Prince Waikiki Review: Ocean Views, Infinity Pool & a Quiet Stay

This review is based on our stay in July 2019. Hotel facilities, services and prices may have changed, so please check the official website for the latest information.

Our Verdict: Is Prince Waikiki a Good Choice for Travelers in Their 60s?

We stayed at Prince Waikiki during a family trip to Hawaii.

My conclusion? Choosing Prince Waikiki was absolutely the right decision.

I would happily stay here again.

The ocean and harbor views were especially beautiful.

For travelers in their 60s who prefer a quieter, more relaxed stay, I thought this hotel was especially comfortable.

Who I Think Prince Waikiki Is Best For

Prince Waikiki may be a good choice if you:

• Prefer a quiet hotel where you can relax
• Care about ocean and harbor views
• Want to enjoy an infinity pool
• Prefer staying away from the busiest part of Waikiki
• Like clean, modern guest rooms

Prince Waikiki: Basic Information

Here is some basic information about our stay at Prince Waikiki.

What We Paid

We stayed for four nights from July 5 to July 9, 2019.

We were travelling as a family, and our room had two double beds.

The total for four nights was approximately ¥350,000.

Hotel rates vary significantly depending on the season, room category and availability.

Check the official hotel website or booking sites for current rates.

Location and Access

Prince Waikiki is located a little away from the busiest part of Waikiki, where places such as Royal Hawaiian Center are located.

During our stay:

• The taxi ride from the airport took around 20–30 minutes
• Central Waikiki was around a 10-minute walk away
• The nearest ABC Store was around a 7-minute walk away
• Waikiki Beach was around a 10-minute walk away

Because it is slightly removed from the main shopping area, the atmosphere felt quieter and less crowded.

We Took Charley’s Taxi from the Airport

To get from the airport to Prince Waikiki, we used Charley’s Taxi.

We chose a taxi because we thought a shared shuttle might take longer if it stopped at several hotels before reaching ours.

 

What we liked about Charley’s Taxi during our trip:

• Our driver spoke a little Japanese
• We could pay by credit card
• We went directly to the hotel without extra stops

After that experience, I felt that I would probably choose a taxi again rather than a shared shuttle when I wanted to save time.

Hotel Facilities

Here are some of the facilities we used during our stay.

Lobby: Quiet and Relaxed

This was the lobby at Prince Waikiki.

Because the hotel is slightly away from the busiest part of Waikiki, it felt calm and uncrowded during our stay.

Our stay included the Independence Day period, so the hotel had special decorations too.

Acai Bowl at Honolulu Coffee

At the time of our stay, there was a Honolulu Coffee in the lobby.

We received a drink ticket with our stay, which we could exchange for a drink there.

We also bought croissants, quiche and coffee for breakfast on some mornings.

On the day we arrived, I had an acai bowl.

So much banana!

At the time, it was less expensive than the acai bowl I had tried at Island Vintage Coffee.

I had not seen many acai bowls in Japan around that time, so I was happy to enjoy one again in Hawaii.

I also noticed reusable metal straws, which made me think about Hawaii’s efforts to reduce disposable plastic.

A Comfortable Seating Area Near the Entrance

There was a seating area near the hotel entrance with sofas and chairs.

I really liked this space.

It felt spacious and comfortable.

We arrived before our room was ready, so we spent some time relaxing here before check-in.

First-Floor Shop: Snacks and Souvenirs

On the first floor of Prince Waikiki, there was a shop that felt like a mix between a convenience store and a souvenir shop.

If you forgot to buy a souvenir or needed a few extra items, it was convenient not to have to leave the hotel.

Drinks, rice balls and sandwiches were available.

There was an ABC Store around seven minutes away on foot, but when you are tired, seven minutes can feel surprisingly far.

The shop opened early during our stay, so it was also useful before early-morning activities.

For example, I bought a rice ball here before our trip to Hanauma Bay.

Price during our stay:

• Rice ball: around $3

There were also plenty of chocolates, macadamia nuts and other souvenirs.

The MAUNA LOA macadamia nuts in the photo were $12.99 for the largest bag at the hotel shop during our stay.

At the time, I saw the same size at ABC Store for $10.99, so if you were buying several bags, ABC Store was the better deal.

The onion garlic flavor was especially good!

The shop also sold Malie Organics products, the same brand used for some of the room amenities during our stay.

The packaging was beautiful, and I thought these would make a nice gift or a treat for yourself.

There were lots of cute pineapple-themed items too.

I still wonder what this character was.

Oceanfront Room Review

We stayed in an oceanfront room on the 7th floor.

Room Design: Clean and Comfortable

I loved the stylish wallpaper.

The beds were also very comfortable, and I slept really well.

Because I could see the view while lying in bed, I spent some mornings simply looking outside before getting up.

Bathroom and Toilet: Spacious and Easy to Use

The vanity area was spacious and easy to use.

One small issue for me was the fixed magnifying mirror.

At 158 cm tall, I found it positioned a little too high.

The shower and bathtub were separate.

The water pressure and temperature were both comfortable.

At first, though, I could not figure out how to operate the faucet.

That took me a moment.

The bathtub was quite spacious.

There was also a retractable clothesline in the bathroom.

That meant we could wash and hang our swimsuits after going to the beach or pool.

A small detail, but very useful in Hawaii.

The toilet area was clean and decorated with artwork.

There was also a washlet-style toilet during our stay.

The amenities at the time were from Malie Organics.

Our amenity set included:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body wash
• Body lotion
• Bar soap

After spending time at the beach or pool, I liked having body lotion available.

The floral Hawaiian fragrance was lovely too.

A Surprisingly Large In-Room Safe

There was also an interestingly shaped desk in the room.

Below the TV were storage areas for cups, tea and other items, as well as a refrigerator.

The lower section included a lockable safe and additional storage.

The safe was surprisingly spacious!

It was large enough for passports and wallets plus several other items.

I liked not having to hide everything inside our suitcase.

Beautiful Oceanfront and Harbor Views

This was the view from our room on the 7th floor.

It felt wonderful to look out at this scenery.

The harbor view is one of the things that made Prince Waikiki feel different from other Waikiki hotels we had experienced.

Everything outside seemed blue.

It almost looked like a painting.

During the Independence Day period, we were even able to watch fireworks from our hotel room.

And not just a tiny glimpse.

They appeared almost perfectly centered in front of us.

The fireworks reflected on the water, which made the view even more beautiful.

The display lasted around 10 to 15 minutes.

I had not expected to have such a good view, and at that moment I remember thinking again:

I’m so glad we chose Prince Waikiki.

The Infinity Pool Was My Favorite Part

And this was probably my favorite part of the hotel: the infinity pool.

The view over the ocean and harbor was wonderful.

The pool at a hotel we had stayed at previously was very cold, but during our stay, the water here felt pleasantly warm enough for me to relax.

There were other pool areas as well, including one that seemed more popular with families and children.

For adults wanting to relax with the view, I personally preferred this infinity pool.

Floating in the pool while looking out at the ocean and harbor felt wonderfully luxurious.

If you stay at Prince Waikiki, I would definitely make time for the pool.

We Also Tried Breakfast at the Hotel

We also had breakfast inside the hotel.

At the time, we could order individual items.

We ordered bread, scrambled eggs and coffee.

For five people, the total was around ¥6,500 at the time.

For Hawaii, I thought that was quite reasonable.

A Hotel I Would Happily Stay at Again

This was our first stay at Prince Waikiki.

When I think about the comfortable room, oceanfront view, hotel shop, coffee, infinity pool and the unexpected fireworks from our room, I really felt that we had chosen the right hotel.

Everyone in our family was very happy with the stay.

Neither of those small points bothered me very much.

Overall, I thought Prince Waikiki was a wonderful hotel for travelers in their 60s who want to enjoy Hawaii at a slower, more relaxed pace.

I genuinely left thinking:

I want to stay here again!

A Note About Prices and Our Travel Date

Our stay took place during a family trip to Hawaii in 2019.

Current room rates, fees and hotel services may be different from what we experienced.

Prince Waikiki rates vary depending on the season, room type and availability, so please check the latest price before booking.

Even if prices and some services have changed, the things I remember most about our stay were the oceanfront views, the open feeling of the infinity pool and the calm atmosphere.

Those are the reasons Prince Waikiki remains one of the Hawaii hotels I remember so fondly.