7 New Hotel Openings and Renovations in Hawaii
If you’re planning a queer winter getaway to the Hawaiian Islands in 2024, then continue reading! Why? Seven new hotels and resorts are opening their doors in 2024 for the first time or after multi-million-dollar renovation projects. So, consider staying at these moderate to high-end accommodations for your next warm-weather island escape.
AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu (Oahu)
This new urban retreat just opened in Honolulu’s downtown business district. The first AC Hotel-branded lodging property on Oʻahu, AC Hotel Marriott Honolulu aims to meet the needs of business travelers as well as visitors wishing to experience the shops, eateries, and activities of Honolulu’s downtown area. The 112-room boutique hotel will feature contemporary accommodations, public spaces and technology, and a food and beverage program including a hidden speakeasy. With a focus on meetings and events, the hotel will also offer several gathering spaces and 2,420 square feet of indoor and outdoor event venues.
Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort (Oahu)
Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort recently unveiled its renovated Waiola Wellness Wing, featuring property enhancements, new amenities, and oceanfront views of the Waikīkī shoreline. The $85 million resort transformation also included the addition of a Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman restaurant, a new fitness facility, a Coral Reef Kids Club, and residential-style rooms and suites, including a 4,000-square-foot Coral Reef Penthouse.
Renaissance Honolulu Hotel and Spa (Oahu)
Renaissance Honolulu Hotel and Spa is set to open early this year, making it the brand’s first Oahu location. The 39-story hotel will feature 299 guestrooms and state-of-the-art wellness facilities, including a heated saltwater swimming pool, traditional Japanese ofuro soaking tubs, and Himalayan salt saunas. The property will also offer a private club lounge, several dining options, and culturally inspired interior artwork and fitness amenities.
The Romer Waikīkī at The Ambassador (Oahu)
It’s going to be a good year for The Romer Waikīkī at The Ambassador! On the third-floor Waikīkī Swim and Social Club is a new gathering place and a reprieve in Waikīkī for visitors and locals, offering all-day drinks, light bites made with local ingredients, and a relaxed ambiance. The newly reimagined Romer Waikīkī — formerly the Ambassador Hotel Waikiki — first opened for guests in October. A new open-air restaurant featuring locally sourced fare will debut in the hotel in 2024.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Hawaii Island)
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel recently announced a $180 million renovation that will begin in the second quarter of 2024. The hotel’s renovation plans encompass redesigning its 252 guest rooms and suites, enhancing dining venues, revamping the Mauna Kea Golf Course, and constructing a new spa and fitness center.
Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa (Hawaii Island)
A 22-acre property perched above Keauhou Bay, the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa launched a revitalization process it expects to complete in quarter two of 2024. The project’s goal is to honor the legacy of its location and highlight its existing architecture while modernizing it to meet the expectations of contemporary travelers. The Outrigger team intends to carry the meaning of the Hawaiian word keauhou (“the new era” or “the new current”) throughout the design of the resort’s adult and family pools, on-property restaurants, Kaleiopapa Convention Center, fitness center, and all guest rooms.
Fairmont Kea Lani (Maui)
An all-suite and villa resort, the Fairmont Kea Lani completed its multiyear property transformation in December. In addition to the redesign of its 413 one-bedroom suites and 37 two-story villas, the resort will also unveil its reimagined lobby, home to a new 2,000-square-foot Hawaiian cultural center — one of the largest resort cultural centers on Maui — designed to share ‘ike (knowledge) with guests and the local community. The opening of a new oceanfront bar and restaurant with ʻāina (land)-driven culinary cocktails, panoramic views, and ocean breezes will complete the resort’s transformation.
