SurfJack Hotel and Swim Club: Hawaii Review

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA - January 23, 2017: Women surfers wait for 2-4 foot waves off Waikiki Beach. In the background is a rainbow, luxury hotels and Diamond Head.
By Vanessa Bussoletti


The perfect family hotel in Waikiki has been found, in a nod to the Waikiki of the 1960’s with a beach boys vibe and too cool aesthetic

First Impressions 10/10

When we arrived, after a long flight with teens, we were pretty excited to see a real coffee machine and a barista making an espresso. For coffee aficionados who understand the difficulty of getting a good coffee in the US, the aroma of the fresh beans was enough to win me over.

And it only got better in this lovely boutique hotel. The vintage 1960’s beach culture design has a vintage beach and hip feel to it.

Rooms 8/10

The theme of 1960’s continues throughout the hotel, seamlessly taking you on a journey. The rooms were comfortable and well presented. Being back from the famous Waikiki beach meant no views, but no crowds either. It was quiet, lay back bungalow style rooms.

Service 10/10

In a boutique hotel, you do expect better service, but Surfjack was exceptional. It felt like we were staying with friends, they knew our names, nothing was too much trouble.

We joined them at a staff gathering one night and the bar staff remembered our what we drank and how we liked it. Staff genuinely seemed to enjoy working there too.

Food 9.5/10

Mahina and Sun’s Restaurant with Oahu born Chef Ed Kenney, (one of the pioneers of the field-to-fork movement in Hawaii) served up delicious salads for lunch, and options that you would normally see in a high end hatted restaurant. Our only complaint was there not enough options as we ate there every day, it was so good.

However given the local produce philosophy, it was understandable, so we reluctantly ventured out of the hotel to eat some days.

The focus on local, organic produce and sustainable seafood was perfect and the teens had a week of healthy eating, unusual in the normally fast food heaven of the USA.

Facilities and experiences 9/10

The facilities are typical, in that there is a good pool, bar and restaurant. What is unique about Surfjack is all the extras they schedule in during the month – this includes nightly live music, retro bikes for loan, pilates at sunset and flower crown making, to name a few surprises.

Value for money 9.5/10

Hawaii accommodation is not cheap. At Surfjack you get so much more than a generic chain 5 star hotel. The entire look and feel of a vintage 1960’s beach club, together with exceptional food offering, service makes this a standout.

With local art, hand made wallpaper and the immersion of local craft and history, makes it feel like an authentic Honolulu experience.

Overall rating 9.5/10

Its very hard to fault the Surfjack experience, as it is so much more than just a hotel stay. You can also explore and access the Surf jack’s exclusive off-the- track experiences – like paddling out with a local surf historian, foraging for edibles with a local botanist.

You can go on a hike through Oahu’s lush landscape, get an introduction to local street art, or having an architect guide you to some of Honolulu’s mid-century modern design.

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