I stayed at the Renaissance Hotel for 3 nights and 4 days. While the hotel is new and very clean, the space felt quite small, including the lobby, and there was only one dining option available. The Lamill Coffee shop only offered to-go options, which was a bit inconvenient. The surrounding area near the convention center didn’t feel very safe for walking, with a couple of questionable bars nearby. We ended up taking an Uber every day to Waikiki (about a 10-minute drive) to enjoy our time there.
The pool was also disappointing—very small and crowded. It seemed to be shared with an adjacent residential building, and there were way too many kids running around and making noise. We went to the 8th floor (where the pool is) once and never went back. The front desk calls it the “Magic Floor,” but it felt far from magical.
I don’t think I would stay here again. Despite the quieter location, I learned a valuable lesson: in Hawaii, nothing beats staying at a hotel right by the ocean, even if it’s crowded. Next time, I’ll definitely opt for a beachfront hotel in Waikiki instead.