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Ka Laʻi Waikīkī Beach begins LXR chapter in Hawaiʻi
Hilton has introduced Ka Laʻi Waikīkī Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts following a design-driven $100 million transformation on Oʻahu. The resort marks the first LXR Hotels & Resorts property in Hawaiʻi, bringing the brand’s bespoke luxury positioning to one of the world’s most recognised beach destinations. Located along the Honolulu coastline, the property has been reimagined as a refined resort inspired by Hawaiian culture, natural beauty and the spirit of aloha. With 238 residential-style studios and suites, refreshed public spaces, a renewed spa and three new dining concepts, the transformation gives the landmark resort a new era of luxury hospitality.
Ka Laʻi Waikīkī Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts is positioned above Fort DeRussy Park, with sweeping views of Waikīkī Beach, the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head. Its location gives guests access to the energy of Waikīkī while creating a more tranquil setting away from the area’s busiest rhythms. This balance between destination access and private retreat is central to the property’s renewed identity.
The transformation extends across public spaces, guest rooms, residential accommodations, amenity floors and outdoor areas. The redesign was led by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio, with architectural support from Guerin Glass Architects. Together, the teams created a layered hospitality environment shaped by natural materials, bespoke furnishings and artwork inspired by the elemental landscape of Hawaiʻi.
The design language uses wood, lava stone, marble and woven textures to create a calm, tactile atmosphere. Custom lighting and a curated art collection reinforce the resort’s connection to island culture and craftsmanship. Works by Marco Rountree, Christine Skaggs and Big Island ceramic artist Suzanne Wang form part of the collection, with Wang’s sculptural installation Kūkulu Ola anchoring the artistic narrative.
Accommodation at Ka Laʻi Waikīkī Beach includes spacious guest rooms and 238 residential-style studios and suites. The rooms are designed to offer an elevated sense of comfort, with warm wood tones, richly textured teak and lava stone details, fully equipped kitchens, spa-inspired bathrooms and private lanais. Views extend across the Pacific Ocean or Fort DeRussy Park, giving the residential accommodation a strong relationship with its surroundings.
The resort’s food and beverage programme has also been transformed. Three new dining concepts are led by Executive Chef Yoshi Ohata, whose background in Pacific Rim cuisine shapes the culinary direction. The venues are designed to give the resort a broader social rhythm, from breakfast and daytime dining to cocktails and evening gatherings.
The Kini Room is the resort’s 86-seat signature restaurant. It offers a contemporary dining experience inspired by modern Hawaiʻi and global culinary traditions. The menu highlights coastal and Pacific Rim influences through dishes such as Kagoshima A5 Wagyu Sushi, slow-braised lemongrass lamb shank and Kini Kini Pie with Kona coffee, ube, vanilla ice creams, candied macadamia nuts, salted caramel, chocolate sauce and butter cracker crust.
Muse Lounge serves as an intimate cocktail bar in the redesigned lobby. The concept positions the lobby as a social hub, with elevated cocktails inspired by classic Hawaiian recipes. Drinks are paired with shareable bites that highlight local flavours and ingredients, alongside more refined options such as fresh oysters and caviar service.
Bloom Cafe & Restaurant is the resort’s breakfast destination. Overlooking Waikīkī, the venue has a garden-inspired setting and a menu built around Oʻahu’s fresh ingredients, tropical flavours, juices and local specialities. Dishes include guava cream cheese waffles, mochi pancakes, miso catch of the day and colourful poke bowls.
Wellness is centred on the refreshed Spa Ka Laʻi. The spa introduces treatments rooted in traditional Hawaiian wellness practices and locally inspired ingredients. Its renewal is part of a broader effort to create a resort experience where design, dining, rest and cultural connection work together rather than standing as separate amenities.
Outdoor spaces have also been revitalised, with attention to sustainability through alternative materials and the preservation of original design elements. The tranquil infinity pool overlooking the palm-fringed beaches of Waikīkī remains one of the resort’s defining leisure features. These enhancements support the property’s positioning as a luxury resort designed for both stillness and discovery.
Dino Michael, Senior Vice President and Category Head, Luxury Brands at Hilton, is connected with the company’s view that Hawaiʻi holds a special place in Hilton’s history and that the transformation represents an important evolution for both LXR Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Luxury. Jason Grosfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Irongate Group, is associated with the ambition to create a modern expression of Hawaiian luxury that feels authentic, immersive and rooted in place.
The resort is launching with a limited-time Discover Luxury package that includes a $1,000 resort credit for guests to experience the property’s new offerings. This opening offer supports the repositioning of Ka Laʻi Waikīkī Beach as a fully realised luxury resort destination rather than simply a refreshed hotel.
LXR Hotels & Resorts is a collection of 40 trading and pipeline luxury properties that focus on distinctive destinations, personal adventure and locally rooted experiences. With Ka Laʻi Waikīkī Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts, the brand gains its first property in Hawaiʻi and a new platform in one of the world’s most iconic resort markets. The transformation brings together residential-style luxury, Hawaiian cultural references, culinary renewal, wellness and oceanfront hospitality in a property designed to begin a new chapter for Waikīkī luxury travel.
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