The Royal Hawaiian, Oahu’s Most Iconic Hotel

The Royal Hawaiian, also known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific, is no secret to beautiful iconic-imagery. It’s a real-life Instagram heaven. Earlier this year we traveled to Oahu for a six-night stay at the Pink Palace. We called Honolulu our home base while spending time exploring Waikiki, the North Shore, Kailua, and more. Based on what we had seen online, we had high expectations of the Royal Hawaiian, and after our week-long stay, we can easily say it did not disappoint. Read on to see why.

it’s pink and so are the pool chairs

If you’ve ever seen Oahu photos on Instagram, it’s likely you’ve come across the iconic Royal Hawaiian pool and the views. Set right by the ocean, you get a perfect mix of poolside/hotel amenities and the iconic pink chairs, and just a two-minute walk if you want to dip your toes in the Waikiki sand. But the best part is you don’t have to deal with the Waikiki crowds. You can stay by the pool, or if you want to be by the ocean, you can reserve lounge chairs and umbrellas for $20 per chair. And let’s be real, Waikiki does get crowded, so this is worth every penny if you want to be close to the water.

The Rooms

There are two tower options at the Royal Hawaiian – the Mailani tower, and the Historic Wing. The Mailani tower is the newer, taller tower that overlooks the Pacific. Every room has a view. The rooms are a bit more modern, and the focus is the pool/ocean views outside. The Historic Wing has a more traditional feel as you would expect, but the rooms have vibrant pink accents making them fun as well.

We opted for the Mailani tower for the views and photo opportunities, but if you’re looking for excellent in-room photo opportunities, then the wallpaper behind the beds in the Historic Wing is ideal too. Whichever you choose, be sure to snap a photo in one of their iconic striped pink robes.

The Interior Decor

Dining

There are six main dining options at the Royal Hawaiian. We spent most of our breakfasts at Surf Lanai and beachside meals from Mai Tai Bar. Be sure to try the famous pink pancakes from Surf Lanai, and don’t miss the fresh guava juice daily.

• Mai Tai Bar – beachside bar
• Azure Restaurant and Bar – oceanfront evening dining
• Surf Lanai – upscale outdoor breakfast and lunch (we ate here daily)
• Royal Hawaiian Bakery – baked goods and coffee during the daytime
• Aha’aina Luau – a Luau that takes place on Mondays and Thursdays
• In-Room Dining – 24-hour room service, perfect for the late night snack

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