Halekulani Okinawa

We just spent 4 days at Halekulani Okinawa and I wish I would have read some the reviews closer as I see a lot the cons I have written are mentioned by others. ||Pros: |- Beautiful rooms, we stayed in the sunset wing and had beautiful views of the ocean. Room was spacious, bright and well maintained |- The staff couldn’t be any warmer and welcoming |- The sunset bar made amazing cocktails, we went nightly before dinner and really enjoyed ourselves |- the hotel grounds are beautiful and the sea views are incredible |- beautiful spa with excellent facilities ||Cons: |- long wait times with a QR code for breakfast. We submitted a request for breakfast one morning at 8:30am and only got our table at 9:50am when we’re told it would be a 45 min wait originally. |- very big hotel meaning lots of people trying to get spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner reservations. This led to a significant amount of stress to our days at the hotel. This was our last stop to our holiday around Japan and we were looking forward to some quiet days where we didn’t have to plan as much. The stress and difficulty associated with long wait times and unavailable restaurants reservations did not feel very 5* |- we were not happy they charged for non motorized sports (kayaks, paddle boards) upward of $80-250 usd to use for an hour. In all other seaside resorts we have stayed at in Asia (Thailand, Vietnam.. ), we never had this. With the price they charge per night, this should have been included. |- there was limited amount of shade at the sunset pool after 3pm due to the angle of the sun and when we tried to move our chairs a foot forward to access more shade from the umbrella we were told this was not possible because the chairs all had to remained aligned. There were some available cabanas with proper shade but we were told to use those we would have to pay 10,000 yen. We found this all a little ridiculous considering what they were charging a night.

During my trips to Okinawa, I’ve stayed at many different places, but this hotel is honestly on a whole different level. The hospitality here makes you feel completely at home, yet still gives you that special luxury vibe. From the moment you check in, the staff welcome you with genuine warmth, and it’s those little details that really make the experience unforgettable. I loved it so much that I’ve already gone back several times, and each stay feels unique in its own way. The rooms are beautiful, the food is incredible, and the whole atmosphere just makes you want to stay longer. For me, this is without a doubt the No.1 hotel in Okinawa.

What more to say, this is the best resort hotel we have stayed in Japan. The room was spacious and we love all the amenities. The service was absolutely top notch, attentive service everywhere you go without being too intrusive. Everyone were cheerful and looked like they wanted to be there. Whenever you're in a pool or on the beach, someone will come and great you, they will help to prep the beach chairs and hand you fresh towels and ice cold water. There are also free rentals of life jackets etc on the beach. The coconut birthday cake we reserved in advance was really tasty. We tried all the breakfast restaurant and the steak house for dinner, but I do think the food maybe the weaker side in the overall experience, they were good enough but nothing wowed us. The whole guest experience from check-in to check-out was well thought out and we enjoyed every minute we stayed there. Will definitely come back!

Beautiful sunset wing room (recommended if you want quiet and more privacy) with amazing amenities and overall friendly service. The only downsides are that some of the pools operated at specific times, which I feel for this price point (our 3 night stay cost almost $4000 US) the pools should be open all the time. Also there are rules about bringing outside food and drink at other pools even if you purchased them at the resort. ||The other downside was the cost of the special activities like snorkeling and parasailing, which if you booked them outside the resort would cost ($30) but it cost us $100 to $200 per person. On top of that I was given a wetsuit to wear that was clearly old and in disrepair (it had holes) and when I complained to the operator, she said it would be fine and still keep me from getting stung by jelly fish. What was upsetting was that every group member on our snorkel tour was given very nice wetsuits to wear. This was completely off putting and unacceptable for having paid so much, but since we were on a tight schedule I think she didn’t want our tour to be delayed because I wanted to wear a better wetsuit (which would have only taken me a minute to change). It was also my niece’s birthday and she was on the tour so I didn’t want to sour the experience for her sake. ||I made another review about the restaurant Shiroux which is in the resort as well if you wish to see my review of that experience. Great food and ambience but they do need to provide top level high end service for a $200 per person dinner with a friendlier waitstaff that actually smiled and made you feel welcomed.

It was my second stay since I stayed there once three years ago during Christmas. This time, although it was very hot even in June, as soon as I entered the hotel and was waiting to check in, I was served a nicely chilled welcome drink. The subtly sweet peach flavor was very delicious. The view from the balcony and the sunset from the Sunset Wing were absolutely stunning. The breakfast buffet, in particular, was so delicious that I wanted to eat it again and again. Also, when I mentioned that my birthday was coming up, they gave me a gift. The attentive service made the whole experience very pleasant.If you haven’t been there yet, I definitely recommend visiting at least once!

While we usually prefer small, more intimate, and more luxurious accommodations when traveling as a couple, this time we brought four generations worth of relatives in tow, including young children. Needing a upscale resort that can simultaneously provide comfort to a 90-year-old while keeping youngsters from getting bored, we felt that the Halekulani would be able to manage this delicate balancing act. In almost all cases, it did.||It's a 360-room property that's relatively new (opened in 2019.) While it's already showing slight signs of age, it's still kept in pretty good condition. The overall design of the building and the interiors is reminiscent of the original property in Honolulu, even down to the rooms (for better and for worse, which I'll get to in a minute.)||Since it was a 3-night sojourn, it was nice that Halekulani had numerous dining options, as well as kids meals even in gourmet restaurants like French-oriented Siroux as well as Aomi, a high-end kaiseki establishment. We sampled a variety of cuisine, as well as buffets and non-buffets for breakfast - they were all high quality, and service was extremely gracious and caring for both the toddlers in our group as well as the elderly.||For my wife and her mother, I booked them the 153m² Ocean Terrace Suite while I put the rest of the families in a variety of different suites. The common theme: great views of the ocean, but the wooden Venetian blinds were super old school and did a poor job of keeping out the light during times when people wanted to take a midday nap. Overall, everyone enjoyed their rooms and the views, so no complaints here.||As is the case with the vast majority of Japanese hotels, service was professional, prompt and caring. While some may call it robotic, they consistently manage even the most complicated requests with aplomb. And in the case of Halekulani, given that it's a tropical island resort, the interactions felt more engaging and warm compared to a high end hotel in Tokyo. Everyone from the check-in staff to the pool staff to (especially) the kids club employees were absolutely awesome. ||Concierge was similarly on the ball. We booked several excursions through Halekulani, but with the inclement weather rearing its ugly head on multiple occasions, we were forced to pivot our activities on a dime. Thanks to the activities team, they were quick to inform us if something was bound to be cancelled (like our snorkeling outing), and gave us alternate options that would suit the interests of our large group. Hats off to them for ensuring we'd make the most of our time, in spite of adverse weather conditions.||Would we stay here as a couple? Not a chance - it's not our taste. But for people with families, Halekulani Okinawa is a very solid choice.

While the property itself is pretty, my experience was overwhelmingly negative due to the concierge service…easily the worst I’ve encountered at any hotel. They repeatedly failed to follow through on requests, requiring me to constantly check in to ensure anything was being handled. In multiple cases, they confirmed bookings that were never actually made, forcing me to use outside services to plan my trip. The beach closes far too early, well before sunset, limiting one of the main amenities you’re paying for. The location is also inconvenient, being far from the better restaurants in Okinawa. Unless you plan to remain on property and participate only in the very limited, affiliate-linked activities they offer, there is little value here. Service is nowhere near the level expected of a true luxury hotel, and for the price, it is simply not worth it. I would not return.

We had the most amazing experience from the moment we walked in the door for our 4 night stay to the moment we departed. The staff, the rooms and all of the facilities were absolutely on point. Nothing was ever a problem for the staff. They went beyond expectations plus a whole lot more. We stayed in an Ocean Front King Room with Club Lounge access in the Sunset Wing. Highly recommend! 4 nights was just perfect, not too short and not too long.

There were six of us, all couples, booked a 2 week trip to Japan together. This hotel looked to have beautiful pools and views. Here are a couple of things I wish I had known: The average markup for a food or beverage item is 400-600%!. To purchase this cheap $13.99 bottle of wine was $142.17! A diet Coke that is made in a machine (not individually bottled) costs less than .30 cents to make per 6 oz glass, they charge $7!, refills are an additional $7.!! We were at the Four Seasons in Tokyo a couple of days before and we were able to purchase $25 glasses of wine that are actually from really nice bottles usually retailing at $150/bottle. We don't lack the means to be extravagant, we just have the emotional intelligence to understand when we are being played. The 400-600% mark up is stupid. Stay in a hotel that respects their guests' worldliness and basic understanding of math.

I want to give it a perfect five. If you have never been to Halekulani in Oahu, this is a way to experience the same spirit as Halekulani in Okinawa, Japan. If you know Halekulani Oahu, it is a piece of Heaven in Japan. So enjoy comparing the difference. So, is there a difference compared to Halekulani in Waiki? Yes. 1. Yes, there is a reflection of Japanese-style service combined with the original Halekulani-style service. A bit more hands-on and courteous in every aspect. 2. The robe and linen are a bit more comfortable. 3. When you smile, the staff will say Halekulani. 4. It is a mega resort, larger than Waikiki. 5. Food has more diversity. But both Halekulani food services are excellent. So, here is my request. 1. Poolside service near the Sunset Side needs more expansion. Drink, snack, and bar menu required. Water and Champaign are not good enough. 2. Morning coffee service or coffee service needed in the morning for the Sunset Side. 3. Is there more way to reflect the Okinawa tradition to the Halekulani service? Thanks again, I enjoyed the visit.

After contributing over 700 reviews to TripAdvisor I don't do this very often, but it is my pleasure to give the Halekulani Okinawa resort a perfect rating. This was my first visit and I am already looking forward to visiting again in the future. From the moment my family and I arrived, we quickly realized that this is an exceptional property. From the gate guard that greeted us when approaching the property to the entire superb staff that work there, this resort far exceeded my expectations. The winding driveway that leads to the valet parking entrance is superbly manicured and very well maintained. Upon entry to the well appointed lobby we were quickly greeted with an expansive view of the ocean and the beautiful greenery that surrounds the property. The open air lobby offers several intimate seating areas where a staff member will greet you and get you checked into your room. During our check in process we were given cold and delicious smoothie drinks along with a bottle of hand sanitizer. Our temperatures were also checked upon arrival to the lobby and this property is doing an excellent job concerning COVID-19 safety precaution protocol. After checking in you will be escorted to your room and immediately I felt relaxed and at ease while talking to the staff member that accompanied us to the room. I really want to acknowledge and say a special thank you to Miki for the superb customer service that she provided from the moment we arrived. She has perfected the ability to be warm and friendly while maintaining the most professional appearance and knowledge of the resort. She is literally one of the best hospitality staff members that I have ever met! She is an excellent representative of the Halekulani Okinawa and is fantastic at her job. Some of the examples of the superb customer service that I received is: *a spotless guest room with a large balcony overlooking the beautiful blue and green hues of the ocean from room 0756. *a welcome amenity that included a bottle of Okinawa Sake and specially made rice crackers that are exclusive to Halekulani Okinawa. *turn down service that included pajamas for each member of my family along with slippers, a beach coverup, and beach sandals adorned with the famous Halekulani orchid. *while walking on the beach a staff member brought over ice cold bottles of water and even offered a bag for us to place seashells inside. He was very friendly and polite but sadly I didn't see his name tag. (He had dark hair with light highlights and works at the beach where the reclining chairs are located.) * we chose to order room service for every meal and it was not only presented beautifully but the flavors were really something special and very enjoyable. There is an iPad in each room that offers online room service ordering as well as an option to request housekeeping, hotel amenities, and it can also control the temperature of the room. Very convenient! This was literally one of the most enjoyable hotel stays that we have ever experienced and we are looking forward to visiting again soon. And in case the general manager Jun happens to see this review.... You have really gathered a special group of people to work at this beautiful resort and as we all know when we're traveling, the people around you always make the difference!