Where to Stay - Honolulu, Waikiki and Oahu - page 143

carved koa bed that once belonged to Princess Ruth, a member of Hawaii's royal family. You'll
feel like royalty sleeping in it.
3240 Noela Dr. (at Paki Ave., off Diamond Head Rd.), Honolulu, HI 96815. www.diamondheadbnb.com . /fax 808/
923-3360. 3 units. $130-$145 double. Rates include full breakfast. Extra person $20. 2-night minimum. No credit cards.
Free parking. Bus: 2. In room: TV, fridge, hair dryer.
Hotel Renew ★★ After millions in renovations, the renewed Hotel Renew offers an oasis
of tranquility, excellent taste, and high-tech electronic equipment in a sea of schlocky aging
Waikiki hotels. Located a block and a half from the beach, the hotel ushers guests to a seated
area for check-in while their luggage is whisked to their rooms. The new rooms are designed
with a clean decor, with black and white walls, discreet lighting, and the slight aroma of scen-
ted candles in the air. But it's the electronics that won us over: a 50-inch high-def flat-screen TV
in some rooms, complimentary high-speed Internet access, a host of 500-plus movies, even an
iPod docking station. A daily continental breakfast is included, and when you depart, you'll
receive a fresh flower lei to remember your sweet time here.
129 Paoakalani Ave (at Lemon Rd.), Honolulu, HI 96815. www.hotelrenew.com . & 888/485-7639 or 808/687-7700. Fax
808/687-7701. 70 units. $156-$225 double. Extra person $40. AE, DISC, MC, V. Parking $22. Bus: 19 or 20. Amenities:
Cafe and lounge; complimentary continental breakfast; concierge; spa. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, CD player, fridge, hair
dryer, high-speed Internet access (free).
New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel ★ This is one of Waikiki's best-kept secrets: a boutique
hotel nestled right on a lovely stretch of beach at the foot of Diamond Head, with Kapiolani
Park just across the street. Robert Louis Stevenson's description of Sans Souci, the beach front-
ing the hotel, still holds true: “If anyone desires lovely scenery, pure air, clear sea water, good
food, and heavenly sunsets, I recommend him cordially to the Sans Souci.” The Waikiki-side
guest rooms are teeny-tiny, barely with room for two, but tastefully decorated in pale pastels;
they open onto lanais with ocean and park views. A good budget buy is the park-view stu-
dio with kitchen, which you can stock with provisions from the on-site Mini-Mart, open until
11pm.
Because the hotel overlooks Kapiolani Park, guests have easy access to activities such as
golf, tennis, jogging, and bicycling; kayaking and snorkeling are available at the beach. The
hotel also arranges for visitors to climb to the top of Diamond Head. The airy lobby opens
onto the alfresco HauTreeLanairestaurant and features music nightly. The beachfront Sun-
set Lanai Lounge ★is great for cocktails and has live Hawaiian music at lunch on Friday.
2863 Kalakaua Ave. (ocean side of the street just Diamond Head of the Waikiki Aquarium, across from Kapiolani Park),
Honolulu, HI 96815. www.kaimana.com . & 800/356-8264 or 808/923-1555. Fax [phone] units. $149-$414
double; from $165 studio; from $245 junior suite; from $210 regular suite. Extra person $50. Children 12 and under stay
free in parent's room using existing bedding. Check website for special packages. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking
$18. Bus: 2 or 14. Amenities: 2 restaurants (including the Hau Tree Lanai); beachfront bar; babysitting; concierge; fit-
ness room; room service; watersports equipment rentals. In room: A/C, TV, free high-speed Internet, fridge, hair dryer,
kitchenette (in some units), minibar (on request).
INEXPENSIVE
OceanResortHotelWaikiki This large dual-tower hotel on a relatively quiet street is just a short
walk from the Honolulu Zoo, Kapiolani Park, and the Waikiki Aquarium, and just 2 minutes