Text by Kimi Ozawa
Images courtesy of Kaimana Beach Hotel
Kaimana Beach Hotel, nestled along Waikīkī’s famed Gold Coast, is once again the city’s best address. The hotel unveiled a refreshed look led by Private Label Collection, a Hawai‘i-based full-service luxury hospitality management company.
Situated directly on the sands of Kaimana Beach, which means “diamond” in Hawaiian, the 122-room hotel has been an integral part of the fabric of Waikīkī for more than five decades and now features a modern-boho aesthetic designed by Hawai‘i-based interior design firm Henderson Design Group.
“All of us at Private Label Collection are thrilled to craft a new era for the Kaimana Beach Hotel,” said Jonathan McManus, Founder, Private Label Collection. “As we look to the future of Hawai‘i, it’s more important than ever to offer independent, free-thinking experiences for guests to connect to our world-class sense of place.”
The redesigned Private Dining Room at Kaimana Beach Hotel is perched above the sand and features expansive windows that offer panoramic ocean views. Ideal for private events, meetings and celebrations, the spacious room comfortably seats 16 guests and provides the opportunity to create a bespoke menu by Hau Tree’s well-known culinary team for an intimate beachfront dining experience.
“Hau Tree brings not only a vibrant new look, but also a refreshed energy and flavors to the best location to dine literally on the sand in Waikīkī,” McManus said. “With the culinary talents of our local team of chefs, we look forward to once again being a favorite destination for locals and mainlanders to ‘come as they are’ and make new memories for many years to come.”
The bar program, led by local mixologist Jen Ackrill (San Francisco’s modern craft cocktail bar Rye and local O‘ahu favorites Pint & Jigger, Sky, and Top of Waikiki), transforms Hau Tree into one of the best spots in Waikīkī to enjoy sunset cocktails. The Hau Tree cocktail menu is designed for the liquid traveler whether they are visiting the hotel or just stopping in for a quick pau hana drink. There is a cocktail for every person, from the sometimes forgotten vodka soda fan to the nerdy cocktailian.
The drinks are designed to excite and pique conversation with nods to the classics and reworks of some favorite beach cocktails. Highlights include the Kaimana Cocktail with Coconut Washed Brokers Gin, Apricot Liqueur and Gran Classico Bitter and the Hau Tree made with Hibiscus Infused Pau Vodka, Yuzu and Lavender.
Hau Tree is also the only place on Oahu where guests can enjoy water by Mananalu, the actor Jason Momoa’s aluminum canned water company that is dedicated to stopping single-use plastics and providing recyclable alternatives.
“Everyone at Kaimana Beach Hotel takes deep pride in introducing guests to our Hawaiian culture,” said Ha‘aheo Zablan, the hotel’s general manager. “I was born and raised in Hawai‘i along with many of the key players from our culinary, ownership, and management teams, so all of the experiences we create at the hotel stem from our shared history here on the islands.”
