The Twin Fin is worth booking if you reserve an Oceanfront room and will actually use the beach gear its fee pays for. It is the 645-room former Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, renovated and reopened in November 2022, and it sits across Kalakaua Avenue from Kuhio Beach at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. The catch is a $56 daily amenity fee ($66.48 with Oahu’s 18.712% tax), valet-only parking at $60 + tax a night, and standard rooms of 264 to 324 square feet with double beds rather than queens.
Twin Fin Waikiki Verdict (November 2026)
- Room to book: Oceanfront with Lanai (324 sq ft). It is the only standard category sold as oceanfront, looking out on the Pacific and Waikiki Beach.
- Real fee: $56 + tax = $66.48 per room per night, or $332.39 for 5 nights. It includes three Beach Candy rental credits per room per night.
- Parking: valet only, $60 + tax per night. There is no self-parking.
- Best for: couples and friends who want a lanai over Kuhio Beach, beginner surfers, dog owners and groups of 7 to 10 who can use the connecting two- and three-bedroom suites.
- Skip if: you want a hotel directly on the sand, queen beds for four adults, room service or a large standard room.
Compare Twin Fin and Nearby Waikiki Hotel Rates
What The Twin Fin Is: The Former Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel
Many booking sites still use the old name: The Twin Fin is the former Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel at 2570 Kalakaua Avenue. Highgate reopened it on November 1, 2022 after a multimillion-dollar renovation and runs it as part of its Hawaii collection. The launch announcement listed 645 guest rooms, 48 of them two- and three-bedroom suites. The name comes from a two-fin surfboard, and the surf theme runs through the property: Surfline cameras and an in-room surf channel, the Jamie O’Brien School of Surf on site, and a Beach Candy rental shop downstairs. The renovation added mid-century touches, but the rooms stayed compact.
2026 Price: Amenity Fee, What It Includes and the Tax
The hotel’s FAQ lists a Resort Amenity Fee of $56 per room per night, plus 4.712% general excise tax and 14% transient accommodations tax (11% state plus 3% Oahu). That is 18.712% in total, so you pay $66.48 a night. Here is what that money covers, according to the hotel:
- Three Beach Candy credits per room per night for body boards, stand-up paddle boards, beach chairs, umbrellas or a Bluetooth speaker. Surf lessons cost extra.
- In-room internet for up to four devices, and local, toll-free, domestic and international calls.
- Pool towels, the fitness center (5:30 AM to 10 PM) and daily resort activities.
- A Keurig coffee maker with coffee replenished daily, two water bottles per stay with filtered refill stations, and reef-friendly sunscreen on request.
- An in-room safe.
| Charge (as of November 2026) | Before tax | With tax | 5 nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amenity fee | $56 per room per night | $66.48 (18.712%) | $332.39 |
| Valet parking (only option) | $60 per night | $60 + tax | $300 + tax |
| Late check-out | $30 per hour, up to 6 PM | Not stated | Not applicable |
| Dog fee (up to 75 lb) | $100 per stay, non-refundable | Not stated | $100 |
| Coconut Club breakfast add-on | $55 per day for up to 2 guests | Not stated | $275 |
A 5-night example: at an example rate of $300 a night (not a quote), the room costs $1,780.68 with tax. Add the fee and you reach $2,113.07 for two people before parking. If you bring a car, valet adds $300 plus tax. The hotel’s own site also offers length-of-stay discounts on direct bookings: 10% for 1 to 2 nights, 15% for 3 to 4, 20% for 5 to 6 and 25% for 7 or more. At a 20% discount, the same stay drops to $1,756.94 including the fee, so compare the direct price with Booking.com before you pay. Our Waikiki resort fees list shows how $56 compares with other hotels.
Before you book: most reservations take a two-night room-and-tax deposit and can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival, the hotel is cashless, the minimum check-in age is 18, and smoking or vaping in a room brings a $500 fee.
Location: The Diamond Head End, Across From Kuhio Beach
The Twin Fin is not beachfront. It stands on the mountain side of Kalakaua Avenue, and the hotel describes Kuhio Beach Park as just across the street. That stretch has breakwalls that create calmer swimming basins, plus a lawn, a promenade and the Kuhio Beach hula mound. Kapiʻolani Park and the Honolulu Zoo are a short walk toward Diamond Head. Our Waikiki beach zones guide explains where the water is calm and where the surf schools gather.
The hotel does not run an airport shuttle. It says the drive from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport takes about 25 to 35 minutes and recommends Roberts Hawaii for transfers. Our airport to Waikiki guide compares rideshares, shuttles and TheBus W Line.
Rooms and Views: Which Categories Really See the Ocean
This is where guests win or lose at The Twin Fin: the room names sound alike, and the room with the better view is not always the bigger one. Here is how the hotel describes each category as of November 2026:
| Category | Size | Beds (max guests) | View, per the hotel | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanfront with Lanai | 324 sq ft | 1 King or 2 Doubles (4) | Pacific Ocean and Waikiki Beach from a step-out lanai | The one to book |
| Ocean View with Lanai | 264 sq ft | 1 King or 2 Doubles (4) | Pacific views from the lanai | Smallest room with a water view |
| Partial Ocean View | 312 sq ft | 1 King or 2 Doubles (4) | Partial views of the Pacific; lanai | More space, sideways view |
| City View Room | 264 sq ft | 1 King or 2 Doubles (4) | City views; lanai | No ocean view |
| Diamond Head View Triple Doubles | 312 sq ft | 3 Doubles (4) | Diamond Head and the park | Three beds; no ocean claimed |
| Ocean View Jr. Suite with Lanai | 430 sq ft | King, double and sofa sleeper (4) | Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach | Most space for 2 to 4 |
| Two-Bedroom Ocean View Jr. Suite | 734–838 sq ft | King, 2 Doubles, sofa sleeper (7) | Junior suite connected to an Oceanfront room | Two families or friends |
| Three-Bedroom Ocean View Jr. Suite | 1,018 sq ft | 2 Kings, 2 Doubles, sofa sleeper (10) | Junior suite, Oceanfront and Ocean View rooms connected | Groups up to 10 |
Three details matter. First, Oceanfront is the only standard category sold as oceanfront, and the hotel says it looks out on the Pacific and Waikiki Beach. Costco Travel’s listing places these rooms on floors 5 to 19 and the city-view rooms on lower floors. Second, the hotel calls the Ocean View rooms panoramic, but they are its smallest rooms. A 2023 review on the local blog Onolicious Hawaiʻi described the ocean view from that category as a small glimpse, and the writer paid to upgrade to Oceanfront at check-in. Third, the two-bed rooms have two doubles, not two queens. Four adults will find that tight, while a family with two children will be fine.
Roll-in-shower accessible rooms exist in the Partial Ocean View and Oceanfront categories. Rooms have a mini fridge (microwaves on request), housekeeping is every other day unless you ask for daily service, and there is no self-service laundry. For how Waikiki hotels use view labels in general, see ocean view vs oceanfront explained.
How to Avoid a Disappointing View
Book Oceanfront with Lanai directly or on a rate that names that category, not a run-of-house rate. If you already booked Ocean View or Partial Ocean View, ask at check-in what an Oceanfront upgrade costs for your dates. City View rooms do not look at the ocean, and the Diamond Head View Triple Doubles face the park and the crater.
Pool, Beach Candy Credits and Dining
Pool: the ocean-view pool deck is on the upper lobby level next to Tiki’s Grill & Bar and has six cabanas, added in the renovation. It is open 8 AM to 8 PM with no lifeguard on duty. It is a lounging pool, not a family water park.
Beach Candy credits: the fee includes three credits per room per night, not per guest. Beach Candy, in the same building, is open from 7 AM to 6 PM. Its Twin Fin page lists beach chairs, umbrellas, Bluetooth speakers, body boards and stand-up paddle boards as no-cost items for guests, and the hotel says you reserve rentals when you arrive. Surfboards and coolers are listed separately, so ask whether a credit covers them. Lessons with the Jamie O’Brien School of Surf are paid unless you book the hotel’s Surf & Stay package, which includes a lesson and a surfboard rental. A 2023 guest account advises going early because popular items can run out. Our Waikiki surf lessons guide covers the breaks at Canoes and Queens nearby.
- Tiki’s Grill & Bar (third floor): open 11 AM to midnight daily, with live contemporary Hawaiian music every night and ocean views from the rail.
- The Coconut Club (21st floor): breakfast from 6:30 to 10 AM for hotel guests only. You can add it for $55 a day for up to two guests, or book the Breakfast Above The Beach offer.
- Sunrise Shack: smoothies, acai bowls and coffee.
- Sin-Ice-Stir shave ice, and Kuʻai Market, a small market on the first floor.
- No room service.
Who Should Book The Twin Fin (and Who Should Skip It)
Pros
- Oceanfront lanai rooms across the street from Kuhio Beach at a mid-range price level
- Three Beach Candy credits per room per night for boards, chairs and umbrellas
- Connecting two- and three-bedroom suites that sleep up to 7 or 10
- Dogs up to 75 lb allowed ($100 per stay); early check-in on request at no charge
Cons
- $56 + tax amenity fee ($66.48), even if you never use the beach gear
- Valet-only parking at $60 + tax; no self-parking
- Compact rooms, and two doubles instead of two queens
- No room service, no spa, no EV charging and no self-service laundry
- Book it for a lanai over the surf, daily paddle boards or chairs, surf lessons, or connecting rooms for 7 to 10 friends. Bigger parties should see our Waikiki hotels for large groups.
- Skip it if you want beachfront with no road to cross, queen beds for four adults, a car parked all week, or room service and a spa.
Is The Twin Fin Worth It?
Yes, for the right room and the right traveler. An Oceanfront room gives you a front-row lanai over Kuhio Beach, and the fee comes back to you as beach gear if you use it. The 2023 guest account mentioned above says each credit covered one item per day, so three credits could mean two chairs and an umbrella every day of your stay. The value falls apart in a City View room, where you pay the same $66.48 fee to look at the city, and if you never touch the beach gear or need valet every night. If price matters most, our cheap Waikiki hotels ranking lists hotels with lower all-in costs.
Twin Fin vs Wayfinder vs Queen Kapiolani
| Twin Fin | Wayfinder | Queen Kapiolani | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Waikiki (Across from Kuhio Beach) | Waikiki Canal Side (Tusitala St) | Waikiki East (Kapiolani Park / Honolulu Zoo) |
| Price level | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Resort fee | $56 + 18.71% tax per night ($66.48/night total) | $37 + 18.71% tax per night ($43.92/night total) | $50 + 18.71% tax per night ($59.36/night total) |
| Parking | Valet-only $60/night + tax | Valet-only $49/night ($57 oversized vehicles); if valet is full, self-parking at a neighboring hotel $35/24 hrs (no in/out); free EV charging | Valet $60/night + tax |
| Check-in / out | 4:00 PM / 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM / 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM / 11:00 AM |
| Beach access | Across Kalakaua Ave from Kuhio Beach (30 yards to sand) | About an 8–9 minute walk (roughly 650 m / 0.4 mile) to Kuhio Beach | 2-minute walk (150 yards) to Kuhio Beach & Queen's Surf Beach |
| Rates | Check rates | Check rates | Check rates |
- Choose The Twin Fin for the ocean view and the included beach gear across from Kuhio Beach. Our Twin Fin vs Wayfinder vs Romer House comparison goes deeper on the boutique choice.
- Choose Wayfinder if a lower fee ($37 + tax, or $43.92) and a canal-side base matter more than seeing the water, and you don’t mind the walk to the sand.
- Choose Queen Kapiolani if you would rather wake up to Diamond Head and Kapiʻolani Park than to the ocean, for a $50 + tax fee ($59.36). Read our Queen Kapiolani Hotel review.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the resort fee at The Twin Fin Waikiki?
The Twin Fin charges a $56 Resort Amenity Fee per room per night, which comes to $66.48 with Oahu’s 18.712% tax as of November 2026. It includes three Beach Candy rental credits per room per night, internet for up to four devices, the gym, pool towels and calls.
Does The Twin Fin have parking?
Only valet parking, at $60 plus tax per night with unlimited in-and-out privileges. Self-parking is not available. The hotel’s Drive into Vacation package bundles a rental car with free daily valet.
Is The Twin Fin on the beach?
No. It is across Kalakaua Avenue from Kuhio Beach Park, so you cross the street to reach the sand. Hotels such as the Moana Surfrider or Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort sit directly on the beach.
What was The Twin Fin called before?
It was the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. Highgate renovated it and reopened it as The Twin Fin on November 1, 2022, and some booking sites still show the old name.
Which rooms at The Twin Fin have the best ocean view?
Oceanfront with Lanai rooms (324 square feet) are the only standard rooms sold as oceanfront, looking out on the Pacific and Waikiki Beach. Ocean View rooms are smaller at 264 square feet. Partial Ocean View rooms have sideways views, City View rooms do not look at the ocean, and the Diamond Head View Triple Doubles face the crater and the park.
What time is check-in at The Twin Fin?
Check-in starts at 4 PM and check-out is at 11 AM. You can request early check-in at no charge, subject to availability. Late check-out costs $30 per hour until 6 PM.
Sources
Photo credits
- Photo: hh oldman / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Peaceray / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
