The Royal Hawaiian is back in action! After a seven-month closure and an $85 million facelift, the legendary Pink Palace of the Pacific debuted on Jan. 20 with its new look. The hotel now joins Starwood's Luxury Collection brand. Gone are the little storefronts clogging up the lobby, replaced with a brilliant new open-air welcome experience. The public spaces on property look larger and more inviting than ever. Even the ladies' rooms have been completely redone and drew "oohs" from the crowd I toured with. I was hesitant about the hotel losing some its pink touches, but seeing the improvements eased any doubts that this wasn't a much-needed change for the hotel. 

Noemar Viloria, a dedicated employee who at the time of this picture, happily claimed he had been working at The Royal for "29 years, one month, 16 days, four hours, and 10 minutes." Phew! 

 

 

If you're searching for a refreshing new hotel experience in Waikiki, look no further than Hotel Renew.  Tucked away on Paoakalani Ave (next to ResortQuest Waikiki), Hotel Renew is located just far enough off the beaten path but close enough to the hustle and bustle of Waikiki to let you feel as far from or as close to the action as you want to be.  The 72-room property recently underwent an extreme makeover and rebranding, resulting in what they call "Waikiki's first designer boutique hotel."

Nancy Uber, Hotel Renew public relations, and Cecilia Brown, Hotel Renew sales & client services manager

Acclaimed San Francisco designer Jiun Ho purposefully planned every element of Hotel Renew to create the perfect balance between "sexy urban chic" and "relaxed island comfort."  With a palette of monochromatic colors, textured woods, and fabrics with a few bright splashes of color throughout, Hotel Renew is modern, inviting, and a far cry from the typical Hawaiian tiki decor you'll find at many Waikiki hotels.

Hotel Renew boasts extremely personalized service in a sophisticated but relaxed atmosphere, and offers great value with complimentary guest amenities, including a chilled beverage upon arrival (who doesn't love that?), daily continental breakfast, wireless Internet, daily newspaper, use of beach gear (based on availability), and a weekly mixer with hosted cocktails.

The gorgeous scenery from one of Hotel Renew's ocean view rooms

For more information on Hotel Renew and to see some of the property's great deals being offered right now, visit www.hotelrenew.com.

Is your inner Elvis bursting to come out?  If so, the Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar offers the perfect oceanfront location to shake your hips and sing your heart out.  Every night from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m., Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar hosts free karaoke where visitors and locals can sing and dance on a small platform stage to everything from Elvis to Britney Spears to Sir Mix-A-Lot, while enjoying tasty and affordable drinks and pupu (appetizers).  

On the timid side?  Don't worry, watching the regulars perform will keep you entertained (and perhaps provide you with a bit of confidence to show off your vocal talents).  The night that I visited the Shore Bird, an older man dressed in the perfect Elvis get-up, energized the crowd with his renditions of classic Elvis tunes, and a group of younger men shook their booties to "Baby Got Back."

Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar is located at the recently renovated Outrigger Reef on the Beach at 2169 Kalia Road in Waikiki.  The property is undergoing a multi-million dollar makeover, including the construction of the new Pacific Tower.  Completed projects include updated guestrooms (see the previous RnR blog entry, Room with a View for more info), a new port cochere with canoe hale entryway, retiled pool, and renovated lobby.

For more information about the Outrigger Reef on the Beach or Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar, visit www.outriggerreef.com.

-- MLT

I just can't get enough of the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. My real reason for visiting the property wasn't just to have cocktails; I wanted to spy on their renovations. The resort is in the midst of a $120-million makeover, and I was anxoius to see the upgrades in the works. Completed changes are new rooms in the Ocean Tower, a retiled swimming pool complete with towel services and ice water, and a new Hertz rental car desk on site. I found the check-in experience to be surprisingly pleasant. First, I was greeted with a chilled towel. Then, I received a booklet of Oahu postcards. If I wanted to send them out to family and friends, I simply had to drop them off back at the reception desk. No postage necessary! No trolling around for postage stamps! As I was gazing upon the voyaging decor in the lobby, the agent also told me all local calls and Internet access were free. 

I got up into my room and lo and behold was Diamond Head! Right outside my window! I didn't want to leave it was so beautiful. Like a happy tourist, I woke up super early to watch the sunrise over Oahu's most famous landmark. 

 
Sunrise over Diamond Head from the Outrigger Reef's Ocean Tower. 

Some may wonder how the renovations affected my stay. I noticed some construction going on, but didn't hear any noises while I was in my room or at the pool. So this should be a good value for travelers looking for "renovation discounts." Once the hotel is complete, it will be a true beachfront gem. I enjoyed the room and the hotel so much, so I can't wait to see how the new porte cochere and Pacific Canoe longhouse turn out. Everything should be completed by early 2009. For more information or reservations, visit www.outriggerreef.com.

--RAP