First and foremost we highly recommend this hotel. It is in a quieter part of Waikiki which in our opinion was fantastic as you have a more relaxing and paradisical experience in the area. Also, for the price it is a great value as other hotels of the same quality will charge more per night for the same types of views.

We stayed in room 1221 (Ocean View Premium) and you cannot, absolutely cannot beat the views. We had two lanai's,one with a view of the ocean and Diamond Head and the other smaller one that looks out into the city and other mountains. The room was large and very clean. A few other reviewers commented on the stained carpet, there was a stain by the door but truly this was not a deal breaker. The room still felt up to date and modern. Also, people have commented on the TV's as they are not new flat screens, this was also not a deal breaker. I did not feel that I was lacking anything because the TV is an older style. The bed was super comfortable and it does have a feather mattress on top. This was not a problem, I did not experience it moving or becoming uncomfortable during the night. The bathroom does not have a tub, which was fine as we never take baths, but in a premium room one might expect to have a little more luxury and I would say that a few more amenities could be offered in the bathroom. The shampoo and conditioner and lotion were great, but when paying for one of the nicest rooms in the hotel it would be nice to see something special in the room. For example a shaving kit, or maybe cotton swabs....something to up the value of what you are paying for.

There is not restaurant in the hotel although we were told two would be opening within the year. The hotel next door has a fabulous breakfast and as it has been mentioned it is pricey but maybe worth it one or two times. The "hidden" breakfast gem is located about a 5 minute walk toward busy Waikiki, Queens Surf Cafe & Lanai is super, super cheap by any standard and absolutely delicious. We were blown away. It is worth it for both breakfast and dinner. The pancakes were great and the lox was the best we ever had (no joke). That being said - we did not have a problem with the hotel offering no food or dining service. We ordered pizza one night and it was delivered to the room within 30 min.

Back to the hotel - there is coffee service in the mornings and they serve wine from 4 - 6pm in the lobby which is a very nice touch (Gnarly Head Red). They offer free beach towels, chairs and mats and the beach is about 2 mins. from the front of the hotel. You can also take a ride on the complimentary beach cruisers they provide. All of these amenities came in handy for us and made our experience at the hotel very enjoyable. The only thing I would have liked was possible snorkel rental or sales. Otherwise, you have to bring your own or walk to the busier part of Waikiki to rent it. Parking is pricey at $20 but I believe it is one of the cheaper prices as compared to other hotels in Waikiki. You can park on the street at the meters but it will probably be a hassle and the street parking seemed to always be taken.

The staff at the hotel was fantastic and friendly! No one was a problem for us and they all were knowledgeable and quick to deal with any problems. Travis the valet is fantastic. He recommend the Diamond Head Market and Grill for lunch and it was great. He was also very quick to get our car and patient as we had to get in and out of it several times. Carissa at the front desk was really nice and personable and helped us obtain a room on a high floor for extra special views. Two thumbs up for the staff!

It you want a smaller hotel with amazing views, comfortable beds, and friendly staff this hotel is the place for you. If you like more action and want the hustle and bustle of a big resort like the Hilton or Royal Hawaiian in the heart of busy Waikiki, this will not be a good fit. The Aqua Lotus is a fabulous hotel and will only get better once their restaurants open.

20 minutes walk from the centre of Waikiki beach activity a nice, clean, pleasant place. Parking fee of 20$ is to much, but overall there is a good value for the money. Beach 250 meters away. Quiet place.

Well located hotel ten - fiteen minutes walk from central Waikiki, so in a quiet location opposite a park. Very close to the beach, but not on it. This is a good 3 star hotel. Our room was large with two good quality double beds. The bathroom was also a good size. Everything was clean and well maintained. The room had a view to diamond head and look the other way to see the ocean. We didn't eat there so no comment on dining experience.
We actually had brekkie at a little roadside cafe up near Kahuku. It was the best breakfast! The smoothies were sensational. Sorry can't remember the name of it.

I have been staying at this hotel for five years, typically every three or four times a year for a week at a time (It is a former W Hotel). I come to Honolulu for business and appreciate that it is quiet and off the beaten path, but accessible to Waikiki. Just fifty rooms, five rooms per floor and easy in/out access valet parking. They are not on the beach but have towels, chairs and bikes for guest use. The beach is 100 yards away and is small and swimable. They also have complimentary coffee service in the AM, complimentary wine in the PM and free internet.
Staff is very friendly and accomodating.
What prevents an excellent rating is lack of on site food service. I understand that this is coming in summer 2012.