Ala Moana Hotel _ Ocean view with balcony

Hotel Description

You know what? The Ala Moana Hotel gets a bit of a bad rap sometimes, but honestly, I think people are missing the point. Sure, it’s not the flashiest place on the strip, but there’s something refreshingly straightforward about it – especially if you snag one of those ocean view rooms with a balcony. I mean, you’re literally looking out at Ala Moana Beach Park, which locals will tell you is actually better than Waikiki for swimming because the water’s calmer and there aren’t hordes of tourists floating around on neon pool rafts.

The thing about this place is it sits right in this sweet spot where Honolulu feels more like a real city than a vacation playground. You’ve got the Ala Moana Center basically across the street (and I’m talking about serious shopping, not just tourist trap stuff), plus you’re walking distance to some genuinely good local eats that most visitors never find. The hotel itself is… well, it’s solid four-star territory. Nothing that’ll blow your mind, but the rooms are bigger than you’d expect and – this matters more than you might think – the air conditioning actually works properly. I’ve stayed in fancier places where I’m sweating through the sheets at 2 AM, so there’s that.

What really sold me on the ocean view situation is how different the water looks depending on the time of day. Early morning, it’s this glassy blue-gray that makes you want to grab coffee and just stand there for a while. By afternoon, you’re watching locals paddle board and families set up for beach days, and honestly, it’s way more interesting than staring at identical hotel balconies across the way. The balcony itself isn’t huge – you’re not hosting dinner parties out there – but it fits a couple chairs and gives you enough space to actually enjoy being outside. Just be aware that Ala Moana Boulevard can get pretty busy, so there’s some traffic noise, especially during rush hour. It’s not terrible, but if you’re someone who needs absolute quiet to sleep, maybe pack some earplugs. The trade-off is worth it though – you’re connected to everything without being stuck in the Waikiki bubble, and that makes all the difference if you want to experience Hawaii beyond the postcard version.

Facilities