Ever since I was little, I had wanted to stay at The Royal Hawaiian, AKA  “The Pink Palace”. It was built back in 1927 so has a lot of local tradition built in. If you watched the TV show “Hawaii Five-O” you would have seen the pink hotel as they flew over Waikiki Beach in almost every episode.

We arrived tired and cranky after a long couple of flights, and then getting lost looking for the entrance after dark. We had a great welcome despite it being midnight – receiving lovely leis that were so fresh, they lasted the duration of our stay. In our rooms, we found freshly baked banana muffins just waiting to be devoured.

We woke up early due to the time difference, so we got up to go explore the beautiful grounds. The designer in me appreciated the details – the curved hallways with elegant lighting, the clusters of comfortable seating to enjoy the views, and the traditional art gracing the halls. I also experienced floor envy as we walked across many different tile patterns and tropical carpets.

The breakfast was buffet style, but had every imaginable possibility – from tropical fruit to spicy sausages, from waffles to eggs. Of course the view of Diamond Head was not half bad as well.

The location of the hotel is great for those who may not want to rent a car and explore the other side of the Island. You can step right out on to Waikiki Beach and walk either direction exploring the beach and different hotels along the way.  You are within seconds from great shopping along Kalakaua Avenue which has everything from great restaurants to touristy stores to luxury designer boutiques. Of course if you have good walking shoes, you can head over to the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium and the Diamond Head trails.

We love to drive, so we rented a car so that we could explore the whole island. See my post about Visiting the North Shore for more adventures.