The Hawaiiana Hotel - Vintage Hawaii
Even the most hardy, thrifty minded, well-equipped eco-traveler might want to spend a night or two in one of Oahu’s hotels.
The Hawaiiana Hotel is my top pick. One of the last, old-time Hawaiian hotels, this vintage Hawaii low-rise has lovely rooms and gardens, a tiki stationed at the front, two pools and tiki torches.
Their returning visitor rate is very high, and some regulars have been returning annually for more than 40 years. Guests are a blend of Canadians (especially in the winter), mainland Americans and Japanese. 20 percent of their guests are locals traveling to Honolulu from the Neighbor Islands.
The management and staff serve big scoops of aloha, including a freshly sliced pineapple upon arrival, and Kona coffee and tropical juice every morning, poolside. Other amenities include kitchenettes in every room, barbecues, beach mats and rain umbrellas (you'll need one for the Windward side), laundry, iron and more.
The Bus runs just outside the back gate, and the beach is at the end of a short block. The rates are exceptional for a hotel in Waikiki that is as nice as the Hawaiiana. Rates start at $105 for three in a standard room and $120 for the more attractively appointed garden view room (maximum occupancy three). An entire week's stay here is included in one of this guide's budget samples , but if you are traveling solo you could work a night or two into your Hawaii vacation budget.
The parking at the Hawiiana Hotel is $8 per night, a good rate for Waikiki hotels. If you stay here for all seven nights, taking The Bus will keep you in budget. You can catch a free shuttle from the airport that will take you and all of your luggage here and back. It’s a short walk from the hotel to the ABC convenience store where you can purchase your bus passes. Or you could divide your seven nights between here and a campground or hostel. As with everyone else mentioned in this Hawaii budget vacation guide, I only do so because I want to share the good finds. Nobody is paying for advertising nor were any other exchanges made for publicity.
More alternative accomodations on Oahu (as well as eco adventures, deep discounts on airfare and car rentals, and lots more) are found at
