HI - Waikiki Hostel

Oahu (Waikiki Beach)

3 of 9

Address	2417 Prince Edward Street, Oahu (Waikiki Beach), Hawaii, USA Map
Price	Dorm Bed: H.I. members $20, w/o membership card is $23, Private Room:$54 Check Current Prices by Date Here

Location/Contact

Details

This is a Hostelling International (HI) hostel. A membership card isn't required, but an extra fee will apply for non-members. You can get a membership card before your trip here.

Their Description

Features

Kitchen
Lockers
Lounge / Common space
TV
Book Collection/Exchange
Washing Machine (laundry)
Clothes Dryer
Travel information provided
Bike Rental
24 Hour Free Hot Showers
Phones (public or in room)
Currency Exchange

The Hostelz.com Review

The Waikiki HI is centrally located and close to the bus routes and beach. It is an older three-story greenish building with tight security on a fairly quiet street. Check-in is upstairs. There is no elevator, but there are stairs. A key deposit is required for the key.

The rooms are clean (with fans) and have shelves to store your stuff. They also provide small lockers in the room for your valuables (remember to bring your own lock!). The bathroom is shared by the dorm.

The hostel provides a happy, colourful atmosphere, with travellers hanging out in the kitchen and diningroom. The kitchen is clean and the hostel provides a toaster, microwave, coffeemaker, fridge, freezer, and stove. There are shelves to store food and tables to sit at while having your meal. The lounge (with a TV) and diningroom area are adjacent to the kitchen. An internet computer is available to travellers. The kitchen is closed between 2 and 7am.

Parking is available at the hostel for a fee (currently $5 per day) and the staff can book shuttles to the airport. Follow the bus directions on the web site. Ask the driver if you are unsure. The hostel is five minutes from the bus stop. Walk towards the beach and you'll see a KFC, Burger King, and Subway. Turn left at the KFC and HI Waikiki is on the same block.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2005

Ratings & Comments

3.4 Average from 25 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.

Comment by Neil, USA

May 2009

The good, Location, main waikiki beach right around the corner. The bad, Beds need new pillows and mattress, overall appearance of hostel needs a makeover. has so much potential to be a great hostel, but seems like no money is being spent of its overall appearance. No Wi-Fi. No free breakfast, kinda an average hostel, doesnt have character. Kinda a boring hostel, I personally wouldnt stay again since there are other hostels down the street to check out.

Comment by Charmi, Australia

February 2009

Great location!
This hostel was in a great location. All the staff i encountered were friendly and helpful. The studio room I stayed at was ok but the furniture was minimal. We didn't get any room cleaning but that was fine by me. In my opinion the price could be a bit cheaper. If you stay here you are paying for the location not for the luxury of the room.

Comment by Andrew, Australia

February 2009

This place does not deserve one star
This "hostel" is far from the normal standard that I've ever experienced at any HI hostel. I've stayed in Canadian, other U.S.A. and U.K. hostels over the last five years, and this would have to be the worst ever! I booked a private room for three nights as I'd just flown in that evening and generally these rooms are kept to a slightly higher standard. I was also looking forward to some backpacker friendly atmosphere by staying at an HI hostel. The room was dirty, bathroom in poor condition, and a totally unsecured room with louvre windows at waist height next to the door just asking for someone to slide one out and get to your gear. I couldn't even shut them as they had been fixed open. After approaching the manager calmly and explaining my disappointment first thing the next morning, the only offer of refund was for the last night (of three) even though it was 8 a.m. of the first day. After I told this guy the room's standard is far from good enough, he also told me to go and pack all my stuff but still refused to refund the other night. I didn't get threatened with the police, but I'm sure he would have if I'd bothered to argue the point any further. I agree, don't waste your holiday by staying here!

Comment by germaine - frickin joy, australia

October 2008

Frickin joy
i came back here August 2008, i loved the the last time i stayed, and it was as awesome as ever! the rooms and bathrooms are scrubbed daily! the kitchen is always clean and tidy. the staff are super sweet and the hostel has the best location -- less than two minutes walk to waikiki main beach. It's the safest hostel i have ever stayed in, and i dont know if it's just blind luck, but all the people i met staying there were totally cool too.

Comment by Sarah, Canada

May 2008

Bright, airy, clean, safe, cheap, and in a great location
I stayed at the hostel for two nights in April, 2008. Roberts Hawaii has an $8 shuttle bus (air-conditioned!) door-to-door service from Arrivals at the airport to the hostel. The room was very clean and bright. The mattress and pillow were very comfy, but the sheets were very worn and frayed -- but hey! It's a hostel! The kitchen was spotless. I saw the girl from the front desk clean it throughout the day. The staff are incredibly fun and friendly, but professional. They can direct to all the sights easily by bus. The each is less than a five-minute walk. I honestly cannot think of anything negative to say.

Comment by Clodagh, USA

November 2007

Can't Beat It!
Just got back last week from five days staying at Hosteling International Hostel on Prince Edward Street, Waikiki. You cannot beat the location (three minutes walk from Waikiki beach), price ($23), and friendly staff. If you're going to be out and about all day and just need a place to crash and shower then this is it. If you want bath robes and full frontal ocean view rooms stay across the street at one of the $250-plus hotels. I didn't use the kitchen at all but it was clean, same for the dorm room I was in. Building is an old converted apartment building so when you walk into female room # 4 you have the room you're standing in, with three female beds (single and a set of bunk beds). Off the main room is another dorm room with again just a single bed and one set of bunk beds. Finally, also off the main room are two private rooms which house the female staff and of course the shared bathroom is also off the main room. Secure overnight parking available for $5 a night, internet access $1/ten minutes. Island tours leave Mon/Wed/Fri and apparently are well worth it $35 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Plenty of street noise starting early at approx 6 or 7 a.m. but it didn't really bother me, was up early for breakfast and fun every day anyway.

Comment by Michael, Austria

September 2007

Good location and price
location (in the center of waikiki, about five minutes to beach to go, bus to downtown two minutes to go, quiet street, a lot of shops and restaurants in the near). Good price; quiet street; shops, pubs, restaurants; bus stop; internet, kitchen; private car park; friendly service. Bad high stairs to the office; no a/c. If i come back here, i will stay here again!

Comment by David, USA

June 2007

The worst hostel I have ever stayed in.
I was curious to see the comments for this hostel, which I stayed at in March of 2005. While two years ago, this place left such a poor impression on me that I still remember it and wanted to leave some deserved feedback. This place is beyond rundown, and just has a very drab and depressing atmosphere. For the $20/night I paid, however, my expectations we not high. My problem was with the staff manager whose behavior was beyond words or explanation. I stayed two nights at this place. On the third day I went for a walk and also to the ATM to get some more money to stay a third (and final night). I was going to leave that day, but I didn't feel like packing my stuff and it was already past check out anyway. Well, when I got back the desk manager told me "ok, what I need you to do is take the next five to ten minutes, pack all your things and leave." At first I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. When I asked what the problem was he just said that he didn't have to explain himself to me. Since I didn't plan on leaving that day all my stuff was all unpacked and out on my bed. after fifteen minutes, I was almost finished when he showed up at the door and said he told me to take ten minutes and leave, and he had given me fifteen, and if I didn't leave then he was going to call the cops. I just told him I was going as fast as I could, and then left five minutes later after turning in my key and getting my deposit. (should have just told him to go ahead and call the cops). Again, I asked what the problem was and he said, "ah, we got complaints from other guests." I was out almost the whole time I was there other than when I had to sleep (and I don't snore). The only other contact I had with the other hostelers was when I took a "circle tour" of the islands (not thought the hostel). Other than that I never really said anything beyond "hello" to anyone else at the hostel as it wasn't a very social atmosphere anyway. I still don't know what that guy's problem with me was. I do see that it's a pattern of behavior for him (unless you're an attractive girl). The only thing I can think of is that I was in the Air Force Reserve at the time, and mentioned that by asking if there was a military discount, and maybe he has something against the military. i don't know. Anyway, I would have (and should have) reacted more angrily if I wasn't so taken back and surprised. You go on vacation to be happy. The atmosphere of this place is depressing and why deal with that jerk? The other hostels on the island I looked and stayed at (I was in Hawaii for a week) were much nicer, so leaving that place turned out to be a good thing. My advice is not to waste your time here.

Comment by germaine, australia

June 2007

Awesome
HI - waikiki was an awesome hostel. the staff were super friendly, well informed, and fun to talk to. there were organised tours and shuttles available to be booked through the hostel, which was located one-minute walk from the beach, on a safe and quiet street. the hostel was clean, very organised, and very efficiently run. there were no bugs or anything, and everything was well-kept. the kitchen was always clean. the beds were comfortable and the atmosphere was open and friendly. i loved it here and stayed two weeks.

Comment by Michelle

November 2006

Stayed here in February 2006. Only good thing was that the location was only about a block and a half from the beach. I have stayed in my share of hostels but this was disgusting. If you have heavy luggage, beware as you will have to carry it up quite a few flights of stairs. The guy at the front desk was pleasant the first day but when I complained that my pillow was as flat as a pancake and requested another one, he gave me such a bad attitude that I was shocked. He said, 'Well, for this cheap in Waikiki, keep your expectation way low!" wow. What was weirder was that there were areas that looked condemned and had the yellow "crime scene" type tape so you wouldn't lean on the walls or else they might crumble. Our bathroom looked pretty yucky so I never took off my shoes. Camping would be a better option or find another hostel.

Comment by James

July 2006

This place is dirty as can be. The staff are rude, and its in a bad neighborhood if you're out past eight p.m. or so. And besides that it just has a really dark and drab like depressing atmosphere. The other hotels on the island are far better and brighter.

Comment by Cathy

February 2006

As a single female traveller i was a bit concerned about accommodation in Hawaii after reading quite a few dodgy reviews of a number of other hostels. I was pleasantly surprised however. This hostel is safe, clean, cheap and essentially in an ideal location just one block away from the beach. I stayed for 6 nights in a female dorm which was cleaned daily, the bathroom was nice and the bed comfy. The lounge has a relaxed atmosphere and there are books and magazines and a TV and plenty of information on the notice boards. I had no problems with the staff who were happy to help me when i asked for information. This is an ideal place to stay in Hawaii for the budget traveller!!

Comment by Sharon

November 2005

I brought a group of Waka Ama competitors to Hilo in August 2005. We originally had booked into another hostel, which shall remain nameless. That hostel was so disgusting we changed hostels to this one on our return to Waikiki. I found this hostel to be fantastic compared to the first one. The price is great and the location is great, as we only wanted somewhere to basically sleep. My only complaint is the absolutely rude office staff person. He really made us all feel that anything we asked him was just such a huge effort for him to answer. Get rid of the yucky staff and find someone who really does enjoy their job and visitors. My suggestion would be to give the outside of hostel a well-deserved new paint job. Other than this, this place is a great place to stay. We are planning another group in the future and I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

Comment by Greg from Maryland

September 2005

I spent a week at this hostel. For the most part it was comfortable but the building is old and the rooms need new furniture. If you don't have any illusions that this is the Four Seasons then you will be fine. The location is perfect. There are plenty of things to see and do 24 hours a day. Waikiki beach is a short 2-minute walk. Lots of Europeans, Japanese, Aussies, Canadians and Latin Americans made the place feel like a United Nations camp, but it is a good place to meet interesting people and make lots of friends. I definitely would stay again.

Comment by Nick

August 2005

I stayed here for a couple of nights in August 2005. The place is fairly depressing and in need of a total renovation which doesn't do it any favors in terms of atmosphere. Neither does the moody staff manager, who doesn't seem to understand guests should be treated with at least some respect. One in particular was a total arsehole! Besides location this place has nothing going for it. Avoid at all costs unless staff is replaced and extensive renovation undertaken. I would strongly recommend you try out the other hostels in Waikiki, they are much more pleasant in terms of atmosphere and location isn't really an issue because anywhere in Waikika can be considered a great location.

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