Hawaii Welcomes Visitors

As the main hub of the Hawaiian Islands, it is no wonder Oahu is the most visited island. Hawaii serves up big city fun in a small island setting.  The Hawaii re-opening is just in time for the winter surf season. In other words, visitors can once again enjoy the best tropical venue the Unites States has to offer.

Winter Surf Session

Hawaii may be synonymous with surfing, but Oahu’s North Shore has earned special bragging rights as a hang 10 mecca. Whether guests head there to watch the waves or carve a few of their own, the destination offers unparalleled surfing thrills.  The North Shore is just a one-hour drive from the world famous Waikiki Beach.

The North Shore of Oahu comes to life in the fall and Oahu is opening its doors to tourism after seven months of lock down.  This seven mile miracle offers country living at its finest with tons of shops in historical Haleiwa town, outdoor activities, and beaches. Above all, in the wintertime, the North Shore is known for its picture perfect waves.

Hawaii Re-opening Test Program

Of course, the Hawaii re-opening still has concerns over COVID. Albeit the percentage of positive cases in Hawaii remains in the lower single digits. Similarly, Hawaii ranks in the lower percentile relative to the other states. Therefore to mitigate this concern, the Governor has implemented a testing program. The program allows visitors to arrive and test out of the 14-day mandatory quarantine period.  Travelers must taken a Food and Drug Administration-approved COVID-19 test from a CLIA lab.  The test result must be negative and within 72 hours of traveling to Hawaii in order to bypass a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine.

For the Hawaii re-opening, an accepted pre-arrival test is required of all arriving passengers who want to bypass the quarantine. The testing includes children of all ages. However, travelers who do not receive the results of their pre-arrivals test in time must stay in quarantine until they get their results back. The program is expected to expand the locations where travelers can get tested. Initially testing is available through CVS Pharmacy and through Kaiser Permanente.

Hawaii Re-opening Promotion

Hawaii is also actively working to safely open hiking trails, parks, attractions, restaurants and retail.  To promote the re-opening, we are offering a discount available through bookings on WaikikiStay.com.  Use promo code SAVE10 and get our low price guarantee. We offer a great selection of Waikiki vacation rentals for all budgets and family sizes. Our rentals are all right in the heart of Waikiki and all within walking distance to the world famous Waikiki Beach. Our vacation rental properties are privately owned and vary by amenities, building, square feet, number of guests, improvements, and views.

While the world is filled with people of different nationalities and cultures, religious and spiritual beliefs, there are things that tie us all together – universal bridges such as food, which crosses language barriers, opens hearts, fills bellies, and imparts a feeling of nourishment.

The cuisine of Hawaii, also referred to as local grinds, continues to evolve with influence from chefs from all over the world while fresh and unique island foods from micro farms and aqua culture farmers are delivered daily providing a true farm to table experience with a fusion blend to tantalize the taste buds. The selection of restaurants represents the cultural diversity that is found in Hawaii. Enjoy beautiful views, beach side locations, romantic and fun ambiances, lovely and elegant settings, creative and innovative menus, and great food from Hawaii’s restaurants that accommodate all price points.

Taste some of Hawaii’s favorite ono delicious foods including Kailua pig wrapped in ti leaves and cooked in an underground imu oven, or a malasadas deep-fried dough rolled in sugar best eaten warm, or fresh cubed fish known as poke served in with variety of sauces and seasonings, or an authentic Hawaii shave ice desert, a flavorful tropical cocktail. To experience island cuisine is to experience Hawaii.

If you are looking for restaurant suggestions, our  mobile app includes a selection of Waikiki restaurants including links to the menus, locations and contact information.  We update our local restaurant lists as we discover fun atmospheres and ono dining.

Hawaii is more than the physical beauty of the land, sea and sky. It is a community with a long and fascinating history that continues to be felt in many ways. The people are happy and happy people are friendly people. Discover more about Hawaii by visiting places like the Bishop Museum or the Polynesian Culture Center. The more you discover about Hawaii’s past, the more you will understand modern-day Hawaii.

Aloha means the spirit of love, and is commonly used as hello and goodbye; it also has means compassion, kindness and giving.

The Aloha Spirit can be described by words also used to describe Hawaiian values:

• malama: to care for
• ‘ohana: family
• ho’okipa: hospitality
• ‘olu’olu: graciousness
• kokua: helpfulness
• lokahi: unity and harmony
• kupono: honesty and fairness

The pervasiveness of these qualities gives Hawaii a singular charm and provides the foundation for a unique, respected, and treasured culture.

The past is still a vital part of the present in Hawaii. By experiencing the people and the spirit of aloha during your visit, you are enriching your experience of the culture and helping to keep history alive. Explore the traditions of the past that are still prevalent in the culture of Waikiki and Oahu’s small towns.

The early Hawaiians had no written language but they developed highly evolved verbal communications in the form of chants. In the old Hawaii, the chanters were the most important member of society, preserver of history and legend. Chants were created to record the genealogy of chiefs and also used during blessings.

The Hawaiian Blessing is a traditional ceremony to bless new homes, canoes, businesses, babies, and food. The blessing calls upon great powers to assist in the safety, well being and success of the new creation. The blessing also cleans and clears the way of any conflict or negative experience that may have occurred in the past. The ceremony is performed by a spiritual leader drawing together a community to participate in honoring a new beginning.

We want you to have a wonderful stay with us in paradise and ask that you follow a few basic rules in addition to complying with the building’s House Rules:

• All guests and guest’s visitors are required to register with a valid photo id (all adult occupants in the unit) at check-in with your host or in the Real Estate management office. Prior arrangements must be made in advance for after-hour arrivals / check-ins.

• Do not let anyone up the elevator within a secured building.

• While on property to include lobbies, elevators, hallways, lanais and in room, please keep noise volumes to a minimum. Loud music or TV playback is generally not allowed.

• Understand intoxicated or illegal behavior is never permitted.

• We provide a few complementary supplies such as bath soap, dish soap & sponge, trash liners, toilet paper and paper towels at check-in and recommend guests bring or purchase their own products such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion, make-up removers, sanitizers and wipes. Guest rooms with coffee stations include complimentary coffee and tea along with condiments and a Hawaiian sweet treat!  Supplies are not restocked with the intent of supplying your needs for the duration of your stay. Guests should purchase extra supplies for extended stays.

• Do not allow shower or bath tub water to puddle water on the bathroom floor or you could cause a leak to a neighboring unit of which you will be responsible for the damages and costs to remedy the situation.

• Do not flush anything down the toilet expect a SMALL amount of toilet tissue or you will cause a clog or flood.  NO FLUSHABLES, BABY WIPES, PAPER TOWELS, ETC. If you cause a clog, you will be responsible for the cost to remediate the situation.

• Never hang items over the lanai walls, or allow any items to drip, drain or fall from a lanai (balcony).

• If your unit has a window A/C unit, please do not running the A/C all day and all night. Turn it off while you are out during the day. On the hottest days with abnormal humidity, window A/C units may be over-worked and produce more condensation than normal.  Please check if the container underneath the A/C if it fills up and spills water on the lanai. A/C containers can be emptied in the tub. Water dripping is unpleasant for others below, causes a trip hazard and could result in building violations and fines.

• Report any leaks, damages, issues or concerns right away to your host or to the office for assistance.

• For buildings with Trash chutes, they are generally located on each floor (Kuhio Village next to the elevator shaft in a closet marked REFUSE). Please tie all bags before using the trash chute and if you have items too large, please break down cardboard boxes flat before putting it in the large trash bins usually in the basement level.

• Parking is at your own risk whether be in a garage or on the street. Most public parking garages has a unmanned ticket station, be sure to re-pay and place your parking ticket on the front dashboard so that it is clearly visible / readable from the outside (unless otherwise posted). Any car parked with an expired ticket or without a ticket may be towed at your expense (usually over $200). Do NOT leave any valuables in the car unattended. We do not manage the parking lots. Parking management and tow company phone numbers are posted.

• Do NOT bring beach SAND into the rooms or the tub / shower because sand will clog the drains.  Use the beach showers to rise all sand to leave it at the beach.

• Check-out time is by 11:00 AM.  If you fail to check out on time, you could be charged a fee. If you have a late flight on your check-out date, please check with us in advance to see if you can extend for a fee and we will schedule the cleaning for the following morning for those guests on the red eye flights.

• Upon check-out, please return keys as instructed. Unaccounted key sets will incur a $150 charge per set.

For the island of Oahu, you will most likely arrive at the Honolulu International Airport and have several options of transportation between the airport and Waikiki.  Taxi’s or ride share services will be the quickest and there are also shuttle services in addition to car rental companies.  Most guests do not use a car for the duration of their stay so we recommend only renting a car for the days you intend to tour the island.

Cab/taxi – Average travel time from airport is approximately 30 minutes to the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. Fare is approximately $30-45 one-way. Pick-up on lower lever/baggage claim level. They are usually queued so waiting is minimal.

Airport shuttle – Roberts Hawaii is a popular shuttle bus company here on Oahu. The rate is $16.00 USD/one way and $30.00 USD/round trip. Pay on board. Pick-up on lower lever baggage claim level. They run about every 15-30 minutes. Roberts Hawaii: (808) 523-7750 website: www.robertshawaii.com

City Bus – Average travel time is approximately 1-1 ½ hours. Fares are $2.75 one-way. (Exact Cash) Carry-on items are limited and large luggage is not allowed. Pay on board. Pick-up on upper lever/ticketing level. Services run about every 15 minutes. Bus routes 19 & 20 will bring you directly into Waikiki to within a block of the office. Make sure when boarding to verify with the driver that the bus is headed to Waikiki. You will depart the bus upon arrival at Kuhio Ave and Liliuokalani Ave in Waikiki. The Bus: (808) 848-5555 www.thebus.org

Rental Car – A rental car is not needed for a duration of your stay and we recommend renting a car from Waikiki for the dates you plan to tour the island.  Free street parking is hard to obtain however paid public parking garages are available throughout Waikiki.

Uber or Lyft– Rideshare services are available with a broad ranges of service fees ranging from $36 to $77.

The office address is 2463 Kuhio Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815. The rates quotes are as of July 2018 and may change without notice.

Current Weather Conditions

Honolulu International Airport

Honolulu Bus Information

Public Announcements & Events

Oahu Hiking Trails

National Park Services

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

The City uses a multi-layered system to notify and alert residents and non-residents of disaster or emergencies. Ways the city will notify, alert, or warn you of disasters:

• Radio and television broadcasts
• Emergency Alert System (EAS) notification to radio/television/NOAA weather radio
• Outdoor siren warning system
• Responders using public address systems
• Nixle notification services

Nixle keeps you up-to-date with relevant information from local public safety departments and schools.

TEXT 96815 TO 888777 TO OPT-IN TO RECEIVE NIXLE ALERTS FOR HONOLULU AND WAIKIKI

The biggest surprise about Oahu is how many beautiful beaches there are and how often many are utterly uncrowded if you want to explore outside of Waikiki.  Whether you are trying to discover magical, secluded beaches, or searching for beaches that are bustling with activity, you should consider the island’s geography.

World famous Waikiki Beach is only a short stroll from our properties.  Waikiki Beach is less than one mile in length and is one of the most user friendly beaches in the world. A beach where just about anyone can take a surfing lesson and ride their first wave. Waikiki is the essence of carefree with more restaurants than most decent sized towns and limitless shopping. A sunset walk along Waikiki Beach is always a dreamy experience as the sounds of waves reaching the shore line along with music often spilling from the various resorts that line the beach. Waikiki Beach is a special place and some visitors chose to stay within Waikiki for their entire stay.

As beautiful and enticing the ocean may appear rip currents and rogue waves do occur. Only swim at beaches with life guards. You will find many life guards at Waikiki Beach.  You will also find sea walls separating a near shore swimming area from the rest of the ocean. A sea wall is in place a Kuhio Beach in Waikiki so if you are apprehensive about entering the ocean or have young children, Kuhio Beach is the ideal beach for you under most conditions.

The North Shore beaches can be a wonderful playground in the summer with calm clear waters and beautiful vistas. However in the winter, proceed with caution, as large ocean waves pound the shorelines and are a spectacle to see and feel. Large ocean waves are the biggest danger you will face at the beach.

The windward or eastern side of the island has the most underutilized beaches on the island however if the trade winds are blowing, the windward beaches can get windy. Keep in mind a light breeze might just be enough to keep you cool while enjoying the sunshine.

Waianae or the western side of the island has lots of beaches that are sheltered from the trade winds with the Waianae Mountains blocking their path. The beaches tend to be more crowded with local families sometimes camping at the beaches especially on the weekends. But if you keep driving to the western most end of the island, you will discover Makaha and Kaena Point State Park offering a remote and natural coastline.

Un-Written Rules You Should Know

• Drive with Aloha. Let cars go in front of you, go slow and give pedestrians the right away.
• If cars are stopped in front of you for no reason, do NOT switch lanes to continue, assume there is a pedestrian.
• Our most busy crosswalks have a new pattern that allows all pedestrians to cross at once to include diagonally so DO NOT assume you can turn on a red traffic light and watch for confused pedestrians trying to cross at the wrong time.
• DO NOT HONK your car horn unless it is an absolute emergency; it is considered rude to honk at someone.
• Do not leave valuables in an un-attended car anywhere and do NOT flaunt your spending money.
• Be smart where you park or you could face an unexpected tow bill ($250) if you do not obey the signs.
• Most people you meet are friendly and kind however beware if you come across an unstable person who may have a mental illness, go the other way. Often they are just yelling at nobody. Trust your gut instinct.
• Hawaii has a homeless problem, several choose not to live in shelters but choose to live on the streets instead, and for the most part they do not want to harm you although they could ask for money or food.
• Waikiki Ambassadors’ are part of the welcome center and patrol Waikiki on foot and bike to help our visitors with directions or information. Know that they wear neon yellow / green labeled shirts and are there for you.
• Do not turn your back on the ocean. Do not go to the edge of cliffs or the ocean. Use caution at all times and be aware the beauty of our island can sometimes catch you off guard. Take caution to posted signs and check with a life guard for any current conditions you should be aware of at our public beaches.
• Take what you bring and leave all that you don’t bring when hiking, beaching, or exploring the islands. You would be surprised just how many people “mail” items back. Respect the land, water & air as we do.
• Ask lifeguard or check posted signs on the beach for jellyfish warnings, high surf, strong currents or rip currents.
• Do not go surfing, snorkeling or hiking alone. Always let someone know where you are going if you will be alone.

GROCERIES

Safeway – Located outside of Waikiki on Kapahulu Ave. The #13 bus drops off and picks up right in front.Foodland Farms – Located outside of Waikiki at The Ala Moana Mall at 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. The #13 or #19 bus drops off and picks up right in front.

Whole Foods – Located outside of Waikiki at The Kahala Mall at 4211 Wai’alae Ave. The #22 or #23 bus drops off and picks up right in front.

Farmers Markets – From fresh cut tropical island fruits and vegetables to pastries and pupus (appetizers), there is something for everyone.  Locations and times have changed since Covid-19 shutdown.

KID FRIENDLY

Honolulu Zoo – Yes there is a Zoo here and it is so close…just at the end of Waikiki as you’re going toward Diamond Head. Open daily.

Waikiki Aquarium – Located along the beach past the zoo in the direction of Diamond Head; Open daily and night tours offered too.

WAIKIKI FREEBIES

Fireworks – Every Friday after sunset usually between 7:30 – 7:45pm compliments of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Hula Show – Authentic Hawaiian Music and hula shows by Hawaii’s finest halau hula (dance troops) and Hawaiian Performers. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, weather permitting, 6:30 to 7:30 pm (6:00 to 7:00 pm November thru December) at the hula mound on the beach at Kalakaua and Uluniu.

Lei Making – At the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center along Kalakaua Avenue,  Monday-Saturday 1:00 to 2:00 pm.

‘Ukulele Lessons – At the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center along Kalakaua Avenue, Tuesday thru Friday 10:00 to -11:00 am.

Hula Lessons – At the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center along Kalakaua Ave. Tuesday 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, Thursday 4:00 – 5:00 pm.

The Bus & Popular Routes

The island of Oahu is easily accessible via The Bus, operated by the City and County of Honolulu. Most routes are serviced every 15-30 minutes and cover the whole island. Bus stops are located in front of the property, and you can circle the island right from the same block. Hanauma Bay for snorkeling, Sunset Beach on the North Shore and Pearl Harbor are all within reach! All fares are $2.75 each way (as of June 2020). Discounts such as Senior and Child may be available. 1-day passes are $5.50 and if you are staying a month or so, it’s best to buy a monthly pass for $70.00 at most ABC Stores in Waikiki. Both pass options allow for unlimited travel over the given time period. However know that The Bus does not allow luggage on the bus so you should plan to get other transportation to or from the airport. Download The Bus app for easiest use to plan ahead.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW AND REMINDERS

If you are planning to return home with gifts or to take something back to remember your stay then you might prefer the prices at the “Swap Meet” at the Aloha Stadium on Saturday or Sunday. You can also try Walmart near the Ala Moana Shopping Center; they usually have a good selection of souvenirs, mac nuts, etc. If you plan to take home Pineapples or other fruits & veggies, make sure they will clear the airport screening by asking the vender – some pineapple boxes are marked, some are NOT.

If you have a return ticket for a shuttle service to the airport, it’s usually a good idea to arrange your pick-up time 48-hours in advance. Always plan to leave Waikiki three (3) hours before departure if you are checking bags with your airline. Remember, all checked luggage must clear agriculture screening prior to checking in with your airline.

Please enjoy your stay safely!

Welcome to a fabulous tool to compliment your guest experience. We have created a Happy stays app giving you access to your reservation information and guest information from your mobile device. Make reservation payments, check out from your reservations, and even book future vacations. These are just a small amount of things Happy stays can do for you! We are regularly adding new content, restaurants, tours and adventures for your to consider. Enjoy and always have a Happy Stay!

Once you complete your reservation, we will send you a link to download the Happy Stays app and provide you with a reservation access code. If you prefer to start using the mobile app to browse through properties or to pre-plan your trip, download the Happy Stays app now.

  Apple iOS App Store
Google Play App Store

Pest wise you a most likely to come across a gecko. Some consider them cute and others are terrified by them.  They are afraid of you and will avoid you but they will eat any bugs that may be around.  You are unlikely to come across any bugs in your accommodations as all our units are inspected and treated by EPA-certified, safe pesticides, quarterly.

Traveler checks are usually accepted, but you should be aware that some merchants might look at you like you just tried to offer them a foreign currency. You should also know that Discover Card seems to be less welcome here than at other destinations and many places do not accept them.

If you are going to spend any time at the beach, woven bamboo beach mats can be found all over the island, are inexpensive alternatives to beach towels, can be rolled up for convenient storage, and the sand comes off the mat rather easily.

Please remember that Hawaii is not a Disney Land rather it is Mother Nature and she is hard, slippery, sharp, and unpredictable. Hiking guides and websites do not know the current conditions. Nothing is static and nothing can take the place of your own observations and good judgement.  Always trust your judgment and if you are seeking adventure prepare yourself for adventure. There are lots of wonderful things to do on the island and we want you to be safe and happy.