Outrigger Hospitality Group recently unveiled newly reimagined guest rooms at its original flagship location, Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort.
It's the first guest-facing milestone in a larger $100 million refresh that's underway to reimagine the resort as a "design-led destination at the birthplace of modern surf culture," a recent announcement noted.
The new guest rooms were designed by PowerStrip Studio in collaboration with WCIT Architecture and DTL – a Hawaiian Strategy Studio.
According to the announcement, among other new design features, each room features "He keiki aloha nā mea kanu," or "Beloved children are the plants," a custom mural of Queen Emma's lily garden by Native Hawaiian artist Kamea Hadar; room numbers are paired with surf photography by Zak Noyle; and "graphic rivulets inspired by ʻĀpuakēhau Stream" wind throughout the property.
Monica Salter, vice president of global communications and social responsibility at Outrigger, told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions that the resort has 524 rooms across 17 floors, and every room is being redesigned. Room renovations began in April and all 524 rooms are expected to be finished by December, she says.
Outrigger Hospitality Group started the broader $100 million refresh of the resort earlier this year.
"The guest rooms are just the first phase," Salter says. "We’ll have a grand arrival staircase that traces the path of ʻĀpuakēhau Stream, the freshwater stream that once ran from the Koʻolau Mountains to this shoreline, an open-air lobby framing Waikīkī and Diamond Head, a surfboard exhibit, cultural center and a newly expanded Voyager 47 Club Lounge, more than three times its former size. Work on our public spaces, pool and retail is ongoing. We’re now only offering newly renovated guest rooms and suites with the rest of the transformation to follow."
When asked why the hospitality group wanted to undertake the $100 million transformation now, Salter told ASD, "This is where our story began — on the grounds of the original Outrigger Canoe Club, where Duke Kahanamoku helped introduce modern surf culture to the world. Sixty years later, we saw an opportunity to reinvest in this important place and honor that legacy while looking ahead. The transformation is grounded in the history and culture of Waikīkī, while creating a resort that reflects where Outrigger is headed."
The goal is to make the experience feel more connected to the place, she says.
"The design draws from the history of the site, from ʻĀpuakēhau Stream and Queen Emma’s garden to Waikīkī’s role in the origins of modern surfing. Those stories are reflected in details throughout the resort, from the arrival staircase and artwork to the guest room and corridor design," Salter say. "At the same time, the things that have made this resort a Waikīkī landmark remain: its beachfront location, cultural connections and longtime partners and experiences, including Faith Surf School, Blue Note Hawaiʻi and Henry Kapono’s Duke’s on Sunday performances. The physical spaces are being thoughtfully refreshed while preserving the character and sense of place that guests have long associated with Outrigger."
Outrigger got its start in 1947, when American architect Roy Kelley and his wife Estelle opened the 33-room Islander Hotel in Waikīkī, according to a 2022 post on the hotel's website.
On O‘ahu, you'll find the Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort, Waikīkī Beach Resort, Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel and Waikīkī Paradise Hotel; on Maui there's Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort and Honua Kai Resort & Spa; the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa is located on Hawai‘i Island; and the Outrigger Kaua‘i Beach Resort & Spa is on the Garden Isle. Outrigger also offers vacation condos across the Islands, and owns and operates resorts in Fiji, Thailand, Maldives and Mauritius. Find its portfolio of properties here.
Enter to win
To celebrate the new guest rooms, the resort has launched "Catch Waikīkī's Next Wave" across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. The campaign asks people to share what they love about Waikīkī Beach.
Share a photo or video and a short story online or by scanning QR codes on the property for a chance to win a grand prize that includes a three-night stay in a club ocean view room at Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort; round-trip airfare for two, provided by Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines; dinner for two at Duke's Waikīkī; and a canoe surf session for two with Faith Surf School. Entries are open through Nov. 16, with winners announced on Nov. 17.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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