Hawaiian Monarch Hotel

Good for price, but...

In need of repair or facelift...very old...rooms are small and seemingly unkept. Price is good if you need a one night layover in a good location to Waikiki strip.

Good location, bad hotel

We stayed at the Monarch for a convention. The rooms were cramped, dirty, and "sticky."

No more wireless

They have done away with free wireless internet which was only available in the lobby anyway. They now have Clearwire which they charge for.

Ok for a quick business trip

Considering the price I paid, I did not have high expectations for this hotel. The room was small, but not horrible. The most annoying thing (aside from there not being an alarm clock in the room) was that the shower curtain was not weighted and each time I showered the curtain would blow and stick to me and the showered head kept popping out of it's holder and sprayed everywhere. Also, the room did not have an additional deadbolt or chain so anyone with the keycard could have gotten in during the night...so I propped a chair against the door as a precaution. The location of the hotel was nice as it was in close proximity to the convention center. It was an ok place for a quick business trip, but if I was going for a vacation I would definitely want to stay at a nicer hotel.

Old and needs improvment

Hotel is in need of some renovation- bathroom had gouges in lineoleum, missing tiles and broken/chipped wood on cabinet. No anti-slip in tub, shower curtain did not fit tub enclosure and was missing hooks to hang it from rod. Broken glass entry doors noted at 2 different levels, held together with tape. Room service not up to par- one day one bed was made, the other not. Did not leave washclothes to replace those which had been used and placed on floor as requested by hotel card. After 2 days without, had to ask for them when room service came back to see if she had left the "spray" in our room... which she hadn't. Did not feel particularly safe entering hotel from parking deck, nor entering hotel room itself as there were 2 rooms behind one entry door, allowing plenty of room for someone to lay in waiting for your return. Would NOT recommend nor stay here again. I'm all for cutting costs and understand you get what you pay for, but I've paid less and gotten more elsewhere.

Needs improvement

The hotel staff was helpful and prompt with questions. The maids did a wonderful job of cleaning and straightening the room. However, the building is very old and needs some updates to have it be current. The decore was from the 70's or 80's so it was clear that our money was not going to the upkeep. The laundry room was not desireable AT ALL. You had to pay for ICE....seriously, pay for ice? It was cheap as far as Waikiki is concerned but it felt cheap too. They could have made it better with new linens, comforters, and curtains. Also, you had to pay for coffee....we were glad we had brought our own!

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Needs Improvement

This hotel is not that bad but the street that it is on is kinda ghetto. The room was small but clean (no funky smells). Bathroom has a poor design. And no closet (but there is a pole to hang clothes, kinda like an open closet). There is no lanai, and the window only slides opens 6in. It has a microwave and a small fridge which is nice. Overall this hotel is more like a motel. Location is not that bad because it is between Ala Moana shopping mall and Waikiki beach so its convienent for walking. About 20-30min either way.

good value for money, but needs improvement

good value for the money and good location at the gate-way of waikiki though parking rate is seperate from hotel itself so you pay cash and not billed to your room. needs improvement with physical status of hotel and rooms which have seen better days...almost like a time warp..one can imagine that in it's day it was a happening place...paint over paint...thin towels like a supereight you get the picture, but you know that going in when you get that kind of very good rate, but it serves the purpose to bath and sleep, but not stay in.

Try a different hotel, this one will not be what you expect

The hotel property is in need of desperate improvement. In fact, the bath/shower curtain does not fit the shower. As a result, the shower sprays all over the floor and counters causing a big mess. The bedding is uncomfortable and overly used to the point it should be discarded. The property can be a bit frightful at night, as it draws a crowd to the downstairs bar and the pizza joint that claims to serve "pimpin hot pizza." I used quotes here to identify this is exact wording on the outside of the restaurant. I believe the old saying "caveat empter" fits well in the context of this property.

Staff Doesn't Care

I thought this hotel was good to stay at if you were just passing through Honolulu for a night or two, but my latest stay ruined it all. When I attempted to get in the shower at 730pm there was no hot water, so I called the front desk and the clerk said to give it a few minutes because many people were trying to shower at the same time. So I waited, and waited for about two hours until I finally gave up and went to bed. I got up at 230am and tried again to find that it was still the same problem. By this time it was too late to change rooms because I had a plane to catch, so I took a cold shower while using hot water from the sink so I wouldn't freeze to death. When I told the clerk about it at checkout she ignored me, checked me out and sent me on my way. Worst customer service ever.

Cheap, but not that cheap for what you get.

For Waikiki, the Hawaiian Monarch is cheap, but you can get a much better room elsewhere for your money (I've stayed at many Waikiki hotels recently). In my room at the Monarch, the curtains were mildewed and did not completely cover the windows (okay unless you want to sleep late). The walls and floors had cracks. The bathroom shelves and cabinets were discolored. There was a smashed bug on the wall above the bed. The king-size bed I supposedly reserved was a queen at best, and the middle of the mattress was sunken in--not just a little either. Unfortunately, I did not take the time to look the room over after checking in or I would have immediately complained. I was honestly disgusted with the room. When checking in, the staff was friendly and helpful enough; however, when I went to check out, the front desk was completely unmanned. I had to wait 10 minutes for someone to show up despite continuously ringing the bell. I am not an impatient person, but I also don't like to be late for work. Really, the only good thing I can say is the staff was friendly.

Bugs

There were lots of bugs and it was just beaten down and dirty.

As to Hawaiian Monarch Hotel

I have visited to the hotel but I have not decided to stay as there is no Internet facility inside the room. Further I have been in the room, just during an hour, someone knocked the door so strange as if the person have been trying to go into my room. So fearful and also there is no Internet connection, so I decided not to stay. I have not stayed at all because of these reasons. Don't charge to my credit card please, as I have left after checking the room facilities for an hour. Ms. Fumiko Watanabe