This wasn’t my first trip to Waikiki, I have stayed in other hotels throughout Waikiki and Oahu, including Aulani (Read about my experience here) and Hilton Hawaiian Village. I had high expectations for the Outrigger Reef going into my stay and documented everything I experienced so that I could provide an accurate and complete review!
Dining
If you want to stay at the hotel to eat, you are in luck. Outrigger Reef has two dining options: Monkeypod Kitchen or Kani Ka Pila Grille.
Monkeypod is a very popular restaurant with a great view of the water. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here and would highly recommend making a reservation for sunset! The live music was great, and this was one of my favorite restaurants throughout our entire trip.
Kani Ka Pilla Grille is situated right next to the pool and offers live music nightly. I did not dine here during my stay, but we did go to the bar. If you want a private, calm experience, Kani Ka Pilla Grille is not your spot. Some of the tables were extremely close to the pool in my opinion, and I wouldn’t have enjoyed a romantic evening here.
Beach
The Outrigger Reef is situated right on the water, with a fantastic view of Diamond Head.
The beach is very small, so don’t expect a lot of privacy! Oftentimes, we were right up against other folks with just a few feet in between our towels. If you are looking for more space, you are able to head down the beach to larger stretches of sand.
Keep in mind that almost all of the beaches in this area are rocky! I recommend packing water shoes or buying a cheap pair in a gift shop.
Although small and rocky, the beach had a convenient foot rinse, food options, and beach equipment rentals right outside the hotel!
We ate at the Steak Shack and Tropical Tribe. It was so nice that we didn’t have to make our way down to Waikiki Beach Walk.
Location
The hotel is situated directly on the beach, yet also conveniently close to shops, restaurants, and other hotels. We walked to Waikiki Beach Walk, Hilton Hawaiian Village, and International Marketplace. The ABC store sells Holo Cards, which you can fill to use on the bus. We found the bus system to be easy to use, however, it wasn’t always reliable, and the bus ran on its own time.
Activities
One of my favorite parts of the hotel was that they offered a schedule of activities throughout the week. These activities include ukulele lessons, lei making, bamboo printing, hula lessons, and more.
We did bamboo printing and enjoyed ourselves. It took about an hour, and we were able to each keep two bookmarks. We tried to attend the lei making session, but even when we arrived early it was packed!! I recommend heading over at least 10 minutes early to ensure you get a seat.
Room size
Our room was the perfect size for the two of us. The king bed was so comfortable, and it was turned over once a day. The mini fridge was perfect for keeping our drinks purchased at the ABC store cold, and for storing our leftovers from dinner.
Cleanliness and Rowdiness
Not only was our room clean, but the entire hotel was clean as well. The lobby, pool area, elevators, and guest bathrooms were all tidy.
It can be hard to keep up with a large hotel, especially when non-guests come throw the lobby throughout the entire day, but the hotel staff does a great job at maintaining the space.
The hotel was not as rowdy as other places I have stayed, like the Hilton Hawaiian Village. However, we did have one incident where non-guests were using the pool and hot tub one night without a hotel wrist band, and said in front of us that they were not staying there. For the most part, it was okay, but there were about 6 of these adult men crowded into the hot tub with my husband and I, and two teenage girls.
Pools and Hot Tubs
The pool area is small, but sufficient. I loved the depth of the pools and the size of the main hot tub.
Something to note, we visited in January, and the pool was quite cold! We saw many other people spending a few minutes in the pool, then jumping in the hot tub. This was the case even when the temperature was in the 80s! One other point, the pool area was very crowded from 11am-3pm. It was difficult to find seats available and almost all of the chairs were occupied at this time.
Lobby and Shopping
The lobby is large and open air, but protected from the elements. The first floor of the hotel has a few shopping options with stores offering artwork, clothing, and jewelry. The lobby also has an ABC store and the Holokai Catamaran desk. (Read about my experience on Holokai Catamaran here!)
I loved that we were able to sign up for our Whale Watching tour with Holokai right in the lobby, and walk to the launch site with our tour group. We also used the ABC store quite a bit while we were there, and saved our receipt to get our free gift (a mug) at the end of our stay.
Concierge
My husband and I spoke to the concierge to try and book a whale-watching tour. Doing so, it felt like the concierge was constantly upselling, more so than we have experienced at other hotels. Instead of recommending the catamaran company located in the hotel for $40 each he heavily pushed that we go with a tour that would cost us $200 each. It felt uncomfortable at times, and we did not return for more advice.
I would recommend staying at the Outrigger Reef to those who want a relaxing stay, in a busy part of Waikiki. If you are looking for a Hawaiian hotel that is private and surrounded by nature, this is not your hotel, and I would look outside of Waikiki. However, the location, amenities, and atmosphere should place this hotel at the top of your list to consider for your next trip!