THE BRIEF

The original portion of the PRINCESS KAIULANI HOTEL was built in 1955 by the Matson Navigation Company and was sold to Sheraton in 1959. That year they added the Diamond Head Wing and then in 1970, Kyo Ya added the Ainahau Tower. That brought the total number of rooms available to 1140.

The Hotel is at the former entrance to the ‘Ainahau Estate. Hawaii’s beloved Princess Victoria Kaiulani lived here during her reign. Kaiulani means “the highest point of heaven” or “the royal sacred one” in Hawaiian. The beautiful princess was the last heir to the Hawaiian Monarchy and is still revered in Hawaii today.

Over the many years in Waikiki, I’ve had a chance to drop by the P.K. (as the locals call it) and have a drink or a bite to eat at the Splash Bar, but I never used it for accommodation. The opportunity presented itself this year and I jumped on it because my motto has always been “Carpe Diem”.

I arrived at the Hotel’s loading area at the side of the property. This small area can be bustling during the day. A short path past a waterfall pond leads into a large open-air check-in lobby.

There was a dedicated Marriott Elite line just past the Bell Desk as you entered the main reception area. This area was usually staffed well but could get very busy especially early to mid-afternoon. I was lucky and was served quickly in the Elite line.

As an Ambassador Elite member doing a long-term stay and reviewing the hotel, I was upgraded to one of the few suites available in the historic Kaiulani wing.

The room featured a small kitchenette, a large fridge, and a microwave oven. All the fixings of home because it is home when I’m in Waikiki.

There was plenty of living space to relax or work in. Two Lanai’s, one off the bedroom and a large one off the living room were available to enjoy. They offered marvellous views of the beach, ocean, and the grand old dame of the strip, the Mona Surfrider Hotel.

The bedroom had two large twin beds and a beautiful view off the ensuite lanai. You can relax on the lanai and listen to the live music by the pool below.

The bathroom was large enough although a bit dated. The closet space was minimal, but I made it work nonetheless. It had another but smaller fridge, great for an extended stay, located at the back of that area.

I finally returned to using the gym after a long absence during and after Covid. It was on the second floor of the Ainahau Tower so I would have to go down to the Lobby and walk over to that wing to use it.

During my stay, some new equipment was added to the large gym floor, which was already well-furnished. It was not crowded most times of the day and that also made for a comfortable exercise session.

THE DEBRIEF

I was not anticipating much when I booked this stay and was unsure what to expect especially since I had no personal contacts there and I had been staying at another location for so many years. It turned out to be one of the most pleasant stays I’ve had anywhere in the world. The friendly managers and staff were eager to make my stay comfortable. With this location, you have the bonus of being within steps of all amenities. The beach is right across the street. There’s a supermarket just around the corner. Even a Doctor’s on-call clinic is right in the hotel. Life doesn’t get much easier. I highly recommend a stay at the Princess Kaiulani to anyone.

👍👍👍