Aqua-Aston Hospitality’s Hottest Oahu News

Got clients looking for chic, budget-friendly resorts in the Aloha State this spring and beyond?

Travel Agent breaks down the hottest Aqua-Aston Hospitality news for Oahu-bound travelers. 

Waikiki Welcomes Largest Holiday Inn Express in the Americas

Second only in size to the 1,002-room Holiday Inn Express Changbaishan in China, the 596-room Holiday Inn Express Honolulu-Waikiki opened its doors to the public for the first time in February. 

A mid-priced “express” option, this hotel is the first hotel in the Holiday Inn Express portfolio to include the new Formula Blue design scheme, and is the only one of its kind on Oahu.

Guest amenities include a complimentary breakfast buffet, free 24-hour coffee service, and a variety of amenities on the fifth floor sky deck, such as a new pool and jet spa; nine-hole mini-golf; ping pong, foosball, giant chess, and shuffle board; interactive kids' game room with Wii consoles; and a fitness center. 

As an added value, guests can receive a $50 discount on any activity or tour booked at the hotel activities desk, with parasailing, zip lining, sunset cruises, luaus, access to the Polynesian Cultural Center and Pearl Harbor tours, and more offered.

Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club Launches Hawaii’s “Changemakers Exchange” Program

The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in Waikiki hosted poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner in February to launch the hotel’s new Changemakers Exchange – a program that will include a series of presentations by artists, community leaders, activists, and entrepreneurs born around the world who seek to make a positive difference.  

A Marshallese artist, climate change activist, and spoken-word performer, Jetnil-Kijiner famously received a standing ovation when she opened the United Nations Climate Summit attended by world leaders in New York City. She is the first artist to participate in the hotel’s Changemakers Exchange program. 

Jetnil-Kijiner is visiting Honolulu as part of the first Honolulu Biennial, a new arts festival running until May 8 that celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Hawaii by showcasing contemporary art from the Americas, Pacific, and Asian continent to foster greater intercultural exchange, cultural diplomacy, and understanding through art.  

Aston Waikiki Beach Tower's New Rooftop Deck 

Following a $4 million renovation, Aston Waikiki Beach Tower now offers a new luxury and community recreation deck for guests. This fourth-floor gathering level includes a new outdoor pool, barbecue grills, private cabanas, a beautiful ocean view fitness center and a sunset deck which will host a daily manager's reception, alternating between adult wine tastings and family-friendly events.

Visit www.aqua-aston.com