Where to Stay in Waikīkī: Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort

This reporter was hosted by Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort for the purposes of this review.

The view from my room was shocking. I've lived on Oʻahu almost 10 years and have seen countless versions of the classic Waikīkī Beach postcard — the beach framed by Lēʻahi (Diamond Head) — but this was different. I felt so close. Like I could almost read the words on the page of a book a woman was reading on the sand, or see hikers crawling up the crater like ants.

On the second day of my stay at Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort, I walked downstairs to Gray's Beach, historically known as Kawehewehe — a tiny beach just off to the right of the hotel's beachfront infinity pool. This was where I met Tyler, my surf instructor for the next hour. Together, we paddled out over 35 yards of offshore reef until hitting a sweet spot in the lineup. I was surrounded mostly by other beginners, but a few regulars bobbed up and down a little farther out. I'd seen them out here from my room as early as 6 a.m. The waves were gentle enough that I caught three that day — a win for a novice like me. Mostly, I just enjoyed being in the water. It was exactly the right temperature and felt refreshing under the hot midday sun.

As someone without kids, I gravitated toward resort activities focused on wellness or solitude, and clung to the adults-only pool, where I could work on my laptop under a cabana. In the evenings, my boyfriend and I enjoyed sunset dinners outside by the ocean and quiet nights in our room.

Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort is a 1,636-room mega-resort that towers over Waikīkī Beach. It opened in 1971, originally intended to be a gaming hotel — but when Hawaiʻi gaming legislation failed to pass, the resort turned its focus to family vacations. From 2009 to 2020, Sheraton completed multiple renovations to modernize guest rooms, public spaces and its signature Helumoa Playground: an outdoor pool complex with a 70-foot waterslide, children's splash zone, two hot tubs and cabanas. This is where families swim and play all day. The adults-only oceanfront infinity pool, with rows of covered and uncovered lounge chairs, sits around the corner for guests who prefer a quieter experience.

Our room was simple but had everything we needed: a king-size bed, a large flat-screen TV, a desk and a lanai with that view. Eighty percent of rooms at Sheraton Waikīkī share it.

For families, several configurations are available. The Ohana Suite sleeps up to six with two bedrooms, a spacious living room, two lanai and a pull-out sofa. Luxury Ocean rooms sleep five with three double beds, a dining table, multiple closets and an ocean-facing lanai. The City View Family Room has two double beds and a twin — well suited for parents with young children or a small group. The Kai Ocean Suite and Malia Ocean Suite offer more luxurious options with panoramic views and flexible layouts for larger groups.

When I wasn't in the water, I worked remotely from the pool or my lanai. The resort's free Wi-Fi worked seamlessly throughout the property without requiring a password — a detail I appreciated from a resort this size, focused heavily on families. After work, when we were ready for something different, hundreds of restaurants, shops and bars were a short walk away.

On my last morning, I attended a yoga nidra meditation session held next door at Sheraton's sister property, The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki. We lay under the courtyard's large banyan tree, listening to birds chirp and feeling a gentle breeze as our teacher led us through a relaxing session. The Royal Hawaiian, also known at The Pink Hotel, is one of the oldest and most iconic hotels in Hawaiʻi. Sheraton guests can also attend the Monday and Thursday evening lūʻau there. And through the "Stay at One, Dine at All" program, you can dine or drink at the Royal Hawaiian — as well as Moana Surfrider — and charge it to your Sheraton room. I thought that was pretty cool.

After I rode my last wave, arms limp from paddling, my instructor took hold of my board and brought me back to shore. A photographer had been out with us the whole time capturing the session. As I swiped through the images, a woman came up to the activity counter and asked about a lesson. "You inspired me," she said. I thanked her and wished her luck. Just another day in Waikīkī.

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At a Glance

Star rating: 4.1 stars on Tripadvisor (based on 8,500 reviews)

Price range: $499 to $749 per night

Hardest to book: Late December and July

Location score: 8.6 on Booking.com

Best for: Families, large groups, multigenerational travelers

Pros: Beachfront location, adults-only infinity pool, ample activities for kids, good coffee and retail on property, steps from hundreds of restaurants and shops along Waikīkī's main drag.

Cons: Crowded and noisy. The adults-only pool offers some relief, but this is a high-volume resort by design.

Location and Getting There

Sheraton Waikiki is located on Waikīkī Beach just off Kalākaua Avenue. The resort sits next door to the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and two blocks from International Market Place, making it a prime location for shopping, dining and exploring the strip. From the airport, a rideshare runs approximately $30 to $40 depending on the app and time of day. Once you're in Waikīkī, a car is unnecessary unless you're traveling to another part of the island — in which case, renting one for the day in Waikīkī is the most practical option.

In-Room Amenities

• Free Wi-Fi
• Flat-screen LCD Smart TV
• In-room telephone with answering function
• In-room safe
• Air conditioning
• TOTO bidet toilet
• Shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, shower gel and lotion
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Bathrobes and slippers
• Hairdryer
• Mini-refrigerator
• Coffee maker with complimentary regular and decaf Kona coffee
• Tea
• Iron and ironing board
• Ice bucket and drinking glasses

Property Amenities

• Helumoa Playground — all-ages pool complex with 70-foot waterslide, children's splash zone and two hot tubs
• Edge Infinity Pool — adults-only oceanfront infinity pool; open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Fitness center (fourth floor)
• Nail salon (ground floor)
• Billiards (lobby)
• Laundry facilities (fifth and 18th floors)
• Surfboard and paddleboard rentals
• Surf, outrigger canoe and paddleboard lessons
• Poppins Keiki Hawaii — educational full-day programs and hourly childcare for children 3 months and older; activities include swimming, Hawaiian arts and crafts and short excursions; early morning and evening care available with advance notice; reservations required
• Ever-evolving sand sculptures
• The Collections of Waikiki shops (collectionsofwaikiki.com)
• Book activities at sheraton247.com
• Reserve pool umbrellas up to two weeks ahead at sheraton.umbrella-finder.com

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Resort Activities

Cultural

• Talk Story with Tutu (Royal Hawaiian Coconut Grove Lawn) — Local tutu wahine (grandmothers) and tutu kane (grandfathers) share stories and cultural experiences. Tuesdays, 9:30 to 10 a.m. Reservations required.
• Morning Hiuwai (Waikīkī Beach, fronting The Royal Hawaiian) — Traditional Hawaiian sunrise ceremony and ocean blessing. 5:30 to 6:30 a.m.; dates vary — check with the front desk.
• Koi Fish Feeding (Koi Pond, lobby level) — Daily, 11 to 11:15 a.m. No reservation required.
• Ribbon Lei Making (lobby level) — Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. Reservations required.
• Haku Kupee Bracelet Making (lobby level) — Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m.; Saturdays and Mondays through Thursdays, 2 p.m.
• Hula Lessons (Princess Kaʻiulani, second floor ʻĀinahau Showroom Lobby) — Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 to 11 a.m.
• Ukulele Lessons (lobby level) — Daily, 4 to 5 p.m. Reservations required at the Ukulele Puapua store.
• Lauhala Weaving (Mailani Tower Lobby at The Royal Hawaiian) — Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Royal Hawaiian History Tour (begins at the Royal Hawaiian Bakery) — Reservations required.

Fitness and Wellness

• Morning Yoga (Royal Hawaiian Coconut Grove Lawn) — Daily, 8 and 9 a.m. Towels provided. Reservations required.
• Daily Meditation (Moana Surfrider Diamond Lawn) — Daily, 7:15 to 7:45 a.m.
• Water Zumba (Helumoa Pool) — Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. Reservations required.
• Floating Yoga (Edge Infinity Pool) — SUP yoga on North America's longest oceanfront infinity-edge pool. Sunrise Flow: Mondays and Fridays, 7 a.m., $70 per person. Glow Flow: Wednesdays, 8 p.m., $90 per person.

Reservations are required for all activities except Koi Fish Feeding. Book at sheratonwaikiki.247activities.com.

Dining and Drinks

RumFire Waikīkī Beach

An open-air bar and restaurant on the lobby level with panoramic views of Waikīkī Beach and Lēʻahi. The menu covers Pacific Rim-inspired cuisine alongside craft cocktails and a kids' menu with grilled fish, chicken tenders and fries and grilled cheese and fries. Nightly live local entertainment. Happy hour available.

Average check: $31 to $50 per person for a standard meal; $75 to $100-plus for a full dinner with drinks and appetizers.

Lounge: Daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (lunch 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Dinner service: Daily from 4:30 p.m.; restaurant closes at 11 p.m.

Dress code: Casual

Hinahina — Opening Fall 2026

A casual oceanfront restaurant at the ground-floor level adjacent to the infinity pool, named for the Hawaiian word for gray — a nod to the history of Gray's Beach below and the Gray's by the Sea boarding house that welcomed travelers here in the early 1900s. Hinahina also describes the soft, silvery tones found in native plants.

Led by Executive Chef Darren Demaya, a Hawaiʻi Island native who has been with Sheraton Waikīkī for more than 18 years, the menu covers a breakfast buffet in the morning and family-style dining at lunch and dinner. Breakfast highlights include pineapple upside-down pancakes; lunch features build-your-own poke bowls and American Wagyu burgers; dinner spotlights local seafood and produce, including garlic-herb tiger shrimp with garlic pandan jasmine rice, red Thai lobster curry sauce and Ho Farms long beans and tomato relish.

Reservations at hinahinawaikiki.com

Breakfast: 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. — $48 per adult; $25 per child 12 and under

Lunch: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dinner: 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Dress code: Casual

Stay at One, Dine at All

Sheraton Waikiki guests can charge meals to their room number at three sister properties: The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort; Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort and Spa and Sheraton Princess Kaʻiulani.

Additional On-Property Food and Retail

• Baskin-Robbins
• Honolulu Coffee Co.
• Lawson Station
• The Cookie Corner

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Service and Staff

With a resort this large and this busy, meaningful staff connections are rare. The team is friendly and efficient — moving quickly to process a volume of guests that would overwhelm a smaller property. It is not luxury-level service, but it is competent and consistent. You will get what you need.

Value

For a beachfront Waikīkī resort at this size and activity level, the value is strong — particularly for families. This is a high-volume property in an exceptional location, not a high-end boutique experience. If this fits what you're looking for, the price-to-location ratio is one of the better ones on the strip.

Who It's Best For

Families with young children. The pool is the centerpiece of the property, the beach is steps away and the energy of the resort — loud, active and casual — works in favor of parents who don't want to police their kids' noise level. Solo travelers and couples looking for a quieter experience will find the adults-only pool helpful, but the overall vibe of the resort is family-forward.

Final Verdict

Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort is perfect for families with young kids who want a fun, casual experience in an unbeatable location and don't need the formality of a luxury property. Live in your swimsuits, let the kids wear out the waterslide and walk to dinner on Kalākaua Avenue. That's the experience here.

Property Details

Address: 2255 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815

Phone: 808-922-4422

Check-in: 3 p.m.

Check-out: 11 a.m.

Parking: Self-parking $55 per day (tax not included); valet $65 per day (tax not included)

Pet policy: Pets are not permitted. Service animals are welcome.

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