The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel

This review is for the ocean front restaurant only. Had dinner here at sunset. What a gorgeous place to dine. I mean the beach and ocean is right there next to the tables. So romantic, warm ocean breeze, moonlight and candlelight. The atmosphere was so intoxicating I don’t even remember what I ate.

The Room
A good value. The rooms are dated and plain but they are clean and well equipped with a sink, mini fridge, microwave and dining ware. Beds are comfortable but the pillows are a little over used. Be aware that some of the amenities may not be functioning 100% like the lighting… The doors are not very sound proof either.
Many of the photos make the rooms seem nicer then they are mainly because they’re using the photos for the executive and multi room suites.
The Hotel
Clean and inviting. The two restaurants boast a nice menu although it is quite pricey. A little out of my budget so I did not eat at the hotel’s restaurants. People seemed to enjoy themselves. Hotel guests receive a discount on meals.
The Staff
Friendly and attentive. The activities desk was a little discombobulated and hard to work with but we eventually got what we needed.
There is a fitness center but you have to pay extra to use it. That was a bummer!
The Location
Fabulous. Off the beaten path but close enough that the walk is only 12 – 15 minutes. It’s right on the beach too which is really nice!
Overall
A good experience. I would stay here again!

We stayed here for five days and I would never revisit this hotel again. The photos are not an accurate or true representation of what you get. The room and closet was tiny and the carpets seemed gross. Unfortunately the restroom was probably the nicest and most upgraded part of the room. We booked a room on the top floor and were lied to by the front desk that it was unavailable at check in. After addressing how that would be unacceptable we were placed on the sixth floor. The view overlooked an extremely overcrowded beach leaving you with no sense of privacy. There was also construction going on in the rooms on the sixth floor so hammering and drills started in the early morning. Cut out pieces of carpet aligned our hallways paths to the elevator which reminded me everyday how our ticket price to our stay here was clearly not worth it. There was no parking available and we were forced to pay for valet parking each day of our visit. And the cherry on top was the restaurant on the first floor did not make for good eating. The first day there was an ant in my water glass and my noodles where saturated in oil. Look elsewhere.

Rooms and views are exaggerated, photos of the hotel make it look much better than it actually is. Staff extremely friendly and helpful. Restaurant on first floor overpriced and the food wasn’t that good. Waikiki is extremely overpopulated, didn’t even visit the beach the hotel was on due to overpopulation and crowding. Stayed on the 6^th floor during constant construction during my visit, that’s why it gets 3* from me.

The new Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel is a very nice location right next to Kapiolani park, and away from the chaos of Waikiki. The beach here feels unspoiled. The two restaurants here are excellent. Staff is courteous and helpful. I stayed for six nights in room 510 with a wrap around lanai and views from Diamond Head to all of the Waikiki strip and ocean. The towels and toiletries are first class. If however you are at all sensitive to cigarette smoke, DO NOT STAY HERE, or keep the lanai sliding glass doors closed, because at least one of the other guests will be smoking on their balcony and it will waft into your lovely room. Complain to the front desk if you must, but it will do no good.

Classy quiet Waikiki boutique hotel on a perfect beach (Kaimana). Third time my family has stayed here and without exception, the service rocks. From from valet to from desk to room serve, first class. Very upscale dining, on the beach. Lava cake and macadamia nut ice cream from room service topped a great day.
Ocean or Diamond Head view rooms are sure to please. The hire the floor, the better.

We just got back home from our anniversary weekend staycation. …and I wanna just go back… lol we got the queen Kapiolani suite. …the view was amazing there was also a view from the bathroom… I called a month ago and spoke with Arlene who was awesome… very professional and accommodating. We arrived on friday afternoon and found we had a little goodie bag with island chocolates it was a pleasant surprise. every employee we passed was very friendly and helpful. The hotel was far enough from the main waikiki that I was nice and peaceful but close enough to walk to (15 min walk). Our housekeeper was Filma what a sweet hard working lady. She was sweating from all her hard work our room looked awesome everytime we came back to our room I hope she got the bottle of water that we left for her. But anyways I will totally go back to this hotel and I have been recommending this hotel to my friends

Surprisingly delightful little gem. Great service. Great food. As good as any 4 star I have been in.

If you get an oceanfront room you’re fine. But all rooms are small.
We were stuck in room adjacent to another condo building that I could have reached out and touched, it was so close.
At night it was windy and something was slamming against a railing in the room above. Went to the front desk about 2:30am to point it out cause I couldn’t sleep. Da guy act like I interrupted him. He was really unfriendly and didn’t want to be bothered with it. He told security to check on it but never did. For a hotel front desk person working the night shift I guess common courtesy takes a back seat.

I’m a former Oahu resident and concierge who could have stayed this trip with friends or at Air BnB but elected instead to stay here because THE NEW OTANI offers everything a high maintenance, single female traveler could want while still being relaxed and unpretentious!
I realize that it is super rare to have a boutique hotel provide one of the best beaches, best restaurants and best locations without the hype or fanfare typically found when staying in Waikiki.
A medium sized hotel that feels more like a tiny inn (I never saw more than 2 people in the elevator at any one time!) this hotel at the base of Diamond Head sports my favorite beach peopled by locals as well as hotel guests. They make it easy to laze by providing beach towels, beach mats and even beach chairs at no extra cost. I could also see the beach, hotel skyline and swimmers from the lanai outside my room. Sweet!
Almost fully renovated, the over 100 year hotel is low key from it’s open air lobby and simple bar, beachside dining area, clothing, guest laundry room, convenience store and even a real estate office if you are in the mood for purchasing!
My room, an upgrade (from a partial to a full ocean view) although simple in its neutral earth tones was surprisingly cushier than I’d recalled from previous stays. Here is where the renovation really shone: a wide, comfortable queen filled with lots of pillows, two items I ignored (but you might like: flat screen TV, wi fi access), robes, mini safe, mini refrigerator, coffee maker and because the little things make all the difference I really loved the bathroom with it’s large granite countered sink area, thick, plush white towels (and they didn’t cut back because I was a single), tub and shower with extended curtain rod giving me more space while showering and the fabulous shampoos, moisturizers and especially the shea butter lemon flavored soap all from L’Occitane en Provence. A compact hair dryer was provided without asking.
I normally don’t do much major eating before dinner time but whenever I tired of tropical fruits, nuts and power bars I could head down to the highly rated Hau Tree Lanai, an outdoor restaurant right on the beach that was open for three meals a day. Although it’s a splurge, I met with an old friend and had a great dinner with much larger portions than I could recall from past visits.
I had a large, gorgeously plated special like Island Mahimahi Crusted with Crab and Avocado served with cous cous, a nice alternative to rice. Despite being full from entrees and appetizers we split the Black Lava Cake gorgeously plattered with fresh berries, ice cream and oozing with chocolate sauce for dessert while listening to free live music. There is also a Japanese restaurant within the hotel I’ve yet to try.
At the front desk, I didn’t see one line in 8 days. How can Roger, the porter, with the hotel more than 3 decades still manage to smile as if it was opening day? Tom, the happy concierge/​travel desk guy has been there a couple of decades as well and I always stop to chat and catch up with him because unlike so many concierge style desks, there is no attitude.
The front desk staff poised, professional and pretty much unflappable assisted me with bandages when I got scraped up a few times on the rocks, tape for torn luggage, directions, sharing impressions of how accurate my new WAZE app was for the Honolulu area and even help when it appeared I might need an ambulance (that’s a whole other story!)
On this trip I also managed to unknowingly scrape up the fender of my rental car. Kevin, the parking valet quickly came to the rescue when he and Roger polished and removed the white scuff marks and ascertained that the scrapes would not be visible. This could have easily cost me my $ 250 deductible. The car passed return inspection with flying colors really only thanks to these guys.
What I love perhaps most of all is that the entire experience is that it’s Waikiki beach but it doesn’t feel like Waikiki Beach (and if you want to watch the surfers, shop, check out the high end retail stores or bring home gifts that’s all about a five minute walk from the hotel.) Kapiolani Park with its zoo, concert area, tennis, archery, yoga and picnic areas and ample free and low cost parking is in the hotels «back yard». Last but not least, I had the fastest, easiest check out!

We just returned from our first stay at the Kaimana. What a jewel of a hotel…
From the moment we walked in, the valets, front desk personnel, bell captain, house staff, waiters and management made us feel like we were home,
It is a jewel because it is located at the end of Waikiki Beach right at the foot of Diamond Head., away from the maddening crowd and din of all the highrises and Ala Moana Blvd.
It is near everything! The views are spectatular! It is quiet! It is well appointed! It is not over the top making you feel out of your element. It is comfortable.
We treated ourselves to an ocean view room and are very glad we did.
We LOVED the restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Outdoor lanai right on the beach. Excellent service and consistent food.
We will go back again and again, just like returning home.

Absolutely enjoyed my staycation at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel! The workers were extremely helpful and polite. Our room was absolutely beautiful with an amazing view of Waikiki.

I waited until the end of my vacation to write this review so I would have a good feel for the hotel. Here is what I’ve come up with.
The Good: reasonably priced rooms, great location away from crowds of tourists, across from the park and lots of beachfront for sunbathing and swimming. Awesome bartenders making stiff cocktails, bar food pretty good. Staff very nice and friendly, access to beach towels and bamboo mats for laying out. Safes in the rooms, updated Tvs, access to ice machines and vending machines every other floor. Clean lobby and areas. Russell’s convenience store is awesome next door!
The bad: cheaper rooms are VERY small. Ok for friends, but not romantic in any sense. Plumbing not so great, I don’t like standing in shower water not draining. Some old carpet and peeling wallpaper. Not a huge deterrent but needs updating. Soda machine s not stocked well, and I had to travel several floors before finding bottled water. Lanais are really only big enough for two chairs and a small table. Not lounging. Concierge is a little confusing and sent us on a goose chase a few times.
The ugly: when complaining about the plumbing, the man at the desk just nodded and smiled. Not sure he spoke English. Nothing was ever done about it. The parking is a huge rip off for 26 $ a night. If you’re up for it, park on the street and just be sure to read the signs to know when to move your car in the morning. Walls are thin! I can hear my neighbors air conditioning all night go on and off. No umbrellas on the beach. I guess this is to prevent people from blocking the view of those eating on the patio. Fridge in my room never got cold enough and actually stopped working at one point. My hair dryer shorted out and actually sparked!
All in all, I would stay again. Not with a romantic partner. But with low maintenance girl friends who need to crash as night. And I would request a modern room (I hear they are updating).

we stayed here for 6 days for our honeymoon. I had called in a week in advance to let them know that we were celebrating our honeymoon and that I wanted to upgraded to an ocean view since I wanted it to be speical for the hubby. the guy who picked up the phone said that would be no problem and that it would be switched and ready for me when I checked in to the hotel. Well, once the husband and I checked in we DIDNT get an ocean view room but a view of Diamond head NOT what i requested but whatever I wasnt gonna have that dampen my mood.
the first few days were fine. UNTIL the valet guy named Craig was a rude ASS. this hotel ONLY has valet no self park like the other bigger hotels on the waikiki strip. he legit walks 100 feet to our car and drives it to the front of the hotel for us. thats all. but that day he made it like he had to WALK MILES TO OUR CAR. he got our keys and said your car is over there. errrr isnt this VALET? arent you suppose to get my car for me? isnt that what you were hired for craig? yeah exactly. do your job instead of flirting with a girl while on the job.
housekeeping SUCKED. THAT SAME DAY I FOUND A PAIR OF BOARDSHORTS THAT DIDNT BELONG TO THE HUSBAND and oh boy did those short stank!
I couldnt take it any more after dinner i wanted to talk to the manager but one wasnt able to be located so i talked to the front desk supervisor named franci? something like that. where she wrote down the complaints and wavied the parking charges for the rest of our stay. honestly this will be the FIRST AND LAST time i will be staying at this hotel.
for the price I paid for this hotel I could of found a better airbnb condo to store my things while in Oahu!

the bf and i booked the waikiki and ocean front suite, which was perfect for our stay. you get views of both the ocean and the city that is absolutely beautiful. we left our curtains opened the entire time of our stay. def nothing like waking up and seeing the city and ocean! the room is a bit small but we utilized the lanai more so. i had a few naps while enjoying the breeze on the lanai a few times.
we will def stay here again and have suggested this hotel for our families and friends planning a vacation to oahu.
great staff from their valet, front desk, housekeepers, and security. we were always greeted by a smile and they def wen the extra mile to make sure our staff was amazing!
mahalo for the best four days while we were there :)

So we ended up booking this hotel as a package deal for our honeymoon, saw a couple of pictures online and was sold by the idea of it being right by the beach. Nice place, private, romantic restaurants. Parking is $ 24 a day, which we didnt mind since its a popular area and is a pain to find spots. Close to Waikiki Beach and Luxury row, so on our next trip we might reconsider this hotel. Friendly staff as well!

This was our second time being a guest at Kaimana. We fell in love with them last year and could not wait to come back. This a boutique hotel and not one of the god-​awful Waikiki monsters. Here you have beautiful rooms, a great breakfast restaurant on the beach, a great dinner restaurant, easy beach access, awesome service, views, parks for morning walks and easy access to the rest of the island.
The only heads up I want to give you is to book as early as possible and reserve a table for breakfast and dinner. This place is so popular for lunch and dinner reservations are a must.
The staff really takes time to get to know you and make sure you have everything you need.
My own personal opinion on traveling is that if you are rude to the staff and do not tip, you deserve to be treated with less attention. Most of these people have been at the hotel for over 25 years. They pour their hearts into their jobs. I watched several foreigners act rude and did not tip, their country will remain un-​named…
I can not wait to plan our next trip back to stay at Kaimana!

I hear the rooms in the main building have wonderful views. I’m in the area that are considered «studio» because they have a small «kitchenette» which is awesome.
The word «Studio» bring to mind a certain standard (for me). It’s sounds as if it should be above the hotel’s standard rooms right? Well there are some downsides.
Downsides:
STAIRS: No one warned us that it is not in the main building rather we had to go outside the main lobby, make a left, and go down the stairs in this little weird alley-​way along the little shops, and walk up 3 flights of narrow stairs to our room. If you are obese or have bad knees then you’re in trouble! I felt bad for the bellhop!
OLD:
Everything is super outdated here! Slap paint on an old rusted fuse box behind the bathroom door; update faucets and shower head; throw some new wallpaper up or just replace it with some color; replace the carpet and maybe the tile; and change the curtains. This can be done at very little cost these days and would help tremendously!
BUGS-​ROACHES and ANTS:
I know we are in Hawaii and there are bugs. I understand that leaving the screen door open allows for creatures to come in, but as soon as I walked in there was a train of ants on the counter by the kitchenette sink! This should NOT be a problem. My slighty-​OCD personality came out and I found myself wiping down the counters constantly and immediately washing the baby’s dishes. One evening we bought a 35.00 container of formula. When we got up to make the baby a bottle at 3 am those little tiny ant-​like things had made their way into the formula and ruined it! Money down the drain!
If you frequent Hawaii you know that they have these huge roaches flying around outside. Ok, but when you go to open a brand new towel to use on the baby, unfold it and a medium-​size regular roach goes scurrying around on the bed there is a problem! Smh DISGUSTING!
Call the exterminator!
AIR CONDITIONING:
It must have been on the fritz because it just wouldn’t get cool! I wonder if they think having a 2-​inch gap under the front door of the room counts as air conditioning because once the wind picked up there is this airflow that you feel in the entryway IF the sliding door to the balcony is open. — I’m being facetious. This gap is not acceptable… This is an invitation for other bugs (and maybe even a small cat! LOL) to come in (no this is not how those little ants came in– I followed their trail into the wall!)
FOOD & VIEW
Breakfast down at the Hau Tree Lanai was good, staff was nice.
The view from my room is ok: if you walk out onto the lanai, lean over and look to the left then you see the beach and ocean.
All-​in-​all I felt as if I spent more than I should have and lost even more money with ruined formula. I don’t think I’ll be coming back here to stay.
Quite a disappointment.

I absolutely love this place! The best views of the city and gorgeous sunsets and fireworks shows;)
They have a very good breakfast and lunch or dinner. They have a happy hour too;)
This is an open air place with valet parking along the beach sand and ocean. You can watch every one on the beach or paddle board or swim.
The tablecloths are pink and they have full service.
Well, bring your out of towners to this spot and also take advantage of the Unilocal check in discount too!
Enjoy and aloha;)

I have never stayed at this hotel but have escorted Japanese tourists here to assist with check-​in as well as visit friends from out-​of-​town who stay here. I have seen the changes from their renovation and this place has improved.
Located on the far east side of Waikiki, just next to the Waikiki Aquarium, this hotel is a great place for those looking to relax and stay away from the hustling and bustling that you see on the main strips in Waikiki. Some people enjoy the crowds but there are those who like to stay low-​key and enjoy what mother nature offers and this place doesn’t disappoint.
I came here last night for some pupus and drinks with some friends at Hau Tree Lanai and was warmly greeted by the valet. As I walked up the stairs to the front I was then greeted by the staff at the front desk. The hotel was bright and very modern after getting it’s «face lift». I can still remember the days when this hotel was run down and rustic.
I was also amazed how the restroom was. Very up-​to-​date and loved the large glass doors. It was very clean and didn’t have any disturbing smells you get at times.
This hotel has a convenience store as well as 2 restaurants (Hau Tree Lanai and Miyako). I have dined at both places before and the food is very good. With such a great atmosphere and awesome views, I can imagine what it would be like to stay at this place whether from out-​of-​town or kamaaina’s looking for a staycation.