On a relatively quiet street corner just a block from Waikiki's golden-sand beaches and also a very short walk from Hula's gay bar and Queen's Surf gay beach, the hip and trendy Hotel Renew (129 Paoakalani Ave., 808-687-7715) doesn't look all that snazzy from the outside. But this 72-room midsize property has an artful, minimalist aesthetic and a smart, knowledgetable staff - it's one of the best hotels in Waikiki for design-minded visitors seeking a sleek, luxurious, but understated hotel.
Guests at this very gay-friendly hotel are greeted with complimentary beverages and scented cold towels on arrival. The pet-friendly, eco-conscious property has free Wi-Fi throughout, a hip little bar and lounge area, and rooms with 32-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, in-room safes, Kimono robes, and - on request - in-room spa services. There's a particularly gay-popular ABC Store next door, if you're short on batteries, sundries, or macadamia nuts.
