Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
The setting: Opening March 31, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club is burgeoning Aqua-Aston Hospitality’s latest boutique transformation of lodgings in Waikiki, in this case the former Hokele Suites on Lewers Street near the Ala Wai Canal.
The appeal: The hotel may be a bustling four blocks from the beach, but offers touches of North Shore surf culture on the inside to balance the big city outside. The decor features headboards with vintage Tori Richards fabrics, reed ceilings and pendant lights, while Millennial-pleasing upscale amenities include oversize custom-tiled bathrooms, 40- to 50-inch flat-screen TVs, a poolside lounge with high-end cocktails (the Swim Club), and Olive and Oliver, a hip apparel shop and artisanal coffee bar.
Insider tip: Ed Kenney of the hotel’s on-site Mahina & Sun’s restaurant may be one of the most exciting chefs serving regionally inspired and sourced cuisine on Oahu. Expect locals who are otherwise Waikiki-averse to beat a path here, too.
Good to know: One-room “bungalows” are tiny (280 square feet), so couples may want to spring for at least a one-bedroom suite (480 square feet, with king and sofa bed). All 112 rooms include a lanai and free Wi-Fi.
Rates: $199 for one-room bungalows, $235-$435 for one-, two- and threebedroom suites, plus a daily $25 “boutique” fee (an unfortunate trend).
Details: The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, 412 Lewers St., Honolulu. (808) 564-7608, www.surfjack.com.