First in: Hilton debuts a sleek, apartment-style LXR resort in the heart of Waikiki

Honolulu is a bustling city with towering buildings, historic sites, breathtaking natural scenery and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Waikiki, the famed neighborhood home to one of the world’s most desirable beaches, is usually front of mind for many travelers heading to the island of Oahu. But where to stay in a destination packed to the brim with hotels?

For Hilton Honors members, or folks looking for a home-like stay full of amenities, look no further than Ka La’i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts. Following a $100 million transformation, the former Trump International Hotel Waikiki has a striking new look as Hilton’s first LXR property in Hawaii. And best of all? You can book it with Hilton Honors points.

TPG had the chance to be among the first to check into the reimagined hotel (though it’s worth noting the property did stay open during renovation), now that the dust has settled. Here’s a glance at LXR’s luxury take on apartment-style stays steps from the beach in Waikiki.

First impressions

Pulling up to Ka La’i, my first-ever LXR hotel experience, I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially considering the nearly 30-year-old building had just gone through a head-to-toe transformation. But from the moment I entered the open-air, ground-floor reception area, I was obsessed with the design. Throughout the hotel you’ll find updated nods to classic Hawaiian scenery (think: soft greens accents matching the lush island landscape, lava stone and darks woods throughout.) But what was even more striking than the beautiful design was the incredibly friendly staff who cared for me like family from the moment I stepped out of my car until the last moment I left the resort.

The towering hotel was full of all types of people: families from all over the globe swimming in the infinity pool, couples on vacation, groups of friends and everyone in between. It was a great microcosm of cosmopolitan Honolulu, and I had a great time people-watching.

It’s also worth noting that while the vast majority of the hotel’s renovation is complete, there are still some minor things happening here and there, but nothing that was bothersome in the slightest. If anything, for a hotel junkie like me, it was fun seeing the last finishing touches take place right before my eyes ahead of the official grand opening.

The rooms

Ka La’i is an interesting property where the majority of the apartment-style accommodations are privately owned. The apartments range from studios with kitchenettes to two- and three-bedroom units with kitchens, multiple bathrooms, balconies and living areas.

For my stay, I was placed in a one-bedroom configuration that was easily double the size of my actual apartment in New York City. Walking in I had a guest bathroom with a shower to the side, the (locked) owners closet and a large, fully functional kitchen with a fridge, stovetop, oven, a bar with a sink, a dishwasher and a fridge. Though I didn’t plan to cook for myself during the stay, I could picture myself with friends or family cooking there and eating around the large dining room table.

Around the corner, a large den area had an extra closet, a small couch and a desk. Other configurations have full beds in the space for people who need to sleep more.

The living room was extremely comfortable, with a couch and coffee tables, two armchairs and a beautiful Hawaiian-inspired entertainment center. Unfortunately, the hotel is still upgrading to Hilton’s “Connected Room” technology to enable streaming, but movies are available on demand for a whopping $24.99. It’s not the biggest deal in the world, but it was a tad frustrating watching Netflix on my tiny iPad when those massive TVs were right there.

The beautiful living room was also a testament to great, locally inspired design choices, from coral-colored lamps to textured pillows and pottery; it really had a sense of place.

Behind a closed door, the large bedroom was a comfortable oasis to retreat to following days in the sun and sand. The pillows were absolutely perfect, and the floor-to-ceiling windows offered incredible views of the ocean. At night, turndown service set out slippers and closed the curtains to block the sunlight in the morning (though, don’t miss out on a gorgeous Honolulu sunrise).

Attached to the bedroom was a beautiful spa-inspired bathroom full of stone, adjustable lighting and my favorite hotel amenity: a heated, Japanese-style toilet seat. Another luxe amenity in the bathroom was Byredo Mojave Ghost soaps and shampoos. I can also attest to ideal water pressure that made every shower as dreamy as they come.

The room also featured a walk-in closet and a washer and dryer stocked with Tide detergent and dryer sheets. (and you can bet this travel reporter took full advantage.)

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And to round it out, I had two private lanais where I sat out and watched the world go by.

All-in-all, I found my apartment to be beyond comfortable and practical. And the smaller rooms I toured felt the same. So if you want a real residential stay in Hawaii where you can earn and burn points, this is probably as good as it gets.

Dining at Ka La’i Waikiki Beach

The hotel has a three dining experiences curated by by executive chef Yoshi Ohata, plus room service and poolside dining. Luckily for my always-rumbling stomach, I tried them all out.

The Kini Room

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At the partially open-air main restaurant, The Kini room, modern Hawaiian food with plenty of global flair is front and center. For lunch two days in a row, I opted for the bento box ($38) with chicken katsu, miso soup, rice, salad, Hawaiian-style ahi poke and butter mochi. The chicken was perfectly crispy and light, while all the other goodies filled me up to perfection.

For dinner, I opted for light and airy edamame and Mushroom dumplings ($19) with truffle ponzu and green onion, plus a bowl of umami-packed crab miso soup ($16) packed with crab claws and mushrooms, to start. For my mains, I had a mouthwatering and flaky yuzu miso cod ($45) with a miso glaze, swiss chard, finger limes, watermelon radish and gingerscallion pesto alongside the recommend lobster tail add-on ($20).

For dessert, I had the hotel’s signature creation: Kini Kini pie ($20), a sort of frozen explosion made up of local favorites like kona coffee, ube and vanilla ice cream, all topped with candied macadamia nuts, salted caramel and chocolate sauce on a butter cracker crust. Truly, it was one of the best desserts I’ve had in ages.

The restaurant was lovely, the food was all delicious and the service, especially from star waitress Sally, was phenomenal.

Muse Lounge

The hotel’s lobby bar, Muse Lounge, is a beautiful space to sit for a cocktail, especially during sunset. With an open-air setting, you can take in beautiful views while sipping a cocktail or local beer in a modern, artfully curated space.

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The bar’s cocktail menu consists of tropical favorites, like the Ilikea Mai Tai ($22) topped with pineapple-Bacardi sorbet, as well as drinks inspired by other LXR properties around the world. For my “international journey,” I had the Caliente by Susona Bodrum (located in turkey) made up of mezcal, italicus, lemon, yuzu, bluberries and tajin ($20). Both cocktails were fabulous, but made better by chatting for a while with the bartenders, who gave me some insight about life in Hawaii.

Food is also available at The Muse, including a 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. happy hour.

Bloom Cafe & Restaurant

Open for breakfast and lunch, Bloom Cafe serves as the hotel’s daytime restaurant and features open-air seating. I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast experience here. While guests can order a la carte, the $48 Ohana Breakfast includes coffee, juice or tea, plus a small plate (ranging from various egg dishes to French toast), plus a full entree (like avocado toast or a burrito) on top of the buffet spread.

I went with sunny-side-up eggs and the miso catch of the day bento, which happened to be salmon with pickled veggies, white rice and soft-boiled eggs. Sadly, the restaurant doesn’t offer cold brew, so I made the responsible decision to test out its bloody mary (for research!). The cocktail ( $12) packed a spicy punch that paired well with the sweet salmon.

Room service

There’s nothing better than vegging out with room service and a movie in a nice hotel room — especially one that feels like home. So I called down before 10 p.m. (when room service closes) to order the Keiki (kid’s) tempura shrimp ($23) which included four large and crunchy shrimp, rice, vegetables and a salty dipping sauce that hit the spot.

Amenities and service

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the services and amenities that the resort provides:

• There’s an infinity pool and hot tub on the 5th floor with a little bit of a beach view. There, loungers are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with drinks and food available to order from servers. They also pass out treats throughout the day, like smoothies and ice cream.
• While the hotel isn’t located right on the beach, it’s only about a five-minute walk. Since beaches on Ohau are public, the hotel can send you out with a light chair, umbrella and beach bags with towels. Though it’s different from your typical beach resort, it’s part of experiencing Waikiki’s famed beaches.
• A 24-hour gym has all the standard equipment you’d need for a workout.
• The Spa Ka La’i, open Wednesday through Sunday, offers Hawaii-inspired treatments ranging from massages to full-body treatments.
• Event and meeting spaces are available for booking.
• The hotel can also arrange grocery deliveries and chef services for people who want to cook or be cooked for in residence.
• There are also offers for in-room poke kits ($60+) and movie package experiences with popcorn, candy and local treats ($55+)

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Location and logistics

Ka La’i Waikiki is located on the western side of Waikiki, about a 20-minute drive from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) when traffic isn’t bad. Using a rideshare app, expect to spend at least $40 each direction.

Waikiki is very walkable, whether you’re looking to relax at the beach or explore some of its world-class shopping.

What it costs to stay at Ka La’i Waikiki hotel

Since Ka La’i is technically a brand new hotel, prices now through the end of 2026 are relatively low for the area, and considering the space guests get. Cash rates currently start at $514 per night for an entry-level room. Hilton Honors rates start at 100,000 points per night. I figure once the hotel gets a little more popular, those rates will rise.

Accessibility

The resort offers multiple accessible rooms that feature roll-in showers and visual alert systems.

As always, TPG recommends speaking directly with the property before booking to discuss individual needs.

Bottom line

For my three nights in Waikiki, I felt right at home at Ka La’i Waikiki. If you’re looking for a long-term stay with all the comforts of home, I’d highly recommend it. Or even if you’re just here for a few nights, the luxurious, apartment-style accommodations make for an easy, comfortable stay. Add to that the incredible food, great location and friendly staff, and it’s a pretty dreamy combo.

And don’t forget, you can earn and burn Hilton Honor points, making it almost as sweet at that Kini Kini pie.

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