Suggest a Honolulu vacation to clients, and the response will almost inevitably include a desire to stay in Waikiki, with its gorgeous beaches, exclusive shops, trendy restaurants and buzzy nightlife.
But of course, all that buzz adds up to crowds.
The Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa bucks that arithmetic, offering the chance to truly get away on a Hawaii vacation getaway.
The hotel is the tower on the right, and the Sky Deck can be seen on the 8th floor above Kapiolani Boulevard. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa
The 39-story Renaissance opened in 2024, the first newbuild hotel in Honolulu in two decades. It's the brand's first on Oahu.
What made the idea of staying there so enticing to me was its location. The luxury hotel is situated on Kapiolani Boulevard about 2 miles outside Waikiki and is a short stroll from the world's largest open-air mall, the Ala Moana Center.
I'm familiar with the city and actually prefer that area when I'm in Honolulu. The streets are easier to navigate, it's quicker to get to the highway for some island exploration and, overall, there are fewer traffic jams. That alone takes away some of the stress that comes with visiting the urban island of Oahu.
The other great thing about it is that prices for food, gifts and other travel essentials are lower because the stores are outside of Waikiki, where prices tend to get marked up. Walmart and Sam's Club are also within walking distance of the hotel.
A Premier King Ocean View residence with floor-to-ceiling windows, some of which can be opened to let in ocean breezes. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa
Guestrooms and residences
The Renaissance Honolulu is split into two types of accommodations: hotel rooms from floors 15 to 29 and residences from floors 30 to 39. Residences are set up like apartments, with studios and one- and two-bedroom options, in-room washer and dryer and a fully equipped kitchen.
I stayed in one of those residences, a corner Premier King Ocean View residence on the 34th floor. It had a large entryway with a full-size mirror. The bathroom featured a soaking tub, and the king bed was plush with white bedding. The kitchen included a stove, oven, sink and a compact Sub-Zero refrigerator that was larger than a typical minifridge. I was ecstatic about the washer and dryer, since I was on an extended Oahu stay. (Guests without an in-room washer and dryer have access to coin-operated laundromat on the 8th floor.)
My room's wraparound views of the city and Ala Moana Beach, only about three blocks away, were spectacular. The floor-to-ceiling windows allowed for a full view, and the windows even opened to let in the ocean air.
Gazing down on the Ala Moana Center gave me the urge to go shopping. The hotel offers a shuttle service, which takes guests to the mall as well as to Magic Island (a beach near Ala Moana Beach) and the Alohilani Resort in Waikiki, which is a good place to begin a day exploring Waikiki. The shuttle departs every two hours between 10 a.m and 8 p.m., but be sure to check the schedule with the valet.
Since the Ala Moana Center is only a block away, I chose to walk there to find gifts for my family back home. The mall has more than 350 shops and restaurants, including Big Island Candies, ABC Stores, Hawaiian Island Creations, Hilo Hattie, Foodland Farms and Honolulu Cookie Company. The food court had a number of options, from mall staples like Chick-fil-A to places that serve poke, ramen and Korean barbecue.
When I returned to the hotel two hours later, I stopped by its cafe, Lamill, the first Hawaii location of the Los Angeles-based coffee roaster. I ordered a latte with oat milk, which was handed to me with a design drawn into the foam. It tasted perfect. I spent some time back in my room, eating a bento I picked up from Foodland Farms while watching the day dim as the sun disappeared below the horizon.
The hotel's Nami Spa offers Japanese-inspired indoor and outdoor soaking baths. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa
Spa time
The hotel's 8th floor is where the wellness amenities are located, including a large fitness center, 25-meter lap pool, family pool and whirlpool baths.
I spent an afternoon enjoying that retreat, known as the Sky Deck, swimming for a bit before walking over to the Sway Pool Bar & Grill. I had the chicken club sandwich with fries, which was quite good, along with a virgin pina colada and then spent some time by the pool before heading back to my room. The hotel will be announcing another restaurant concept in May.
The hotel's Nami Spa is open late, so I liked the idea of visiting it in the evening as a way to unwind. Guests can book massages and facials or pay a $35 fee to access the facility's amenities.
There were only two other women there when I entered the spa, which features indoor and outdoor, Japanese-inspired ofuro hot soaking baths, a cold plunge, a Himalayan salt sauna and a steam room.
I spent the majority of my time in the indoor and outdoor hot soaking tubs. When sitting, the water in these was neck high. I found it to be a perfect way to ease sore muscles and quiet the mind, just what I needed to end the day.