Marina Hawaii Vacations — Local services in Honolulu

We recently stayed in the Ilikai Hotel for a week (the week before 2013 Christmas), and really enjoyed the private condo, as well as this management company. Check-in/check-out process was painless, we arrived after the office was closed, but had no issue with the lock-box on the door.

The staff was quick to respond to questions and concerns. We arrived 2 days later due to unforeseen problem with United Airlines, but the MHV company was able to deduct 2 nights' charge from the final bill, and still managed to keep our reservation. In the end we only needed to pay $100 extra cleaning fee.

The hotel offers a full range of services including valet parking, towel service at the pool and concierge. We actually booked the Atlantis submarine trip through the concierge desk. The hotel's bellhop service is also very convenient and very reasonably priced: for $1/piece/day, you can store any number of luggages there, far less expensive than airport storage, taxi from and to the airport included!

The private condo (1027 partially facing the marina) we stayed was well maintained and very clean. Wall-unit A/C actually worked very well. My only big complaint (the reason that I did not give it a 5-star rating) was that the kitchen was equipped but not stocked at all, no salt, sugar, peppers or any other seasoning. There was one pitiful welcome package that had one pack of coffee, 2 Nestle creamer substitutes, and one tea bag, that was it! When asked about this supposedly "fully equipped kitchen", the answer from MHV was: "well we do not know what kind of food was left out by the previous renters". We had to drop by the Foodland in the Ala Moana Shopping Center to get those kitchen essentials. I was not impressed with this aspect. On the other hand, the kitchen equipments, including pots, pans and utensils were well stocked and with good quality. My husband loved the Circulon skillets!

We enjoyed many mornings waking up to the quiet marina bay; having a sip of premium Kona Mountain Coffee (there is a Kona Mountain Coffee shop across the street, the dark roast is to die for!); and watching the setting of the moon. Because of the proximity to the Hilton Hawaiian Village, we were also able to walk over to enjoy the Friday fireworks.

All in all, we like this hotel and the management company, would probably...

I see no reason why anyone wouldn't be happy with this rental.

Unless:

1. You intend on spending most of your Hawaiian vacation in your room. Although this room is perfectly clean and fine, it's not exactly luxury. It's just sort of basic, which is what we wanted.

2. If you have more than two adults. The bed is fine, but the hide-a-bed, not so much. Plus it's basically just one room, so you'll all be sleeping together no matter what.

3. You are concerned about parking. The thing is, there is valet parking for this building which I thinks $20-something a day, but the priority is given to hotel guests, not condo renters. You are a condo renter. So they will likely tell you to go find parking elsewhere which is what they told me*, which is kind of a pain in downtown Waikiki. The best bet is parking in the next block above the Red Lobster which also may fill up.

Overall, I have no real complaints about this place and would stay there again.

I told the valet guy "is there anything we can do about this? (nudge nudge)". Might cost you a few bucks in that instant, but if you can get into the valet parking at least once (however you do it), the first time you pick up your car, tell them you want to pay for ALL the days you intend to be there. They will let you do that thinking you are a hotel guest and you will be home free for your entire stay. It's pretty convenient to have the valet right at the bottom floor. They are...

We stayed at the Ilikai, on Moana Blvd, Waikiki in February 2024. The unit we rented was completely upgraded in the past month. They did a fabulous job. The adult quiet pool served its purpose, we even spent time at the family pool. There were some issues with the elevators and we made the best of it. They gave us great service. There is a bathers elevator to the left side as you enter. It services all floors, is larger than the main bank of elevators and sometimes quicker, especially coming down to Lobby.

Our Lani faced the Friday evening fireworks, awesome., photo attached. There are services on main floor, a marketplace , beach toy rentals, ice cream, restaurant etc. Shirt walk to Ala Moana Shopping Centre. We stocked up on day one and simply Uber’d back with the groceries, might have been $6 if that.

It’s a bit of a walk to the main action on Kalakaua Ave. Uber ride to the far end, near the zoo was $13. Sometimes we would Uber down and walk back.

Having the condo also allowed us to go to the Cheesecake Factory,,,, and bring home the leftovers for lunch the next day.

Stop in at the War Museum, it’s free and guaranteed to show/teach/surprise most people. You’ll be walking right past it.

We had a great time at the Ilikai and...