Situated steps from the surf breaks of Waikiki Beach and the bustling shopping and nightlife of Waikiki, the Queen Kapi‘olani Hotel is relaunching this summer with a $35 million renovation. Built in the mid-1960s during Waikiki’s Golden Age, the Queen Kapi‘olani’s reimagining embraces its heritage with a retro-chic aesthetic while incorporating modern enhancements that meet the needs of today’s travelers. At 19 stories, the hotel offers 315 guest rooms, a large open-air lobby that fronts Kapi‘olani Park, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

The Hawaiian oasis also has an 8,000-square-foot third-floor lanai (outdoor deck) and pool, endearingly referred to as the hotel’s outdoor living room, which features a new restaurant, bar and lounge, and a pool. Perfect for sunbathing, taking in the sunset with a cocktail in hand, or snapping a selfie with Diamond Head as the back drop, the lanai offers stunning panoramic views of the surf break at Waikiki Beach, the lush green lands of Kapi‘olani Park, and Diamond Head.

The full-service hotel offers comfortable guest rooms and plentiful amenities that cater to leisure and business travelers with views of Diamond Head and ocean. Transformed into comforting retreats, the refreshed guestrooms incorporate coastal color palettes, modern amenities, large new windows, and individual lanais. The furniture, hand-selected by renown local design firm Philpotts Interiors, also aligns with the hotel’s retro-chic vibe.

The unveiling also introduces a new culinary concept, DECK. The Queen Kapi‘olani partnered with Plan Do See to create the fun, yet relaxed restaurant, which serves cuisine inspired by local fresh catch and produce in a sharable style, as well as an array of craft cocktails. Additionally, inside the hotel’s open-air lobby features several retail outlets including Knots Coffee Roasters, offering a fun fusion of coffee by day and wines and small-batch local beers by evening.

By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY