I spent two nights last week at the FS Hualalai in an ocean view room and can report on a few further updates since our last stay.

All of the four crescents will now have bar/food/pool service. They have built a wonderful new small station with tables, chairs, and umbrellas at the Kings Pond. The staff there are dedicated to making everyone comfortable as well as answering questions about the wildlife of the pond.

The Palm Grove similarly has a new small bar station with staff dedicated to this area. They are very discrete and have successfully preserved the private secluded feeling of this crescent.

Near the Sea Shell pool they have built a water sports desk and a smoothie/ice-cream stand. This is a great addition!

I also attended my first ukulele lesson in the cultural center (free lesson). I can highly recommend attending these classes if you are interested in learning about the beautiful Hawaiian culture.

Hualalai continues to exceed my expectations as one of the worlds top beach resort destinations.

We also spent 4 nights at the Halekulani and had a very pleasant stay. This hotel reminds me of a mixture of a Ritz Carlton and a Four Seasons.

The positives:

They have a very strong concierge, often 3 clef's d'or working hard.
Their cultural program is exceptional, allowing those with Halekulani keys to gain free admission to the Palace, the Academy of Arts, and the Contemp. Art Museum (as well as others).
Every evening house keeping delivers a small lovely token gift.
Breakfast service at Orchids is exceptional.
Even the partial ocean view delivers what would be full ocean view at lesser hotels.
There is a strong effort to recognize guests by their names.
The spa services are top quality.
The internet throughout the hotel and in the rooms is complimentary.

Room for improvement:
There is no hot tub by the pool, sauna and/or steam room at the spa, or free weights in the gym.
They don't deliver periodic treats at the pool (and the attendants have plenty of time to do this).
Instead of a breakfast credit you need to present a breakfast voucher to the desk as you checkin either for the buffet or a la carte (I prefer the credit approach).
Their gift shop is straight out of the movie Cocoon (70's glamour) and they have a private store next to it which is not of the quality reflected throughout the rest of the hotel.
It would be nice if they had a hotel car for short distances.
The toiletries are substandard nondescript hotel branded.

Within the next 18 months they are going to embark on a massive room renovation. If they improve the spa, gym, and the rooms this might be a Four Seasons level quality hotel.

I also should add that the location of this hotel for access to Waikiki is exceptional. Across the street is all the best shopping along with the best restaurants, Roys, Nobu, and Alan Wong's is a short drive.

To compare I had breakfast at the Kahala and there wasn't even one concierge at 10:00 a.m. in the morning when I got there and only one harried concierge at 11:30 when I left. The rooms at the Kahala are currently larger and better decorated than the Halekulani but only by a small margin. The Halekulani renovation should reverse this comparison. The service at breakfast was not nearly as good as at the Halekulani but I did see that the Kahala serves Marriage Freres tea and makes their own jams. The dolphin experience at the Kahala, though I'm sure it attracts guests, doesn't seem large enough for the animals and would bother me if I stayed there. The beach at the Kahala is much better for lounging by the water but you can't walk to any good restaurants or shopping. If I need to be in Honolulu the Halekulani is by far my first choice.

Quick comparison of these two Honolulu hotels to the Westin Moana Surfrider: this hotel actually has the best spa facility in Honolulu. Shocking, I know. Its ocean front, with separate ladies and gentlemen facilities, saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms, excellent lounging chairs, and soothing quiet treatment rooms. This isn't a luxury hotel but they do have a luxury spa.

The Honolulu Coffee Shop has the best service and serves the best coffee I found. The Honolulu Chocolate company, in the Sheraton Waikiki mall has good chocolates though Neimans carries La Maison du Chocolate.

Aloha!