Hostelling International - Honolulu

I did my original review of this hostel in March 2016, after a once in a lifetime visit, so I'm not sure why I have been asked to review it again. The hostel was a quiet house and good place to stay with its own washing machine, drier and self catering kitchen. Hostel had a 2 week maximum stay to stop university students using it as a base for their studies, because it was close to the university. I travelled to Honolulu to visit Pearl Harbour, which was a very good tour. I went to the harbour by local bus and then toured the island by bus the day after which meant going on 2 buses and costing me next to nothing. I ate food bought at the Down to Earth supermarket/store on S King Street and cooked it at the hostel. I had a good stay, the staff were very helpful and I enjoyed my tour🙂

Yes, this hostel is still open and it is as charming as ever. I just spent two weeks there. It is not near the beach but close to bus stops which will take you anywhere on the island. Currently it is not on any booking sites, so you have to contact them directly. You can phone or text them at +1 808-483-0329.

thank you so much to the wonderful family that runs this lovely hostel! if you want to support native hawaiians and a family-owned (multiple generations) business this is a great place to do that. the family are gracious hosts and keep the hostel very clean. they are locals who can give you good advice on where to go and what to do. my mother and i were stranded after a bad air bnb experience and discovered this hostel, which was an excellent alternative and we are so glad we found it. we come to oahu to visit family regularly and will definitely be coming back here. i enjoyed the peaceful vibe of the courtyard and how pleasant the neighborhood was. it’s also close to a nijiya market, as well as other shops, which was very convenient. if you rent a car there is easy and free parking, as well as free street parking on a quiet and safe street. you’re not far from the highway and can easily get whatever direction you want to go on the island. highly recommend! this is a special gem and the kind of family run business that is getting harder to find.

First the positives: the hostel is located in a perfect location and you can get anywhere on the island (with a car) from there. I also liked that there were a few parking spaces. Now on the opposite side there is no AC, so be prepared. I would compare my stay as staying with a strict aunt who is always watching you and wants to lecture you. One of the sisters approached me the second day and said that her husband took a long time cleaning the bathroom shower because there were pink hair all over the shower. She did so because my hair is dyed red. She began asking me when exactly did I dye my hair etc. Note, after using the showers I always checked to make sure I left it clean, if there were tons of red hair everywhere I would have cleaned it up. Plus my hair is always tied up and I don’t wash my hair at other people’s places. If there were hair it would have been a few small stray strands. A few days later I received a text from one of the sisters telling me that I needed to call her when I got back to the hostel. When I got back that evening it was the second sister and she said that Sue wanted to talk to everyone because there was sand in the woman’s dorm area and her husband didn’t like how long it took him to sweep it. She even went as far as writing this aggressive message and posting it up. I am someone who has stayed at hostels and air BnBs before ( I travel quite a lot). The passive aggressive behavior I experienced from Sue was not ok. I will not choose this place again. I also clean air bnb houses, if I complained half as much about cleaning, I would have been fired a long time ago.

This is a hostel for folks who like to rest early and up early. Though the building is old with characters, it is probably the cleanest hostel I've been to, thanks to the diligent family who runs the place for generations and also to the rules they put in. I felt safe and at home during my stay here. You will enjoy this place if you are the kind of respectful traveler who likes to have a peek to local's everyday life. There's bunch of stray cats around this property, which is a personal plus for me.

Well-maintained hostel located in a quiet neighborhood. An economical option. May not be able to sleep well given its nature. The place’s unrelated to the University. Lovely stray cats was a plus. The host helped with check-in and recommended great lookout places to visit. However, attitude was a bit rough and somewhat condescending when meeting in person. Attitude with other guests were better. I’m a single woman from China. Unsure what the differential treatment was about lol.

I really loved my time here! I stayed in total for longer than a week- I would absolutely stay longer and can't wait to come back! The hostel is close to UH Manoa campus and this was perfect for me- it was only 10 minute walk to the University Library. It is a very quick bus ride (15-20 mins) to downtown Waikiki and very quick walk to the bus stops (3-5 mins). I could get to almost every part of the island from here by bus. It is very clean and the beds were comfortable and there are small details around the hostel that really make you feel at 'home'. I was a solo female traveller and felt absolutely safe and secure here. The sisters have lots of helpful recomendations from places to see or eat etc. I met so many intersting people and enjoyed socializing, but there was also several places to enjoy personal time and I loved all the plants around. Definitely a favorite place to stay on the island :)

READ BEFORE YOU BOOK this hostel is a quiet, limited social hostel. It is tightly managed and designed to be a place for quiet, peaceful coliving. As I am use to other Hostel International locations and was seeking social experiences and to meet others, this hostel wasn't my favorite in Honolulu. But it does have some redeeming traits. Some things that I was not bit in were the limited access to the kitchen (closes at 11p), no alcoholic beverages allowed here (including beer), and no talking in the one common area which is the patio after 11p. The hostel is located in a residential area by the university so you might hear college students partying some nights, but the managers of the location are very strict about the rules and limited noise and mess as well. They are interesting people which I like. Overall, I liked that the hostel was very clean and by time for bed (well before that time even) it was quiet for sleep, but it does severely lack a social environment/component because of all the rules - which is the best part about staying at a hostel. I recommend a stay closer to Waikiki if looking for social life. And stay here if you just want a bit more solitude and peace. Not to say you can't spark up a conversation and make a new friend, but by 11pm you'll have to go to the street to have a conversation with them - literally. Note: the check in/out process is strict and a but lengthy as well so be prepared if you have just been traveling for 6,8,12+ hours. Also the place can be a bit hard to find as it is tucked behind another building so walk the street, follow Google Maps, and look for the triangle symbol.

It's clean and quiet 2 points. The woman who manages the place complains about everything and she's has NO ALOHA... very disorganized check in process. The kitchen rules made us just not go in we were afraid of getting yelled at for even having tea. She reiterated how her husband cleans the toilets every morning, when we paid she broke down where the money goes to state etc. like I care I am not your business partner. She did bed checks like a military agent as if we were hiding something or someone in room very disruptive first thing 8am every morning. Her name was Sue I think. We left...never again- We stay at hostels all over the world I was shocked how there was no Hawaiian aloha - we went to Polynesian hostel way more welcoming.

My beloved place to chill while visiting Hawaii. I knew the owners family for 25 years since I was a graduate student at UH at Manoa and they are honest, hardworking and genuinely friendly. The hostel is always clean and disciplined so that the place remained quiet throughout the day and night.

Great clean place! The staff is very friendly. My only negative is that the staff is so friendly that there are transients who prey upon the generosity of the staff and end up out staying their allotted time which turns into spying upon short-term guests and steal their items when they are not there. It sucks, because when you arrive to see these people, and all they have is just a duffle bag of their belongings--including out dated phones and laptops--you know your belongings won't be safe. Thus, you end up not resting because you have to constantly watch your things around them. They all have great smiles and a story to tell, but you know the leaching of food and other things will soon start as it did for me. Other than my earbuds being acquired by someone, the space is clean and staff is nice.

DOES NOT HAVE PARKING!! They may say they do but the city of Honolulu provides the parking which means there basically isn't any spaces. We had to park ten minutes away from the hostel itself. There is not air conditioning and not even any fans to keep it cool. I stayed in the male room where there's 10 beds which is fine but there's one restroom with a toilet so multiple people cannot use it at once. There are maybe two outlets in the room with extension cords so charging your items while you're not there can be worrisome, however everyone was generally trustworthy and nice so we had no issues. There are lockers however they are not big enough to fit a roller suitcase. I will say that the kitchen is a nice feature where you can cook what ever you want and the staff are friendly. If you don't have a car there are bus stops near by.

Comfortable place to stay but location is far from Waikiki and requires bus changes to get to most touristy places. Airport shuttle is $34 to here vs $14 to Waikiki hostels which is a nights lodging... I learned later that there is a taxi company with $25 fix rate to airport available. They have 3 parking spaces total which I don't know if you can reserve. Rooms and were nice and bathroom clean. Free WiFi was a bit shakey when I was there.

I would give this place 0 stars if I could. The facilities are okay but both the staff that checked me in, in the evening and the one here in the morning were EXTREMELY rude. The gentleman checking me in would not allow me to use the restroom until I paid and checked in which seems ridiculous and I almost peed me pants! They also told me over the phone that they "recommend" that I check in by 10pm when their website states that there is someone to check people in until midnight. In the morning, i woke up extremely thirsty and had to wait until 7am for the kitchen to open, when I asked the lady in the office what time it would be open, she gave me the biggest attitude and said "I will open in 2-3 minutes." It was 6:59am, I am no stickler with time but the way she replied to me was plain rude, unprofessional and unnecessary. Don't stay here unless you like to be treated like poop.

Hostelling International Honolulu is a lovely, quiet, family-run hostel that makes you feel right at home when you stay. The rooms are the cleanest I have ever stayed in at a hostel! The beds all have fresh sheets made daily and every guest is given a clean towel, pillow case, and top sheet at check in. The staff are thorough and welcoming and truly show every guest a true Aloha Spirit. The hostel itself is in a convenient location in a quiet, safe neighborhood and has all of the amenities you would need including a full kitchen, pad-locked entry to dorms, individual lockers, washing, a lovely garden, and a recreation room with a TV and board games free for guests to use. Overall, I had a wonderful stay and I do hope to visit again! Thank you for making this a wonderful experience :) Mahalo!

I only go to hostels because of the low cost, and usually never have any issues with them but this one makes me hesitate on staying in one. First off, don't expect parking if you are getting a rental car. I was lucky enough to get a spot right next to the place but since the hostel is right next to the University of Hawaii, you would think they would have some parking available. Secondly, check in times is ridiculous especially for a chain hostel. You'd think they would have the same times but nope. Third, the rooms have a lock instead of a key like others, but I've had issues with my "code" since I arrived and it's just been a pain. Most of the time the door has been unlocked but when it comes to this issue it has just been pissing me off. So I don't recommend the place unless your willing to deal with the same issues I had.

It's a clean, comfortable, inviting place to stay. The rooms are clean and bright. The living room has television, books, and magazines and is a good place to chat with other travelers. It's easy to get to by bus. I'd lost my wallet when I got to Hawai'i and they were so helpful and patient in my attempts to get it back.

I recently stayed here for my second time, and was very disappointed. Pros: The facilities are clean, the location is ideal (just outside of the city, within easy walking distance of the buses), and the atmosphere is much quieter and tamer than most hostels, and the price is reasonable for Oahu. Cons: The staff was very rude and not at all hospitable. Normally this isn't a priority for me, which is why I came back a second time even after feeling unwelcome the first time. However, I feel something needs to be said. I stayed here with a friend-- when we reached the office to check him in, we asked if there were any beds available for me to stay too (I didn't have a reservation, as we had cancelled it a couple weeks prior). We were told both reservations had been cancelled and my friend couldn't stay, and that there were no beds available for me, either. We were told to try making a reservation online (?) instead. Fast-forward 15 minutes of conversation that was WAY more confusing and hostile than it should have been, and we were each given a room. The whole time we had the impression that the manager just wanted to leave to go run an errand, and couldn't be bothered with us (even though we were there during open office hours). Another man was consistently watching us suspiciously as if we were criminals; nobody was helpful whenever we had a question, instead they seemed annoyed and usually referred us to another employee who wasn't currently there; my friend was yelled at for cleaning a load of laundry (with the machines we were told we could use), because the manager wanted to wash the hostel's sheets; their wifi wasn't working, and when I asked for help with connecting, the manager just said "it should work" and shrugged at me apathetically. We were very unimpressed; this is the first time I felt motivated enough to leave a Yelp review.

I actually lived in the front house for a year when I first arrived in Honolulu. The Akau family is great and they kept the place in order. I met tons of travelers who came to stay up near the University. It's away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki on nondescript street across from the University of Hawai`i, but it was home to me and a lot of people enjoy the area. You're not far away from hopping on a bus to the beach or elsewhere and it was a cheap place to stay in a pricey city to visit. Feel the aloha and try something different when you pass through.

Cheap for Hawaii , nice, right in front of campus (great for students looking for housing before school starts) close to the mountains. Very quiet compared to all the hostels in Waikiki and 45 min walk from the beach. 2 stars because you can't stay more than 7 nights even if the hostel and the rooms are empty. They are also not very nice about it and will kick you out . Me and my roommate were looking for a house (we just moved to Hawaii) and they overheard us talking about wanting our house and they were super rude saying why we stayed there if we hated so much and that we were very disrespectful (we seriously loved the hostel and atmosphere). We asked to stay 1-2 nights cuz we didn't have a house yet and they wouldn't let us (but they let someone else) just cuz they didn't like us. And they called another one of my friend racist and kicked him out too. Not nice people for being in Hawaii, if you want nicer go to the one in Waikiki (I stayed there 3 years ago... Sooooo nice and helpful) By the way, location is still great and I live very close now. It's just people were too rude, uptight and not friendly as hawaiian people are !

It's an okay hostel. The wifi is a bit weak and doesn't work well in the common area. It's usually quite quiet. There are lockers in the dorms. I'm giving it 2 stars because there are some serious customer service problems here. I heard the older gentleman referred to in other reviews boast about not being a "people person" and asking why he had to be pleasant to guests. He was very rude to me when I checked out. I wouldn't choose to come back here.

If you're looking for a cheap place to stay in Hawaii, then this is the place to go. I spent, for 7 days with membership, $176!!!! This place is really quiet, and clean, but it gets unbearably hot in the rooms during the day and night, I'd recommend bringing a small personal fan with you, or buy one in town. The communal kitchen is nice, and the common dining area is situated outside underneath the overhang. It is a short walk downhill to the bus stop on Metcalf St., and the nearest grocery store is a 25-30 minute walk, which happens to be a Safeway. I would totally recommend this place for first-time hostellers!

I stay here every year when I am going through Honolulu. I would not stay anywhere else. Everything other posts say is accurate, in terms of the place being spotless, quiet, small, and available. I have never had any problems with anyone at the desk. I value the quiet, do not want a party atmosphere (go to Waikiki if you want that), and I find that travelers sleep on odd schedules. Some are coming from the mainland, while others are coming from Asia, etc. I take the Bus from the airport whenever I can. You have to be able to carry your bag on our lap in order to take the Bus, but if you can do that, you can get almost to the door of the hostel. I wish a larger grocery store was close by. There are stores to shop at about a ten minute walk away, so maybe I am just being picky!

I would have to say this is the BEST Hostel I have been at. My family have visited many hostels all over the world but Honolulu Hostel in Manoa Valley is by far number 1. The Manager Sue and Aki treat you like family and always are so helpful and kind. Every visit to Hawaii we stay at this hostel and the owner is always making improvements to the grounds, the rooms and facility is always clean and welcoming. I would highly recommend this hostel if you don't want the crazy experience of Waikiki.

This hostel was very clean and quiet and the staff was extremely helpful. There weren't many people staying when I was here so I can't vouch for the quality of the patrons. I had the whole women's dormitory to myself the first night which was nice. It's not located in downtown Honolulu as you might think but is actually out by the university which isn't really close to anything so only stay here if you have other forms of transportation. The bus is accessible but rarely comes when it's supposed to. They have an outdoor courtyard which is a great place to sit and eat breakfast in the morning.

I've just finished a two night stay and could not be more delighted to have chosen this hostel. Only paid $25.40 (that's including my tip) for Lyft to pick me up from the airport and get me to 2323A Seaview Avenue. The staff I met (Sue and Heather) carried an amiable disposition and were helpful with questions about the area. (((NOTE: Having noticed some reviews saying that the staff is "rude" gives me the impression that these folk were either A. Used to being waited on hand-and-foot or B. Have never visited the islands. // So understand, the locals around here are sassy. They are lovable and want only the best for you, but on the surface, they can be cocky and sassy. Just play along, dish it back at them, and they will adore you. Don't be a pushover.))) The facilities are quite humble and modest, and I adored that about my stay. My fellow guests were agreeable and respectful of the shared spaces (the kitchen, bathrooms, and TV room). I stayed in the shared dorm room which held 5 bunk beds, 10 guest max. The bathroom was well stocked on toilet paper and the shower provided hot water, and if it is ever occupied there is another bathroom with multiple stalls available just outside near the courtyard. The dorm provides ample shelf space as well as lockers (locks NOT included). I did not need to use, but a washer and dryer are available for use for a low fee. The location was ideal for me as it was centered in a more local/residential area, away from the busy touristy areas and Waikiki, but still close enough to grab a BIKI bike rental or even walk (if you enjoy 45min - 1hour long walks / which I do). Bus stops and BIKI bike rentals (BIKI bikes are provided by the city which you pay as you go - highly recommend) are all within convenient walking distance. About one kilometer away are grocery store and restaurant food options. I will definitely keep this hostel on my list to visit again and recommend to anyone taking a trip to Honolulu.

I've stayed here twice when in Honolulu. Unlike Waikiki, this location is quiet. There were no buses, trash trucks, tourists, or partiers making noise which made sleeping so much easier. The staff is super-friendly, the rooms are clean, and the price can't be beat. On the downside, make sure you print your reservation if you make it online. They couldn't find mine so I had to print it out at my fiancée's school.