When most of us think of Waikiki, we think of Japanese tourists in matching Bermudas, Reyn Spooner shirts, and that big old statue of Duke. Though not much has changed in Waikiki since the 70's, it's one place everyone needs to see at least once in their lives. Far from the relatively tranquil atmosphere of Maui or Kauai, it carries an interesting edge that surprised me. That said, I journeyed around the place to find the best boutique hotel close to all the action, but far enough away from throngs of tourists or bad 'stuck-in-the-popcorn-ceiling past' design. That's when I came upon a little gem called... Hotel Renew.
Priding itself on high design and personalized service, the staff not only helped me navigate a bus route, but they even offered to walk me there. The property, the first designer boutique hotel on Oahu, was designed by Jiun Ho who has certainly created a casually elegant oasis of tranquility - think a more quiet, peaceful W property - a calm contrast to the energy of Waikiki. Of the 72-room hotel with Japanese touches, all rooms offer luxurious, contemporarty amenities like feather beds, bathrobes, eco-friendly bottled water, in-room refrigerators, oversized beach towels, state-of-the-art in-room technology, including complimentary wireless throughout the hotel (we love that!), 80" inch projection televisions, flat screen HDTVs, dimmable lighting, and iPod docking capabilities. With close proximity to Diamond Head, Oahu's most photographed landmark, and just steps from Waikiki Beach, Hotel Renew is poised to become one of Oahu's most treasured boutique hotel.
This summer, they're also offering the Sun & Fun package including: a deluxe guestroom, a convertible car or Jeep from Enterprise, an organic Hotel Renew beach bag, a pair of Hotel Renew flip flops, complimentary use of beach gear (based on availability), complimentary continental breakfast each morning, and a complimentary cocktail each evening. Rates @ $179/night
Sun & Fun Package starts at $199/night
www.hotelrenew.com
For those visiting Honolulu, we also wanted to mention a few other great things to do. While strolling the streets near the hotel, we came upon an adorable two-in-one vegetarian restaurant called "Ruffage." During the day, it serves healthy veggie fare, while at night, the space turns into a reasonably priced (and delicious) sushi joint called "Morio's."
Ruffage/Morio's
2443 Kuhio Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 922-2042
(c) Kathleen Walling FryBar 35 is another two-in-one restaurant/bar that does some amazing beer tastings on Wednesdays where a professional brewer (the owner/founder of Hawaii Nui Beers) walks you through each beer, as well as the brewing process. It's one of the latest hot spots in the newly energized Downtown-Chinatown area.
Bar 35
35 N Hotel St
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 537-3535
www.bar35hawaii.com
Featuring indoor and patio bars, happy hour, DJs and live bands, Bar 35 also has something else sure to please... a pizza place inside the bar, owned and operated by Chef Valentini. His handmade gourmet pizzas are seriously some of the best I've ever eaten. Don't miss the 'Sweet Bangkok' with Chinese Sausage, Sweet Chili Sauce, Cilantro, Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese and the 'French Kiss' with French Brie Cheese, Cooked Ham, Fresh Pesto Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese and Fresh Basil. From Bar 35, there are a number of great spots like Indigo with it's outdoor tiki bar feel and The Loft where DJ's spin wild music and locals (and a few in-the-know vacationers) eye each other in between moves. If you're looking for more nightspots to enjoy, check out this link:
Our Favorite Honolulu Nightclubs
http://www.enjoyhawaiivacations.com/honolulu-nightclubs.html
