Prince Waikiki: Great for Teens, Trickier for Young Kids

The headline amenity at Prince Waikiki — a sleek infinity pool overlooking Ala Wai harbor — is off-limits to anyone under 16. That single fact tells you a lot about what this property is and isn’t. It’s a polished, upscale high-rise that works well for families with older kids and teenagers, or parents of infants who need the square footage of a suite with a separate living room. Families with young children expecting a splash-zone-centred resort holiday may find the experience more refined than they need.

Key Highlights

• Star rating: 4-star
• Price: From $283/night; note that peak-season pricing for a family of 4 in a Resort room with 2 queen beds typically runs $500+/night including resort fees and taxes
• Beachfront: No — nearest beach (Ala Moana Beach Park) is under 10 minutes on foot
• All-inclusive: No — resort fee applies daily
• Family rooms/suites: Yes — suites with separate living rooms available
• Kids club: No dedicated, daily kids club
• Adult-only pool: Yes (16+) — separate family pool also on site
• Waterslide / splash pad: No
• Spa: Yes

Two Pools, but the Better One Has an Age Limit

The pool setup here is the most important practical detail for families to understand before booking. The showpiece infinity pool — the one with the harbor views that photographs well — enforces a strict 16-and-over policy. The family pool is the alternative for younger guests, and the data also references a kids’ splash zone within that area, which gives younger children something dedicated to them. There’s also a hot tub on site. For families whose kids are 16 or close to it, the adult pool becomes a genuine perk rather than a source of friction. For families with a 7- and 10-year-old? Expect the better pool to feel out of reach.

Rooms Built for Families Who Need Space

Where Prince Waikiki does stand out for families is in the room quality. Suites come with separate living rooms — useful when you need a place for the kids to watch TV while adults wind down. Rooms are described in the data as featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with ocean views, in-room refrigerators, and coffee makers. One caveat worth flagging: standard rooms do not have private balconies, though large windows open for ventilation. If outdoor space at the room level matters to you, check specifically whether the suite category you’re booking includes a balcony, as the listing notes balconies with ocean views as an amenity for certain room types.

Dining: One Genuine Kid-Friendly Perk

The 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar offers a kids’ menu, and children aged 5 and under eat free there — a concrete saving for families with young children across a multi-night stay. The hotel also has a Hinana Bar option for kids’ meals, though it’s worth knowing that children’s meals there don’t include a beverage, so budget accordingly. On-site dining also covers room service, a bar, and breakfast. The buffet at 100 Sails receives consistently strong guest feedback for variety and quality (see What Recent Guests Say below).

On select evenings, the resort runs family movie nights on the pool deck — not a permanent fixture, but a useful option for families needing low-effort evening entertainment after a full day of beach and attractions.

Location and Getting Around

The hotel sits at 100 Holomoana St on the Ala Wai harbor, placing it at the western edge of Waikiki rather than in the thick of it. Get directions to Prince Waikiki here.

For families, the location has real advantages. Ala Moana Beach Park — widely regarded as one of Oahu’s calmer, more family-appropriate beaches, with its protected lagoon at Magic Island — is under a 10-minute walk. Kahanamoku Beach (Waikiki Beach) is about a 10-minute walk in the other direction. Ala Moana Center, one of the largest open-air shopping centres in the US, is 10–15 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by car — useful for groceries, though note that no dedicated grocery store is listed among nearby conveniences. For further afield, the Honolulu Zoo is about 7 minutes by car, and the Waikiki Aquarium is roughly the same distance, both accessible via the Waikiki Trolley. Bicycle rental is available on site for families who want to cover more ground independently.

Parking is available (self-park and valet) but adds a daily fee. Airport transfer is also offered. If you’re planning to get out and explore Oahu’s attractions — which this hotel’s independent-travel orientation encourages — you may want to browse family-friendly tours and activities or compare kid-friendly day tours before you arrive.

What Recent Guests Say

• Several recent reviewers highlight the stunning harbor and ocean views as a standout feature of the property.
• A common theme in guest feedback is praise for warm, attentive staff who go out of their way to make guests feel welcome.
• Multiple guests describe the rooms as spacious, clean, and well-maintained throughout their stays.
• The on-site dining, particularly the buffet, receives consistently strong marks for food quality, variety, and service.
• Some families note frustrations with pool and amenity limitations, including crowding, shallow pool depth, and inconsistent service for straightforward requests.

Who This Hotel Suits (and Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere)

Prince Waikiki suits families who travel with teenagers, who prefer a structured but independent style (resort base, self-directed days out), or who specifically want spacious suites in an upscale setting near Ala Moana Beach. The staff reputation and room quality provide a reliable foundation for that kind of trip.

It’s less well-matched to families whose children are in the 4–12 bracket and who expect a resort to do the entertainment heavy lifting. There is no daily kids club, no waterslide, no splash pad beyond the kids’ pool area, and the best pool on the property excludes under-16s. The resort fee adds to an already high daily cost, and parking fees add further if you’re renting a car — which, for a family planning to explore Oahu, is a real possibility. At $500+/night peak-season all-in, families who want extensive supervised kids’ programming or beach-access with the water features baked into the rate will likely find better value elsewhere on the island.

For the full amenities breakdown and Family Fit rating details, see our full Resort Finder profile for Prince Waikiki.