At a glance:

Built in 1955, the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Waikiki Beach is one of many high-rise hotel options in the Waikiki area. In 2024, the Ainahau Tower’s 664 guest rooms underwent a renovation and refresh to modernize the rooms and also add 6 new junior suites.

What is actually is: A generic-cookie cutter hotel that feels fragmented due to one tower undergoing a renovation and the other remaining stuck in the past.

What it is not: Consistent, luxurious, or unique.

Time of year: Summer

Room Type: Corner king with ocean view

Scores:

Hotel Design: 71 – The hotel’s design is typical of others built in the area during the same era: high-rise towers, rooms with balconies, a small pool relative to the number of rooms, and open access to the resort property.

Location: 85 – You can’t get more central in Waikiki. You’re just steps from the beach, shops, and all the hustle and bustle.

Sleep: 72 – The bedding was very comfortable and exceeded our expectations. We were on the 26th floor, and with the balcony door closed and the air conditioning on, the soundproofing from outside was good. However, room-to-room soundproofing is poor due to the adjoining room concept, with only a basic wooden door separating the rooms. We could hear our quiet neighbors open their safe and speak at a reasonable volume. Our first room was a non-corner room and had two adjoining doors, which made the room-to-room soundproofing even worse.

Service: 76 – We only dealt with the check-in staff, and the experience was okay.

Room Design: 69 – As mentioned in the sleep section, having every room designed as an adjoining room is great for groups traveling together, but it’s poor for soundproofing. The room had a nice private balcony with a great view. The bathroom was very small, and the shower heads were very low for anyone taller than 5’5″. While the living area was renovated to look more modern, the bathrooms were not and received only a basic coat of paint. They are already showing signs of wear and tear.

Room Amenities: 72 – The room has basic amenities like a safe, a mini-fridge, a single-cup coffee and tea machine, and Gilchrist & Soames bath products. No slippers or robes are provided. The balcony had two basic chairs and a small table.

Hotel Amenities: 66 – The hotel has a pool, a pool bar, a restaurant, a gym with decent equipment temporarily located in a ballroom, a concierge desk, and activities included in the resort fee. There are ice machines on most floors and a water dispenser on the first floor.

Vibe: 70 – An eclectic mix of people of all ages and walks of life spending time in Waikiki.

Cleanliness/Maintenance: 67 – This is an old hotel, which poses challenges for maintenance and cleanliness. Due to the high number of rooms and frequent use, some aspects of cleaning could be improved, such as dusting and wiping spots in the bathroom (e.g., baseboards, the door vent, and caulking around the tub). When we opened a curtain, dust went flying everywhere.

Value / Extras & Perks: 70 – Rates remain reasonable in the un-renovated part of the hotel. The $42-plus-tax daily resort fee doesn’t include anything of real use or value to justify the cost. Daily housekeeping is offered, as is bottled water. Marriott Elite breakfast is a basic continental breakfast that receives mixed reviews from guests. Marriott Elite guests also receive complimentary beach chair rentals.

OVERALL: 71.8

Would we stay again? Possibly, if the right deal in a renovated room was available.