You know how Hawaii hotels tend to be cramped and dated? Well, one of the worst mainstream brand properties is finally getting the attention it needs! Specifically, the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is finally being redeveloped!
Lately, I’ve been wondering which Marriott property in Waikiki is the worst of the bunch. And it’s not an easy question to answer since many of Marriott’s Waikiki properties are in need of updating. This even includes the higher end properties like the Westin Moana Surfrider and Royal Hawaiian. But, in my opinion, the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and the Courtyard have to be the two worst offenders.
The Long Road to Redevelopment
Recently, I stayed at the Courtyard again, I guess to remind myself why I stopped staying there in the first place. But more on that later. The Sheraton PK, though, is a full-service hotel that charges a resort fee. Yet it has comically small rooms, dated decor, and poor amenities. How’s the bed, water temperature, water pressure, etc. you ask? No idea. I’ve could never stay here because I can’t fathom paying the rates they charge, especially when including all taxes and fees. But, this may all change in the near future.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the Sheraton PK’s owners, Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, have been planning a redevelopment since 2006. Their last attempt was called off in 2014 when Kyo-ya’s parent company regained complete control of the company from Cerberus Capital. And unlike that last redevelopment attempt, the new one won’t contain any condo units, though it’ll be much more comprehensive.
In fact, the new redevelopment project calls for the complete demolition of all existing buildings on the 4.1-acre lot. This includes all hotel towers, the parking garage, and retail buildings.
The re-imagined Sheraton PK will feature a 33-story tower with 1,009 rooms. Attached to that tower will be a six-story podium with retail, food and beverage space, meeting facilities, and a recreation deck. And man, the deck is going to be a BIG upgrade to existing amenities, featuring an infinity edge pool, lazy river, gym, and pool bar. Other amenities include a new 695-spot parking structure and a courtyard with water features, a garden, and a legacy library. That library will pay homage to the history of the land on which the hotel sits, which was once the home of its namesake Princess.
Project Timing
Construction may begin sometime in 2022, with a target completion date sometime in 2025. So, unfortunately, the Sheraton KP in its current form isn’t going anywhere soon. But I can’t wait to see more renderings and the finished resort.
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is Finally Being Redeveloped, Final Thoughts
Again, I think it’s great that Kyo-ya is finally giving the Sheraton PK the attention it needs. The redevelopment of the 64-year-old hotel can’t come soon enough, in my opinion. After all, the current hotel is a poor representation of the Sheraton brand, while also being an embarrassment to the Princess the property gets its name from.
Princess Kaiulani was a Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was second in line during the reign of King David Kalakaua, following his consort, Queen Lili’uokalani. Princess Kaiulani was an enigmatic public figure and staunch advocate for the Hawaiian people in the years following the overthrow.
But, the project does bring up a couple of questions. First and foremost is, what will Marriott and Kyo-ya do with the Princess Kaiulani’s employees during the redevelopment. Second, where the heck are the Moana Surfrider’s guests going to park during the redevelopment?
You see, the Moana Surfrider doesn’t have its own parking structure. So self-parking and valet parking is all at the Sheraton PK. Crowding at the structure is an ongoing issue today, just as it is at the structure the Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian Hotel share too.
I think you’re being a bit tough on Marriott’s Waikiki offerings. Let’s look at the competition:
Hilton: Basically a Disney-esque compound far away from everything else. Some budget offerings in a better location too.
IHG: A budget hotel in an even worse location that HHV.
Hyatt: Regency is a decent hotel in a decent spot, usually at a decent price, but also a bit dated. Centric is comparable to Marriott’s Laylow.
It’s arguable if Marriott or Hyatt has the better offerings, but Marriott is second-place at worst and a strong first-place contender.
When taking location into account, I’d agree with your assessment. However, when looking at solely at room size, tech, comfort, etc. Marriott is pretty bad. The Waikiki Marriott and CY Waikiki both allow astonishing amounts of street noise into the rooms, and the facilities themselves are in need of updating. My recent stay at the CY, in fact, was plagued with fire alarm issues and a lack of hot water. The Sheratons have tiny rooms and outdated tech, while the Westin and the Royal don’t fare much better. In fact, a friend of mine recently told me that while he enjoyed the Westin Moana Surfrider on his business trip, he wouldn’t stay there with his wife. The bed takes up a majority of the room, while the bathroom is hilariously small.