Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel Honolulu

Walking into the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani in Waikiki is like walking into the embracing arms of an old friend. I always feel instantly at home and comfortable when I come here. Mel experienced the same feeling, even though she had never been here before. This was my third stay at the Kaiulani, and even though this hotel is not as ritzy as the other Sheratons in Waikiki, it’s the atmosphere that keeps me coming back time and again.

The Kaiulani has all the best features of Hawaii that I love. It’s welcoming, open, friendly, relaxed and generous. The foyer is large and open air and gives easy access to everything in the hotel. The only thing you will have to go for a hike to find is the car park, but there is a car park and guests may park their cars for USD20 a day. The hotel itself gives easy access to everything you will need in Waikiki. It is next to the international marketplace and just across the road then through the Moana Surfrider to the beach. This time there was an ABC store (All Blocks Covered, or Aloha Brings Cash) right on the corner by the hotel, giving easy and all hours access to anything you might need in regards to food, drinks (including alcoholic), toiletries, film, phone cards, jewellery, souvenirs and the must have Hawaiian apparel the Hawaiian shirt. However, this is a review for the Princess Kaiulani not the ABC stores; suffice to say anything your heart desires is mere metres from your door.

At the Kaiulani, we were not greeted with a flower lei as we were at the Sheraton Waikiki but there is a basket on the reception desk of Plumiera (Frangipani) flowers on picks to place behind your ear each day; right ear if you are single and left if unavailable. However, what did greet us was warm and friendly staff. We had booked a Deluxe Ocean View room; on previous occasions as a Sheraton Club member (now the SPG - Starwood Preferred Guest programme) I had been upgraded to the Deluxe Ocean View and didn’t want to run the risk of not getting it this time so booked one upfront. There are higher rooms in the hotel but I like the deluxe because they look straight out across the pool and the Moana Surfrider to the sparkling Pacific Ocean, and that’s a view that just can’t be beat.

The rooms are very spacious, clean and comfortable if a little dated. We had a room with two double beds and a little fold out couch. On the lanai (balcony), there are two chairs and a low table to sit at while enjoying a delicious Hawaiian cocktail in the evening whilst enjoying hula dancers and Hawaiian music performed nightly by the pool from 6:15pm to 9:30pm. Other facilities in the room are basic but adequate, TV, desk, large safe in the wardrobe, bathroom with complimentary shampoo and lotions, mini fridge and complimentary tea and Kona coffee. The one thing that did disappoint me this time was the paper cups for coffee, although I did come up with a solution for that. Whenever you buy anything from an ABC store and you keep your dockets and spend over a certain amount, you can receive free ‘gifts’, so I thought we could get a coffee cup each. However I didn’t come up with idea until the day before we were due to leave and didn’t think it was worth it, but next time...

There are a couple of places to eat in the hotel, the main restaurant Pitake serves Breakfast, lunch and dinner, I found the food delicious but quite pricey and only ate in the hotel once. You can also enjoy the Sheraton’s own Polynesian dinner and cocktail show, Creations. I had seen this show in 1999 when I was here and enjoyed it very much. Room service is available for breakfast between 6:00am and 11:00am and for dinner between 5:00pm and 9:00pm and again is pricey. During our stay, the hotel sent up a complimentary fruit basket and on another day a bottle of Champaign, I have always received something complimentary from this hotel, I think it’s because I am a member of SPG. I recommend joining before your stay at any of the Sheratons in Waikiki.

The great thing about staying at one of the Sheratons in Waikiki is you can dine at any of the other Starwood hotels and charge your meals (and cocktails) back to your room. As a guest, you have access to all facilities of the other Starwood hotels as well, including the Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian; they are all within easy walking distance from the Kaiulani.

Near the reception there is a tour desk and concierge to help with booking tours, shuttle busses and hire cars; we found the staff very helpful and knowledgeable.

If you take your own computer, you can obtain internet access in your room, otherwise there are about four computers in the lobby with free internet access, you may have to line up to use one of the computers but because of the 15 minute time limit, you won’t have to wait very long unless there is a queue. After your 15 minutes is up, even if there is nobody else waiting, the computer shuts down wiping everything you had been working on, so be wary of that.

Each day in or near the foyer, there are many different activities and events for quests to enjoy. During my stay I watched a master wood carver at work, Pineapple Carving and tasting with one of the hotel chefs, shopped at a little market selling only locally made goods and had the opportunity to participate in Hula lessons, Hawaiian quilting and flower lei making. Other facilities the hotel has to offer are a games room for the kids (or young at heart) a fitness room with decent equipment, a laundry room and a deep swimming pool, so watch the kiddies - unless you are sick of them.

The Kaiulani is in an excellent position in Waikiki, almost everything you could want is within walking distance, if it isn’t, then there are a myriad of busses, taxis and shuttle busses to take you where ever you would like to go. So, if you would like to go and stay with an old friend who will welcome you with wide-open arms and some aloha spirit, then the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is the place for you.