The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel - Honolulu, Hawaii - Japanese-owned Hotel near Diamond Head

Nestled between the white sands of San Souci Beach and 500-acre Kapiolani Park, the original Kaimana Beach Hotel was built in 1903 on the residential site of the McInerny family, owners of a major Honolulu mercantile business. The grounds were once visited by Robert Louis Stevenson, who used to rest in the shade of a great Hau tree here.

In 1964 major renovations were made by a consortium of new owners, including the Japan's New Otani Hotel, transforming the property into a 9-story high-rise with 156 rooms. The design concept was to blend Polynesian and Asian culture, as evidenced by the hotel's two restaurants, the locally inspired Hau Tree Lanai Restaurant and the Japanese-cuisine Miyako, both of which are still serving today.

The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel now has 125 rooms - all non-smoking - including 31 suites and 16 rooms with kitchenettes. Each room has a private lanai, with views of the Ocean, Waikiki or Diamond Head.

Standard room amenities include air conditioning with individual climate control, a coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, refrigerator, an LCD television with high definition cable channels, and a two-line telephone with voice mail. A complimentary copy of the Honolulu Advertiser morning newspaper is delivered each day. Cribs and rollaway beds are available on request. For a fee, rooms can be provided with high-speed cable Internet service or WiFi access.

Each morning, complimentary coffee is served in the lobby. Other guest services include free use of beach towels and mats, room service (limited hours), a travel & activities desk, concierge service, and a laundry and dry cleaning service.

In the shops area of the hotel, guests will find a boutique swimwear store, a travel service, a real estate office, and a store featuring children's apparel. A sundry store with an ATM machine, a beauty salon and a nail clinic are also located on the premises. Additionally, guests are permitted to use the fitness equipment of the Healthy Habits Spa by appointment.

The Hau Tree Lanai Restaurant on the lobby level specializes in Pacific seafood and Eurasian Cuisine; it is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Miyako Japanese Restaurant on the 2nd floor overlooks Pacific, serving authentic Japanese cuisine. Dining may be arranged outdoors on the lanai in cabanas, on request.

The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel's 1,650-square-foot Imperial Banquet Room is available for meetings, social gatherings and weddings, accommodating groups of up to 100. It was designed to incorporate an Asian ambience, based upon the halls of Nijo Castle in Kyoto.

The elegant San Souci Room, at 589 square feet, is perfect for smaller meetings, wedding receptions, and ceremonial services. Buffets are catered through the Hau Tree Lanai Restaurant.

Another popular facility here is the Sunset Lanai lounge, which serves cocktails and appetizers. Its intimate setting is conducive to a casual conversation or a romantic rendezvous, with the music of Hawaii gently playing in the background.

The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel is located at 2863 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815. For a nominal fee, valet parking passes are available at the Front Desk.