In case you’ve been living under a rock, or on the wrong coast, the South Pacific has been on fire. There’s a solid south swell in the water right now, with plenty more on the way. That means Waikiki’s reefs are doing their summer thing. If you’ve been sitting on a Hawai’i trip, this is your sign. Now’s the window.
After the floods of this spring, Hawai’i could use the love. If you’ve been surf-deprived, so could you. Honestly, do you even need more of a reason than the forecast? I hope not.
Given the run of swell, if you go for it, you may just get your best surf shot ever. Especially if you hit up Tommy Pierucki, he shoots Queens on the regular and is always making magic with his camera. He’s on Instagram at @tommypierucki. Say that I sent you and just ask nicely.
If you’ve got a friend in town who doesn’t mind you on the couch, then you’re golden. If you’re looking for a rec on where to stay (that will also keep your partner happy), read on.
Where to Stay: The ROMER House
When I rolled into Waikiki this spring, I stayed at the ROMER House — a boutique property tucked off Kūhiō Avenue, a short walk from the sand. It wasn’t on my radar before I arrived, and now I’m going to have a hard time staying anywhere else on the south shore.
If you’re booking now, the Romer Reset is the move — 20% off premium rooms, a $50 dining credit at 855-Aloha, late checkout at 1 PM, and the resort fee waived. Two-night minimum. Otherwise, rates start at $209 a night. For the quality, and location, that’s a tough offer to beat.
The location is the main draw. You’re not on the beach, so it won’t break the bank, but you’re only a few minutes’ walk from Queens, a short cruise from the bowls at Ala Moana, and within good distance of basically everything else in town — Chinatown’s bar scene, the hip spots downtown, and plenty of beautiful spots to take in the sunset. All made easy by the free cruiser bikes ROMER hands out to guests. Grab one in the morning, point it wherever, and you’ve solved the parking problem that is notorious for missions in town. I left the car in the garage until I checked out.
And the cruisers aren’t the only gift. Through partnerships with Beach Candy Waikiki and Queens Arbor, ROMER can hook you up with beach gear, umbrellas, and loungers — as the Aussies say, ‘too easy’.
ROMER House
The on-site food and drink program is batting above its class for a hotel this size. 855-Aloha is the kitchen — a modern take on nostalgic Hawai’i favorites, leaning local with island growers and fresh fish. I ate there four times and loved every bite. The Lei Stand handles the cocktail side — and it’s worth knowing it made its name as a popular Honolulu bar before it opened the location inside the hotel. Meaning it’s not a hotel bar trying to feel like a real one. It’s a real bar that happens to be in a hotel. I had a hard time not stopping in on the way back to my room each evening.
ROMER House
The Backyard — ROMER’s pool and cabana deck — is also worth mention. It’s the kind of space that makes you actually want to spend a midday hour there rather than fleeing to the beach for a quick dip. Helps that ROMER is adults-only — no shrieking, no splash wars, no kids running past your towel toward the deep end. Just lounging. Read a book. Have a drink. Take a nap. Reset. There’s also a steady drip of complimentary programming for guests — Thursday-evening Hula Happy Hour, Friday-morning yoga.
One night, I caught a comedy show at Hawaiian Brian’s and then hit Chinatown afterwards for a stop at the EP Bar — where the cocktails hit like magic and the thousands of records lining the walls make you reminisce about the golden days of music. The scene itself was exactly what I like, not too hectic and far from dead. Doesn’t hurt that I was talking story with Sky Allen from Dark Seas, we had our fair share of laughs. I made it home relatively early because the surf was beckoning, and the goal was to get to Queens before the rest of town woke up.
Chris Dodds
All in all, there are plenty of options in town, but ROMER hit the spot. Affordable, stylish, comfortbale and well-run options in town are few and far between. They’re not trying to sell you on the mega-tourist version of Hawai’i. It’s just a dope hotel in the middle of one of the great surf cities on earth. The lobby is filled with stunning images by Arto Saari, and the vibe — from the rooms to the pool to the bar — is the kind I don’t mind staying in for a while.
No passport needed. Flights are reasonable. The waves are world-class. Pack light. Bring some good foam and be ready to score. The cruiser is waiting in the lobby, and the wave is breaking down the street.
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