Halekulani Okinawa — Hotel in Onna

Nice property , leading hotel of the world but really not up to that standard when compared to other LHW.||they have three major problems:||1. Terrible breakfast dining allocation where you can book into a queue for breakfast and be told that your breakfast slot is in 70minutes. No body needs to plan their day or wake up time on holiday based on the breakfast allocation slot. ||2. Over crowding: the whole dining areas and pool area felt overcrowded, more so when it rained. ||3. Staff not wanting to open umbrellas when it was slightly windy. We found this incredulous when there were no winds but based on predicted weather forecast! This meant lying on subbed sun the heat!||Located about an hour from Naha airport by car via the toll Highway. ||Two Major wings: sunset and beach. Total of 360 rooms and villas. On arrival, one has to drive up to the sunset wing.Valet parking- took too long when we had to pick up the car, at time we waited over 10minutes! ||Check in was ok- sat at the foyer with beautiful sea views but the whole process took too Long and should be more efficient. ||We were shown our room by concierge personal - room 751. Nice size room with a compartment for a walk In closet and good size shower with views to the balcony from the bath tube. Parking was free as per the booking or otherwise 2000yen per day. ||Turn down service - ice bucket and pj’s are out and about gift which was a nice touch but not useful- we left them all behind. ||Balconies are to close together especially 751 and 750 and 752. ||Pools: |There are a number of pools: best is the sunset pool and the quiet pool( beach wing), both adults only. ||The indoor pool was narrow as on the day it rained, there was a lot of kids in their blow up floaters which took up a lot Of Space in the pool. The pool staff give out towels and also bottles of Cold water which is a nice touch. ||They refused to open umbrellas although it was sunny if there was a weather forecast that it maybe windy. The sunset terrace pool: guest are told to leave whilst sun is setting which could be 1835 when closure is 1900 according to the pool brochure.||Beach was ok- brown sands with clear water and small umbrellas. These umbrellas were the only ones open when the weather forecast predicted winds and all the other pools had their umbrellas shut. ||Dining: |Breakfast was good at the La |The all day dining without a key: Breakfast buffet was also good with wide|Selection and seating divided up between child friendly and adult only areas, thankfully. Just very busy and a long wait of over 30minutes if booked at 0730 and over 60 minutes at 0800! |Food at the pool bar was frankly terrible - had the vegetable panini and it was frankly poor and over priced! ||GYM:|Manned by two staff. |A walk from the sunset wing to 3 rd floor of the beach wing. |2 cycle , 2 jogger and 1 cross trainer with 1 tower. Weights up to 22kg. |Chest bench and 3 weigh machine.|Needs more relaxing music in the gym. ||Issues: |Breakfast and queueing system- area for breakfast just too small for the number of|Guest, solution is to expand their table numbers or add a third restaurant ||Pool umbrellas- would not be open if there is wind: windy as we found on the...

Nice property , leading hotel of the world but they have three major problems: Terrible breakfast dining allocation where you can book into a queue for breakfast and be told that your breakfast slot is in 70minutes. No body needs to plan their day or wake up time on holiday based on the breakfast allocation slot. Over crowding: the whole dining areas and pool area felt overcrowded, more so when it rained. Staff not wanting to open umbrellas when it was slightly windy. We found this incredulous when there were no winds but based on predicted weather forecast! This meant lying on subbed sun the heat!

Located about an hour from Naha airport by car via the toll Highway.

Two Major wings: sunset and beach. Total of 360 rooms and villas. On arrival, one has to drive up to the sunset wing.Valet parking- took too long when we had to pick up the car, at time we waited over 10minutes!

Check in was ok- sat at the foyer with beautiful sea views but the whole process took too Long and should be more efficient.

We were shown our room by concierge personal - room 751. Nice size room with a compartment for a walk In closet and good size shower with views to the balcony from the bath tube. Parking was free as per the booking or otherwise 2000yen per day.

Turn down service - ice bucket and pj’s are out and about gift which was a nice touch but not useful- we left them all behind.

Balconies are to close together especially 751 and 750 and 752.

Pools: There are a number of pools: best is the sunset pool and the quiet pool( beach wing), both adults only.

The indoor pool was narrow as on the day it rained, there was a lot of kids in their blow up floaters which took up a lot Of Space in the pool. The pool staff give out towels and also bottles of Cold water which is a nice touch.

They refused to open umbrellas although it was sunny if there was a weather forecast that it maybe windy. The sunset terrace pool: guest are told to leave whilst sun is setting which could be 1835 when closure is 1900 according to the pool brochure.

Beach was ok- brown sands with clear water and small umbrellas. These umbrellas were the only ones open when the weather forecast predicted winds and all the other pools had their umbrellas shut.

Dining: Breakfast was good at the La The all day dining without a key: Breakfast buffet was also good with wide Selection and seating divided up between child friendly and adult only areas, thankfully. Just very busy and a long wait of over 30minutes if booked at 0730 and over 60 minutes at 0800! Food at the pool bar was frankly terrible - had the vegetable panini and it was frankly poor and over priced!

GYM: Manned by two staff. A walk from the sunset wing to 3 rd floor of the beach wing. 2 cycle , 2 jogger and 1 cross trainer with 1 tower. Weights up to 22kg. Chest bench and 3 weigh machine. Needs more relaxing music in the gym.

Issues: Breakfast and queueing system- area for breakfast just too small for the number of Guest, solution is to expand their table numbers or add a third restaurant

Pool umbrellas- would not be open if there is wind: windy as we found on the...

Stayed here for 4 nights at the end of a vacation for some beach time and relaxation. I picked this property because I wanted a 4/5 star experience. This hotel fell far short and would make me reluctant to book any other “Leading Hotels of the World” property. High points: the physical plant of the hotel is excellent. Clearly new and well maintained. The location couldn’t be better with a nice beach a short walk away. We enjoyed snorkeling in the designated area (not sure why you can only swim in this area?). Staff are friendly and try to go out of their way to help. Limited English spoken, but this is Japan and I do not expect them to speak my language. Problems:

1. Restaurant situation: as other reviews have noted, there is not enough dining space to accommodate the number of guests at the resort. This is completely unacceptable for a 5 star resort. We were turned away from the “all day dining” restaurant because we didn’t have a reservation. While I would expect to need reservations at specialty dining restaurants, there should be at least one resort restaurant that always accepts walk-ins. I should NEVER need to worry about finding a place to eat at a “5 star” resort especially given the cost of the room. We have stayed at Marriott properties around the world and never encountered this problem with any of them. Service is also very slow. Breakfast has a “virtual queue” that starts at 6:30 am. I couldn’t get it to work until 6:45 am - 90 min wait??!! Really? I feel like I’m trying to do a Fastpass at Disneyworld. Too stressful and certainly not a relaxing experience one would expect at a “5 star” resort.
2. Pretty much all beach activities are extra- want a paddle board - need a private tour. Clear bottomed kayak - same. What am I paying 100,000 yen a night for? We brought on own masks - pretty sure they charged for those too.
3. poolside bar and restaurant- very slow service for drinks. Does not seem like they have enough staff to accommodate the number of guests on property. Menu is extremely limited - couple sandwich’s, salads and some sides. No kids options. Really hard to go to the other restaurants since there is always a wait and no one wears beach wear. Also extremely expensive- 1000 yen for a soda? Wow…
4. too many rules/restrictions- pools/beach close a little too early. No masks in pool but swim goggles ok? Need to wear a life jacket at the beach when using a snorkel but don’t need one when not? Rock/tide pools off limits in front of hotel?
5. after being out of room from 9-3:30, came back to find it had never been cleaned or refreshed. Had to ask for this to be done. Never should need to do this at a 5 star resort.

We got so fed up with all the rules this place has we eventually went to the beach next door where we could easily snorkel and explore the tide pools.

Overall, I just don’t feel that I got a 5-star experience for the cost. I regret not going with the Marriott...