Photograph by Mariko Reed
The Waikiki Sand Villa Hotel has been rebranded as the Wayfinder Waikiki. Honolulu-based studio The Vanguard Theory redesigned the hotel, creating tropical interiors using bright colors and patterns alongside lush foliage. The refreshed property offers 228 rooms, including 10 poolside suites and two penthouse suites.
The hotel features two spots for dining: the second outpost of Redfish Poke Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and Lost + Found, a poolside speakeasy. Both were created by the hotel's culinary partner, Foodland. B-Side, a light-fare lobby coffee bar, also carries seasonal apparel and artwork by local artists.
The beach is just a five-minute walk away, and the hotel offers an on-site 70-foot saltwater lagoon pool. The pool area hosts up to 200 people for an event, and groups can take over Redfish for a dinner of 110, or a reception for up to 200.
Experiences specific to the region are available in the form of ukulele and hula lessons, lauhala weaving and floral-arranging classes. The hotel also offers exclusive off-the-beaten-path Oahu experiences specially curated with local experts and partners for a Hawaii discovery journey, including Moke vehicle rentals, tailor-made one-day itineraries and volunteer opportunities.
“Wayfinder Waikiki has been a project we’ve been carefully curating and crafting with talented local collaborators since its inception to offer a truly unique, boutique hotel, and we can’t wait for the community and visitors to check out what Wayfinder is all about,” said Phil Hospod, CEO and founder of Dovetail + Co., which owns the property.