Hotels near Diamond Head State Monument, Honolulu

My wife and I had a wonderful four-night stay at Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, and we genuinely could not have been happier with our experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, professional, and welcoming. The hotel is beautifully maintained, exceptionally clean, and has a calm, elegant atmosphere that makes it feel like a peaceful escape while still being perfectly located in the heart of Waikiki. Our King Ocean View room was beautiful, comfortable, and very well maintained. The staff were consistently friendly and attentive, and we really appreciated the attention to detail throughout our stay. The location is fantastic—close to the beach, restaurants, shopping, and everything Waikiki has to offer, while still feeling quiet and relaxing. We also stayed at the Royal Hawaiian during this trip, and although it is an iconic property, I would personally choose Halepuna Waikiki over the Royal Hawaiian and would much rather stay at Halepuna again on our next visit. For us, the overall experience, service, cleanliness, comfort, and peaceful atmosphere at Halepuna were simply better. Halepuna feels luxurious without being pretentious, and we left with genuinely wonderful memories. Without hesitation, we would stay here again and highly recommend Halepuna Waikiki, especially for couples visiting Honolulu. A true 5/5 experience.

I booked an Oceanfront view room on a high floor. We arrived at the hotel around noon, and an Asian gentleman at the front desk assigned us room 59 on the 30th floor+ right away, without making us wait until 3 PM. He gave us the key cards directly so we could go upstairs. The location is truly impeccable, with an unbeatable ocean view overlooking the entire Waikiki Beach. The room itself is very spacious, with two queen-sized beds. Feeling a bit tired after the flight, I lay down and slept for a while. The mattress was very comfortable, just the right firmness for me. The soundproofing in the hotel is also excellent; there was no noise at night, only the sound of the ocean waves. The ground floor of the hotel is a commercial complex with an ABC store, restaurants, and cafes. Waikiki Beach is just across the street, and it's also within walking distance to the Royal Hawaiian Center shopping area and bus stops. If you don't mind slightly older facilities and a mediocre breakfast, you should definitely consider this hotel.

I recently stayed at this hotel in the Penthouse and, overall, had a pleasant stay. However, there were several areas where the guest experience could be improved. Pros: * The location is convenient, with Waikiki Beach approximately a 15-minute walk away. * There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, although I would recommend making reservations in advance as many are very popular. * There are numerous ABC Stores nearby, making it easy to pick up snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and other essentials. * A special mention goes to Ralph, who was outstanding throughout our stay. He was friendly, approachable, and always happy to help with any questions or recommendations. He quickly became our go-to person whenever we needed assistance and is a real credit to the hotel. Cons: * Upon arrival, we were not offered the welcome drink that other guests appeared to receive. We checked in shortly after 3:00 pm, yet we saw guests arriving at around 9:30 pm the previous evening being offered welcome drinks. It was disappointing that this was not provided consistently. * We were never informed that the hotel offers complimentary beach umbrellas and chairs on a first come, first served basis. We ended up purchasing our own before accidentally overhearing another member of staff explain this benefit during another guest’s check-in. * Similarly, we only discovered that the hotel offers a complimentary walking tour after overhearing a different staff member mention it to another guest. It would have been helpful if all guests were informed about the activities and amenities available during check-in. * We booked the Penthouse expecting to fully enjoy the advertised 90-degree views. While the views themselves were excellent, the balcony was much smaller than expected and not really large enough to comfortably sit and enjoy them. * The bathroom, particularly the bathtub, felt dated and would benefit from refurbishment. * The room itself is showing its age and could do with a modern refresh. * The breakfast room is exceptionally small considering the number of guests staying at the hotel. During busy periods it becomes crowded and difficult to find seating. * One morning, a guest was allowed to bring a dog into the enclosed, air-conditioned breakfast room. To my understanding, this is not permitted under Hawaii law unless the animal is a legitimate service animal, and it made the dining experience uncomfortable. * The Skyline floor cannot be accessed using the elevator on the far left, which was inconvenient and not clearly explained. * At check-in, a $200 deposit was authorised along with an additional hold on my credit card. This extra charge was never explained by staff, and I only became aware of it after reviewing my credit card statement. Greater transparency regarding incidental holds would have been appreciated. Overall, the hotel is in a good location with helpful staff, especially Ralph, and provides a comfortable base for exploring Waikiki. However, there were several inconsistencies in communication and a number of facilities that would benefit from updating. Better communication during check-in about available amenities, clearer explanations of credit card holds, and refurbishment of the rooms would significantly improve the overall guest experience.

Outstanding service from the moment we arrived at the front entrance. Friendly, knowledgeable staff were able to answer all of our questions and accommodate all our requests. Room was nicely appointed and generously sized with ample room in the walk-in closet for our 8 full-sized checked bags (we stopped through HI in the middle of a move 🙂). Had two double beds and a hid-a-bed which was perfect for our family of four. The small refrigerator in the room was just the right size for water bottles and some snack/breakfast food we picked up at the Target just across the street. Appreciated being able to check out fresh beach towels pool-side each day. That saved a lot of suitcase space. The balcony was just large enough for a small table and two chairs to catch a great view of the ocean. The hotel is located between prime beachfront on the one side and the International Marketplace on the other, everything you need is within easy walking distance. The kids enjoyed the beginner surf lessons available beachside through Faith Surf Academy, and being able to rent a board to continue surfing over subsequent days. Waves were perfect for beginners and despite there being a fair number of other visitors, there was plenty of room to swim, play, and enjoy the water, though space on the beach itself was a bit tight at times. The one shortcoming we experienced was there not being any self-service laundry on-site. It seems there used to be, but it's unavailable with the current renovation project underway, and I'm unsure whether they intend for it to be part of the updated plan or not. Paid laundry service is available, but we opted to walk down the road to a laundromat. All in all, the whole family enjoyed our time at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and would recommend it.

I stayed three nights in a partial ocean view room and four nights in an ocean view room. If the price difference isn't significant, definitely opt for the ocean view room – the experience is so much better (the partial ocean view room barely has any ocean view to speak of). The room itself was decent, and the cleanliness was okay, but the towels had a strange smell. The hotel's location is super convenient. The second floor connects directly to the Ala Moana shopping center, and there's a Don Quijote next door, making it very easy to shop and eat. It's about a 10-minute taxi ride to Waikiki, or a 30-minute walk. Personally, I prefer the nearby Ala Moana Beach, it's very chill. Car rental parking is also convenient. Parking is charged from 1 PM, costing $41 for 24 hours. [Pictures 1 & 2 show the view from Ocean View Room 1915; Picture 3 shows the view from Partial Ocean View Room 1104]

Took 40 mins for the shuttle to arrive, was given breakfast voucher but left too early the next morning. WIFI was very unstable, which was incredibly frustrating. The staff members were very nice, the room was old but very clean. Ok for a sleep before you go to te airport next day.

I highly recommend this hotel. Considering the price, I was extremely satisfied with everything except the age of the building. I stayed here for several consecutive nights on a business trip, and the front desk staff were always friendly and welcoming. Although the rooms are a bit dated, they were very clean, and the housekeeping service—including bed-making and towel replacement—was impeccable. My stay was comfortable every single day. For this price, the location and level of hospitality were outstanding. I was genuinely impressed. There was complimentary coffee available at the front desk, and although the smoking area was nearby, there was absolutely no smell in the hotel. As a smoker, I really appreciated that. The room came with four soft pillows, and the shower worked perfectly fine. There were also plenty of souvenirs available, which made me wonder how they can offer all of this at such a reasonable price. Now for a little rant. I accidentally packed a jar of jam that the hotel staff had kindly given me in my carry-on luggage at the airport. A particularly unpleasant security officer confiscated it, saying that gel-like substances were not allowed. All I can do is hope that person didn’t end up helping themselves to it. The hotel was flawless. My only grievance is with the guy at the airport security checkpoint. I would absolutely love to stay here again on my next business trip.

Great service, professional staff.  If you are looking to be near the airport this is a great choice.  They have an airport shuttle and breakfast. If I’m in HNL again for a quick layover type trip I would stay here again.

It was a room with a view of the diamond head and the sea. I was a little worried about the height because I wanted a clear view of the sea, but I was satisfied with the Lanai overlooking the two without any problems. It is old as a whole, the bathtub is old, and it takes time to get hot water.

The front desk staff was very kind and I was grateful. It was about a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport. It was around 11pm, so it was about $66 including the late-night fare. During the day, it was about $50.