Ala Moana Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Ala Moana Hotel is the best pick for shoppers and eaters — wired into the largest mall in Hawaii, with Ala Moana Beach next door drawing far fewer people than Waikiki.
Ala Moana Hotel is the best pick for shoppers and eaters — wired into the largest mall in Hawaii, with Ala Moana Beach next door drawing far fewer people than Waikiki.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Rooms run a standard brown-and-beige palette and measure 25-30 sqm, with a private balcony in almost every one. Higher floors look out over the ocean and the Ala Wai golf course, and some catch the boats at the Yacht Harbor. Reviewers point out that it's a big tower and some rooms feel older than the newer resorts, but cleanliness and bedding hold up to standard. Rates start around $149 a night.
Food and amenities
The food story here is the mall. The direct walkway leads into Ala Moana Center, where the options run from Foodland supermarket to Mariposa and the well-known Japanese restaurants — hundreds of choices you reach without going outside. The rooftop pool looks over the ocean and the Honolulu skyline, and there's on-site parking if you've got a rental car.
Location and getting there
The location is the strongest in this whole list. The hotel links directly to Ala Moana Center, the largest mall in Hawaii, and Ala Moana Beach Park sits right across the street — a longer, quieter beach than Waikiki, good for families and for an uncrowded sunset. Waikiki is 1.5 km away: a 5-minute Uber/Lyft or a 20-minute walk.
Things to know before booking
You're 1.5 km from Waikiki, so the main beach strip means a short ride or a 20-minute walk rather than a step out the door. It's a large tower, and some rooms feel older than the newer resorts in the area. And the whole setting is shopping-and-beach-park rather than the Waikiki scene — if being in the middle of Waikiki matters to you, this isn't the base.
Our take
Book this if you plan to spend serious time at Ala Moana Center, want a beach with fewer people than Waikiki, or are picking up a rental car and want easy parking. At around $149 a night for a room wired into the largest mall in Hawaii, with a rooftop pool over the ocean, it earns its 8.2/10 — just know you're trading a Waikiki address for the mall and the quieter sand.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A direct walkway connects the hotel to Ala Moana Center, the largest mall in Hawaii, with hundreds of restaurants and shops you reach without going outside.
- Ala Moana Beach is right across the street — a longer, quieter stretch of sand than Waikiki, and a good fit for families.
- The rooftop pool looks out over the ocean and the Honolulu skyline, and higher floors catch the Ala Wai golf course and the Yacht Harbor.
- Rates start around $149 a night, which is strong value for a room that connects straight into a mall this size.
- There's on-site parking, so it works well if you're picking up a rental car.
- It's 1.5 km from Waikiki, so getting to the main beach strip means a 5-minute Uber/Lyft or a 20-minute walk.
- It's a large tower, and reviewers note some rooms feel older than the newer resorts in the area.
- If you want to be in the middle of Waikiki itself, this is the wrong base — the shopping-and-beach-park setting here is a different scene.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a higher floor — those rooms see the ocean and the Ala Wai golf course, and some catch the Yacht Harbor.
- Use the direct walkway into Ala Moana Center for everything from Foodland supermarket to Mariposa and the well-known Japanese restaurants, no sun or rain needed.
- Walk over to Ala Moana Beach Park across the street for sunset — it's longer and far less crowded than Waikiki.