The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel is about as convenient as it gets when it comes to location. While every hotel claims to be in the “heart of Waikiki”, Kaiulani’s position around the corner of Kalakaua on Kaʻiulani Avenue makes it as literally true as it gets. It’s an expansive property with a massive ground-level swimming pool that is guarded by tiki carvings, letting you know that this resort isn’t your normal Sheraton-Marriott branded accommodation.

The hotel honors Hawaiian heritage, named after Victoria Kawēkiu Kaʻiulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Cleghorn (Princess Kaʻiulani for short). Kaʻiulani made her mark by campaigning across the mainland USA in the late 1800s to denounce the illegal overthrow of her government, injustices against her people, and urged for restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom. We won’t digress further into a history lesson, but it’s important to understand a little background of the hotel’s namesake.

In addition to the large pool and deck area, the property boasts a good-sized fitness facility, business center (with WiFi that works!) and a fun outdoor watering hole – Splash Bar – that’s there for coffee and breakfast in the AM and tropical cocktails in the afternoon and evening. Pikake Terrace is also on site, offering one of the better breakfast buffets in town. The rooms feel fairly upscale, even if you end up with a back alley view. As far as the staffing goes, it’s aloha-spirit all the way. They are as accommodating at the bell-desk as they are at check-in, and all the way through to the cleaning service personnel that greet you in the hall/s to and from your door.

All in all this is an extremely convenient and culturally conscious hotel that doesn’t break the bank. For all that you get when staying at the Princess Kaiulani you’ll be hard pressed to find a comparable option quite like this.