Three years after it reopened from a pandemic-era shutdown, the Halekulani is continuing to add to and enhance its offerings.
Photo Credit: Rebecca Tobin
Rebecca Tobin writes: "When in Hawaii, no matter where we're staying, we always meet at House Without a Key."
The luxury resort, which sits on prime oceanfront property in Waikiki, did a full update of all its guestrooms, updated its public areas and added an alfresco bar to its House Without a Key restaurant. Many of those enhancements were on display during my visit with family last summer.
The hotel has since finished a major revamp of its spa and wellness area and is adding two top-tier suites to its lineup.
Though the primary adjectives I associate with the Halekulani are words like serenity and elegance -- its in-room design mantra, after all, is "seven shades of white" -- general manager Davide Barnes added another good one: fun.
Especially exciting is the additions to the premier suites, which are the largest accommodations. And especially "fun," Barnes said, is a Penthouse Suite that will be created with midcentury Hawaiian design in mind. "A lot of tiki, a lot of bamboo," Barnes said. "So the decorations are really fun."
Of course, it is doing midcentury the Halekulani way: With subtle touches. So don't expect dark wood tones and vibrant colors. "We're keeping it us," Barnes said.
But the residents of the Penthouse Suite also get some impressive extras: a private, rotating art collection and a large, wraparaound lanai and tiki bar with a personal mixologist, who can craft a drinks program for guests ahead of their visit. Barnes said the suite would be ideal for entertaining.
"We think it'll be very unique suite, one-of-a-kind definitely for the Halekulani and one-of-a-kind for the island," he said.
The author's daughter on the lawn outside House Without a Key, with Diamond Head in the background. Photo Credit: Rebecca Tobin
On the ground floor, a two-bedroom Bungalow Suite will offer high ceilings, soft colors, a soaking tub in the bathroom and dual entrances: one to the hallway and one to the pool and ocean. Barnes said surfers will appreciate the "direct access out to the ocean and the large lanai to store their surfboards."
The Bungalow Suite is coming online first, with the Penthouse to follow, ideally in time for the holidays.
Spa gets some pampering
Of the SpaHalekulani updates, Barnes said: "It's been really fun to see everybody's reaction."
In the spa, the resort updated its salon, added a post-treatment room that Barnes said was "gorgeous" and put in three new treatment suites, including one with a Welnamis Vibroacoustic Table that blends vibration and sound. Barnes specifically pointed out a treatment that will help alleviate jet lag by providing the equivalent of eight hours of sleep in about 30 minutes.
A couples room, with two massage tables, has what Halekulani said is the only Japanese furo in Waikiki.
Barnes also talked up a touchless scalp treatment or "head spa," popular in Japan and Korea. It also upgraded its zero-gravity pedicure chairs that Barnes said were designed by NASA.
Barnes said spa enhancements had been planned before Covid struck. "We've always felt as though we've been leaders in the spa world, and our intention was to do this much earlier," he said. "We've always been proud of our innovation in the spa."
CORRECTION: A previous version of this report incorrectly said the name of the suite that will ideally be ready in time for the holidays: It is the Penthouse, not the Presidential.