Moana Surfrider Hotel Review: One Of Waikiki’s Most Iconic Hotels

The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, has long held the title of Waikiki’s most iconic hotel — and for good reason. Opened in 1901 as Waikiki’s first hotel, the Moana Surfrider melds Victorian grandeur with oceanfront serenity. Now, fresh off a major renovation milestone, the hotel feels poised to honor its past while confidently stepping into the future.

In July 2025, the Moana debuted a fully refreshed Historic Lobby and began welcoming guests to its renovated Tower Wing guest rooms, marking a key phase in a multi-year transformation set to conclude in time for the hotel’s 125th anniversary in March 2026.

A transformed Tower Wing

The newly renovated Tower Wing now offers a distinctly modern beach luxury aesthetic. Rooms are outfitted with:

• Curved banquette seating.

• Dedicated reading nooks and flexible workspaces.

• Custom lounge furniture on private lanais.

• Ocean-inspired palettes and warm metallic accents.

Some rooms now feature two-queen bed configurations, in addition to the classic king layout. Tower Wing oceanfront one-bedroom suites go a step further with expansive living and dining areas, wet bars, and spacious balconies that blur the line between indoors and out.

The renovation brings long-overdue upgrades, replacing the once-dated design with a layout that finally matches the panoramic views of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. Guests can book these new Tower rooms now.

A refreshed Historic Lobby

The light-filled new lobby debuted in early July with refinished original wood floors, a striking sculptural chandelier inspired by the resort’s century-old banyan tree and Hawaiian botanical artwork by Kristen Reyno of Lola Pilar Hawaii.

The redesign maintains the property’s iconic Victorian charm while introducing softer textures and refined materials. The Vintage 1901 piano bar remains, offering a stylish spot for an aperitif or live jazz evening.

We visited in December 2023, before the renovations began to explore the property. Here's what we love about it:

The sprawling courtyard, shaded by a massive, 100-year-old banyan tree, is a delightful spot for an afternoon mai tai as you soak up the Hawaiian sunshine. And the Moana Surfrider breakfast — held on a wraparound porch overlooking the water — is divine.

But here’s the thing — anyone can visit the bar or restaurant, whether they’re a hotel guest or not. So do the rooms make it worth staying at the hotel? Or, would you be better off staying at another hotel on an Oahu vacation and simply popping over to the Moana Surfrider for a meal or drink?

The Moana Surfrider is one of many Marriott hotels in Oahu, Hawaii. Thus, it’s possible to book with Marriott Bonvoy® points or free night awards.

The Moana Surfrider's beachfront location is top-notch. It offers direct access to Waikiki Beach, steps away from the ocean.

The opposite side of the hotel lines Kalakaua Avenue, which is Honolulu’s main shopping street. The prime location means it’s bustling with people, both outside the hotel and on the beach.

Speaking of cars, though, you might not want a rental car in Honolulu given this hotel’s central location, proximity to public transportation and expensive parking rates. The Moana Surfrider parking fee is $65 daily for valet, which is the only option.

There’s also no free airport shuttle sadly, so you’ll have to book a shuttle or rideshare if you forgo a rental car.

The 791 rooms span three wings:

Tower Wing (renovated July 2025)

These are the most spacious rooms with the best ocean views. Now fully refreshed, they feel like serene beachfront retreats, and are the best bet if you're looking for style and space. Choose from standard guest rooms or splurge on the newly upgraded suites.

Banyan Wing (under renovation, fall 2025)

This is the original 1901 wing. When its refurbishment finishes this fall, it will maintain its historic charm while receiving thoughtful upgrades. Book here for that classic ambiance — especially if you're a history buff.

Diamond Wing (under renovation, winter 2025)

This wing will offer a vibrant, boutique-style experience inspired by Waikiki’s surf culture. Expect bold colors, playful artwork, and contemporary finishes by early 2026.

Moana Surfrider rooms with an ocean view are exceptional; the best rooms offer a panorama that includes both the ocean and Diamond Head, which is a volcanic tuff cone that now stands out as one of the most iconic natural landmarks on Oahu. However, these rooms tend to cost about $200 or more per night as an upcharge for the view.

Here’s a look at a Tower room with a king bed and Diamond Head vista from before the renovations:

Beds are comfy, but nothing to rave about. Aside from the view, the rooms are somewhat forgettable and a bit dated.

The in-room coffee maker is a nice touch.

Bathrooms typically feature a tub, though it’s not an oversized tub you’d necessarily want to soak in for a long time.

Rooms also have amenities including a mini fridge and hair dryer.

The Moana Surfrider charges a daily resort fee of more than $40, but there are a fair amount of amenities that potentially make the resort fee feel more worth it.

The Moana Surfrider pool offers ocean views.

The gym is good, but not amazing. Its low ceilings feel a bit cramped, but the cardio machines that face Kalakaua Avenue offer a nice view. There are dumbbells, weight machines and other small pieces of strength equipment like plyometric boxes.

Other, employee-led activities or classes vary by day but include yoga, hula dancing, lei making, a historical hotel tour and a traditional sunrise ceremony.

The resort fee also covers a few extras like a complimentary shopping tote bag and GoPro camera rental.

Moana Lani Spa, a Heavenly Spa by Westin

There’s one key amenity that’s not included in the resort fee: Moana Lani Spa. As is usually the case with resort spas, services like facials and massages come at an additional cost. The Moana Surfrider spa is unique in that it’s Waikiki’s only oceanfront spa.

The Moana Surfrider has one main restaurant serving breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea. There’s also a beach bar, a cafe, a coffee shop and a cocktail lounge.

Dining on the wraparound porch

For a fancier meal, head to the Moana Surfrider’s wraparound porch facing the water. That porch moonlights as a few different restaurants, depending on the time of day.

Veranda at the Moana for breakfast

In the morning, it’s called the Veranda at the Moana. You can choose to dine either buffet-style or order a la carte. Menu items embrace Hawaiian flavors, including the hearty loco moco (a Hawaiian dish of rice, hamburger patty, gravy and egg) and the mango pancakes served with lilikoi curd (lilikoi is the Hawaiian word for passion fruit).

If you are committed to dining here, it can make sense to upgrade to the buffet, which offers one of the best brunches in Waikiki. It costs about $10 more than ordering entrees individually, but it entails an all-you-can-eat version of many items on the a la carte menu. Rather than decide between mochiko (local rice flour) waffles, Moana pancakes or an omelet, you might just try it all.

Moana Surfrider afternoon tea

After breakfast, the space turns into the site for afternoon tea. Prices for Moana Surfrider tea start at $73 per adult and $37 per child. There, you’ll sip on island flavors like Hawaiian coconut or passion orange guava tea. Treats include tropical sorbet.

Beachhouse at the Moana

At night, that same wraparound porch becomes Beachhouse at the Moana. The white tablecloth restaurant serves fancy fare including steak and seafood.

Other standout dining at the Moana Surfrider

The Beach Bar at Moana Surfrider: For casual dining with a stellar atmosphere, consider The Beach Bar. Menu items include poke, burgers and salad. The big draw is the live entertainment — typically ukulele — performed under the famous Moana Surfrider banyan tree.

Vintage 1901: For drinks indoors, Vintage 1901 is one of the most charming bars in Waikiki. It’s primarily a wine bar, though other drinks include cocktails with local liquors. Located in the lobby, the bar stands out for its live piano music.

Honolulu Coffee: The Moana Surfrider also hosts an outpost of Honolulu Coffee, which is a local coffee chain. Be aware that the lines can get long.

Travelers who want the best location: If you prioritize being within walking distance of major attractions, restaurants and shopping, then the Moana Surfrider is one of the best hotels in Waikiki. Direct access to Waikiki Beach is convenient, and the beachfront pool is delightful if you’d rather swim in a pool than the ocean.

People who appreciate a historic property with charm: Known as the "First Lady of Waikiki," the property is the first hotel on Waikiki Beach. The property goes a long way to acknowledge its history, including a museum on the second floor plus biweekly historic tours.

People who prioritize value over the view: Moana Surfrider rooms are impressive primarily because of the views, but you only get a view if you’re willing to splurge. If you’re the kind of person who ends up booking the cheapest available room, you’re better off booking a room without a view at a different hotel.

Those travelers might be better off at properties like the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, which is also a Marriott Bonvoy property. Though it’s not waterfront, that hotel is located just across the street from the Moana Surfrider, providing tourists a similarly central location (albeit a walk across the street to get to the water). Prices vary by night, but NerdWallet found some examples where the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani was going for nearly 50% less on the same night than the Moana Surfrider across the street.

Travelers seeking peace and calm: The lobby, wraparound porch and outdoor space under the banyan tree draw tourists who aren't staying at the Moana Surfrider, which means the lobby and porch might be packed with a lot more than just hotel guests. If you’re seeking a quiet getaway, you might find the Moana Surfrider overwhelming.