News: Trump Hotel Waikiki is now Ka La'i Waikiki Beach, LXR Resorts

Introduction

It looks like Hilton just added a new luxury property in Honolulu!

Announced a while back, the Trump Hotel in Waikiki was rebranded as the Wakea Waikiki Beach, LXR Resorts and was on the precipice of opening. In a somewhat odd move, the hotel changed named for a second time, as it was originally Wakea Waikiki Beach - now it’s officially called Ka La’i Waikiki Beach. When the hotel first used the name Wakea, it received attention from the community. A decision quickly evolved and the company decided to change the name to benefit both the local community and the hotel stakeholders. Ka La’i translates to the peace or calm, while representing serenity and tranquility.

Nevertheless, it’s now open for booking, and I’m excited to see what this property will hold!

Breakdown | Ka La’i Waikiki Beach, LXR Resorts

Starting February 2024, the Trump International Hotel Waikiki has been rebranded as the Wākea Waikiki Beach and has officially joined Hilton LXR Hotels & Resorts. The 38-floor property first opened in 2009, and hosts a plethora of 462 guest rooms and suites. It overlooks Fort DeRussy Park with views of the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head, and is close to Waikiki Beach. The location is also close to Luxury Row and is easy to walk around, making it a great alternative to the Ritz Carlton Waikiki Beach, which is just a few doors down.

It currently hosts a wellness facility; a 24-hour fitness center; an infinity pool with an expansive sun deck; five indoor and outdoor venues and event spaces; two signature restaurants offering contemporary cuisine in addition to in-room dining and in-suite chef services; a variety of beach services and amenities; and a 24-hour business center and library.

Per Hilton newsroom, There are plans to invest a ton of money into renovation. That renovation will start in early 2025 and will take probably take a while and will be performed in phases, so that the property can remain open during this time. While the property is slight aged at the moment, the transformation will encompass upgrades to public areas, including the lobby, pool, spa, fitness center, residence corridors, and landscaping, and all the restaurant concepts on property will be reimagined. Here’s the breakdown from the announcement:

“We’re thrilled to expand our portfolio in this fabulous and vibrant destination with the debut of Ka La'i Waikiki Beach. Hawaii has played an important role in Hilton’s history ever since Conrad Hilton purchased one of our most renowned hotels, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, more than 60 years ago,” said Danny Hughes, president, Americas, Hilton. “We’re delighted to build upon Conrad’s vision with our first LXR Hotels & Resorts in the state, and we look forward to offering our guests another incredible location to experience the best of Honolulu and Hawaiian culture.”

Scheduled to begin in early 2025 and planned in phases over several months, the renovation will encompass upgrades to guest rooms and suites, public areas, including lobbies, pool areas, spa, fitness center, landscaping, and interiors. In addition, the property’s signature restaurants will be reconceptualized, and the destination restaurant on the ground floor will soon be home to an internationally acclaimed restaurateur and chef.

I’m currently a big fan of this addition - for those of you not familiar with LXR, this is Hilton’s fast growing collection of independent luxury hotels. LXR properties have the benefit of Hilton’s global distribution power, plus the Hilton Honors program, all while maintaining their unique designs.I’ve been a fan of the LXR brand and its current portfolio, and this addition will make our Hilton Free Night Certificates worthwhile.

Hotel Rates | Ka La’i Waikiki Beach, LXR Resorts

I’ve taken a quick peek at the rates aright now and they’re around the $500-600 price range, as per expected. The location and its proximity to so many shopping/restaurants makes it worthwhile when the renovations are fully completed. As a Hilton Diamond Member, I’m curious how well the brand will receive its elite members, though my standards are quite low for the US region.

There is unfortunately a $40 resort fee, which is disappointing. Nevertheless, this is quite a good redemption for those with Hilton Honor points, as the current rate is 100,000 points per night. If you’re staying for 5 nights you can easily get the 5th night free on award redemptions, making it s good savings of 25%.

Assuming the renovations are completed, I’d probably speculate a few bookings early on to lock in the rate - i’m sure this property will become a popular destination for those overseas and in the US.