By Guy WIlkinson
The Modern Honolulu.
THE PLACE
The Modern Honolulu, 1775 Ala Moana Boulevard Honolulu.
When it comes to hotels, I have an unashamed bias, invariably leaning more towards colonial style set-ups with a whiff of old school grandeur. So it was not without a degree of scepticism that I opted to stay at the Modern Honolulu. Visions of faded pink carpets and pastel green walls plagued my mind; ill-fitting floral shirts and Tom Selleck moustaches.
The Modern Honolulu, understated chic.
But how wrong I was. The moment you enter this hotel; you can't help but be struck by the air of offbeat cool meets minimalist chic. Behind reception, a sculpture of broken surfboards lends a burst of colour to the otherwise neutral colour scheme while on the far wall, a bookcase filled with intriguing knick-knacks later opens out to reveal one of the hottest cocktail bars in town. It's the kind of place that prompts an almost giddy desire to explore further even before you've been handed your room key.
THE LOCATION
Facing the harbour front around 1.5 kilometres from Waikiki Beach and a brief stroll to the shopping hubs of Kalakaua Avenue and the Ala Moana Shopping Centre. While it's on the outskirts of Waikiki, this is no bad thing, as you feel just far enough removed from the chaos while still being only a short cab ride away from the city and downtown area.
Where offbeat cool and minimalism meet.
THE ROOMS
The hotel has 353 rooms ranging from 31.5 to 279 square metres. My one-bedroom, ocean-front suite is a vision of modern minimalism, with a clean white and beige colour palette and twin balconies overlooking the ocean.
A separate lounge area contains a flat-screen TV, sofas and a small work desk. Besides the mod cons, it's the little touches that impress. A collection of sarongs hanging on hooks beside the door are free for guests to use (hey my wife was pleased) while outside, the room numbers are spelt out beside nautical style lighting.
A sculpture of broken surfboards lends a burst of colour to the reception at the Modern Honolulu.
THE FOOD
For casual dining, The Grove and Passageway offer solid standard fare from tacos to seafood dishes, both restaurants having views over the adjacent Sunrise Pool and harbour. But it's Morimoto, conceived and spearheaded by executive chef Masaharu Morimoto that's the ace in the pack. With an emphasis on local seafood, signature dishes include ishi yaki buri bop, yellowtail seared before you on a hot stone bowl or even whitefish served in yuzu soy and hot ginger oil. For a nightcap or aperitif, each evening at 5pm The Study becomes The Lobby Bar when the bookcase near reception is pushed open to reveal a speakeasy style set up with drinks named after classic literary works. And from Thursday through to Saturday, those looking to push on can do so at Addiction, the hotel's onsite nightclub where DJs spin tunes for Honolulu's "beautiful people" until the small hours.
STEPPING OUT
The Modern Honolulu offers plenty of alternatives for dining and drinks.Credit: Hopper Stone/stonefoto.com
With beaches, a family-friendly lagoon and tons of shopping options on the doorstep, it's easy to stay put but it's worth a 10-minute cab ride to the heritage-listed area of downtown Honolulu in and around Chinatown.
Here you'll find the Hawaii Theatre, a neoclassical beauty dating back to 1922 as well as Lucky Belly, home to the best ramen in town. Nearby Manifest is a cracking little bar as is The Livestock Tavern. It's also a hub for more boutique shopping options.
THE VERDICT
In a city not synonymous with tasteful understatement, this hotel is an oasis of just that. Though the decor is intentionally simple; clever touches such as art installations from local surfing hero-turned-artist, Herbie Fletcher, as well the aforementioned Study/Lobby Bar add a touch of off-kilter panache.
HOW TO GET THERE
The hotel is about 20 minutes from the international airport.
ESSENTIALS
Rooms at the Modern Honolulu start at US$309. See themodernhonolulu.com
HIGHLIGHT
The outdoor Sunrise and Sunset Pool areas are delightful places to kick back amid the surrounding skyscrapers of Honolulu.
LOWLIGHT
Service was occasionally a little slow at the poolside bar and restaurant when busy.
*Guy Wilkinson was a guest of the Modern Honolulu.
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