Near center of Waikiki and beach
Cheap shared rooms
Some private rooms with bathrooms
Community kitchen and lounge
Guest laundry
Free boogie boards and sports gear loans
No air-conditioning
No on-site restaurant or bar (alcohol not allowed)
Spotty housekeeping
Small fee for towels
Fee for Wi-Fi
Fee for parking
Full of backpackers and young tourists on a
budget looking to meet fellow travelers, one-and-a-half pearl Hostelling International Waikiki
provides cheap rooms close to the beach. Guest units are divided into male and
female dormitories that pack six into a shared bunk space with a
bathroom, or small private rooms that have their own bathrooms, but no air-conditioning. Alcohol isn't
allowed and there isn't much of a social hub here outside of the communal
kitchen and a TV lounge that’s often too hot for comfort. Wi-Fi is only
free in common areas, but guests can borrow boogie boards on their way out.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Communal bunks near the beach
The hostel’s bright sea foam colored
building stands out on one of the grittier urban blocks in Waikiki. The
balconied property is short on common space, but there's a small front desk
room with chalkboard announcing local events and
a fluorescent-lit lounge beyond it. The communal kitchen feels
institutional with stark blue cabinetry and tiled white walls. The TV and scant
furnishings might pre-date the 90's, but at least some of the books and board games
on hand are timeless.
Location
A short walk from Waikiki Beach on Prince Edward Street
Centrally located on an urban block, the
hostel is around a three-minute walk from the beach. There are several
restaurants and cafes nearby, including Kai Coffee Hawaii and Duke's Waikiki, and the Honolulu Zoo is around a 10-minute walk south. Visitors
can walk two blocks and find the touristy Kalakaua Avenue, a busy stretch of
shops, restaurants, and high-rise hotels that cut across Waikiki. Diamond Head
and Ala Wai golf courses are both less than a 15-minute drive (in opposite
directions) from the hotel. Honolulu International Airport is a 20- to 25-minute
cab ride northwest.
Rooms
Shared dorms and small private rooms
Most of the International Waikiki’s rooms are
bunk bed-style dorms designed to be shared, six hostelers a piece. Like other
hostels, there are no TVs, mini-fridges, or coffeemakers here, just four walls
and small lockers for valuables The dorms are supposed to be
male or female only, with private units providing co-ed lodging.
Private rooms have double beds or bunk beds, with other furnishings consisting
of a mix of wooden or metal folding chairs and small tables. The bathrooms are
tiny, with the simplest fixtures and colorful shower/tub combos that show a lot
of wear and tear. Bed linens are provided, but towels cost an extra fee.
Features
Communal kitchen, TV lounge, and free beach gear loans
With no restaurant or bar on-site (the staff sometimes arrange
happy hour outings at local bars), all on-site dining takes place in the
communal kitchen. It has a microwave and stove, two refrigerators, cookware, and utensils as well as a shelf marked "free" with the
presumably unexpired goods from past guests -- think pretzels, peanut butter,
and jelly. There’s plenty of seating at the folding tables lined up end-to-end,
and more space around the corner in the TV lounge. Wi-Fi is free in the lounge,
and there's a computer available for use. Guests can also borrow beach chairs, boogie boards, and additional assorted beach/sports gear.
