Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts, often searched as “Ka Lai Waikiki,” is the former Trump International Hotel Waikiki. After a $100 million renovation finished in July 2026, it is one of the best apartment-style luxury stays in Waikiki, with kitchenettes in every room and full kitchens plus washer/dryers in the suites. Our Ka Lai Waikiki Beach review in one line: book it for space and Hilton Honors, but budget for the $40 nightly resort fee ($47.48 with tax) and $55 valet, and expect a five-minute walk to the sand.
Our Verdict on Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach
- Book it for: families, groups and long stays that will use a one- or two-bedroom suite with a real kitchen and laundry, Hilton Honors members booking direct, and travelers who prefer the calmer west end of Waikiki by Fort DeRussy Park.
- Think twice if: you want a beachfront hotel, a big resort pool for kids or a luxury stay with no resort fee.
- Best value: a Deluxe Partial Ocean View room for couples, or a one-bedroom suite (about 745–795 sq ft) for families, which costs less than two hotel rooms.
Compare Ka Laʻi and Nearby Waikiki Hotel Rates
From Trump Waikiki to Ka Laʻi: What Changed
The 38-story tower on Saratoga Road opened in 2009 as the Trump International Hotel Waikiki. In late 2023 its owner, Irongate, agreed to buy out the Trump management and license agreements, and in February 2024 Hilton took over under LXR Hotels & Resorts, its collection of independent luxury hotels. (The first announced name, Wākea Waikiki Beach, was dropped before launch.) It is LXR’s first hotel in Hawaii.
The renovation, led by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio with Guerin Glass Architects, was done in phases while the hotel stayed open and wrapped up in July 2026. It covered the rooms and suites, lobby, pool deck, Spa Ka Laʻi and corridors, and replaced the old Waiʻolu and In-Yō restaurants with three new venues. Hilton’s relaunch announcement lists 238 keys, all residential-style studios and suites. The tower was built as a condo-hotel, which is why even standard rooms have kitchenettes. In October 2026, Condé Nast Traveler readers put Ka Laʻi on their 2026 list of the top 10 hotels in Hawaii.
One loose end: The Points Guy’s July 2026 stay found minor finishing work still under way and no in-room streaming yet, because Hilton’s Connected Room technology was still being installed. Ask about both at check-in.
Rooms and Suites: Sizes, Kitchens and What to Book
Even the entry rooms are big by Waikiki standards, but the suites are the reason to stay here. Sizes and floors below come from the hotel’s category descriptions on Costco Travel.
| Category | Approx. size | Floors | Beds | Kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior City View / Partial Ocean View | 400 sq ft | 8–15 / 16–23 | 1 king | Kitchenette |
| Deluxe City, Partial Ocean or Ocean View | 500–550 sq ft | 8–23 | 1 king + sofa bed, or 2 doubles | Kitchenette |
| Deluxe One-Bedroom Suite | 745–795 sq ft | 8–23 | King + sofa bed | Full kitchen |
| Premium One-Bedroom Suite with Den | 1,025–1,120 sq ft | 9–23 and top floors | King + pull-out sofa in den | Full kitchen |
| Two-Bedroom Suites (Deluxe, Grand, Premium) | 1,140–1,660 sq ft | 9–34 | King + queen, some with a den | Full kitchen |
The suite kitchens are fully equipped, with a fridge, stovetop, oven, dishwasher and a bar sink, and The Points Guy’s one-bedroom suite had an in-unit washer and dryer stocked with detergent. Costco Travel’s listing says studios have laundry too, but its own amenity list says “some rooms,” so confirm it for your exact category if laundry matters. Bathrooms have deep soaking tubs, marble finishes, Byredo toiletries and heated Japanese-style toilet seats, and most units have a lanai.
View strategy: rooms facing Fort DeRussy look over the park’s trees to the ocean, and with a park rather than towers in front, those views are unlikely to be blocked. City View rooms look over Waikiki’s buildings instead. Partial Ocean View, on floors 16–23, is usually the sweet spot between price and the Pacific. Families of five or six should compare the two-bedroom suites with our guide to Waikiki hotels for a family of 5 or 6, and if a kitchen is your main criterion, see our full kitchen and washer/dryer shortlist.
Ka Lai Waikiki Beach Review: The Resort Fee and the True Cost
Ka Laʻi charges a mandatory resort fee of $40 per night, which comes to $47.48 with Oahu’s 18.712% tax (the 11% state TAT in effect since January 1, 2026, plus the 3% Oahu TAT and the 4.712% GET pass-through, as our Oahu hotel tax guide explains). According to the hotel’s fee description, it covers:
- High-speed internet
- Beach gear: chairs, umbrellas and beach toys, plus beach bags with towels and water
- Pool snacks and treats, and Hawaiian coffee and tea in the lobby
- Reusable water bottles with refill stations around the hotel
- PressReader digital newspapers and magazines
Parking is valet only, about $55 a night, with no self-parking. Check-in is 4 PM and check-out is noon, and the main guest must be at least 21. The table uses example rates, not quotes, to show how the extras stack up.
| Per night | Example: $500 room | Example: $800 suite |
|---|---|---|
| Room rate | $500.00 | $800.00 |
| Tax on room (18.712%) | $93.56 | $149.70 |
| Resort fee $40 + tax | $47.48 | $47.48 |
| All-in per night, no car | $641.04 | $997.18 |
| 5 nights, no car | $3,205.22 | $4,985.90 |
| 5 nights with valet (about $55/night) | $3,480.22+ | $5,260.90+ |
For context on real prices, The Points Guy saw entry rooms from $514 a night in July 2026, and a rate check on October 19, 2026 found Deluxe Partial Ocean View rooms at $710–$730 and one-bedroom suites at $1,035 for sample nights in early December, before tax and fees. Treat these as typical rates as of October 2026.
Ka Laʻi Is Not a No-Resort-Fee Hotel
Some older lists group Ka Laʻi with Waikiki’s fee-free luxury hotels. That is no longer true: the $40 fee is mandatory unless a package waives it, as some vacation packages have. If avoiding resort fees is your priority, start with our list of Waikiki hotels without resort fees.
Pool, Spa and Dining After the Renovation
The pool is an infinity-edge pool with a hot tub on the 6th-floor deck, looking over Fort DeRussy toward the ocean, with new cabanas from the renovation. Loungers are first-come, first-served, and servers take food and drink orders, with poolside dining from 11 AM to 6 PM. It is a pretty spot for a sunset swim, but it’s a single pool and hot tub rather than a resort pool complex, so families who want a full pool day should look at the big beachfront resorts. The fitness center is open 24 hours, and the refreshed Spa Ka Laʻi offers Hawaiian-inspired treatments. In July 2026 it was open Wednesday through Sunday only, so don’t count on a treatment on a Monday or Tuesday.
All three restaurants are new, under Executive Chef Yoshi Ohata. Prices below were reported in July 2026:
- The Kini Room: the 86-seat signature restaurant, serving modern Hawaii and Pacific Rim cooking, such as a $38 bento box and $45 yuzu miso cod.
- Muse Lounge: the cocktail bar in the redesigned lobby, with Hawaiian-inspired drinks (a $22 mai tai) and small plates, and a 4–6 PM happy hour.
- Bloom Cafe & Restaurant: breakfast and lunch in a garden-style room. The $48 Ohana Breakfast adds up fast for a family.
- In-room extras: room service, grocery delivery, private chef services and in-room poke kits from $60.
With those prices, the kitchen is your best money-saver. Stock up on breakfast and snacks on day one using our Waikiki grocery guide, and save the restaurants for one or two dinners.
Location: Fort DeRussy Across the Street, Sand in Five Minutes
Ka Laʻi stands at 223 Saratoga Road, just off Waikiki Beach Walk, with Fort DeRussy Beach Park directly across the road. The walk to the sand is about five minutes, through the park or along the Beach Walk side streets, and the chairs, umbrella and towel bag included in the resort fee make it easy. This is a walk-to-the-beach hotel, not a beachfront one: you won’t hear the surf from your lanai. Halekulani and Halepuna are a few blocks east, and the airport is about 20 minutes away in light traffic, with rideshares from about $40 each way.
Hilton Honors: Points, Perks and the Booking.com Catch
Ka Laʻi earns and redeems Hilton Honors points. Standard award nights have started at 100,000 points, but the sample December 2026 nights above were priced at 222,000–228,000 points for a Deluxe room that cost $710–$730 in cash. That works out to only about 0.32 cents per point, so paying cash is usually the better deal. Hilton elites get the fifth night free on standard award stays. At US hotels, Gold and Diamond members receive a daily food-and-beverage credit instead of free breakfast, and at LXR properties it has been $25 per person for up to two guests.
Booking.com vs Booking Direct with Hilton
Hilton does not award points or elite benefits on stays booked through third-party sites such as Booking.com. If you hold Gold or Diamond status, book on hilton.com. If you don’t, compare the total price and cancellation terms on both and take the cheaper one.
Ka Laʻi vs Other Suite-Style Luxury in Waikiki
The closest rival is the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, a few blocks inland. It also has kitchens and laundry and charges no resort fee, and it has two pools, including an adults-only one, but it is a longer walk to the beach. Our Ritz-Carlton Residences vs Ka Laʻi comparison puts them side by side. Halekulani, on the sand at Gray’s Beach, has no resort fee and no kitchens. Our Halekulani vs Ka Laʻi comparison covers that choice in depth.
| Hotel | Area | Price level | Resort fee | Parking | Beach access | Booking.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts | Waikiki West (Fort DeRussy Park) | Luxury | $40 + 18.71% tax per night ($47.48/night total) | Valet-only $55/night | Across Saratoga Rd from Fort DeRussy Beach Park; about a 5-minute walk to the sand | Check prices |
| The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach | Waikiki Luxury Row (Kalaimoku / Kuhio) | Luxury | None ($0 mandatory resort fee) | Valet only $60/night + tax (no self-parking) | About 0.4 miles (8-10 minute walk) to Waikiki Beach, crossing Kalakaua Ave | Check prices |
| Halekulani | Waikiki Beachfront (Gray's Beach) | Luxury | None ($0 mandatory resort fee) | Overnight parking $68/night (valet & self-parking) | True beachfront (directly on the oceanfront at Gray's Beach) | Check prices |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Apartment-sized units: 400 sq ft entry rooms and one-bedroom suites from about 745 sq ft
- Kitchenettes in every room, and full kitchens and washer/dryers in the suites
- Fully renovated in 2026, with new restaurants, lobby bar, spa and pool deck
- Earns Hilton Honors points, and Gold and Diamond members get a daily dining credit when booking direct
- Quiet west-end location with park and ocean views
Cons
- $40 nightly resort fee ($47.48 with tax)
- Valet-only parking at about $55 a night
- Just one pool, and about a five-minute walk to the beach
- 4 PM check-in, and the spa was closed Monday and Tuesday in July 2026
Who Should Book Ka Laʻi
Book it if you want a luxury apartment rather than a hotel room: families who will cook breakfast and run a load of beach towels, groups sharing a two-bedroom suite, remote workers on a long stay, and Hilton loyalists. Skip it if your idea of Waikiki is stepping from the lobby onto the sand, if your kids need a big pool with slides, or if every dollar of resort fee annoys you. In those cases, a beachfront resort or a no-fee hotel will feel like better value.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach charge a resort fee?
Yes. The resort fee is $40 per night, or $47.48 with Oahu’s 18.712% tax. It covers Wi-Fi, beach chairs, umbrellas and towel bags, pool snacks, lobby coffee and tea, reusable water bottles and PressReader.
Is Ka Laʻi the old Trump hotel in Waikiki?
Yes. The tower opened in 2009 as the Trump International Hotel Waikiki, became Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach under Hilton’s LXR brand in February 2024, and completed a roughly $100 million renovation in July 2026.
Do Ka Laʻi rooms have kitchens and washer/dryers?
Standard rooms have kitchenettes, and the one- and two-bedroom suites have full kitchens with a stovetop, oven and dishwasher, plus an in-unit washer/dryer. Laundry in studios varies, so confirm it for your room type.
Is there self-parking at Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach?
No. Parking is covered valet only, at about $55 per night, and EV charging is available. Many guests skip a car in Waikiki and rent one only for North Shore or east-side days.
How far is Ka Laʻi from Waikiki Beach?
About a five-minute walk. Fort DeRussy Beach Park is directly across Saratoga Road, and the hotel lends beach chairs, umbrellas and towel bags as part of the resort fee.
Do I earn Hilton Honors points if I book Ka Laʻi on Booking.com?
No. Hilton doesn’t award points or elite benefits on third-party bookings. If status perks like the daily dining credit matter to you, book direct. Otherwise, compare the total price and cancellation terms.
