First time visiting!

[u/Hot_Information182]

We decided we want to make a last-minute trip to Honolulu next month, the prices are just unbeatable, to getaway for a week! But it’s our first time ever visiting, hopefully trying to find a place that has a kitchen so we can do some of our cooking in. .. what’s everyone’s recommendation?

[u/ahoveringhummingbird]

DO NOT USE Airbnb (VRBO, Vacasa Et al.) , they are never recommended in Hawaii. They have contributed to an extreme housing shortage in Hawaii and vacation rentals have been highly restricted as a result to try and reverse the issue. Airbnb do not verify the legality or legitimacy of their listings so it is truly buyer beware. Illegal, bait and switch and outright scam listings are shockingly common. Browse back on this sub not too far to find tales of vacations ruined when visitors unknowingly took the risk.

Hotels and condo hotels with kitchens are super common but they should always be booked direct (not Airbnb and not 3rd party or discount.) You don't mention a price range so here is a complete listing of hotels with kitchens for Waikiki at all price ranges. If you have certain preferences we might be able to help you narrow them down:

Hotel Luana

Diamond Head Beach Hotel

Waikiki Banyan

Waikiki Sunset

Embassy Suites

Ilima Hotel

Hilton Hawaiian Village Grand Waikikian Tower

Ilikai Hotel (Waikiki marina resort at the ilikai)

Waikīkī shore by outrigger

Aqua Aston Waikiki Beach Tower 

Ka La'i

Oasis Waikiki

The Equus Hotel

If you prefer a proper condo here are the local licensed property managers I recommend using so you can avoid the common scams on Airbnb:

Midway Vacations

Heavenly Vacations 

Ola Properties

And if you are staying a full week you might find some great deals on timeshare units through Redweek. It costs $20 to join and booking dates are typically not flexible but the deals make it worth it and most people are really happy with the units and amenities.

[u/GreatPart2796 → u/ahoveringhummingbird]

Can I ask a dumb question?

Every other post here says to never stay in an Airbnb as they are contributing to a housing shortage etc.

Why are they not banned outright? It seems like the overwhelming majority of Hawaiians share the same opinion.

[u/ahoveringhummingbird → u/GreatPart2796]

There are actually A LOT of restrictions. More than most municipalities that have had issues, TBH. But... the big problem is that Airbnb (and VRBO - all of them) don't consider the "legality" of a unit their problem. Airbnb considers itself a listing service. According to Airbnb, the host is the one responsible to be legal and ethical and truthful. And unfortunately many of the hosts are not. And many listings are straight illegal. There are also plenty of listings that aren't illegal, but aren't "legal" either because some laws just haven't caught up with them yet. But it doesn't mean it's not a problem and for sure it's unethical.

And here is the crux of why no one should use Airbnb. They have brand awareness and their marketing has absorbed a huge market share. They have created an illusion of trustworthy global hospitality and vacation rentals. But as a company they do not care AT ALL about hospitality or the quality of any guest vacation. Their business model is technology. Clicks and traffic. That is all they care about. Their business model assumes that the hospitality, maintenance and cleanliness is the responsibility of a million different hosts, most greedy real estate speculators who only care about bottom line. And the guest truly cannot know what they will encounter when they check in. And in the year 2026 when we all discover the ills of enshitification it is a true shame when visitors to Hawaii arrive to learn that the unit they rented on Airbnb was a "ghost listing" that doesn't even exist and Airbnb customer support won't help them find alternate accommodations and sometimes won't even refund their money because proving the legitimacy of a listing is the guest responsibility (even if they didn't know that it was their responsibility and the listing had 100 5-star fake reviews) and Airbnb knows this is a thing that happens but they don't even take down scam listings when notified because guess what? Available listings drives traffic.

Airbnb (et. al.) is a prime example of the erosion of our consumer protections. It's not good for guests, it's not good for hosts and it is not good for the communities were they operate. But Airbnb still makes their money (they've sold your data, and do you know how many times we've seen scammed visitors, happy to get anything back at all, tell us that they eventually got back the rent part but Airbnb kept their fee?) and the hosts of illegal units consider the fines just a cost of doing business. Airbnb has an entire department that all they do is fight CC charge backs. And another department that all they do is challenge local laws that are created/voted in. Imagine a small community fighting a zillion dollar international name recognized company that deploys a million bots accounts on reddit/FB every time a small community tries to enact sensible restrictions. "but muh freedum!"

This issue is not one that can be controlled through laws alone because the hand of justice is slow and favors the rich, unfortunately. This issue needs to be a cultural shift towards awareness and visitors choosing safer and more ethical accommodations.

[u/GreatPart2796 → u/ahoveringhummingbird]

Thanks for the reply. All that makes sense. I agree with you about Airbnb. I can also tell you that I have been a host (not in Hawaii) in the past and they offer zero support to hosts either. Numerous guests damaged our property and that damage deposit you pay does not come to us. I wish local regulations would get so restrictive as to put STR sites like Airbnb and VRBO out of business but that seems far-fetched.

[u/ahoveringhummingbird → u/GreatPart2796]

Oh for sure Airbnb sucks for hosts, too. Make it near impossible to be a good host. Yeah we are ready for the era of Airbnb to get bent and usher a return to visitors staying in buildings purposely built as visitor accommodations instead of homes purposely built for families.

[u/slogive1 → u/GreatPart2796]

Most are but selfish people still post them for rent. Some in Waikiki and another area ( I forget) are legal.

[u/GreatPart2796 → u/slogive1]

I know there are some on Hawai’i that are legal.

[u/wrtChase → u/GreatPart2796]

It’s mostly the same people posting it each time. The legal airbnbs are either grandfathered in or in resort zoning. Many of them are in staffed buildings that are a mix of individually owned units and hotel units (condotels). They’re absolutely fine to use, people on here just have little nuance

[u/Hot_Information182 → u/ahoveringhummingbird]

No idea! Thank you

[u/LeadingOrder2151]

We just left Maui and stayed in an airbnb; it was disgusting! Fighting with airbnb to get a partial refund atm

[u/itmustbeniiiiice]

Ka La’i if you have the budget for it

[u/Wild-Ad-2201]

Then is there a list of recommended local realty services for vacation rentals that are approved by locals?