Experience the Quieter Side of Waikīkī Beach at This Five-Star Honolulu Hotel

08.01.2025 - 10:35 / matadornetwork.com

For the second year in a row, Honolulu was named the most desirable place to live in the US by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index. Meanwhile, its iconic beach neighborhood, Waikīkī, has firmly shaken its reputation as a passé place to stay in Hawaiʻi, making the tropical city very much in vogue again among travelers. So it was a bit of a blow when I was met with gray skies and heavy rain in the state capital — albeit one that quickly softened after I stepped inside the Ka La‘i Waikīkī Beach.

Photo: Keri Bridgwater

With its tasteful island decor — including all neutral fabrics and warm woods accented by tropical floral centerpieces and a palm-tree-framed panorama of downtown Honolulu – Ka La‘i’s sixth-floor lobby presents its wow factor in an understated, on-trend, quiet luxury sort of way. The hotel’s upside-down layout means guests are welcomed with a stunning view the moment they step into the reception area, not to mention more privacy than you get with the traditional ground-floor lobby arrangement. It’s quieter this way, too.

In fact, the whole hotel is located on the quieter end of Waikīkī (although it does have front-row seats to the Friday night fireworks from the nearby Hilton Hawaiian Village). Fort DeRussy Beach — a protected green space and the location of the US Army Museum of Hawaiʻi — is right across the road, while the shops and restaurants lining busy Kalākaua Avenue are still just steps away. Waikīkī Beach proper is a five-minute walk via the public access point on Kālia Road.

Despite having 462 residential-style suites and rooms spanning 38 stories, the hotel feels wonderfully intimate. The biggest social draw is the infinity pool, but even the mood there skews tranquil and relaxed. It makes sense that Ka La‘i is a recent addition to the hand-picked Hilton LXR portfolio of properties with distinguished service and an authentic connection to their destinations (Ka La‘i means “the path” in Hawaiian, signifying ties to the local culture). It’s a true hideaway in the heart of Honolulu’s most famous neighborhood.

Photo: Keri Bridgwater

When it comes to hotels, I’ve always been something of a room-only purist. As someone who rarely cooks at home, why would I want a kitchen taking up space when I’m traveling — or worse, ruining the aesthetic? Ka La‘i may have converted me.

My one-bedroom ocean-view suite had it all. There were two balconies with sun loungers and nice views of Fort DeRussy Beach and the Pacific Ocean. It had both a den-like area with a pullout sofa bed and dedicated writing desk and a generously sized living area with a TV, sofa, and armchair setup. And then there was the full-sized kitchen, kitted out with Wolf Gourmet appliances, a big fridge, a proper