Ilikai in Waikiki to reopen with bargain room rates

When the Waikiki llikai Hotel reopens it doors today after a two-week closure, it will have a new focus — and offer bargain-basement prices.

The landmark Honolulu hotel, which closed suddenly on July 9, will offer rates in the $90-a-night range, said Ike Cockett, general manager.  ”Rates will be discounted 10% to 20%,” he said. ”We want visitors to Hawaii to know we’re trying to be cost-conscious and value-oriented.”

Midweek rates for next week start at $97 for a city-view room.

Cockett said the hotel’s new focus would include “a return to the traditions of Hawaii” with an emphasis on service.

The 30-story Y-shaped Ilikai was called Oahu’s first luxury high-rise when it opened in 1964 on Ala Moana Boulevard.  It gained fame in the late ’60s when it was featured in an opening sequence of “Hawaii Five-O“, a TV cop show that ran from 1968 until 1980.

The Ilikai  was recently purchased in a foreclosure auction. Its new owner, iStar Financial, shuttered the 203-room hotel with only 24 hours’ notice; then the company worked out a new deal with the local union representing hotel workers.

Cockett said the hotel would reopen at noon today, would honor all confirmed reservations and was accepting reservations.

IStar retained Aqua Resorts as its new management company.  Aqua runs a string of hotels in Hawaii, including the Aqua Pearl and, almost across the street on Ala Moana Boulevard, the Aqua Palms. Will the Ilikai become the Aqua Ilikai?

“I don’t think that’s in the picture,” Cockett said. “The Ilikai has a pretty loyal contingent of followers.”

— Rosemary McClure/special to The Times

[Photo: Ilikai Hotel, at the Waikiki Beach gateway and overlooking the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. Credit: Courtesy of Ilikai Hotel]

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 24, 2009 at 7:30 am by Catharine Hamm and is filed under Hawaii, Hotels, Islands & Beaches, Oahu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.