White Sands Hotel

Great staycation and rate for kama'aina right in Waikiki! Loved the atmosphere and pool in the center! Even being a family friendly place, the keiki were not super loud even though the pool and bar is in the center of the hotel! If you are traveling or have older guests there is no elevator access so book first floor!

Where to start. The only reason im giving 2 stars is because of the staff, specifically the bartenders Toby and Dakota. They were amazing! The pool and bar area were very nice. Not a lot of options as far as the food menu, but the drinks were great. The hot tub was nice, but was also sort of falling apart. The rooms were not as advertised online. When we got to the room it seemed like it hadn't been cleaned. The ceiling was dirty and off colored. There was hair in the shower and the bathroom was dirty in general. At random times throughout the night the main light to the room directly above the bed would turn itself on and wake us up. We would turn it off and it would come back on. Would have to do this several times before it would stay off. Told the front desk and all they said was it must be tied into another light and whenever that light comes on it turns ours on. But this would happen around 1 in the morning. A woman passed out and was unresponsive by the hot tub at one point. People told the staff and bartender and none of them did anything. The last day in we wanted to shower before heading to the airport. No hot water and none of the staff could figure out how to reset the hot water heater. The location is great with everything in walking distance, and the staff is good for the most part but I don't think I will be staying here again.

We booked a day pass at the White Sands (there was a little mix up but the staff was so amazing and kind and it got figured out) I can’t comment on the rooms but the grounds here are so fun. Such a tiki tropical vibe. There is a bar area with great drinks and food and swings all around the bar you can sit on. The pool was warm and the hot tub hot. There was a shower to rinse off outside as well. We loved our day here, so fun!

You can really feel the love that’s gone into making this hotel a modern little oasis. The pool and bar are the true gems here, creating the perfect escape from Waikiki’s city buzz. It was lovely to open the balcony at night enjoy the music without really being in the noise of it all, then starting the next day with a swim under the morning sunshine. The location is great. It's right across the international marketplace and next to a little food hall which had great eats and made it easy and accessible. The staff were wonderful — Megan and Randy especially made our stay feel extra welcoming. If you’re after a spot that blends relaxation with a touch of charm, this is the place to be.||||Although the hotel itself was a lovely experience, I think with a little more focus on housekeeping and cleanliness, this could easily be a 10/10 stay. Housekeeping only comes every other day, and even then they mostly just tidy the bed rather than thoroughly cleaning the room.

what a great piece of Honolulu history, retro feel hotel smack bang in the middle of the Waikiki . Great staff, gardens and pool side furniture wonderful, the food was amazing and the drinks top shelf. Rooms where clean and had most of the things we needed. easy access to the streets and there was some terrific entertainments whilst there. The speak easy was a real treat .

Absolutely loved our stay at White Sands! It’s incredible to find such a peaceful and welcoming place in a busy tourist area. The staff was amazing — Tony and Randy made our experience even better by helping us upgrade to a bigger room with a gorgeous view. The rooms are super cozy and have everything you need. The bar with swings and the jungle-like atmosphere are just perfect for relaxing. Highly recommend — we’ll definitely be coming back!

Absolutely Perfect Stay at White Sands Hotel! From the moment we arrived, White Sands Hotel exceeded every expectation. The staff was incredibly kind, welcoming, and impressively well-informed — they made us feel at home right away. The rooms were absolutely perfect. Impeccably clean, incredibly comfortable, and wonderfully quiet — a true oasis. The location is ideal, offering both convenience and a sense of peaceful retreat. And let’s talk about The Swing Bar — the drinks were spot-on and the appetizers were absolutely delicious. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploring. White Sands Hotel is a rare gem that nails every detail. We can’t wait to return! Highly recommended-The Cali Family 212❤️ Until Next time.

The Hotel is on a top location. The pool and the bar are really nice. Not every room has a great view. But they are lovely equipt. We had every thing we needed and expected. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Overall: 4/5 Breakdown: Hotel: 3/5 Check-in is strictly at 3 PM, but the staff was kind enough to store our bags so we could explore Waikiki and grab drinks at their pool bar while we waited. When we got to our room, the pillows were missing, it took about an hour for room service to bring them up, but the front desk was extremely apologetic about the delay. The room itself is pretty basic, but the bed was very clean and comfortable, which is honestly my top priority. Housekeeping comes every other day to make the bed and refresh towels. You're given a towel rental card to check out two towels at a time, don't lose it or the towels, or you'll be charged. Boogie board rentals are also available at no charge. Just grab and walk off. They have live music at least on Tuesdays and Thursdays until around 9 PM, and Fridays can get a little louder, but things quiet down by about 9:30-10 PM. Valet: 4/5 Valet parking is $45 per night. If you want to save, the Ala Wai is within walking distance, though I believe you need to move your car between 8-10 AM daily. Each time I requested my car, valet had it ready within five minutes, super time efficient. Bars: 5/5 The bars are easily the highlight of this place. Heyday has a great daily happy hour from 12-6 PM with solid drink and small bite options. The Green Lady Room #8 is open nightly from 8 PM-1 AM, the drinks are delicious and absinthe-lutely worth a visit. Final Thoughts: If you're looking for an affordable, basic place to stay with all the essentials and great on-site bars, this is definitely a solid choice.

I was so looking forward to staying here because I have been to the pool bar and of course the Green Lady. So I thought it was be so much fun to be able to stay. Well let's just say this staycation was NOT what I was hoping for. I still love the style, pool area, pool bar and the Green Lady is still one of my favs! On the other hand when you are unable to sleep because the room next to you is so loud the pics on the wall shake it is not cool. The front desk staff said they would ask them to quiet down, then After the 4th time they tell you well they paid to party here, it is not ok!!! I paid too. Missed out on my early morning dive adventure due to not being able to sleep. Not to mention the next day the valet could not find my car, and instead of telling us, after waiting 20mins and seeing them bring other cars, we asked where ours was she just said "oh, we can't find it" like what!!! After another 20mins they finally located my car. Insane!!! When finally talking to management she did try to help by comping night. And giving free drinks, it was nice but my weekend anniversary staycation was already ruined.

Got the bottom floor room facing pool. Nice size room. Didn't care for the bathroom. No shower light and no shampoo/conditioner/shower gel placements on wall.

Pros: Great location off the strip and really close to everything in walking distance. Cute bar with swinging chairs with great drinks and food available during happy hour. Each room has a balcony and AC blows super cold. Cons: Hotel is aged but could use regular maintenance and cleaning. The walls are thin so you can hear doors banging and daylight under the front door at night. The grotto spa didn't feel clean. We usually stay at a bigger hotel but decided to try something different. We stayed four nights and each night was not restful. I think the White Sands has good intentions but needs to be managed better. Workers are helpful but not friendly. Well maybe one valet guy did smile and was helpful. Otherwise, you don't feel the aloha and the feels are, you get what you pay for. Valet parking is $45 a day. Bar and restaurant open at 2pm. Pool is limited to 12 lounging chairs but there are tables and chairs around.

I was surprised with a Waikiki staycation by my boyfriend and the best part- we got to bring our dog Lando! I'm kinda glad that I didn't know where we were staying because if I read the harsh reviews beforehand, I think it would've soured my mood before we even got there. It's off the strip nearby the famous international market place, so there's tons to do and awesome eateries all within walking distance. The rooms are actually really cute, I love the old school Hawaii touches. You can tell that everything was recently renovated. The AC made the room very comfortable -- it wasn't until we stepped out onto our balcony when we realized how hot and humid it actually was outside. Lando was obsessed with the big comfy bed. All 3 of us all had a great night's rest. There isn't an elevator so if you have a lot of baggage, beware. It actually worked out for us, because it was easier to walk our dog up the stairs rather than wait for an elevator just to go up one floor. The best part has got to be the pool area. It's super cute and the swings at the bar is so trendy. As Kamaaina we even got a food/drink credit at the hotel bar and restaurant. I think a more harsh critic would give them a 3 star or lower review but I really enjoyed my time, the staff were amazing, and Lando had the best first hotel experience! For the price, this was a great spot for a staycation!

I didn't realize that there was a hotel right behind Marugame Udon! This hotel is in such a great location; about right in the middle of Waikiki! :D The front is well hidden; gives the vibe of a secret location. Just to let you know, parking is $45 per night :0 The room was very spacious and the tv had more channels than other hotels we've stayed at! The design of the room seemed very old tropical hotel vibes which was cool. I love how there is a small kitchen with a microwave, sink, and refrigerator! It came out very handy! :) The A/C was lovely and the little balcony was cute! The bathroom was small, but it was ok. The shaka towel holders were cute! The coffee machine was complimentary and available every morning, which was really nice. The koi pond with the Japanese bridge was nice. The bar had swings which was awesome! The itinerary paper we were greeted with was helpful but we sadly didn't get to experience some of it. The hotel workers were nice and helpful. When it was after 10pm one of our neighbors were blasting their music and one of the hotel workers were quick to let them know it's 10pm and to turn off the music. That was nice. The walls and glass door was thick enough that you could block out sounds like talking or machine sounds. But there was a party on one of the days we stayed there and the music was so loud that lasted from 12pm-9:30pm. I understand that it's nice to have a party there but we aren't really party people lol. It was fine during the day because we went out but when we came back in the afternoon/evening to eat our dinner it was...kinda difficult. XD But it was nice to experience the treats and the party vibe. Sad we didn't get to try the slushies :( We didn't know that they would serve it at all the day of the party and Sunday the machine wasn't ready when we had to check out. Hope next time we could try. Overall it is a nice hotel to stay at if you don't want a huge hotel to stay at and it's very close to everything in Waikiki!

Beware of additional "resort" fees and parking costs... this place looks great in photos, but in person, it's all a bit tired and in need of some basic maintenance. From the AC only working on full blast or not cooling at all, to the cold water tap spilling out warm water, to the ceiling fans interfering with the next room's fan... this hotel looks like it was part of a renovation reality TV show where everything was done in a hurry. The vibe in the pool bar is great and the location is actually very close to many local eateries and malls. But if you want a quiet and restful vacation, this ain't it. However, my main complaint is that, for this price, the rooms should have basic maintenance done routinely... When I brought up these concerns to the front desk, I was given another room which is about the same: poorly kept. The rooms are supposed to be designed or something, which, clearly someone took the time to choose things that make for good instagram moments... however, plumbing, electrical and exposed drywall can't be missed... With all of that said... the bedding appears clean and most of the staff was accommodating (albeit unable to help with these maintenance issues)... With parking and additional fees, it'll be another hundred a day. I was able to find some street parking and meter parking which saves a bit.

Another one of those places that you're going back and forth on with the ratings.... There's plenty of good as well as the bad. Started off with the good. We booked everything through a package with Expedia. The price was great which did help with chowing the place. And hearing from others that like it, it was a win win. Upon arrival, location was amazing. Close and central to everything. Shopping, beach is minutes away, restaurants and bar. Check in was fast and easy. The girl that helped us was friendly but seemed like she was just starting it training. Could be wrong. We had the second floor pool view room. What thought was a a queen size was a double. Room was ok, size wise it was nice. The balcony was decent overlooking the seating area wight in the middle of the pool and bar. The bar area was great, the bartenders were amazing. Also happy hour from 12-6 which was great. There's also a speak easy in the evening which was amazing. Sort of hidden but just follow the music. The whole stay, I believe housekeeping came in to tidy up and take the trash out twice. Left some towels on the bed. We made our own bed the entire stay as we thought there was no housekeeping when we checked in. So sheets wasn't changed the entire stay. And the towels that was hung on the drying rack on balcony never was moved. Pros 1. Location was amazing 2. Cute boutiques hotel right in the heart of the city and walking distance to everything. 3. Bar area with swing that opens from 12-6 for happy hour 4. Speaks easy in the evening 5. Live performances certain nights in the evening around pool and bar area. 6. Staff at the outdoor bar was excellent Cons. 1. No coffee in room but did have microwave and fridge 2. Shower was small and pressure was non existent 3. The cabinet console is a pain. It has to be aligned in order to slide from one side to other. 4. Walls are thin 5. Only 12 pool lounge 6. Parking is very limited 7. Coffee in lobby but a fee My major ick factor was the whole saving the pool lounge in the morning. There's people that come out and put a towel on it to save it. But it's basically empty for a while until they come out. Hotel should implement a grace period of no one is utilizing it, it's open. So in the case, we never spent time at the pool throughout the day. It tends to be available toward the end of the night when we did utilize it a time or two. And I think pool is not heated.

I absolutely loved this place. Yes there is no elevator so if that's a problem, it isn't go you. It was a younger crowd here but not a rowdy younger crowd. The staff and hotel itself gives you so many ideas on what to do, see and eat in the area. The room was cute and clean and they give you robes. They also have things you can rent for the day included in the resort fee. We were able to get towels, beach chairs and a boggie board on the day we checked out. Our room overlooked the pool, there are two bars on site and the hotel is walking distance to everywhere in Waikiki. Would definitely stay here again!

My wife and I recently stayed a week at the White Sands. In the middle of Waikiki, the location is great. There are a ton of shopping and dining options within easy walking distance and the beach is just a couple of blocks away. We booked a pool-view lanai room and definitely recommend this room type - the large balcony overlooking the pool was a great space. The shower was rather small, but the water was hot and the pressure good - great for rinsing salt, sand, and sunscreen off. Our issue with the room related to cleanliness/servicing. It appeared that the counters in our kitchenette and bathroom weren't cleaned very thoroughly prior to our arrival - there were several sticky stains of varying colors that attracted a lot of small sugar ants. After asking the front desk three times over two days for housekeeping to spend some extra time on these areas, it became obvious that it wasn't going to happen. We cleaned as best we could with water and hand sanitizer, but the ants kept returning throughout our stay. Rooms are cleaned/serviced every other day (which is plenty), though we got missed on one of our scheduled days and had to request service the next day. The bartender, Zack, at the pool bar was excellent. Deeply knowledgeable and personable. There pool deck hosts live music/DJs a couple of nights a week. I think it's supposed to be Tuesdays and Thursdays but there was also someone present on a Monday during our stay. The pool loungers are few in number but definitely quite comfortable if you use a towel or two to cover up the worn and somewhat unattractive cushions. A suggestion would be to disallow smoking around the pool - we noticed smoke drifting up onto our balcony and even a bit into our room once or twice. The $30 amenity fee is...a bit excessive, I think. We did take advantage of the complimentary coffee, tea, and slushies and appreciated the post card. The list of things that the amenity fee provides includes things like the live pool music and pool yoga (only offered on alternating Saturdays) so if you're not around for those offerings, you're basically just over-paying for coffee and iced tea. Might be a better deal if you use the hotel's beach equipment (chairs, boogie boards). Parking is expensive at $45/night, but the valet service is excellent. You can request your vehicle ahead of time digitally, which we did almost every day. Our rental was always right out front at the requested time. We needed a vehicle for some of the activities we had planned around the island but if you're sticking around Waikiki, ride-shares, Biki bike rentals and your own feet might be enough to let you skip a rental car. Overall, White Sands is a decent option if you get a good deal on the room rate. While it describes itself as vintage, a less charitable observer might instead say "old," or "dated," so if you're looking for new buildings with high-end finishings it might not be for you.

My partner and I stayed here for 5 days and had a great time. I will be transparent and say this was not a resort-eque experience and if you're looking for that, this hotel probably isn't for you (and low key if you're coming to Oahu just to live the resort life and not explore, I'm judging). But if you're coming to Hawaii to explore and have a nice place to sleep for the evening with cute amenities, friendly staff and ambiance of vintage Hawaii that gives you a Elvis's Blue Hawaii vibe, this is the place to go. The rooms are not luxurious but so comfortable. They are on the smaller end so keep that in mind. For my partner and I, it was perfect. Usually guests were hanging by the pool until 10-11pm at the bar but it didn't bother us, I love a bustling night life. Made the hotel feel alive.I also loved the little touches of personality in the room like the headboards, paintings, tiki motifs and touch of color. Some of the lighting felt a little dated and bathroom felt older but I didn't mind it much to be honest Parking was tight but felt reasonable since the staff took care of our car. It is pretty pricey for valet but you will find that it's pretty average for Waikiki area. We did a mix of taking the bus and renting a car so we didn't spend too much. Love the perks of free coffee in the morning, towel uses and passionfruit tea. We didn't use the pool because we were usually at the beach (again, why come to Hawaii and use the pool when you're surrounded by beach??) Overall, we enjoyed it! They did such a good job making us feel comfortable and welcomed.

I kind of want to gatekeep this hotel/bar so it doesn't get too popular. So much fun!

Terrible front desk/customer service. This may come as a surprise to White Sands management and staff, but finders keepers is a bad policy for a hospitality establishment. Should have wrote this earlier, but feel compelled to notify everyone of the staff's behavior at this hotel. I forgot an item of value in my room, which is definitely my fault, but forgotten items from guests is a normalcy and it should (I emphasize should) be a refined, established policy at a hotel. If a forgotten item of value is found, protocol should be followed by employees to return the item to the guest or at the very least, contact the guest to notify them. This is a very low bar for a hotel. I called front desk shortly after checking-out once I learned of the issue, as I live on Oahu and could easily return to the hotel to collect MY belonging. Front desk said they would call me back. Two hours passes, I do not receive a call back. I call front desk again. Front desk is irritated with me contacting them again, I suppose I interrupted their Tik Tok scrolling. How rude of me. Front desk communicates they will tell housekeeping and call me back. Why wasn't this done on my initial call? Fifteen minutes later, front desk calls me to communicate that nothing was found in the room. Two hours without being contacted about my inquiry, then only fifteen minutes later front desk is certain housekeeping found nothing in my room? This implies that the front desk had no intention of returning or even checking for my forgotten item. Perhaps the housekeepers or front desk had a use for my expensive belonging. Moreover, the hotel asked for a review and when I reiterated this situation to them, I never heard back. It is clear this behavior from employees is accepted and management only cares about your money. Like me, you should spend your hard earned cash supporting another establishment that will treat you and your belongings with respect, not only while you are a guest, but even after you have departed the premises.

These people think this is Vegas by the noise levels that come from their pool party. They give no concern for the 1000's of neighbors who live nearby. Sunday and most people try to enjoy the last day of their weekend but they don't give one sh#t! #worstneighborinwaikiii #screwyouwhitesands

The rooms were adequate but by no means elegant- just old fashion Hawaiian. I would give the room just a 3-star especially when there is no elevator to get to the upper floors. But the friendliness and ambience of the pool and bar area bring back memory of the old Hawaii I knew. The hotel is just about a block away from the Royal Hawaiian shopping center but you feel that you are miles away from the hustle . I love the nice touch of free coffee from the expresso machine from 9-11 am . The cafe ales served a great Loco Moco. You won't get luxury but you do get a taste of the real aloha experience.

Review is for a dog party we went to. We werent an actual hotel guest here. White sands is located off the beaten path on Kuhio. Its a two story tiki looking building with retro vibes to it. Apparently they did a full renovation to their hotel and it used to be a motel like place where you can rent the rooms by the hour. Its a pretty small hotel but their outdoor pool area is kinda neat. It had a tropical jungle vibe. There is a pool bar with swings that looked pretty neat. I didnt get to try their foods since all of their seats were taken. Theres also a cute koi pond and a hot tub in the back (it didnt look like the jets were on tho). They recommended us to park at the international marketplace which is a short walk to the hotel. There is only a handful of stalls there (10-12 for hotel guests) which i assume is probably not enough since they probably have more than 12 rooms at their hotel. It would probably be helpful if they had valet there, especially for a party they're throwing. They invited some dog vendors out to this party, and that was nice to hear that they didn't charge them a vendor fee to be there. We also got to take a look at the rooms. We saw one on the first floor that also connects to the pool deck. The rooms are small, with a kitchenette that included a sink, mini refrigerator and microwave. The bathrooms were re-done but the shower stall was pretty small and you'd have to step over a small barrier to get in. It's probably to keep all the water inside, but probably not great if you're traveling with a older person that may trip and injure themselves. Otherwise it was a cute event to have for the dogs. Kind of a good way to market themselves to dog owners too.

The stars are misleading because overall I did enjoy my stay. Although your emails and online booking do not align. I specifically booked a room with a record player. No record player. I kept getting emails for upgrades. Including early check in. Day of I call to confirm upgrades. Which I immediately replied to via email link. No upgrades were shown. While at the hotel I payed for a late check out. My initial check out was 11:00 a.m. When 11:00 a.m. rolled around I was locked out of my room. I go to the front lobby and ask. Sure enough records showed I did indeed have a late check out. The staff were friendly. The room was clean as opposed to other reviews. This place would easily get a 5 star if it wasn't for numerous hiccups. I would still recommend although one would need patience if these discrepancy persist.

This old style Waikiki hotel is so awesome. The rooms are fairly priced and large and cool. It's next to Kuhio Ave and the beach is a short walk thru international market place. Another cool spot to hangout is the pool bar and the food is excellent. We tried everything on the menu and we were super satisfied with all the dishes. The chef is consistently awesome for breakfast lunch and dinner. Lots of local flare and the people are so friendly and knowledgeable about the island. We met Romeo who is a manager and he was so professional and catered to all our needs while we stayed for four nights. Highly recommend White Sand in Waikiki

What a hidden gem this place is. Its design is lovely, tropical and fun. It's not a 5 star hotel. But totally deserves 5 stars for what it is. Incredible staff. Great bar menu. The pool and bar area is so adorable. We will be coming back here for sure. Dined eating the BOLT and Steak frites. Both delicious. Steak came prepared as ordered. Medium rare.

Checked in on Wednesday February 14th, 2024 to Room 331 with a dirty glass on the counter (it happens), trash from the previous guest, dirty towel on the floor and a bed that may or may not have been made/changed from the previous guest as the AC was off, balcony door was open with a slight wind having the bed looking ruffled. I personally have never encountered these issues at their South Lake Tahoe Location - and booked this property based on it being in the same hotel chain. If Waikiki wasn't already booked solid for Presidents Day Weekend, I would have gladly changed to another hotel - however, at the last minute and being 10 PM, I decided to rough it out as I was exhausted. When I woke up the next morning - the staff never asked how the stay was, etc. nor did housekeeping come at all on the 15th and did not arrive till the 16th. Otherwise, I am not going to nitpick the smaller issues - i.e. being unable to park after paying for a parking spot and leaving keys with front desk, limited seating at pool, remodeled rooms (carpet was quite worn) and must be 20 years old. After the stay I emailed the CEO of the Hotel Chain directly, as occasionally firms have a bad day and I'd like to give them a chance to correct it as their staff on property had no desire to even ask about my experience, as I've enjoyed their Lake Tahoe Properties and GM of BaseCamp from Tahoe, who acknowledged the initial email, but did not hear back from anyone about these issues roughly 2 weeks later. On some positive notes the staff at Heyday's was excellent - enjoyed the Happy Hour Cheeseburger at $8 & a cold beverage. Otherwise, the hotel is a short walk to the beach thru the mall. Frankly, I simply couldn't recommend the White Sands Hotel in Waikiki under any circumstances and would gladly pay slightly more for a more established hotel.

Was in Oahu for the Tiki in Waikiki event, staying at the White Sands for the 4th year in a row. This really is a charming little spot! Rooms Clean and current, even somewhat spacious for a hotel room. Microwave, refrigerator included. Beds are comfortable. My room had a nice patio with pool access! Food and Drink There are two bars/restaurants on the property. Hey Day is the pool bar with really good tropical drinks delicious food. The Green Lady is their speakeasy night time bar and lounge, also with delicious cocktails. It's got a cool vibe with a little lanai. Property The grounds are old school. Pool with loungers are clean and comfortable. It's a small resort but that's part of its charm, it's intimacy. Only drawback is the limited parking (they're doing valet only as a solution to this). And also, there are no elevators so if you're staying on the second or third floors you'll have to carry your luggage up. Location is close to everything including International Marketplace. Summary I took away a star the lack of amenities that many of the other hotels in the area offer like a sundries store, breakfast options, activities desk, etc. White Sands is simply an old school place that provides a decent place to those looking for a more affordable option. I'd definitely stay again.

Such a great find, thank you for the California offer rate, we are so glad we stayed here. Good food, comfy clean rooms and helpful staff.

The rooms are old and spartan on amenities. The TV barely works. Internet problems. However I decided to change this review because the place is old Waikiki. Built in the 1950's. The staff are very friendly and nice. The pool and bar is the attraction here. A bar with swings, good bar food and drinks. And of course the ambiance of old Waikiki. There's also a speakeasy which is fun. I am going to change to 3stars.

Never thought I'd be writing I'd give 0 stars if I could. Run away from this place. Pest infestation every corner of this establishment. I understand the gigantic roaches since it's an island but there's an infestation in the rooms. And this creatures not even shy to come out during the day, on your stuff, in your bed, in the closet, all over the bathroom sink and toilet. My phone had a water damage from the beach so I was inly able to take one video and now they're denying that the place is infested. Even the guy at the front desk said he wouldn't stay there. And now don't get fooled by their photos, on the contrary it looks somewhat like the photos but old and smelly with extra guests that invade your shit. Disgusting disgraceful

My 3rd time staying here and a great experience as usual. Best value and relaxing stylish retreat hidden gem in overpriced Waikiki.

This hotel is structured like an old apartment building. It's cute and quaint but definitely a little rundown and not upkept well. For examle: the vent in the bathroom was packed with thick layers of dust. The shower head is extremely low I had to bend down and backwards to wash my hair. The shower itself is so tiny that I could barely move around to clean myself. I think the hotel would benefit from a remodel, new towels, extra luggage stands, and providing slippers to guests. Most of the workers are very friendly and helpful, especially our bellman, RJ! The food was very mediocre and I would not recommend - we ordered the coconut shrimp with fried rice and a salad. The fried rice was just kind of greasy and plain. The coconut shrimp was decent but only comes with 6 small shrimps. The salad dressing tasted like oily water, literally no flavor. The drinks tasted good but I was surprised at how tiny the daquiri glass was. Same with the pina colada, they don't even fill the glass. I asked for an extra shot of the special rum they put in the pina colada but the bartenders didn't know what it was. The service not great, none of the bartenders seemed to care when a customer came to the bar, they took their sweet time and didn't even smile.

The White Sands Hotel was built back in the 1960's by local general contractor who built a few other hotels in their time. It was later purchased by a Japan Hotel Developer in the 1980's. Modern day, this property is managed by Springboard Hospitality. The hotel was renovated back in 2018. Almost 100 hotel rooms were refurbished in Vanguard fashion. The lobby area and central ground floor area has a swimming pool and a bar named HeyDay with a very retro design and feel. About HeyDay, please know that it is partnered with Fete and Chef Maii. Even the adult beverages have names that follow the Fete beverages. HeyDay has the neatest decor. The seats are swings that surround the bar. How neat is that? There is a pseudo mini water fall in the back area and the pond is filled with koi. While I've not dined there I make no mention of the food. I am looking forward to my next visit there one of these days. A few things to consider and keep in mind is It's Waikiki so parking is a problem There is a small parking fronting the hotel entrance and nominal street parking. Check their website as I believe they have entertainment and check on their menu

I don't have very many positive things to say about this place. I should have believed the reviews but chose to go by their photos (big mistake). Ants in the room, dividers on the deck are flimsy, no elevator, tiny pool, absolutely no parking unless you want to pay a daily rate... And if you don't purchase a parking pass when you book good luck getting one while you're there. Staff is lazy, our hotel was supposed to be cleaned once during our stay (stated to us at check it), and it wasn't, so we asked about it and they said since we were there so long they'd only clean if we requested it... When asking for more towels they told us we'd have to come get them ourselves, there's really no room service. The only reason they get two stars is simply because of their hot tub, bar (which got a separate-better- review) and the A/C which worked wonderfully. The speak easy, live music, bar/cabana and open pool mean that people from everywhere else flood over and there's never any space for you to enjoy any of the stuff you paid for. I would recommend coming by for live music and the bar... but stay elsewhere. It's not worth what it costs, even if you plan to go out and about and only be there to sleep/shower.

I stayed here last year, and have raved about my stay then. I gave them top marks ! I planned to ALWAYS stay here when in Honolulu. I returned for a stay last weekend, but was disappointed that this time wasn't as enjoyable. It seems there has been a change in management, and staff seems to not be on their game: kinda "phoning it in." Things were not available at posted times, hours of services/amenities were reduced, a voucher a staff person gave me had time restrictions making it difficult to use, etc. It's still a cute retro/hipster/Insta spot, but next time I'll stay someplace with less charm, for better service and amenities - like available parking. If you do book here, spend the extra money for a pool view room: they are WAY better than the ones that look onto a tenement building next door.

Cute boutique hotel! It's definitely an older building but it's remodeled nicely with a retro vibe. Since it's older, you can hear noises out in the hall pretty easily but wasn't a bother for us. There are no elevators so be sure to request main level if you need that and I would definitely recommend paying the extra for a pool facing room. The area around the hotel isn't the most beautiful. The hotel location is centrally located and off the main roadways. We could walk to anything we wanted to do in Waikiki. We walked thru the international mall and down the surf board alley by Cheesecake Factory to get to the beach. The live music at the hotel on Monday was some of the best I've ever heard! The hotel has a cute tiki bar with good happy hour deals on drinks and delicious food. The Green Lady speakeasy bar onsite is nice too. The vibe in the pool area is nice and relaxing, great bartenders, and the hot tub was nice. We enjoyed our time! It's definitely not a luxury resort feel but the low key vibe is what we were looking for.

I LOVED this hotel. Ya, I've seen other reviews- if you have bad knees, it's not for you, cuz there's no elevator. Let's get that out of the way. BUT, as a New Yorker who lives in a four story walk up, I know stairs are good for your butt. My room was so charming! And clean which is also important too lol. Yes, there's a fridge. Location was super close to marketplace, and beach. I LOVED HEYDAY, the bar/pool area. I believe my bartender was Zack (crap I should have written this sooner cuz of course I forgot his name) and he was FANTASTIC! The happy hour (12-6) deals were SO GOOD! A bottle of wine by the pool for $20? COME ON! I WILL GLADLY TAKE THE STAIRS FOR THAT! Easy luggage check for those of us on the red eye too. I'll be back.

I really like this place. it definitely is a value compared to other properties nearby. The hotel is a short walk to the beach which was critical for us. The pool and bar area were very chill and we loved the swing bar stools!!! All in all a great experience for the money and we will stay there again.

I'm a local Hawai'i resident who's done a number of staycations at this point and I have to say that this place is my all time FAVORITE. The staff are amazing. They really make their guests feel special and valued and go out of their way to be accommodating. They also ensure the small walk-up style building is safe, which I appreciate. Special thanks to David and Tafuga (aka "Dad"). We appreciate both of you. The building has been renovated with cool retro touches which make it a unique and fun stay, conjuring up Austin Powers vibes. From the furniture to the common areas to the music- it's definitely a vibe from when Waikīkī was in her prime. The lanais are pretty awesome. They're quite large and have a table and 2 chairs to sit out and enjoy. Each one feels private. There's a small coffee bar at the front desk and they make a mean drink upon request. It was waaaay better than most coffee shops in the area. The pool/ pool bar and hot tub area have to be my favorite by far. Their pool chairs have big puffy cushions on them, making for a comfortable perch to get some sun, read a book or take a nap. The hot tub is hidden in the foliage and has a volcano-esque shape with a waterfall feature. It's definitely a custom build and has lots of seats around the sides. The pool bar and restaurant (HeyDay) are a nice touch. We had some food and drinks there which were all pretty good. Zach the bartender was our favorite. I love that there's swing chairs as well as bar stools. Their Mai tai was really good! Also super mega points for being one of the few actually dog friendly places in all of Oahu. I don't say that lightly. I have asked many places about their dog policy and they all have a size limit of no more than 25-50 pounds. This place doesn't discriminate :) they even have a special promo rate that lets you waive the pet fee. Otherwise it's $35/ dog per night. The building is small so there's not a ton of other guests and the guests are friendly. Not pretentious at all. You can't be the kind of snooty person who wants the Kahala hotel but stays here. It's just different clientele. If you want fancy, and don't want to walk up stairs (they have ground floor rooms so it is ADA accessible) and demand room service, this is not the place for you. You can get your own ice, not expect turn down service (or housekeeping to come at all) and get and return your own towels. Overall, it's a great place to relax and you can't beat the central location. Although you won't want to leave!

This spot stole my dickies jacket. i left it in the closet and called multiple times and even emailed them and nothing they said they can't find it. i know for a fact they took it. so if you DO stay here, make sure you take everything with you cause they will steal it if you get left behind. Really disappointing also the shower is really small it's hard to move in there.

This is a 3-star hotel offering 5-star moments and experiences. I almost went with three stars for my review, but there's just so much potential here. I truly hope the owners and management take it to that next level. For now, the old-school, mid-century, Waikiki vibe and upscale design touches feel like a thin veneer over what used to be a rundown, old motel. I only stayed one night, but if you've traveled at all, you can easily see where this place falls short of the boutique feel they're reaching for--and advertising as (especially via social influencers). Here's a full breakdown so you know what to expect before booking. The Great: Amazing, friendly staff at the front desk. I booked the bungalow suite "just steps away from the pool deck." Sounds like it's on the first floor? Nope, we had to trek up a lot of steps to the third floor (no elevators). Luckily, the front desk staff was able to switch us to the ground floor. And they did it with a smile on their face which got things off to a great start. Walking in from the street, the walls and ceiling are clad in bamboo, the front desk area features vintage furnishings, and there's dreamy, 50s/60s Hawaiian music playing. It absolutely transports you in a most hypnotic and welcoming way. The whole place feels private little oasis amidst the busiest tourist area on the island. Just past the front desk is the pool area with plush, cushioned loungers and fringed umbrellas. There are various seating options, including comfy chairs around low tables, ideal for relaxing and sipping tropical drinks. At the bar, seating is Insta-worthy swings that are neat though lacking practicality. The landscaping is lush and gorgeous, and at night, they light torches and have string lighting to complete the vibe. Being a staycation, we brought our dog and she was welcome at the pool. Most places make you leave pets in the room at all times, so it was great to lounge around with our pooch curled up in the sun. The Good: Prices are likely the best value you'll find in the heart of Waikiki. Whether you plan to venture out or stick by the pool and relax, this is a unique spot for a great price. I would come back for another staycation or book a room for my visitors--just with tempered expectations. There are wonderful design touches inside your room. Really unique, replica MCM furniture, quartz counters, new cabinetry, fresh paint, hip styling in the bathroom, unique textiles (I almost stole the bed throw) and decent split-AC. Drinks all day and food after 5pm provided by the team from Fete, which is a fantastic, upscale restaurant that's well-known in downtown Honolulu. Areas for Improvement: The website makes it sound like there's just one bungalow suite. There are three, and they are NOT bungalows, just a suite/larger room with living area and separate bedroom. Call to request the first floor. In fact, call and make sure you get a room facing the pool. If you get one with a parking lot/street view, get that shit changed. There's a dive bar next door and other street action that you don't want to see. There is a musty smell upon entering your room and no screens on the old, rickety sliding door, so you're stuck with it. The stench might be embedded in the popcorn ceilings--these need to be scraped as they hold odor, mold, dirt and dust. I have no idea why they weren't removed during the renovation. A significant number of holes or damage to the walls and doors are hastily patched and painted over, making it feel like a low-rent apartment building. You get thin, cheap, scratchy towels reminiscent of a Motel 6. Even the rolled-up "nice" towel on our lounger at the pool had a big hole in it. Since we were on a staycation, we didn't even shower the morning of checkout. Bouncy spring beds that are awful on your back. So broken in that I kept wondering how old they were--but I was too scared to pull back the bed linens. Pillows were also cheap motel ones that provided zero support. The pool is not heated and you lose direct sun in the afternoon, making it unusable unless you're a screaming child (they really didn't seem to mind). The small hot tub will then be hit or miss for afternoon/evening soaks. Fete running food and drinks is great, but at these room rates, seems like a big miss for folks staying on a budget. Really need to expand and do lunch, too. Sucks having to leave the pool when there's sun to keep you warm. Even a poolside BBQ with hot dogs, burgers and chips would be a good filler. That about sums up my experience. As I said, I would come back and get a smaller room close to the pool. Maybe bring towels from home. And eat lunch prior to arrival. I hope they continue to improve what has been created and go the extra mile to get the place to match with what they're advertising.

I've never stayed at this hotel as a guest, but I have been here for a Carnaval pool party. Great outdoor bar, DJ set up, pool, easily accessible bathrooms. Felt bad for the overworked bartenders, but they were still making delicious drinks and trying their best to serve everyone.

My big regret and mistake was trusting this place with my personal belongings by allowing them to store them for us before check in. The bellboy insisted on taking our bags up to the room for us too. Sure enough, a valuable item was missing from my belongings and when we confronted the staff they denied. I couldn't get any rest here - the walls are so thin you can hear everyone in the halls from (2am - 4 am). Overall staying here was a really stressful experience.

Met some friends here for drinks one night. Great food, drinks, and bartender! Will definitely be returning!

This place saved our holiday! Our original place didn't work out and we were able to find this great deal on travel zoo within hours. Location is incredible! Within walking distance of all the things on Waikiki's main strip. From the outside, we were a little worried. It looks sterile and kind of dumpy. But as soon as you walk through the thatched overhead, it's almost like being transported into a tiki paradise! Employees were super hospitable and friendly! Room wasn't very big but was plenty of room for the two of us. Comfy beds, clean space, BEAUTIFUL pool and bar area. You can check out beach chairs and towels, umbrellas, powerbanks, go pros, and more FOR FREE!! So clutch for travelers who don't want to buy those things. Bar area has swings! A fun little novelty. Can't over hype the location. It took us maybe 6 minutes to walk to Dukes Restaurant and the beach. We would stay here again and again! Highly recommend!

Absolutely loved it here. Small boutiquey feel. With its own tiki bar, pool, hot tub and restaurant. Tiki bar drinks were strong and did not disappoint. Pool was relaxing and had the cutest lounges and umbrellas. Walking distance to main areas, restraunts, shops and beach. Felt very safe in the area. Would come here time and time again!

Dirty, o, actually it's filthy! It's moldy, dank, no air conditioning, no elevator. The towels smelled like a wet fish. They left us partially used shampoo etc. Horrible stay. I had to open the patio door to cool the room off at night. It's on a very busy , very loud street. There's a run down bar next door. The patrons get loud and start fighting.

I literally haven't even officially checked out yet and I am counting down the minutes. I arrived late the evening of check in and was assigned the room farthest away from the lobby. Third flood, room 301. Fine, thats fine, I booked through a third party vendor, shame on me. AND WHAT A SHAME IT WAS. If I had booked right on their site I would have saved 20% off my stay as I stayed for 5 nights. So that was a bummer. Anyway. They charge $40 a night to park on top of their "resort" fee. What does their resort fee cover? Certainly not room service. At all. I had to call THREE TIMES for clean towels. I tried getting them myself at the desk. They told me they would send someone up. They never did. Each time I asked for a towel at the pool I had to check it out like I was a criminal. They do not supply coffee in the room. They have a cute espresso machine at the desk...when it wants to work. And as I write this review, it certainly wasn't working. There were ants in the room, dust throughout and mold on the towel holders. This hotel is adorable as you walk in, I will give them that. I was attempting to get a latte this morning (first was told they were out of espresso. Then I came back and they had espresso beans but then the espresso machine was broken) and as I was waiting someone else walked up to the desk. The desk attendant abandoned my coffee to have a discussion about parking. Only after a ten minute wait did he return to the machine to tell me it was broken. The absolute WORST part of this experience was while they had a pool party on Sunday. I'm in my mid 30s. I don't mind a pool party packed full of 20/30 years old who want to have a Sunday Funday. But what I do hate is paying $40 a night to park and not have a spot. Some of the party guests were allowed to park in the hotel lot. I had to get security involved to move cars in the lot that shouldn't have been there. I missed a reservation I had because I had to wait over a half hour to secure my parking spot that I paid for. I lost money on the reservation that I missed. The hotel GM seemed to have no sympathy for how upset I was at this parking situation. What am I paying for if I don't have a reserved spot? This seems criminal. At first they just wanted me to double park someone in. ABSOLUTELY NOT. That was the GM's original idea. How unfair. How inappropriate. How inappropriate to then make me come back later to move my car. Absolutely not. I had to then back up onto a busy road to exit the lot as cars were finally moved around. I asked for one night of my parking to be paid for. They refused. I will never be staying at this resort or any of their others ever again. Lesson learned. Pay an extra $25 a night to stay at a more reputable hotel where you are not treated like a criminal and have a clean room with ample parking that you've paid for. My goodness. The entirety of their staff need a lesson in hospitality operations. Please. Do better.

This is normally our favorite hotel but for a few reasons we are only giving it four stars right now. During a recent stay we were disappointed about a few things. When we arrived well after check in time, we had to wait two hours while housekeeping got the room ready. The hot tub was broken the whole time and we had booked our staycation partly because of the hot tub (we're old and our bodies hurt). They gave no estimate as to when it would be fixed or if it would be fixed at all. The speakeasy in the hotel is cool but overpriced drinks are not our thing. It just feels like they aren't doing as well as they could. There are a few hard workers with lots of aloha working at the hotel (Mason at the bar, Izzy at the front desk, Jordan too). The rooms are very cute with all of the amenities. It is still a very cool property and the vibe is good but we might stay somewhere else next time.

I'm living right cross this hotel. They having poolside party almost every weekends. They play extremely loud music, people screaming, DJ talking loud...this is annoying!!! If you looking for an oasis in Waikiki, look other hotel!

This place is perfect if you wanted to be bombarded by their what seems to be weekly rave music events (at their pool). They do not seem to give a rat's ass for their normal guests or even their neighbors. We have walked blocks around this hotel to even still hear the blasting sound of annoying BJ's they have and the bass (surprised that the hotel's windows do not blow out). We are also surprised that the City of Honolulu even puts with it. I guess from reading from other bad reviews (from guests) that they need the income renting out to event organizers. So again this place if perfect if you are completely deaf. I am sending the hotel's information to the National Association of the Deaf to have them make the White Sands Hotel the official Hawaiian Hotel for them. Go Ravers Go!

I really liked the old school Hawaii and the food at the bar BUT those were the only things I liked.... There iare no elevators, housekeeping, or parking (they have 9 spots). The carpet in our room was disgusting, shower head placed way to low ( and I'm only 5'3"). The walls are super thin. We must of shared a vent because we could smell the sunscreen that was sprayed in the room next to us. We paid for a pool view but only if you looked through the trees you could see a portion of it. Be aware.

My wife and I are Kamaina and like to support local businesses instead of large corporate enterprises. We decided to enjoy our staycation at the White Sands Hotel based on a previous very pleasant bar/dining experience we shared at the Hey Day. MUCH to our surprise AND disappointment, the Front End Hotel staff was disappointing to say the least. To start, I chose to pay to "upgrade " for an early check in ($26.00) and a late check out ($26.00) which they charged for. They had emailed me the invoice which showed the normal 3:00 check snd 11:00 check out. "Oh,oh".... I called and spoke with a Front Desk person (name withheld), said he would take care of it.... I asked him to send a confirmation email which I received the day after showing the 3:00 check in, and the 11:09 check out...! In the meantime, I had left a voicemail toll for the Hotel Mgr to call and clarify with me... no call back. In short, in addition to these attempts to clarify there were an additional 4 more attempts by me to clarify with them. The Hey Day is EXCELLENT in bar service AND food service!!! Be forewarned...!!!

We loved this hotel! It's definitely one of my favorite on the island! We loved the unique, vintage look and our room was very clean. The front desk staff, were very nice and answered any questions, I had about my reservation. We are locals and the Kamaaina deal is exceptional! We got the basic room, tradewind room with 2 double beds. It was nice, but I think I would do the Pool View next time, not much of a view staring out into the street and some buildings but it's understandable. We got $25 food and beverage credit a day, that comes with Kamaaina! We loved the pool bar Heyday and the drinks were good and strong. The pool was a decent size and very relaxing laying out on the lounges. Overall, it was a great experience. It's off the strip a little bit, so it's more quiet and it's a smaller hotel, so less noise and cluster. It's a minute from Kuhio street, so there's a lot of restaurants within walking distance and convenient stores. Mahalo White Sands staff!

I cannot say enough good things about our stay here. After first just visiting Heyday (which is also amazing) last year, we got to stay a few nights this year for my birthday. The relaxed, retro vibes are amazing, the room was so comfy. Heyday has amazing drinks and food. The addition of the speakeasy is fantastic. The best part about our stay here was the staff. Every single person, from front desk to housekeeping to the bar and everywhere in between was so kind and incredible. This is a great centrally located hotel if you like to be a little more relaxed and quiet. Beach is an easy 5 minute walk away. Cannot wait to come back and stay again!