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Hale Koa Hotel
Rating Details »
2055 Kalia Rd
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 955-0555
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 955-0555
Special Room Rates for November
Extend your stay for up to five nights and get 50% off the room rate for each additional night. Call our Reservations Department for info.
- Price Range:
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$$
41 reviews for Hale Koa Hotel
I've had many experiences with the Hale Koa. When I first moved to Hawaii as a military kid, we lived there for 2 weeks. It's a beautiful hotel located right on Waikiki Beach. They have 2 nice pools (one for adults) and a luau garden where the luaus take place. I would say as a visitor, the luau is something worth trying. It gives you a taste of the Hawaiian culture with good local food.
The Hale Koa was also my wedding location. We got married in the Maile Garden, which was a beautiful garden hidden next to the hotel. It was the perfect place to get married. There are beautiful trees and plants. It's very lush and green.
The Hale Koa staff was so accommodating. I had a wedding coordinator to help with the ceremony that day. They took care of the setup (of chairs and gazebo) and cleanup of the ceremony and reception. My reception was in the Waikiki Ballroom, which was the perfect size for us. We had 170 guests. The Hale Koa Catering staff setup my favors and centerpieces the morning of, which was a huge help. They were awesome!
Having our wedding at the Hale Koa saved us so much money! Everything was so reasonable, especially the meal. We went with the Aloha Buffet and our guests loved it! Everyone commented on the great food after our wedding. It was the most expensive choice but still very affordable compared to other hotels.
We did only have three choices for cake flavors so I might not recommend going with the Hale Koa for your cake unless you're not picky. That night, we stayed overnight in one of the hotel rooms. It was adequate for a one night stay. It was very clean and affordable. Of course, this is a military hotel so a sponsor is needed.
I definitely do not regret this decision. In fact, it was the best decision we could have made for our wedding. I have wonderful memories of of it!
This is a beautiful hotel on Waikiki Beach. My friends had a picnic on the Hale Koa grounds and also had their wedding reception at the Hale Koa Luau Garden. The picnic grounds are grass with concrete picnic tables and bbq areas set up. Supposedly you can reserve a "spot" - that's what we tried to do, but it seems to be first come first served, so send your troops in to save a table. Else you will have to be like us and spread your food out on mats. The Hilton is next door and they release fireworks on Friday evenings at 8pm! So we had our picnic on a Friday so that the guests could enjoy the sunset and fireworks. It was awesome.
The Luau Garden is verrry nice. It's the perfect type of location for a wedding reception -- it's outdoors but covered. Beyond the reception tables, there is a large grassy area (perfect for dancing barefoot!) and a large stage. Pictures of this venue really do not do it justice. The staff are fantastic. Very helpful and accommodating -- I very much appreciated their quick response and action since I had to have them move things around at the last minute due to unexpected events. Their quick action helped the event appear smooth as gel.
Since my friends were having their wedding reception here, they also got a complimentary room in the new tower and the view is stunning. We took the bride up there to freshen her up before we set up for the reception and the room is pretty spacious. There is a fridge in the bathroom. Huge windows and there is a balcony so you can step outside to enjoy the fabulous view. I'm a fan!
Note: The Hale Koa is a military hotel - so if you are military, you can use the venue free of charge. However, there are many many rules around what you can do and when you can set up etc. so you have to bear that in mind.
The Barefoot Bar
There's nothing better than a late afternoon cocktail and some good conversation at the Hale Koa Barefoot Bar. This is chilling at its ultimate. Always great music from the live band (one guy in particular...must get his name next time...is exceptional and soon to be signed I'm sure), some hula dance instruction for the playful tourist and chit chat from the bartenders (as well as frequent free samples of drinks), it doesn't get much better than this and it would certainly be hard not to have a good time. Come in straight off the beach in your dripping swimsuit and nobody cares. It's Hawaii after all. Plus showing skin may let you slip by unnoticed into the military crowd which, without a valid military ID, will be the only way to enjoy this joint. My advice - make yourselves some military friends.
Drink recommendations are the Tropical Itch, a potent variation to the more traditional Mai Tai, (which comes with a back scratcher to add activity to the evening), and my personal favourite, the rainbow, a sweet and sour sensation of liquid lust.
Do bare in mind though that this bar, and its servers, operate on island time. To avoid frustration and get your cocktail on quickly, seat yourself at the bar. Just don't take up my seat - I'll be there weekends as per usual...
Love the Hale Koa! Stayed for 6 days in August and was oh so pleasantly surprised. For the past 8 years my husband I vacation about twice a year but on cruises. He is retired Air Force and we had talked about visiting here for a long time. Did a Hawaii cruise a couple of years ago and that was an amazing experience as we got to experience different islands but this vacation was very relaxing. The beach here is beautiful and not crowded at all and with a view of Diamond Head. Don't think I would stay any farther down Waikiki as we did go down near Duke's and the beach was so crowded you couldn't take two steps without walking on someone. Went next door and visited the Hilton and their shops are amazing. They even had a ABC store there in the hotel area. Loved that the Hale Koa had a BX, they even sell clothes at a good price and anything else you would ever need.
The Magic show was awesome. The Luau was ok...go if you have never been to one. I thought prices on food at the snack bars and restaurants were reasonably priced. And of course had to have a $3 shaved ice every day....yum!
First off the low rate of $91 for staying a night in Hawaii couldn't be beat, or could it? It was by my husband getting a special extra 20% off the $91 because of his returning from Iraq. The Happy shack was a bit expensive for their quality of food, but when you're hold up in bed due to a bad sunburn you deal with it. Their soft serve was pretty good and only $2 for a decent sized 'scoop'. I got a 10in pizza from Biba's and it was pretty good but again a bit pricey. The pools were alright, although I think the adult pool could be a bit deeper but not a major concern at all. I loved going to the Bx! That place saved us quite a bit of money..they have everything from frozen food to souvenirs to sushi!!
There was a small store that sold spam sushi, unless your palatte is extremely adventurous then I would skip, it!
The public beach on it's property doesn't have a lifeguard.
Located next to the Hilton on Waikiki Beach, the Hale Koa Hotel is a twelve story concrete structure, built at least forty years ago.
Not sure who exactly manages the property, but only Dept. of Defense employees and their families can stay here. Its room rates are low for beachfront property, but the hotel is showing its age. The whiff of mildew is not so strong. You won't notice it after an hour or so. I especially didn't notice when we discovered that the Internet connection in the room didn't work, but a service guy was up to our room in about two minutes flat to quickly get the Internet connection humming smoothly.
Hale Koa has an adult swimming pool and another pool jammed-packed with rug rats. It also has a restaurant, the Biba's Café, and a bar. The parking garage is way far across the street in front of the hotel.
When I checked in, the gal at the front desk (which is actually outside in a large covered area) thought I was supposed to be arriving at 4:00am. I said I thought so too, but explained it was a long story as to why it turned out to be much later.
This is a great hotel, well from what i have noticed by walking around and drinking in the bar there. I was supposed to stay there with a few friends since one of them are still curently in the military. I myself am a Marine that is no longer eligible to stay there. Sucks! Well, I loved the grounds and full layout of the hotel. It is in a great beachfront location and right next door to the Hilton... so that is a plus! The barefoot bar is great and the drinks are strong! I had a great time there. I would have given more stars but I still havent had the opourtunity to stay in one of the rooms. Maybe someday i can meet someone that i can stay there with and write a better review...
I stayed here while visiting a brother/vacationing excursion. This is where family and friends of the military presence stay with the proper credentials. The construction going on in the area was the only downside. The grounds and beachfront are lushly lined with native plants and trees.
We dined at both the Hale Koa Room and Koko cafe, the Hale Koa Room being the better of the two. The rooms were adequate for short stays, with small balconies and not much sitting room. They should mount the televisions on a swivel stand for better viewing.
The staff was incredibly genial and helpful. The luau held on the grounds was enjoyable but mostly for show. They offer bus rides to many varied locations; shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife.
Yay for military perks! My husband and I stayed here for the 2nd half of our honeymoon and at the time he was a 1LT so our rates were very reasonable for a room with an oceanview.
The open grounds were lovely and the day we checked in, there were 2 different wedding receptions going on. They have a PX on site which is really convenient to have, but their garage is across the street in which you have to pay for. It's quite a steep hill to hike up to the hotel, which isnt an issue for us younger folks, but could be a challenge with all the seniors that were there. They do have a shuttle that they run back and forth from time to time.
Location is great right on Waikiki beach and next to the Hawaiian Hilton where a lot of excursions will pick up at. You can also walk to the downtown area, too.
Being a former military brat, I didn't think it was going to be as great as
it was, but I was wrong. This was one beautiful place to stay and our
balcony overlooked Waikiki...It was close to all the shopping and
restaurants. I highly recommend it!!
This is where we stay every time we are in Hawaii and it has never been less than awesome. Between the easy beach access, proximity to great shopping, fair prices, and the restaurant choices that are located right on site it can't be beat. The rooms are also nicely sized and have always been very clean.
Although it is only available to US military and their families it has never been a problem having some of our local friends meet us there and spend the day. The luau is definitely entertaining and I love being able to order drinks while seated around the pool. Can't wait until we head back there again this May. I'm counting the days.
What's not to like?
Beach front, fair prices (cheap for Waikiki), decent restaurants, affordable parking, BX on-site, and if you get a refurbished room, beautiful! It is just about the perfect hotel.
Why the downgrade? Any hotel that does not offer complimentary internet pisses me off. Plain and simple. Also, while the room and bathroom were Marriott/Hilton quality, the bed was not. Not bad, just not over indulgent.
And I like my bed over-the-top.
: )
I will stay here in a heartbeat!!
I'm doing a review regarding a wedding reception i attending here...so if your gonna go to one here what you'll probably experiance!
the parking sucks! a huge parking garage, but always filled with cars! oh and you have to walk across the street from the hotel! i felt so bad for the older guests that had to walk! don't forget to get your ticket validated!
Ok, make sure you know what ballroom or gardens the wedding reception will be at! its scattered all over the property! i mean from the de russy room upstairs to the luau gardens far in the back! damn, a lot of people got lost! we attended the last reception at the luau gardens! kinda a far walk for my older aunties and uncles again! they were all complaining! but, the gardens were really nice!
I have to admit the hale koa property is quite nice! lots of military, "a duh" it is a military hotel! you could definetely distinguish who was from here and who wasn't!
Ok to the really good stuff, the Food! the buffet here is awesome! there is never a bad food experiance here when there is a special function. the salads here are great, the poke, lomi lomi salmon are fresh! the roast beef is tasty and cooked perfect! oh and let me tell you about the desserts! soo good! the chocolate mousse is my favorite as well as the little fruit tarts! the buffett is spectacular!
I guess I would give my whole experiance here a 3.5 stars! I just come here for the food! :)
The hotel visually is not the prettiest thing to look at since it is like how Jens J. describes it "a concrete structure" but the surroundings are pretty nice. I always wondered when given the chance to stay overnight in the hotel I always declined and crashed at a friends house in Waiks. Anyways, being a former military brat, my Mom would take the family down here to enjoy the day at the pool and beach. The pool is definitely great fun for the kids! And the bar is awesome! They have killah Mai Tai's here. No, really just one will have you all giddy with happiness! Damn, wish I was back home right now chillin at the pool with one of their Mai Tai's!
I love the fact that they keep this place for military members only and that kinda keeps the riff raff in, wait maybe I meant out or maybe not. Regardless this place is located in the best possible location and for prices that really can't be beat anywhere for what they're offering. Hurrah for being in the military!
My folks sponsored us for a stay at the Hale Koa, and you sure can't beat the price! The cost goes up according to rank, but as the daughter of enlisted personnel, it's a great deal!
First, the few quibbles-
The hotel was under extensive renovation, so the noise was considerable. Also, the mini-fridge was inefficient, why bother having them if they're so warm?Oh, and the laundry. I know I should be grateful for facilities to do my own, but it does me little good if there aren't any in my tower, and only 1 unit per floor in the other tower. It was like the Great Race to beat other guests to the dryer. For eats, the signature fine-dining room was closed, so we made do at Biba's and the Koko Cafe. Biba's was nice, but Koko Cafe's buffet and selection lacked things like local fruit. Me, I like papaya and mango, and was a little bitter at the dearth.
Now, the great things!
Hale Koa is on the ocean front, and right in the heart of Waikiki. The hotel is lovely, and the grounds lush yet tidy. The rooms are spacious, and we had very nice views of the ocean. The pool is large, and the snack bars are affordable. As registered guests my husband and I had access to the PX(tax freeeeeeee!). The staff was friendly and helpful. If the garage was too much a trek for older/infirm guests, a shuttle cart is available. I highly recommend this resort for active duty or retired military personnel!
We have used the Hale Koa for over 30 some years for brunches, luaus and dinners. It has not let us down. We also attended a wedding there that was over the top. We had just recently gone in after the remodel. The new restaurant was really good. Good place to go actually one of the few things the military has done right for its own.
My stay here was my first time on Oahu. I must say it was more than accommodating. First off, the rooms are huge. I've stayed in other hotels on Oahu, and nothing compares to the luxuries and size this place offers for the price you pay. The plot of land this hotel consumes is huge, so there are a lot of things to explore before even leaving your hotel. The hotel is pretty inclusive, they also have their own in-house Luau. Location wise, it's centrally located to a lot of tourist spots, so you don't have to travel far to find shopping areas or entertainment. What I enjoyed was the open lounge area at the entrance. They have couches and tables to just hang out and enjoy the beautiful weather Hawaii offers.
If you're the type of traveler that like to stumble off the beaten path, this place isn't for you. It's very touristy, so you'll see you're run of the mill shops and entertainment. If you do like things to be all inclusive, you'll have a great time here.
What can I say? As an army couple, we were pleasantly surprised with Hale Koa. We didn't expect much (especially for the price) and it certainly exceeded our expectations! They have a deal for folks returning from OIF or Afghanistan - 30% off. We spent less than $100 a night!
We plan to return to Hale Koa for several reasons. 1. It's a steal. 2. It's at a great location with a great facilities. 3. It's completely self sustaining - it's not subsidized by tax dollars but supports itself by the patronage of the armed forces. And its availability makes family vacations affordable for many who would not be able to afford such a holiday.
I think the grounds are the best that we saw on Waikiki - they are really beautiful. And I think the strip of beach is the best as well. Plenty of room and very clean.
The rooms aren't luxurious but they're huge and clean. They have a PX downstairs so typical items that you may need (sunscreen, bottled water, beach towels, etc.) aren't marked up a gazillion percent like they would be at a typical resort.
We didn't eat at HK much - the breakfast is great. And the drinks out by the pool are LOVELY.
The only consideration that I would offer up would be couples considering Hale Koa for their honeymoon. If it's in your budget, then take it because Hawaii is a great spot for a honeymoon. If you have more $$ to spend, I would consider an alternate plan. Honeymoons should include lots of private time and a very comfy room. You're not going to get that at Hale Koa - you're going to have families, retired vets and guys/gals on R&R running around.
If you are eligible to stay here, do it. It's located right in the heart of Waikiki Beach and is the home of The Barefoot Bar .... they got me hooked on Mai tai's!!! Unfortunately, I have not found another place that can replicate the yumminess of Barefoot's Mai tai's. I'm on a serious mission so you Yelpers let me know if you ever get your hands on this recipe!!!
Being the offspring of a career military man I was expecting for the Hale Koa to be just one step above living on MCRD- San Diego.
Barracks style!
I was quite impressed as you may have guessed.
Had it the following it would have been a 5 star:
Room Service
Snack Bar
Spa Products in the room
There was a dinky little fridge and just soap and shampoo.
It was enormous. We were all up and through that place and then the beach. Your own little section of Waikiki!
We made it to the bar. I swear all we drank was hot cocoa.
There was much karaoke
There were many incriminating photos
There was a Luau (there were surly people at our table) but it was nifty
Don't go to Hawaiian buffets with eccentric family friends if you are celebrating something. They will suprise you by pulling you on stage for hula... Not cool...
The pool isn't free anymore. I really liked it. It had bridges and everything. I lost my goggles here... How do you lose something in an enclosed body of water? They shouldn't make goggles the same color as water. Why was the water here so murky?
We used to go to the buffet here, but it wasn't that great so we stopped. It really isn't worth the price, even with the show. If you want a buffet with a hula show, try the one at the Princess Ka'iulani.
I'm an Army brat, so I love anything that is exclusive to military personnel and family (except for the Iraq/Iran/N.Korea/Lebanon/_(insert additions from today's news)_ War).
I really like the Hale Koa. It's a military hotel and the rooms are pretty basic and should have a better refrigerator, but you can't beat it for the price. It's location is on the other end Waikiki which I liked because it was less crowded.
They have a good assortment of restaurants you can go to, ranging from a snack bar to the upscale Hale Koa room. They also have a couple of bars you can go to. The Barefoot Bar is located outside and anyone can purchase drinks there. It's right on the beach and has disco night every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:30-11p.m. The Warriors Lounge is located in the Hotel and has a group called the Gonzales who play there and seems to attract a lot of regulars who practice their dance moves.
They have some on site shows there and I went to Tama's Polynesian Revue and had a good time even when some of the gals dragged me up on stage to do a hula. They also have a luau and a magic show.
The Hale Koa has a decent gym and pool which I went to pretty much every day I was there. The thing that impressed me most was the gardens and grounds around the Hale Koa, they have areas you can picnic, play volleyball and the military museum is easy to walk to. The Hilton is right next door if you want to check out some different shops and restaurants.
All in all, I enjoyed my stay there.
Update:
They have recently renovated a lot of the floors and now have coffee machines, better refrigerators and internet connections in the room. The Warriors Room is also getting a face lift.
The Catering Department ROCKS!!! Michelle at Catering was everything a bride to be could ask for. During our consultations, she was very honest and was not hesitant to give me feed back on my ideas. Also the rest of the staff were always nice and made you feel like you wanted to be there. I had no disappointments when my wedding came around.
Spoke to one of my very best friends yesterday.
I used to work here.....with aforementioned very best friend.
I worked here in the early nineties in the signature room, the Hale Koa Room.
This was a REAL fine dining room.
Continental cuisine.
We prepared Caesar Salad and carved Chateaubriand tableside.
We took pride in our level of service.
Gregory Lau was my manager. (I think he's still there)
Ernesto Limcaco was my Sous Chef. (Very well respected in The Islands)
If you know what a Gueridon and Serviette are, you may have a slight idea of the image we were prepared to display.
Its where I learned how to properly cork and serve a bottle of wine.
Its where I learned many gastronomic terms you narcissists pretend to know.
Its where I learned of the "Mother Sauces" and the beginnings of how to properly pair wine with food.
Its where I spent much of my time realizing how many people really do not know how to properly place their napkins or properly use their silver and tableware (let alone chew with their mouth closed).
Remember, all the money in the world cannot buy you class.
(Thank you Mom and Dad!)
Many good memories....
and...
I'm almost 100% positive that when I finally get to dine at the French Laundry,
I'll see someone who drove up in their overpriced entropy expediter, who doesn't know how to break bread or use a butter knife, who speaks loudly as if they're the most important asshole in the world, who I'll want to choke with their own tie....
Yet... great food and drink...
when prepared with passion...
one of the greatest loves in my life....
will keep a step or two ahead of the shortcomings in my patience....
...will bring me back to those times when worries were few and life was easy...
...where I could laugh and enjoy equally Duck Confit or Tournedos...or Spam and Eggs or a Loco Moco....
Hale Koa, you will always be close to my heart!!!
First, let me say that the hotel is just okay.
The restuarant, Bibas, is prettty good. The signature restaurant, Hale Koa Room, is good as well. The best part about the hotel is their Bare Foot bar and decent prices. They have the best mai tai's for under five dollars. Oh, this is a military hotel/resort so you have to show proper credentials to use the facilities with the exception of the Bare Foot Bar.
It has been a long time since I stayed in the hotel. The rooms were very basic. Nothing special at all. The price of the room is very inexpensive if you are a junior enlisted or officer. The price increases as you go up in rank. I am an E6 so I am better off staying at the Sheraton Waikiki with the government rate.
The pool is the largest in Waikiki. It is very shallow and is free for military and guests. You don't have to stay at the hotel, just bring your own towels.
The only bad thing about the hotel is that the parking lot is across the street. They used to have a driveway up to the reception desk but they closed it off since 9-11.
If you are up in the ranks I recommend staying somewhere else for the price and quality you would get, but the dining at the Hale Koa is good for the money.
Nice place. My brother had his wedding reception there tonight. The Waikiki Ballroom was the hall that it was in was nice. We had seating for about 200 people, but this room could've held a lot more people. The food wasn't the greatest, but hey, it was a buffet. In addition to the ballroom, my brother rented a hotel room there too. The room is nice and clean. It has a nice view. I'd say that this place is totally ok. Nothing special, but nothing bad.
I recently went to Hale Koa for Sunday brunch. I've been here ooohhh five times I think. I'm not too impressed with the quality of food; however they do serve up a decent size buffet which is your typical continental style foods.
The buffet is setup in sections like all buffets are. You have your omelet station; main tables with all the hot stuff like eggs prepared many different ways such as Florentine or scrambled hash browns, bacon, and sausage and at the end of course is your lamb or prime rib. On the other side is your fruit table which consists of everything from melons to sushi and raw fish and lastly the dessert table with cakes, puddings, ice cream and local favorites like mochi.
I only go when the family gets together or when family visits from out of town.
If you're looking for great buffets, most of the major hotels along Waikiki are much better bets than the Hale Koa in my opinion. I'm guessing this place is popular because of the military discounts.
I will say this, the enterainment is actually quite funny. A small band visits each table and plays any song upon request, mostly Hawaiian tunes, or just makes you laugh which does brighten up the day.
Only military members are allowed at this hotel. Room rates are based on your pay grade so it's affordable. A great deal compared to the other hotels around the area. It's located right on the beach, so Waikiki beach is in your backyard. The rooms are comfortable, the bathrooms are spacious. Try not to get a room next to the elevator it's gets pretty noisy. Sunday brunch is a must! They also have a luau...although not the best I've seen, it's great if your a first time visitor. Make sure you hit up Polynesian Cultural Center for a great Luau. Parking is across the street from the hotel which confuses everyone. Overall it's one of the best affordable hotel for a military member in Waikiki!
Having stayed at less-than-perfect hotel rooms on Waikiki, I am giving the Hale Koa FIVE STARS! Some may say that's too generous. But if you're only paying $100/night (my parents upgraded us to an ocean view and paid a whopping $125/night) then by golly, this place is definitely worth FIVE STARS!
I don't even know if this hotel has a rating since it's not open to the general public. I would say, if we're giving it a class rating, it is a 3-star hotel. And for a 3-star hotel, this is an awesome place.
My dad is a retired Navy man and, for whatever reason, we waited until this year to take advantage of this perk. Not only is this place dirt cheap but the grounds are actually really pretty!!! The restaurants don't charge as much as other ones on the strip and the property is actually beach front. OK, the rooms aren't spectacular. They are fine, though, and clean. And also know that you are towards the end of Waikiki Beach rather than in the middle. If you aren't great on you feet, this might not be good for you. If you are a walker, it's no sweat.
Would I recommend this place for a honeymoon? Depends. If you are strapped for cash but want to vacation on Oahu, I think this is just fine. If you have a lot more money to burn, then stay somewhere else. But if you just want a nice place to stay, regardless if you are a big family, couple or just friends vacationing, I think this place is awesome. I would come back, hands down. And I was there during construction! (I'm telling you, for what you get with the price you pay, no other hotel on Waikiki can even come close.)
This hotel is also located near the beach!! i like the feel when you first stepped into the hotel staff greets you aloha and they're friendly, very accommodating, swimming pool is pretty big, and the lifeguards are good looking. everything is within walking distance except for the mall i think its about 2 or 3 blocks from the hotel! Great ambiance..
The Hale Koa Room was amazing, i especially loved the bon bons served over the bowl of dried ice, it was a really nice treat :) and the food that i had was delicious. I dont remember much since i went about 2 years ago, but i specifically remember thinking that it was totally worth it :)
Solid 4 stars on this one. The room was great and certainly one of the best features of the hotel. I can't quite figure out why I had 2 queen size beds for my wife and myself, but whatever. Our hotel room had a partial ocean view from our balcony, which was quite nice. The balcony included a small table, a couple of chairs and had a view of the hotel pool and the center garden area of the hotel, which was also quite lovely. The bathroom was large and had a full bath tub. Everything was very clean and very well done. We were in one of the recently remodeled rooms, so i have no idea what the old rooms are like.
I saw the fitness room, which had some cardio equipment and some machines, but no benches, pull-up bars or squat racks. I had kinda hoped since it's a DoD hotel, that it might have a few weight lifting oriented pieces of equipment, but no big deal.
Having a PX in the hotel was awesome. Pretty much everything you might want, they have and it's all tax free. I bought some board shorts, some presents, and several days worth of breakfast, not to mention the batteries, SD card for the camera, etc. It was awesome.
The beach is easily the nicest thing about this hotel. The sand was soft, the water was beautiful, refreshing and clear and the beach was relatively unoccupied. It was the nicest beach that we visited on Oahu and we tried to spend a couple hours a day on it.
There are several notable downsides to the hotel. The first thing I noticed was that the parking was far away and costs you $6 a day. You have to cross the street and any time you go from your room to the parking lot and back, it ends up being a 15 minute excursion. Also, the internet issue is really frustrating. They charge you $10 a day for wired internet if you want it. We had to pay for it one day and it was reasonably fast, but still, $10? Also, in the business center, you could pay by the minute for the internet. It is rare to see a hotel these days that does not offer free internet in any form, but here's one of them.
The food was decent, but certainly not great. My wife and I ended up eating breakfast on our balcony most mornings.
I would definitely stay here gain, but I probably won't. The 20% off for OIF Veterans was great, but by the time i come back to Hawaii again, I will no longer be eligible to stay in the hotel. If you qualify to stay here, you really should. The good parts make this the best place to stay on the beach.
We've stayed here many many times and indeed, it's THE absolute best deal on Waikiki Beach. And again, yes, the catch is you have to be a member of the Armed Services (doesn't matter how you're affiliated, you just have to have proper ID). The massage/facial combo is what I'm totally hooked on here. It's sooooooooooooooo reasonable!!! The restaurants are also very good and very cheap.
I actually didn't stay here instead I stayed at Hickam AFB with my retired father ($28 a night). However, just walking around this place was really nice! We had dinner here and were very pleased to discover they had veggie burgers on the menu. The service was friendly and the PX covered all of our last minute needs. The facilities overall are very nice. Next visit to Hawaii I hope to stay here but if not it is only a $2 bus ride from Hickam.
Military you must stay here!!! No where else!! This hotel is located right on Waikiki beach next to the Hawaiian Hilton (a premium location) not a block or two like other tourist hotels a must for out of town Military coming to enjoy Waikiki/Hawai'i. You don't need a rent a car the Hale Koa's location to everything is walking distance. Also the outside Waikiki activities like Polynesian Cultural Center aka PCC and area Luau's have a private bus for couple extra dollars you can ride out to the activity have a drink and get a ride back. NO DUI WORRY, Keep your career and family!!!
Location is right on Waikiki. This hotel has everything to support the out of town military tourist/visitor. There are at least two restaurants a inside bar and outside bar. They even have a P.X./B.X. which has everything you need. I live here so I have never stayed but have seen the rooms. You pay by your rank and the view. The cheap room is the same as the expensive room. You pay for what you see looking out the window. When I am on the other side of the island I stop by the outside "BareFoot Bar". This bar is known as the only bar that does not skimp/water down your drinks in the Waikiki tourist area. Order their Mai Tai it's the best on the island. I suggest 2 each limit a 3rd Mai Tai's and it will be difficult to get back to your room. I had a visiting friend a "hard Corps" hard drinking MARSOC Marine and he wished he would not have finished the 3rd Mai Tai. The Bare Foot bar requires a Military I.D. card but I never see them check these last couple years. But during times of heightened security the Federal Police/Security do card to get on the property and again down at the bar. But I have not seen security in a couple years. With everything Hale Koa's has you really do not have to ever leave the hotel property your entire trip. The only negative is I would suggest either Paradise Cove or Germain's vice Hale Koa's luau both have bus service to their Luau. I also suggest go to the Polynesian Cultural Center aka PCC to learn about history and cultural information on the islands of this area, something I consider a must or you have wasted your time in Hawai'i. The PCC opens at noon and is closed on Sundays. I suggest do the Luau at PCC because end of the day you will be hungry but I suggest also do Paradise Cove Luau (my favorite for visitors) since they offer Hawaiian games and crafts prior to their Luau show. Good for Adults and keiki. Again in support of Hale Koa it is the only place to stay if visiting Waikiki, Hawai'i.
PARKING: I read several negative reviews that complained about the parking. If you have baggage or elderly to drop off you can drive up their lobby/entrance and drop them off. Parking far da car is across the street but gosh it's a short walk and yes sometimes you have to park on the top level but they have 2each elevators and you have to cross the street, Once across the street you can either walk the several steps up to the lobby or you can take the ramp (which is wheel chair/scooter accessible) and walk up the ramp/sidewalk. They rate a 10 stars.
Hale Koa's web site is: http://www.halekoa.com/
PCC web site is: http://www.polynesia.com
I can't vouch for the hotel itself as I was only there for a wedding, but from what I've seen and heard, I'd consider joining the military just to be able to stay here! Room rates at a fraction of what you'd pay at similar hotels in Waikiki. The area the wedding was held was very nice with tall plants and bushes separating the rest of the public from the private ceremony.
Went to Oahu for the first time last week. Stayed in the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Why am I writing about the Hale Koa you say? Well, I had to do a luau. So I looked it up in the phone book and the Hale Koa showed up. Price was excellent ($79 for two) but here's the catch, there's no military requirement. It was a steal. I'm sure it wasn't as elaborate a show as you'd get for $100 per person, but it was very nice. The food was good (except for the poi of course) and the entertainment was, well, entertaining. It was very interesting for my wife and I though since we didn't know that the Hale Koa was a military-only resort. I couldn't understand why people kept asking me what branch of the military I was in and why the MC shouted out to all the different branches to stand and be applauded. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Quality and it is paradise gone right!!
***this review is for the Hale Koa outdoor beach BAR not the hotel***
no, we didn't stay here, but we sure did invade their bar on a few nights. i don't exactly remember how we found this place..... its a little hazy looking back. i think it was those 2 crazy military wives we met at the Surfrider bar earlier that day. they were bored housewives on the hunt and claimed we would find tons of hot men here..... they even came with us. uh, well we quickly surveyed the crowd and realized this was definitely a "military" bar-- not really what we had in mind, but it was packed and people were having fun so we stayed. its a nice sprawling lay out on the beach. there's plenty of seating surrounding the main bar area. to give it the authentic touch, there are palm trees, about a billion tiki torches blazing all over and in the back a spacious dance floor area. there's also a lot of sand scattered everywhere. we invited a few of our new hawaii boyfriends to meet us out for the night and we stupidly didn't think they would ALL show up but they did. oops- this place definitely didn't need additional men.... the women were greatly outnumber here.(FYI: for single women or bored military wives, look no further)
5 or 6 drinks (?) later the night became rather interesting..... next thing i know, i'm all over the dance floor like a dancing maniac, aimee is up front giving the DJ a hard time (hawaii DJ's are stuck in 1996), iris is by the bar keeping several puerto rican guys company and sabra was.....? where was the hell was she? oh Lord.... all of sudden she comes walking up totally drenched. so, i think i mentioned earlier that this bar is practically ON the beach. sabra decided she needed to go drunk swimming with some guy from alabama. apparently this little swimming/makeout session was rudely interrupted when some other drunk girl comes swimming out into the ocean to steal the alabama guy away from her... it was hilarious. poor sabra. we dried her off and continued our evening. anyway-- the events of our night here were so memorable we returned back a few more nights for a repeat performance. finding trouble just doesn't get any better than this.... 5 f'ing fantastic stars to the Hale Koa beach bar. we loved ya-- loved ya!
