How to Spend 24 Hours in Waikiki

To Stay

‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach is located on land once occupied by Queen Lili’uokalani, and as such, is named after one of her beachside cottages, meaning “heavenly brightness” or “royal light.” The resort is positioned in a prime location just across the street from Waikiki Beach and has just about everything you could possibly need on-site: An incredible pool, a spa, retail shops, great dining options, and rooms with breathtaking views of the sunset over the ocean. 

Even better: the resort has an ongoing commitment to preserving Hawaii’s forests and partners with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI), a non-profit organization committed to returning the indigenous koa, milo, and sandalwood trees back to the Hawaiian Islands. With every stay, guests help contribute to these reforestation efforts.

I had a suite on a high floor that came with a double-sided balcony and a shower/bathtub combo, and really appreciated the attention to detail within the room itself. Things like a high-quality Bluetooth speaker, a wet bar stocked with dishes and bar tools, and two separate bathrooms made it ideal for entertaining a small group or family.

To Do

Since my stay was only 24 hours long, I tried to make good use of my time there and do as much as I could. I started out by renting one of the resort’s cabanas that came with loungers in a soaking pool, a TV, and a plush sitting area that was shielded from the sun. I ordered the garlic parmesan fries and a mojito, enjoyed the live DJ who created *such* a vibe and sipped on the free samples of Don Julio Palomas that were making the rounds in the pool area.

After that, I strolled along Waikiki Beach to watch the surfers (and those getting surf lessons), checked out the shops along the main street, and popped into the Lokahi Street Festival, which was teeming with great-smelling food, vendors, and live music. If I had more time, I would’ve hopped on one of the boat tours offering glimpses of the migrating whales that are traveling around the Hawaiian islands this time of year or hiked the Diamond Head Summit Trail to get even better surf-watching views.

I capped the evening on my top-floor room’s balcony, where I watched the sunset over the water, after which I took a nice long bath to relax before my very long flight the next morning.

To Eat

During my Waikiki Beach walk, I came across the Barefoot Beach Cafe (well, I smelled it before I saw it), and my mouth started watering at the scent of barbeque and grilled burgers. Once there, I was able to get some of the best summer food I’ve ever had (a barbeque chicken sandwich with pineapple and a fresh smoothie) and enjoyed the live music in the al fresco dining area with prime views of the ocean.

In the early evening, I popped into the resort’s Longboard Club for a glass of wine and light snacks while I got some work done in the lounge area there. The next morning I came back for the build-your-own acai bar there and was not disappointed.

Dinner was the savory duck ramen at Momosan they were offering for just a few days; I got it meat-free but was blown away by the flavors in this dish, even as a vegetarian version. With a cup of Kona coffee for dessert, my stomach has never been happier.

What I Packed

Because there’s beautiful weather year-round in Hawaii, I was able to pack fairly light with lots of light-colored cotton and linen pieces that would keep me cool and comfortable in the hot sun. This is a break from my at-home “all-black everything” wardrobe, but in a tropical setting, black just…does not make sense. Therefore, I have a few reliable travel clothing staples for sunny destinations, and they came along for this trip, too. I also brought along a few skincare essentials.