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W Honolulu To Remain W Honolulu, Crappy Views Still Included

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 2885 Kalakaua Ave. [map], Honolulu, HI, United States, 96815
April 24, 2007 at 9:15 AM | by ASalkever | 0 Comments

[Ed. Note: Alex Salkever is a Hawaiian travel maven and the editor/publisher of island travel blog Hawaiirama.]

With all the hotel turnover in Hawaii of late, rumors have been flying that the lone Starwood W outpost in the Aloha State would be swapping flags.

The W Honolulu - Diamond Head is blessed with an amazing location on the tranquil side of Waikiki far away from the madness of Kalakaua Avenue and wedged into the quiet Coconut Grove nabe between the blue Pacific and Kapiolani Park. (See Hawaiirama's hotel review).

It's also cursed with no ocean view rooms, a sad sin in this land of stellar vistas.

So what about the rumors? The new owners, apparently, were shopping this Balinesian themed beauty that is Honolulu's only upscale boutique hotel. According to the front desk, the new owners reupped and the W remains a W.

More on the new old W Honolulu after the jump

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Lewers Lounge: Cocktail Paradise

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 2199 Kalia Road [map], Honolulu, HI, United States, 96815
October 25, 2006 at 12:02 PM | by ASalkever | 0 Comments

[Ed Note: Have you ever wondered where's a hip place to drink in Hawaii? Hotel Maven Alex Salkever, who writes all about the 50th state at Hawaiirama, gives us his #1 recommendation in Honolulu. Enjoy.]

Whenever possible I pop in to Lewers Lounge at the swank Halekulani Hotel for a nightcap. It's probably the most soothing, mellow cocktail lounge in Honolulu, almost like a very suave New York speakeasy joint with a crooner and trio but a lot of extremely stiff tropical cocktails, and, of course, the hotel's signature coconut cake (total yum).

The drinks are very old school. That's due to Dale Degroff. He's the master cocktailer, known as the King of Cocktails who mixes up unreal libations, often based on classic, long-lost recipes.

As part of an effort to reposition the always beautiful but formerly sedate Halekulani, the property hired him to revamp their beverage menus. That he did. He also shipped in ice machines that make the old-style big honkin' square ice cubes, which he swears do not melt as quickly. His Mai Tai is of the proper, pucker variety, not to be quaffed with abandon.

While I love Dale's drinks , drinking with Dale is even more fun. He pops in from New York every month or so and tends bar. You can call the hotel and find out when he's in town and, even better, when he's tending bar and Dale himself will mix you a stiff one.

Be prepared. Three from Dale is more like five from your regular barkeep so tattoo your room number backwards on your forward.

Related Stories:
· Halekulani reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Twelve Levels of Renovation Hell at Sheraton Waikiki [HotelChatter]