Daily Breakfast, AND No Resort Fee! We had a fantastic staycation and recommend this great value option to other families.   

Thank you to the Holiday Inn Express Waikikii for hosting our stay.  Gratuities were paid on our own.

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A Welcome Getaway at Shoreline Hotel Waikiki

Our family recently staycationed at the 135-room Shoreline Hotel Waikiki, a Filament Hospitality property.

Everything about the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki is welcoming.  From the bright, recently-renovated lobby, to the clean and chic guest rooms, to the rooftop pool - the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki boasts a number of services and amenities that will make all guests feel welcomed.

Modern lobby

Junior Suite

Rooftop Pool

We were welcomed at the front desk by Matt, who pleasantly checked us in while providing us with all sorts of details about the hotel.

A quick scan of the lobby revealed several aspects of a warm reception - complimentary coffee, water, and iced tea, complimentary newspaper, and a welcome board advising guests of the surf report, Hawaiian word of the day, local food of the day, and more.

Lobby refreshments

Love this welcome board!

Stepping into the junior suite, the feeling of warmth and welcome only continued.

The spacious junior suite was perfect for our family.  The room consisted of a super comfortable king bed with quality bedding and plush pillows, a lovely sofa that converted into a queen bed, a refrigerator, a microwave, a coffee maker, a work desk, and a large screen TV.

I loved the clean, modern look, the natural wood accents, and the bright pops of color in the artwork inspired by Anthony Laurino, who is the creative mind behind the retro-chic interior design of the hotel.

My husband did feel as if a chair was missing - there was a big empty space by the bed, but we made do with the desk chair.

The bathroom was a little on the small side, but it was nice and clean with marble counter tops and new fixtures.

Our suite had two small balconies, opening up to a nice view of the Waikiki skyline, which lit up at night.

With the exception of a few loud sirens, we could hear no other traffic noise from inside the room, and we slept soundly at night.

Just a floor above us was the rooftop pool, with such an inviting view!  I love the turquoise chairs!

This no-resort fee hotel offers a number of other amenities, such as complimentary beach towel rentals, complimentary Wi-Fi, and Noni bath amenities made with organic ingredients.



In addition to the numerous amenities, another thing I loved about the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki is the convenient location.

It's just a short walk to the beach, and numerous shops and restaurants are located within walking distance as well (Heavenly restaurant is located on the property).

The Shoreline Hotel Waikiki is a great hotel for anyone who wants a relaxing and convenient getaway with great service in Waikiki.

Whether you're a kama`aina or visitor to the islands, you will surely be welcomed at Shoreline Hotel Waikiki!

Click here for rates at Shoreline Hotel Waikiki.  Kama`aina discounts available.

Shoreline Hotel Waikiki
342 Seaside Ave

Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 931-2444

Thank you to the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki for hosting our stay.  Gratuities were paid on our own.

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Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's Fabled North Shore

Whenever I talk to friends about Turtle Bay Resort, the one thing I most often hear is "I used to go there a lot with my family when I was a kid..."

My husband also fondly remembers going to the resort as a child (back when it was Kuilima Resort), and I have great memories of going there when I was a kid as well.

Now it was our turn to take our own family to Turtle Bay Resort for a one-night hosted staycation.

Spanning 840 acres on Oahu's Fabled North Shore, Turtle Bay Resort has six core values - Manawa (Time), Pono (Goodness), Malama (To Care For), Hanai (Support of Family), Aloha (Kindness), and Kama`aina (Local).

During our stay at Turtle Bay Resort each value was demonstrated in numerous ways by the employees.  Whether it was housekeeping providing the assistance we needed right away, employees quickly erecting boundaries around a Hawaiian Monk Seal to ensure people did not get too close, or an employee finding out an answer to a question for me about a restaurant, the Turtle Bay Resort team really provided exceptional service.

We were treated like family through the aloha the employees exuded.

From the moment we pulled up to the resort until we left, many of the employees "talked story" with us like we've known them for years!  They made us feel welcomed, and made sure our time at the resort was nothing short of spectacular. 

And spectacular it was - the room, the pool, the views, and the service all made for an exceptional stay!

Having recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation, the improved guest rooms and the beach-inspired decor complemented the resort's natural surroundings.

2 Queen Beds Deluxe Room

We stayed in a spacious Deluxe 2 Queen Beds Room, which included a refrigerator, Keurig coffee maker, and a flat screen TV. 

Keurig Coffee Maker

Flat Screen TV and Dresser

The bathroom area was quite spacious as well, with two vanities and a walk-in shower.

One of two vanities (loved the lighting fixtures!)

Walk-in shower

The turquoise blues and warm accents made the room cozy and inviting, and the ocean beckoned us to relax on the balcony (all rooms have ocean views!), from where we saw lots of whales splashing.

Balcony seating

A gorgeous view of Kuilima Point from our balcony

I could've stayed on the balcony all day to watch the whales, but my kids were excited to go to the pool.

The kiddie pool has a water slide that my kids could not get enough of.

They had fun swimming around in the main pool as well.

Kiddie pool with slide

Loving the main pool!

If my kids had their way, they would've stayed at the pool all day and night (the main pool closes at 10pm), but we had to eat!

Thankfully, the Turtle Bay Resort has a lot of great dining options (we dined at Surfer, the Bar, North Shore Kula Grille, and Ola at Turtle Bay Resort).

Not only did we enjoy some great food, but we also enjoyed some great views all throughout the resort.

The sun setting

A glimpse of surfers

Kuilima Bay

Because we stayed over for just a night, our time was limited, therefore we didn't get to take advantage of all that the resort has to offer, like the spa, golf, beach, helicopter tours, and horseback riding (they are the only Oahu resort with a helipad and stables!).  Turtle Bay Resort also offers free ukulele lessons for keiki, complimentary use of a GoPro, live music, and so much more! 

We still had a wonderful staycation even though it was a short one, and the only regret I have is not staying longer to experience more of what Turtle Bay Resort has to offer!

Mahalo Turtle Bay Resort!

Turtle Bay Resort
57-091 Kamehameha Hwy
Kahuku, HI 96731
(808) 293-6000

Thank you to Turtle Bay Resort for hosting our stay.  All gratuities were paid on our own.

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