White Sands Hotel

literally nothing

Loved the happy hour at the kitchy bar and the coconut prawns! Room was big and bed was comfortable. Staff were great; helpful and friendly. Location was great and easy to get around Waikiki just walking

The rooms are cute but old and dirty.

La posizione è il clima giovane

Lokalizacja była świetna, wszędzie blisko, na miejscu basen, restauracja i bar co prawda nam nie udało się skorzystać, ale raz jak zajrzeliśmy było sporo ludzi, co do obsługi to przemiła i mega pomocna, kawa na miejscu i muffiny dobre, pokój fajnie ze klimatyzowany i łóżka wygodne

Incredible experience in every aspect. Simple and quaint and exactly what I needed for some respite. Sean Paul was an incredible host and took care of me the entire time and I couldn’t be more grateful

Had a great time! Great drinks and Mason was awesome! He made our night!

Incredible fun blast from the past. Why stay at a boring run of the mill Waikiki hotel where they all look like each other and all have the same stuff when you can stay at an original where it feels original and you feel original. And the hot tub with the waterfall is so fun. The people who work there are lovely and kind and it is great value for money.

Great stay, cold a/c, daily free water, tea, and slushies, cute robes provided, and helpful amenities. Walking distance to the beach, shopping, and restaurants. We would stay again.

After spending four nights at White Sands, I can honestly say this hotel is one of the most charming and frustrating places we’ve stayed—and I mean that in the best possible way.

My husband summed it up perfectly: “The whole concept is cool and the vibe is great. The rooms just haven’t caught up to the feel of the resort.” That’s exactly it.

If you’re looking for old Waikiki charm, this place nails it. The mid-century design, retro pool, and tropical atmosphere make you feel like you’ve stepped onto the set of Magnum P.I. or Hawaii Five-0. It’s fun, relaxed, and has a personality that’s becoming harder to find.

The people are what make White Sands memorable. Maygan was wonderful when we explained that my husband was dealing with back problems and our original third-floor room—with three flights of stairs and a mattress that dipped in the middle—wasn’t going to work for a four-night stay. We simply asked if another room was available, fully expecting the answer might be no, and she happily moved us to a first-floor room with direct access to the pool deck.

RJ was constantly on the move helping guests- there isn’t an elevator and we had HEAVY bags! Zach behind the pool bar turned the night before’s power outage and next day internet issues into one of our favorite memories by streaming the U.S. game through his phone and laptop. Toby made excellent drink recommendations. Every employee we encountered genuinely seemed to care about guests having a good experience.

The food deserves a mention too. We had both the French dip and the ceviche poolside, and both were surprisingly excellent.

Unfortunately, the rooms are where the experience starts to unravel.

The third floor hallway carpet for our first room was overly worn and dirty-looking, the towels were threadbare, the pillows were flat and a mattress that had definitely seen better days. It had a dip in the middle. The second room was a big improvement with fluffier pillows, more furniture, and a much more comfortable layout. It still needed a deeper level of attention to detail—door handles, door frames, and other high-touch areas looked tired rather than truly clean—but it felt like the room we hoped we’d have for the rest of the trip.

Then we found out we had to move-not by choice.

What frustrated us wasn’t moving itself. It was that no one mentioned the second room was temporary when we accepted it. Instead, we were told later that evening we needed to relocate or pay extra to stay where we were.

The third room was ADA accessible but felt like another step backward. The bathroom door looked like it had survived a flood. The TV turned itself on in the middle of the night- which explained why it was unplugged when we fist got there. Behind the television was a tangle of exposed cords for the Wi-Fi and TV equipment, with a piece of copy paper covering an opening where a proper wall plate should have been. It honestly looked like a middle school shop project. There was only one bedside lamp, no dresser, and although the patio was large, it faced a building so closely that it gave off more apartment-complex vibes than tropical retreat. Once again, the hallway carpet and towels were well past the point where they should have been replaced.

None of these things, by themselves, would have been deal breakers. Together, though, they created the feeling that no one with a critical eye is walking through the rooms asking, “Would I be happy staying here?” The pictures on the website of the rooms did not look like any of the three rooms we were in.

Even valet parking—which sometimes took a little longer—didn’t bother us because it was obvious those employees were hustling nonstop. They weren’t the problem.

At around $350 a night, our expectations weren’t luxury. We’re in our early 50s, travel often, and are perfectly happy staying at mid-priced hotels. We don’t need marble bathrooms or five-star amenities. We simply expect clean, well-maintained rooms that match the personality and price of the property.

White Sands has tremendous bones. It feels like the staff genuinely cares, but ownership isn’t investing enough in the details. Probably better- it feels like this hotel is one experienced hotel manager away from being something truly special. Don’t change the retro vibe—that’s exactly what makes it unique. Just fix the little things: replace the worn towels and carpets, repair the walls, tidy up the electrical work, deep-clean the high-touch areas, and communicate more clearly when room changes are necessary.

Would we stay again? Probably yes—because now we know exactly what we’re getting. But at this price point, it would likely be our third or fourth choice in Waikiki.

If you’re the kind of traveler who spends most of your time exploring Honolulu and simply wants a fun pool scene, friendly staff, old Hawaii charm, and a hotel with real character, White Sands is worth considering. Just go in knowing that the atmosphere is currently carrying a lot more weight than the guestrooms.

My girlfriend and I had an amazing time! RJ especially, was a very awesome host who was very accommodating to us and ultimately made the trip an awesome experience! But overall awesome hotel and we will be back!

Rj was amazing! He helped us out big time!

When I do staycation, I always want to stay at White Sands. Every time I go, I always get good service. Always attentive to my needs! =) staff always goes above and beyond!

If you are in budget then this is good.

Everyone was so nice and great atmosphere! Rj who worked the front desk was amazing and super helpful!