Is it too soon to be planning a post-holiday escape? Festive gatherings, gift giving, and family time are all great—but they can also be a lot.
Oʻahu—especially the legendary beach of Waikīkī—is experiencing a wave of high-profile openings and renewed interest from U.S. travelers: Travel + Leisure readers just voted it one of the top U.S. cities; Delta Airlines recently said Honolulu was one of their most searched domestic travel destinations this year; and Hawaiian Airlines has announced more flights between Honolulu and several U.S. cities.
If you’re not convinced yet, check out what else is new in Waikīkī this winter.
Where to Stay in Waikīkī
The Backyard at Romer House
(Read McKendree)
Romer House
Romer House opened in June of 2024 as O’ahu’s first adults-only hotel. Even though the 179-room property recently adjusted its policy to allow kiddos onsite, the vibe has remained just as dynamic as ever. Located on a side street just off a very busy artery through town, it has an oasis-like feel while still being at the heart of the action.
Romer House has plenty of fun design touches, like the marbleized, retro waves on the toiletries packaging, a stand-up cooler stocked with elaborate leis for purchase, and a phone booth in the lobby that nods to those that used to populate the island. The small pool area, The Backyard, is where fun stuff like floating sound baths and morning yoga happens. Word is that they are launching a format change here, adding a wellness bar with fresh juices and an updated menu, and putting in a sauna and cold plunge. Other programming includes tarot readings and an intimate Luau experience offsite at Nutridge Estate overlooking the city at Pu’u Ualaka’a State Park. // 415 Nahua St., romerhotels.com
The Surfjack Hotel
There was a lot of buzz when The Surfjack Hotel opened, landing cover shots for its central pool, tiled with the words “Wish You Were Here” on the bottom. It is a fun spot to stay—away from the tourist chaos, yet very walkable to beaches and the bustling center of Waikīkī. The “jack” part of the name is actually for Jack the hotel dog, a mascot of sorts embodying the hotel’s very welcoming pet policy. You can meet him on Tuesday afternoons when he makes an appearance at the pool cabanas.
Being the OG boutique hotel here, The Surfjack still upholds a creative, laid-back feel with its mid-century modern design and artistic touches like stylish geometric tiles in the bathrooms, vibrant wallpaper, and Byrd bath products. Adding to this is a location of the coveted streetwear brand Honolulu Pawn Shop by Kelia Moniz and Joe Termini.
The bottom-floor Swim Club is an indoor-outdoor loop with loungy areas all around the pool, lobby, and ARVO coffee shop. The layout encourages a social energy that sticks (and they’ve got a great, diverse soundtrack playing at all times). The programming adheres to this playful vibe too, with local live music many nights of the week and silent discos every third Saturday. // 412 Lewers St., surfjack.comWhat to Do in Waikīkī
Hawai'i's first Cirque du Soleil show 'Auana' was made with Native Hawaiian guidance.
(Courtesy of @auana.cirquedusoleil)
While figuring out what to do when there’s a warm, welcoming ocean to jump into or a mind-blowing tropical trail to hike is a no-brainer, there’s so much more happening here to add to the itinerary. Renewed interest in the area—almost a renaissance of sorts—has resulted in activities and projects like the Storied Spaces public art initiative, which are being led by locals and Native Hawaiians.
The Bishop Museum was established in 1889 to honor the late Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family. Originally created to preserve her artifacts and royal treasures, the museum now holds 25 million items, records, and images documenting Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage. In fact, it is Hawaii's biggest museum and the Pacific's leading natural and cultural history center. The main building itself is stunning, and there’s a Planetarium and fun, immersive Science Adventure Center where you can watch the native snails getting a bath. Bring your ʻukulele (or borrow one on-site) and join members of the ʻUkulele Guild of Hawaiʻi on the second Saturday of each month for a jam session. // 1525 Bernice St., bishopmuseum.org
Farm Link Hawaiʻi launched in 2015 with a mission to increase local food production and online access to it. They envisioned creating a brick-and-mortar grocery store as a center for experiencing local food and produce in one location—and it is finally open! Visit the Hō‘ili‘ili Market in the central, historic McCully-Moiliili (Moiliili) neighborhood to taste and support island makers, bakers, brewers, ranchers, and farmers. Chef Brad Dodson at 855-Aloha (see below) also recommends a bunch of restaurants in this area, including 8 Fat Fat 8, Anyplace Lounge, Fujiyama Texas, and I-naba. // 2065 South Beretania St., farmlinkhawaii.com
Hawai‘i’s first Cirque du Soleil resident show arrived in O'ahu in December of 2024. The magnificent ‘Auana (a Hawaiian word describing a modern style of hula), presented in a theatre inside the Outrigger Beachcomber Hotel, is a celebration of the islands through the artistry and jaw-dropping physicality that only Cirque du Soleil can deliver. The ensemble of acrobats, dancers, live musicians, and performers presents an eight-chapter narrative, inspired by the mo‘olelo (stories) of Hawai‘i, from Polynesian migration to the “golden age of tourism.” Heritage, tradition, and culture are woven into incredible displays of aerialist hoop routines, a pair of roller-skating acrobats, underwater contortions, impromptu sand art, and a bit of comedic relief. A Native Hawaiian cultural team was at the helm of production to ensure cultural sensitivity, and it is completely in Hawaiian dialect. “We are the blueprint for Cirque to be telling a native story,” says choreographer Kailihiwa Vaughan-Darval—adding that they were very intentional about everything from the patterns in the clothing to each cast member hand-carving their own Ipu drum. Another fun fact: The founder of Cirque du Soleil was actually inspired to name the company after seeing a Hawaiian sunset. It is a show not to be missed. // 2300 Kalākaua Ave., cirquedusoleil.com/auana
In The Southern Sun is a new year-long exhibit inside the gallery of the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa, presented by global art collective POW! WOW! and curated by Kamea Hadar. Through a series of shifting, multi-sensory displays and installations, the exhibit reframes the cultural history of Waikīkī through themes of memory and place-based design. Inspired by the Hawaiian proverb “mai ka lā hiki a ka lā kau” (“from the rising to the setting sun”), the self-guided experience is presented in four seasonal chapters that mirror the changing light of Waikīkī—from golden dawn to indigo dusk. // 2424 Kalākaua Ave., inthesouthernsun.com
There is something really powerful about seeing a place from a different visual perspective by air or by sea. Book a trip with Mana Cruises, a Native Hawaiian-owned and operated company that offers shared group outings or private charters. The Waikīkī dock location is at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor, where your captain welcomes you into the luxe vessel, which comes complete with snacks (like strawberries cut into hearts) and a fully hosted bar; some excursions also include lunch or an extensive tasting menu. There’s nothing quite as baller as sipping a flute of pink bubbly while lounging at the bow of a boat, cruising by a rainbow. MANA offers sunset cruises, and snorkeling excursions three times a day almost every day of the week. // 5 Holomoana St., manacruises.com/waikiki
Where to Eat & Drink in Waikīkī
Dak gomtang at Okdongsik
(Courtesy of @okdongsik)
Out near the giant Ala Moana Center, you will find Okdongsik, a lauded Seoul-born restaurant known for serving one single Korean comfort food: their precise dweji gomtang. In 2022, Okdongsik’s pop-up location in New York earned it a spot on the 2023 “8 Best Dishes” NY Times list after only four months. This new Honolulu location opened in July and serves their famous soup, plus an expanded menu with items like cold cabbage kimchi soup with noodles, seafood cake, and lard donkatsu (pork cutlet). Rustic meets elevated in the ceramic dishware, gold utensils, and lacquered wood counter bar—the only option for seating. Watch for soon-to-come locations in Paris and Los Angeles. // 1388 Kapiolani Blvd. #3, okdongsik.net
855-ALOHA, Romer House’s signature restaurant helmed by chef Brad Dodson (who actually started his culinary career working at our very own Village Pub in Woodside), serves izakaya-style dishes with Hawaiian flavors. Order large platters of his “Kim Chee” fried rice, “Auntie’s Gau Gee” crispy mushroom wontons, and a very popular pineapple upside-down mochi cake served warm with vanilla bean gelato. A sleeper hit on the menu is the Aloha platter: six different little bowls filled with vegetable-based dips, salsas, and nibbles, served with fresh taro chips for scooping. // 415 Nahua St., izakaya855aloha.com
Piko Kitchen + Bar is a fun new restaurant inspired by the shared-plate izakaya concept. Chef de Cuisine Adam Kamahele developed a creative menu that draws on his local roots, with standouts being the crispy sweet potato poke, fried maitakes, watercress namul, and everyone’s favorite: mango soft serve. Their shiso smash and hōjicha old fashioned are great drink choices as well; their enticing sidewalk bar and outdoor patio have become hot spots for happy hour. // 2380 Kuhio Ave., pikowaikikihawaii.com
Mud Hen Water (sister spot to local favorite, Town) is in the Kaimuki neighborhood, an area separate from the busy beach region. It’s not a touristy spot; it feels like the place you hope to find on vacation where the locals who love food would go. Regional ingredients in interesting combinations nod to island products. Brunch on weekends features dishes like thin banana pancakes, a smash burger with local Griffith meat served with roasted ʻulu (breadfruit) instead of fries, plus an Umami Mary with gin, shoyu, and kimchi. Interesting cocktails and a great soundtrack make Mud Hen a place you just want to hang out in long after your meal is done. Wander around and duck into cool nearby shops like Island Boy and The Local General. // 3452 Waialae Ave., mudhenwater.com
In 2010, the very famous Hong Kong dim sum restaurant Tim Ho Wan was awarded a Michelin star, making it the “world’s most inexpensive Michelin-starred restaurant” for its accessible, authentic food. Since then, the brand has spread widely throughout Asia, with an exciting new location now in the fancy Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki. Known best for their baked BBQ pork buns and steamed pork dumplings with shrimp (siu mai), this new location features exclusive items like steamed Kahuku garlic shrimp loaded with garlic and served over vermicelli noodles. // 2233 Kalākaua Ave., #B303, timhowanusa.com
Merriman’s is not a new restaurant brand, but their newest location, which opened in 2018 in Ward Village near Kaka'ako, is near and dear to founder and chef Peter Merriman. The Merriman’s concept began twenty-five years ago, when a vision for growing more crops on-island to create a more sustainable food system resulted in a small chain of farm-to-table Hawaiian restaurants. Today, it is the state’s first carbon-neutral restaurant. The Caesar salad comes with boquerone service and a crisp, fried green tomato “crouton” on top. The tender “bag o’ biscuits” is served with butter and island marmalade, and the housemade Kaiser rolls deliver juicy burgers and fish sandwiches. It feels upscale and open—the kind of place that would be a good fit for any and every occasion. // 1108 Auahi St., merrimanshawaii.com/honolulu
Another nexus of food and drink is over at the Surfjack Hotel. Mahina & Sun’s serves a daytime pool menu (taro burger!) and the longest happy hour around, from 11:30am to 5:30pm. Come evening, it turns into a loungy eatery, with innovative Hawaiian dishes and inviting nooks around a central bar where beverage director Chris Taibi has reimagined high-level tiki drinks. Live large with The Big Kohola, a shareable punch bowl with elderflower, coconut water, grapefruit, bubbly, and a Grey Whale Gin foam. // 412 Lewers St., mahinaandsuns.com
Where to Do Cocktails or Coffee in Waikīkī
The Lei Stand
(Brooke Fitts)
Just a few steps across the lobby from 855-Aloha, and through an arched doorway, lies The Lei Stand, a hip, neon-and-foliage-filled bar serving great cocktails and a fun atmosphere. The original location of this fast favorite opened in 2022 over in Chinatown, but recently moved here to the heart of Waikīkī. A DJ stand tucked in one corner is populated with local DJs most nights of the week, and it has remained an IYKYK spot for late-night snacks and drinks. Try their Soup Soup, a coconut-clarified milk punch with coconut, blanco tequila, pineapple, falernum, and absinthe. // 415 Nahua St., instagram.com/theleistand
Even if you aren’t lucky enough to stay at the famously chic Halekulani Hotel, pay a visit to their bakery of the same name across the street. At Halekulani Bakery, you will find excellent pastries and bread, with island touches like matcha cream-filled muffins and macadamia nut sticky buns. New savory menu items include smoked salmon piled into an everything croissant. Get there early, as they often sell out—and don’t forget to grab a slice of their famous Halekulani coconut cake for the plane ride home. // 2233 Helumoa Rd., halekulani.com
If you are staying at Romer House, you may notice a very long line every single morning at the coffee shop up the block. This is Kona Coffee Purveyors, and the line is for the only place in Hawaii to snag B. Patisserie kouign-amann—the black sesame flavor, to be exact. We are lucky to have these beauties available here in the Bay Area, as this line is no joke, even at 6:30am. It’s also a good spot for island-roasted coffee that’s crowded even with a Starbucks right next door. // 2330 Kalākaua Ave., #160, konacoffeepurveyors.com
