Ohia Waikiki Studio Suites

The photos online gave me the wrong impression of Ohia Hotel Waikiki. In person, the property felt poorly maintained, and our room was dusty, with curtains literally taped together with duct tape. We found old, rotten food under the dresser, which may explain the three cockroaches we saw. Spraying by the hotel didn’t stop them. When I reported the food, they said housekeeping couldn’t come because “the maids were off that day,” so I got their vacuum and cleaned it myself. The shower was usually cold or lukewarm. There was a “kitchen,” but no pots, pans, baking sheets, or microwave, and the Keurig didn’t work. Towels ran out daily, while housekeeping only came every three days. Parking was $50 a day, and several other fees at arrival made the actual cost much higher than it looked when booking. I knew this was advertised as an affordable place and wasn’t expecting luxury service. Still, cleanliness and basic upkeep should be standard. This stay was extremely disappointing.

The location was excellent, and the staff we met were genuinely kind and helpful. The room, though, was in very disappointing condition for the price. It smelled musty and felt run down. There was no hot water, the TV didn’t work, and the shower still had hair from a previous guest. The pillows were thin and worn, and the bed had only sheets for covering. For a price in the mid to upper hundreds, it felt more like a budget motel. The Instagram photos didn’t match what we saw in person. There were families, solo travelers, and groups partying late into the night, so relaxing was hard. I appreciated the staff and the convenient location, but with the room’s condition, lack of upkeep, and misleading online presentation, I wouldn’t return unless they made significant improvements.

We booked a particular room at Ohia Waikiki Studio Suites for eight nights, but found out only after entering that we’d been given a different one. Nobody mentioned the change at check-in or explained it. We made it about eight hours before leaving. Roaches were everywhere. While we ate, they swarmed my daughter’s plate. There was visible mold in the shower, and the water never got past lukewarm. The furniture was stained and dirty, and the room had almost no temperature control. We also heard every sound from the hotel and the street through the paper-thin walls, until about 3 a.m. After hours, we couldn’t get extra pillows or a blanket. They said we could come downstairs and get bedsheets ourselves. If you need basic cleanliness, the room you reserved, hot water, or reasonable service, look somewhere else.

The location is nice, and the 5th floor was quiet. The ads made the place look better than it was, though. It was alright, but nothing special, and I wouldn’t book it again. I’ve been to the islands 5 times now. There were extra fees I hadn’t seen when reserving, another $50-60 per day once I arrived. Parking was $45, which I avoided by looking for street parking. If you get a ticket, it’s $35, so that can still work out cheaper over the whole stay. I got 1 ticket in 6 days. The window coverings were poor and let in a lot of morning light.