Moana Surfrider Resort Review

by Allison LeBlanc
September 18th, 2009

Photos courtesy of Moana Surfrider

Review of the historic Moana Surfrider Resort, a luxury hotel and spa in Honolulu, Hawaii

Known as the First Lady of Waikiki, the Moana Surfrider hotel lives up to its royal title with a stately property that exudes its regal details and rich history at every corner.

The Moana Surfrider opened in 1901, just as Honolulu was a growing visitor destination thanks to the increase in steamship lines stopping in the area. A night at the elegant new hotel set the first guests back $1.50, an exorbitant amount for that era. But the splurge was worth it, for each room featured something unheard of in those days—a bathroom and a telephone.

These days, the icon of Honolulu (now in the hands of Westin Resorts) seamlessly blends the historical elements of yesteryear with modern, luxurious touches of today. The eye-catching porte cochere entrance and stately columns encapsulate the hotel’s colonial-style architecture, while the 793 rooms (including 46 suites, many with oceanfront lanai) feature the Westin brand’s signature Heavenly Beds and Heavenly Baths, along with flat-screen TVs and high-speed Internet.

The most recent feature of the Moana Surfrider’s rebirth came last year, when the first and only beachfront spa in Waikiki opened in October 2008. The 18,000-square-foot spa boasts a plethora of state-of-the-art treatments and services, including a Vichy shower hydrotherapy room and a massive 24-hour fitness facility.

Feel like delving further into the rich history of this Waikiki jewel? The Westin has got it covered with complimentary historical tours for guests every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hosted by the jovial onsite historian, Tony Bissen, the one-hour tour (at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.) explores the many features of the Moana Surfrider that date back to its beginnings, such as the historic Banyan Wing.

Rates start at $248—a far cry from the original $1.50 nightly rate in 1901; however, the mixture of history and luxury is worth every inflated penny.