Checking in on the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort reveals a property undergoing significant upgrades while maintaining its status as a Waikiki landmark. The hotel sits on the waterfront next to the iconic Royal Hawaiian, standing out with its curved sides and tan-colored hue. Guests move through the open lobby in swimsuits and resort wear, heading toward restaurants and the resort’s pools or returning from the ocean.
A New Look and Oceanfront Dining
Three years ago, the Sheraton completed a $200 million renovation of its 1,600-plus guestrooms and suites, refreshing event and retail spaces. The property is still evolving; the latest changes involve its food and beverage offerings. I settled into a spacious room with a wide view of Waikiki from the lanai before heading downstairs for an early dinner at RumFire, the resort’s oceanfront restaurant and lounge.
RumFire features open-air seating, tropical cocktails, and live music in the evenings. The indoor-outdoor restaurant faces Waikiki Beach, with views of the Pacific and Diamond Head on one side and the family-friendly pool Helumoa Playground on the other. I ordered the pulehu New York striploin, a 12-ounce grilled steak served with chipotle aioli and garlic and grape tomato confit. The meat was juicy and buttery, with the right amount of garlic to deepen the flavor without overpowering it. For dessert, I chose the rich chocolate mousse cake, served with raspberry, sweet cream, and caramel sauces.
Local Flavors and Future Plans
The next morning, I saw Waikiki from an entirely different perspective at the Leahi Lounge on the 30th floor, where Kai Market’s breakfast buffet is temporarily being served. From that height, the view of Waikiki looked like a postcard, with hotels lining the curving shoreline, the blue Pacific stretching beyond it, and Diamond Head rising in the distance. The daily buffet includes hot breakfast staples, such as scrambled eggs and bacon, along with rotating selections like Portuguese sausage and kalua pork hash Benedict.
Breakfast is expected to return downstairs when Hinahina, the resort‘s new oceanfront restaurant, opens. I sat down for breakfast with Michael Barbera, the director of food and beverage for the Sheraton Waikiki and neighboring Royal Hawaiian, and executive chef Darren Demaya. As we ate, we discussed how dining habits have shifted through the years and the changes underway. Barbera noted that the resort’s food and beverage scene has evolved alongside its guests, who are drinking less alcohol, staying out later less often, and increasingly looking for food that feels distinctive to Hawaii. That has also meant putting more emphasis on local ingredients, with the resort’s chefs and purchasing team building relationships with Hawaii farmers and producers.
“All of our eggs are coming 100% local, which is really cool,” he said. Hinahina will be located on the ground level near the Edge infinity pool and is being designed around food and flavors familiar to people who grew up in Hawaii. “We’re trying to give the guests what we grew up eating here in Hawaii, that same vibe and same culture,” Demaya said.
The menu is still being finalized, but Demaya said the concept draws inspiration from foods people in Hawaii might bring to a beach potluck: poke bowls, huli huli chicken, loco moco, and burgers. Dinner could feature heartier dishes such as misoyaki butterfish, ribeye steak, whole fish for two, and seafood paella, while desserts may draw from familiar local favorites like strawberry cheesecake and coconut-chocolate sweets. The restaurant is expected to open this fall.
Activities and Cultural Connections
The Sheraton offers guests a range of activities that connect them more closely with Waikiki, from lei making and poolside programs to floating yoga in the adults-only Edge infinity pool. Its beachfront location is especially convenient for guests who want to get out on the open water. Waikiki Beach Services has a presence at the Sheraton and continues traditions long associated with the Waikiki Beach Boys, including surfing and stand-up paddle lessons, outrigger canoe rides, and beach equipment rentals.
Chuck Vause, who has worked with Waikiki Beach Services since 2011 and has spent nearly 50 years working at spots along Waikiki Beach, said those activities are more than recreation. “We not only preach the fun aspect, of course, and the safety aspect, but also the cultural aspect,” he said, adding that the canoe in particular carries deep meaning in Hawaiian culture. Waikiki has long been a place for beginners to learn to surf, and Vause said the nearby Canoes surf break is one reason why. “The wave over here is very easy to learn on,” he said.
The waves were a little too big for me the day I was there, so I opted for calmer water and settled into a cabana at the adults-only infinity pool. The pool sits just above the ocean, creating the illusion from certain angles that it spills directly into the Pacific. From my cabana, I could move between the shade and pool while still looking out toward Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. Despite the activity around the hotel, this was one of the easiest places to slow down.
On my final morning, I traded the water for a quieter activity. The resort offers a rotating schedule of activities throughout the week, and I decided on a ribbon lei-making class. I had to book it ahead because the classes fill quickly. When I arrived, I was told to pick out two ribbon colors. Then, I was taught how to braid them together, repeating the same simple pattern as the lei slowly took shape in my hands. It took a bit of practice, but after a while it became an easy and relaxing way to spend the morning in view of the ocean across the way.
It was the last thing I did before leaving the Sheraton, and I walked out carrying a souvenir I had made myself. The ribbon lei now serves as a small reminder of the stay.
