Honolulu, Hawaii
The Modern Honolulu
Youthful vibe in Waikiki
What it is
The antidote to gaudy Hawaiiana, with white-on-white rooms and an on-site lagoon.
What it isn't
A throwback. It’s called The Modern because it is; don’t look for a gaudy lei upon arrival.
What we think
If you think the screen-saver-perfect version of Hawaii no longer exists, this hotel may prove you wrong. Set on saltwater, spring-fed Duke Kahanamoku lagoon, a quick shoeless stroll from Waikiki Beach, it's as close to paradise as you can get. That goes doubly so inside the hotel, where guest rooms are as calming as the horizon line, thanks to cream upholstery and gauzy white curtains that billow in the sea breeze. Only the rainbow-bright sarongs waiting for you add pops of color, so as not to detract from the view. Common spaces are art-filled and funky and everything your parents’ Hawaii isn’t; look for an installation of “broken in action” surfboards by Herbie Fletcher at the reception desk and Yves Klein’s tilework (with the blue set to "wow") in the adults-only Sunset Pool.
You're here because
Honolulu sits in the "classic" category of your life list, but that doesn’t mean you want to stay in a rote hotel. A poorly designed property can ruin a trip for you, and a great one—like this—can make it.
The Moment
You’re told the Lomi Lomi massage was inspired by the waves pounding Hawaiian shores, and you feel, in this moment, as renewed as the fresh morning sand on Waikiki Beach. It’s so good you extend it from 50 to 80 minutes.
Restaurants & Bars
Morimoto Waikiki - Asian fusion
The Grove - Pacific Rim
24 hour room service
The Bar at Sunrise Pool - Charming wooden deck bar
The Bar at Sunset Pool - Cozy bar set beside our adult's only pool
The Study - Trendy lounge hidden behind a bookshelf, local contemporary live entertainment
Morimoto Waikiki - Iron Chef restaurant main bar
ADDICTION Nightclub - Bar set in an urban, trendy on site nightclub
Location
A 15-minute drive from Honolulu International Airport and a quick walk from the well-heeled throngs on Kalakaua Avenue.