Aqua Waikiki Pearl - Honolulu, Hawaii - Renovated Boutique Hotel in Waikiki

One of Honolulu's newest boutique hotels is also one of its oldest. The Aqua Waikiki Pearl was christened on July 13, 2009, after $5 million in renovations that resulted not only in the new name but also in updated, upgraded and fresh guest rooms that are among the largest budget accommodations in the Waikiki area.

The 10-story structure was originally designed in 1959 to be an apartment building with 76 living units. In 1966, it was converted for mid-rise hotel use with 134 rooms, and the name was changed from the Royal Prince Apartment Building to the Honolulu Prince Hotel. A heavily landscaped open-air deck was added in 1993.

New York-based Ramsfield Hospitality Finance took an interest in the property and purchased it from Japan's Prince Company in 2008 for $7.75 million. For a brief time, the hotel was known as the Aqua Honolulu Prince, then the Aqua Waikiki Tides, before the current name was officially revealed along with its new look, created by local interior designer Kory Wong-Oglesby.

Today the hotel boasts 135 rooms, all of which reflect the building's apartment heritage. The smallest standard rooms were formed by dividing larger units. They now have 195 to 271 square feet of floor space for single, double or triple occupancy with either one Queen Bed or a Queen and a Double Bed. Apartments that were not subdivided are quite large as hotel rooms, covering from 450 to 1,157 square feet.

The newly renovated One-Bedroom Suite, for example, can accommodate up to five persons and is said to "feel like home.'' It features one Queen Bed, one Double Bed and a Queen Sofa Bed, as well as a separate living area and full kitchen with dinnerware and silverware. From its balcony/lanai, there are views of Waikiki and surrounding neighborhoods.

All guestrooms are non-smoking and come with a mini refrigerator, coffeemaker and microwave (full kitchens in suites), LCD televisions, an in-room safe, free high-speed Internet access, and daily local newspaper delivery. Available upon request are hair dryers, irons, ironing boards, and a wake-up service. The Aqua Waikiki Pearl is pet-friendly, too, allowing dogs up to 20 pounds - although visitors are advised to check Hawaii quarantine regulations before attempting to bring their pets into the state.

The lobby offers free Wi-Fi service, and there is an iMac station set up exclusively for guest use. The 24-hour guest services agent can help make arrangements for dining, sightseeing, shopping, and recreational activities off-site.

Retail tenants are still in the process of moving into the hotel, which has two floors of commercial space available. A sports bar with satellite TVs has already opened on the premises, and there is a Starbucks coffee shop next door.

Located at 415 Nahua Street, Honolulu, HI 96815, the Aqua Waikiki Pearl is part of the boutique hotel collection of Aqua Hotels & Resorts, which includes the Aqua Aloha Surf & Spa, Aqua Bamboo & Spa, Coconut Waikiki Hotel, Aqua Palms & Spa, Aqua Waikiki Wave, and the Equus. Limited on-site parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $20 per night.