Halekulani Hotel

Halekulani means “House befitting heaven” and let’s just stay this one night stay was truly a gift from heaven! A customer, turned supporter, turned chocolate friend in the pandemic who wrote back to my weekly email campaigns and blogs with notes of gratitude and encouragement, knew I love 24 hour staycations more than anything! What I didn’t know, what that he worked at the Halekulani Hotel. What he didn’t know, was that I had been wanting to stay one day at this hotel after years and years of attending weddings, parties, and even working those events serving chocolates there and always wanted to just see a room.

I decided not to wait for “one day” anymore and not only made the move to ask to see a room, but booked myself a room for one night. I reserved it in October after the pandemic reservations were done and to my great surprise, I later found that my stay was paid for by this very generous chocolate friend. It was his gift to say thank you, for sharing God’s goodness.

This gift is truly God’s goodness!! I love this hotel so much I wanted to write a blog so here is my authentic review of the Halekulani Hotel.

First of all, what I have seen on my visits to this hotel, is it feels like a little hidden, private oasis, right along the ocean and tucked on the outskirts of Waikiki. Yet, it is still walking distance from all of the action. The view on property at every turn is perfect and I can see why brides dream to have their weddings and parties here! I always take a picture when I’m here because everything to their real green grass, is really beautiful!

I brought a Japanese guest to Orchids for tea about two weeks before the pandemic hit Hawai`i and coming back was surreal. You see, some of my greatest memories over meals EVER were at THIS hotel’s La Mer, Lewer’s Lounge, and Orchids. Being on this property as a non-guest, was always a treat.

So actually getting to be a guest, was a real treat! And of course that meant I roamed around and visited the pool, sat on the pool chairs, had a delicious club sandwich, and worked out at the very clean, open, and nice gym. It’s a weird quick of mine when I am a guest somewhere, I need to see every single spot. I am curious, but the space I’d like to see the most is actually “the basement” or the work areas and people’s desks! :p #itstrue

I know another chocolate friend I’ve worked with for years worked at this hotel so asked if I could come and watch her work, but she wanted me to relax! She wanted me to experience a welcome amenity and turn down service. Terms I always used when pitching to hotels that we could provide chocolates for their “welcome amenity” and “turn down” without actually having experienced that. LOL!

Ok so the welcome, turn down, and everything about the room…well, it was perfect.

Here’s the break down of the room. When I walked in it no joke it took my breath away. It was expansive, wide, clean, classic, and luxurious comfort. The welcome nook with a seashell, the all white bathroom and bright lights, the white sliding doors and the connecting bathroom to room closet, the long mirror above the bed, and perfect shade of blue throw over the large bed, the bench at the foot of it, the welcome music and note on the huge screen, the couch and pillows, table, the cutest coffee and refrigerator stand and its appliances that fit seamlessly into the space, the lights and the most important thing…the table and chair. Loved the comfortable woven back chair. Loved the gorgeous little lamps. And there were so many settings for the lights and touches of lights at the foot of the bed, above the welcome seashell, etc that I couldn’t decide which “mood” of light I liked the most.

And when I slid open the doors and saw the perfect view of Diamond Head and the ocean, I let out a sigh again. I mean, I live here, but I couldn’t believe I live here! It’s a standard room, but views like this take your breath away and remind you how #luckywelivehawaii! And a bonus was I could enjoy the live music and hula below that made it’s way up to my large balcony with a table, two chairs, and a lounge chair.

If your “one day” to stay isn’t just yet, then I highly recommend at least booking a drink and some okonomiyaki fries at House Without A Key to listen to the live music and watch Ms. Hawai/Ms. Hawaii USA/Ms. Universe/Ms Brook Lee dance hula at House Without A Key at sunset. Or enjoy a very delicious breakfast at Orchids and roam the property grounds to soak in the beautiful details at every turn.

I loved the mix of preserved old nostalgia and the memories made on this property plus the new, fresh feels of renovation and new stories I learned from talking to someone who worked there about her time since the “old days” until now.

Thank you Halekulani (and my dear chocolate friend) for giving me a glimpse of heaven at home in Hawai`i.