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There's a swank new reason to plan a Hawaii holiday

There's a new reason to plan a holiday in Hawaii: the opening of the achingly cool Wayfinder Waikiki hotel.

There's a swank new reason to plan a Hawaii holiday

Updated April 1, 2025, first published March 10, 2023

Who can resist the draw of the buzzy beaches, the gleaming malls and the happening food scene of Honolulu? But now there's a new reason to plan a holiday in Hawaii: the opening of the achingly cool Wayfinder Waikiki hotel.

Wayfinder Waikiki. Picture: Read McKendree.

Set on the Ala Wai canal and only a few minutes walk to Waikiki Beach, the hotel greets guests with a dramatic tapestry of colours (a glossy gold couch here) and patterns (a chequerboard rug there) in the lobby, and the rooms continue the theme with walls in rich shades - from soothing pistachios to deep Pacific blues.

Pool house studio. Picture: Surf Please

Make yourself at home in the entry-level room (at 22 square metres it's compact but cleverly designed), but if you want more space, book the Pool House Studio, which - in addition to a king-sized bed - comes with a pull-out sofa, making it ideal for families.

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There's a coffee bar and a great restaurant dishing up fresh poke on site, as well as a lovely pool, where you can simply chill with cocktails.

Words byAkash Arora

Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.

My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.

Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.

My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.