HotelChatter - Stories about The Kahala Hotel & Resort

Honolulu: Kahala Resort Goes Pet-Friendly; Will the New Carpets Love Poochie?

ASalkever — 2008-04-22T11:45:02-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/kahala_tank.jpg" class="imgborder">[Ed. Note: Alex Salkever is the founder / editor of <a href="http://www.hawaiirama.com">Hawaiirama.com</a>, a travel blog covering the islands.]As part of its eight-figure renovation quest, the legendary <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Kahala+Hotel+%26+Resort/local/606">Kahala Resort</a> on the South Shore of Oahu has decided to become a pet-friendly property. That means kitties and puppies (and other critters on leashes) can luxuriate in this resort setting tucked away from the bustle of Waikiki and the city of Honolulu. Alas, I have but one question. One of my favorite parts about the old Kahala Mandarin was that it had lovely parquet floors in the rooms. In the tropics, they tended to buckle. So the resort, as part of renovations, replaced them with carpets. The carpets are nice

Honolulu: Kahala Resort & Spa Losing Its Luster

ASalkever — 2006-12-06T09:34:51-05:00

<![CDATA[[Ed. Note: Alex Salkever is the editor of Hawaii travel blog <a href="http://www.hawaiirama.com">Hawaiirama.com</a> and a general travel maven on all things Hawaii.]<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/kahala_resort.jpg">From a distance, you can't tell that this is no longer a Mandarin Oriental. Apparently the past year of switchover of the <a href="http://www.kahalaresort.com/">Kahala Resort & Spa</a> from the Mandarin Oriental flag to an independently managed resort has been a rocky transition. First, the posh Oahu hideaway that's long been a fave of presidents and potentates lost its Five-Star AAA status. Now the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60982-d114008-Reviews-Kahala_Hotel_Resort-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii-m10559.html">hotel hounds at TripAdvisor</a> are calling downhill alert on the venerable property, which sits on a prime stretch of beachfront ten minutes from Waikiki. In reviews over the past six months, the Kahala got

Honolulu: The Lanais Have It at the Kahala Resort

ASalkever — 2006-11-22T09:29:27-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/kahala_hokus.jpg"><a href="<a href="http://www.kahalaresort.com/dining/hoku.cfm?Refresh=1&">Hoku's Restaurant</a> at the <a href="http://www.kahalaresort.com">Kahala Resort</a> in the tony Kahala district of Honolulu has long been a fine-dining beacon and a fave destination for chowhounds tromping across Oahu.Simply put, we like the food at Hoku's a lot. Chef Wayne Hirabayashi has long since earned his spurs in wrestling down big flavors like osso bucco and rack of lamb. This T-Day, he's cooking up an exquisite island-flavored feast that would make us thankful to ditch our baster and belly up. To wit: seafood sausage with warm lentils and bacon vinaigrette stir-fried Kona Blue Lobster with Chinese long beans and ginger onion sauce, and roasted pumpkin gnocchi. Oh, and there's turkey, too. Not cheap at $85 but well

Honolulu: Emilie de Ravin Picks Her Favorite Oahu Hotel

markj — 2005-10-13T13:41:10-05:00

<![CDATA[<img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/emellie_de_ravin_mandarin.jpg"> Tough life huh?  You have to play an island-stranded surrogate Mom on a hit show, and oh yeah, you have to live in Hawaii while shooting. Emilie de Ravin tells Travel Savvy magazine that she considers <a href="http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/531000001.asp">The Kahala Mandarin Oriental</a> "paradise in paradise". Well, Claire, not everyone seems to agree with you: <blockquote> My wife and I stayed at this property in August 2005. From the moment we entered the room, we knew this was a mistake. The musty odor from our ocean view room was appalling. We complained to management, and they said they could offer us a ridge view room, and that all others were sold out. The walls are paper thin, and

HI: Taking the Plunge is Scary

juliana — 2005-09-30T14:30:47-05:00

But looking forward to the Honeymoon can make pre-marital panic a tad more tolerable.

Don't ask why we picked up a copy of InStyle Weddings (yes, yes, we are a bunch of starf***ers), but instead focus on the publications choices for the best Honeymoon getaways in the ever-popular newlywed destination of Hawaii.

Up first is the Mandarin Oriental Kahala on the island of Oahu, near Waikiki.

Will Smith, Amber Valletta and Eva Mendes have all enjoyed this hotel's zen-inspired and aesthetic suites, the random 26,000 square-foot natural lagoon and the relaxing spa.

More Hawaii Honeymoon Resorts Post Break