89 thoughts on “It’s The Rip-Off Honolulu Hotels That Are Killing Us”
Randy R
Specific to Waikiki, I’m sure Wailea/Kaanapali, 95% of the Properties are Japan owned, regardless of the name on the banner, be it Hyatt, Westin, Sheraton, Marriott, Halekulani, Halepuna, Waikiki Parc, Prince, Lotus, Kaimana, Hilton Vacation, The Kahala, a Ritz Carlton, that is where Pricing is set. That said expect diminished value as well, as at the Moana and Royal Hawaiian, neither the Beach Club Lounge nor Mailani Lounge in the Tower, are yet to re-open, meaning those with access, miss very generous Continental Breakfasts in the AM, and Pupu’s and Cocktails in the evening, minimally $35/Head a Value lost for each meal or Happy Hour! To my knowledge, the Regency Zclub at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki is still open and a great added Value.
I am a bit concerned about blaming Japan for the Waikiki hotel prices. Are you sure they are owned by Japanese? Or does it matter what coutry owns it? I am just afraid of bashing foreign countries.
No bashing intended, the Japanese led the charge in Tourism in Hawaii in the late 1960’s early ’70’s when they started to travel worldwide. They even have a euphemism calling the 9th Prefecture or something along those lines, just as Hawaiians do with Las Vegas as the 10th Island. Just Duck-Duck the particular Hotel and it’s ownership, those I referenced were all owned by Japanese Corporations, Hilton Hawaiian Village is owned B&M by Park Hotels & Resorts of Vienna, Virginia. Again, no slur intended, 30 years of Business travel to Oahu and Maui, as well as, pre millennia they owned The Plaza, Pebble Beach Golf among others. One can see the same with China today.
Now try you are flying to Honolulu for medical and have to stay one night so can see you next day before you fly home.
No such thing as a medical rate same thing with airlines
Thought Hawaii took care of their Kupuna
Greed is a big sin. how much profits do they really need to make .and yet they don’t take any of those profits and give staff a generous raises. after all your staff is who help make your profits. they sure don’t seem like they take the profits and upgrade there hotels and keep there structures safe.how much of there profits go to help the community. greed not a good thing
The Alohilani is one of my favorites — the hotel, rooms and pool deck are gorgeous. They are more affordable than most of the other nicer hotels. I try to visit 3-4x a year. I was in Waikiki mid October and I paid about $1,000 more than my visit in January…food is more expensive too. But it is still less expensive than staying two nights in Sonoma or Napa California!
I remember the $99/night kama’aina rates. We could stay with in-laws for a few days stay at the Royal Hawaiian. Now, we pack everyone into our house during the holidays. No one can afford to stay at hotels here anymore. Rental cars are ridiculous too. (Just paid $800 for a Jeep on the Big Island for 4 days.) However, we rented a beautiful VRBO home on the Big Island for $280/night on 30 acres. The incoming Honolulu governor (Josh Green) wants to shutdown most vacation rentals, so options on Oahu will be slim pickings.
Maui isn’t any better! For our November 2022 trip we booked 5 nights at Kaanapali Alii, 3 with points and the last 2 nights paid $2080 total so $1040 per night. Thankfully, that includes the resort fee and parking so happy that won’t be added on! This resort is nice but it’s definitely not $1k/night worthy. I used to pass up rooms at Grand Wailea for that price, now I’m paying it for a mid range resort. This will probably be our last trip to Hawaii for a very long time, sadly.
We traveled from the big island to Oahu for a couple days in June for some medical treatment. We stayed at the Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel and I have to say although the rooms were small, we had an oceanfront room on a high floor for $177/night. Quite the bargain for a prime location along the Waikiki beach front. The rooms were clean and tidy. However parking is pretty much non-existent, as we were directed to a parking garage 4 blocks away. Add to that a resort fee – for what? There are no amenities there. Again by the time parking, resort fee and taxes are added, the nightly rate jumps to over $200 per night but for the location it’s not bad. Would stay there again.
If you’re looking last minute Hawaii travel than you should expect to pay a premium. I start researching our Hawaiian stays 8 to 9 months ahead of time. I usually find a deal early than shop it till I many times re-booking half a dozen times.
Don’t get me started on rental cars I continue to shop them right up to getting on the plane.
This isn’t just a Hawaii travel thing, rooms are costing more and fees are adding up at all popular travel destinations.
We’re going to Disneyland in December folks I know are spending thousands more than we are for same trip. Why? Waited last minute all good deals dried up.
The fees aren’t hidden, online they’re disclosed at checkout. If the final price falls within our budget I book it.
Not surprised. And then, if you look at Hawaii’s infrastructure, you’ll see that they spend nothing on preventive maintenance, literally letting things fail before fixing anything.
Specific to Waikiki, I’m sure Wailea/Kaanapali, 95% of the Properties are Japan owned, regardless of the name on the banner, be it Hyatt, Westin, Sheraton, Marriott, Halekulani, Halepuna, Waikiki Parc, Prince, Lotus, Kaimana, Hilton Vacation, The Kahala, a Ritz Carlton, that is where Pricing is set. That said expect diminished value as well, as at the Moana and Royal Hawaiian, neither the Beach Club Lounge nor Mailani Lounge in the Tower, are yet to re-open, meaning those with access, miss very generous Continental Breakfasts in the AM, and Pupu’s and Cocktails in the evening, minimally $35/Head a Value lost for each meal or Happy Hour! To my knowledge, the Regency Zclub at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki is still open and a great added Value.
I am a bit concerned about blaming Japan for the Waikiki hotel prices. Are you sure they are owned by Japanese? Or does it matter what coutry owns it? I am just afraid of bashing foreign countries.
No bashing intended, the Japanese led the charge in Tourism in Hawaii in the late 1960’s early ’70’s when they started to travel worldwide. They even have a euphemism calling the 9th Prefecture or something along those lines, just as Hawaiians do with Las Vegas as the 10th Island. Just Duck-Duck the particular Hotel and it’s ownership, those I referenced were all owned by Japanese Corporations, Hilton Hawaiian Village is owned B&M by Park Hotels & Resorts of Vienna, Virginia. Again, no slur intended, 30 years of Business travel to Oahu and Maui, as well as, pre millennia they owned The Plaza, Pebble Beach Golf among others. One can see the same with China today.
Now try you are flying to Honolulu for medical and have to stay one night so can see you next day before you fly home.
No such thing as a medical rate same thing with airlines
Thought Hawaii took care of their Kupuna
Greed is a big sin. how much profits do they really need to make .and yet they don’t take any of those profits and give staff a generous raises. after all your staff is who help make your profits. they sure don’t seem like they take the profits and upgrade there hotels and keep there structures safe.how much of there profits go to help the community. greed not a good thing
The Alohilani is one of my favorites — the hotel, rooms and pool deck are gorgeous. They are more affordable than most of the other nicer hotels. I try to visit 3-4x a year. I was in Waikiki mid October and I paid about $1,000 more than my visit in January…food is more expensive too. But it is still less expensive than staying two nights in Sonoma or Napa California!
The Breakers Hotel gets my vote for the best value.
I remember the $99/night kama’aina rates. We could stay with in-laws for a few days stay at the Royal Hawaiian. Now, we pack everyone into our house during the holidays. No one can afford to stay at hotels here anymore. Rental cars are ridiculous too. (Just paid $800 for a Jeep on the Big Island for 4 days.) However, we rented a beautiful VRBO home on the Big Island for $280/night on 30 acres. The incoming Honolulu governor (Josh Green) wants to shutdown most vacation rentals, so options on Oahu will be slim pickings.
Maui isn’t any better! For our November 2022 trip we booked 5 nights at Kaanapali Alii, 3 with points and the last 2 nights paid $2080 total so $1040 per night. Thankfully, that includes the resort fee and parking so happy that won’t be added on! This resort is nice but it’s definitely not $1k/night worthy. I used to pass up rooms at Grand Wailea for that price, now I’m paying it for a mid range resort. This will probably be our last trip to Hawaii for a very long time, sadly.
We traveled from the big island to Oahu for a couple days in June for some medical treatment. We stayed at the Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel and I have to say although the rooms were small, we had an oceanfront room on a high floor for $177/night. Quite the bargain for a prime location along the Waikiki beach front. The rooms were clean and tidy. However parking is pretty much non-existent, as we were directed to a parking garage 4 blocks away. Add to that a resort fee – for what? There are no amenities there. Again by the time parking, resort fee and taxes are added, the nightly rate jumps to over $200 per night but for the location it’s not bad. Would stay there again.
If you’re looking last minute Hawaii travel than you should expect to pay a premium. I start researching our Hawaiian stays 8 to 9 months ahead of time. I usually find a deal early than shop it till I many times re-booking half a dozen times.
Don’t get me started on rental cars I continue to shop them right up to getting on the plane.
This isn’t just a Hawaii travel thing, rooms are costing more and fees are adding up at all popular travel destinations.
We’re going to Disneyland in December folks I know are spending thousands more than we are for same trip. Why? Waited last minute all good deals dried up.
The fees aren’t hidden, online they’re disclosed at checkout. If the final price falls within our budget I book it.
Not surprised. And then, if you look at Hawaii’s infrastructure, you’ll see that they spend nothing on preventive maintenance, literally letting things fail before fixing anything.