I have been fortunate in that since 1994 I have been able to "live" in Hawaii up to 7 1/2 weeks a year, making as many as 4 trips in one year. In that time I have stayed in 11 properties from one end of Waikiki to the other. Hands down The Cabana is where I prefer to stay. It is steps from the beach, good restaurants and a great gay bar. The gay beach is a short walk into Queen Kapiolani Park with plenty of "eye candy" along the way. I find the rooms spacious (by Hawaiian standards) and love the fact that when the sliding door is open along with the widows on the oposite end of the room the trade winds will blow through. I enjoy the separate seating area and my afternoon naps on the daybed. It is by far the quietest location in which Iv'e stayed. I cannot imagine staying in some mega-resort tourist trap facility with 100 kids peeing in the pool!

I would recommend this property to my friends---I have invited a couple to stay with me when they visit this summer!

We were told that The Cabana was THE PLACE to be while on Ohau... and our friends were right.
Great place, We had a blast.

Our stay with the Cabana at Waikiki last week was indeed wonderful. Cabana staff were very attentive and courteous at all times, our room was very cozy and more importantly really clean.

This is definitely one of THE place and/or spot to consider onto your future trips to Hawaii, as i surely had a great stay at the CABANA.

John - LOS ANGELES CA

Since there has been some construction and remodeling of late, and this has put some of the writers on this site in a bad frame of mind, thought I would take time to let you in on my stays at Cabana.
I am a regular during the Christmas/New Year's holidays and have stayed at Cabana from its earliest days. Also been there for Lei Day. I have developed a good rapport with the manager and staff because I believe you only get as much out of a vacation experience as you put into it. A smile and a cheery greeting goes a long way to ensure you'll be treated the same way. I have seen a number of dour guests over the years and wondered if they would ever be happy anywhere! ([-])
Friends who stay here and I have a great time at the thrice weekly cocktail hours hosted by the staff. We pick up a variety of treats (some flown in from Japan) and make up our own "pupu" platters, and we share with all others staying here who want to socialize with other guests. The public space is small and cozy, adjacent to a hot tub that some guys enjoy both after the beach and before bed. We have even invited other friends to drop by and have a drink with us, and the staff couldn't be more accommodating or happier.
The structure itself is reminiscent of what one might call a motel of an earlier era. Over the years the rooms have been redecorated, and, in fact, that's taking place right now. There are 15 two-room mini-suites, with a small lanai for the smokers among us. No, there's no fab view of the beach because you're not paying beachfront prices, but are located just a few minutes walk from the surf and one of Honolulu's busiest bars. Each mini-suite has a TV, VCR (hear these are being replaced this year with DVDs and it's about time) and CD player. Plus there's a small kitchen area in each with mini-fridge, blender, microwave and dishes and utensils, just in case you want to eat in. These rooms are ideal for a couple, and more than ample space for a single. You could even put a third on the couch, but three people in one bathroom...well, need I say more?
The housekeeping staff keeps the facility clean as a whistle and will accommodate requests for extra this or that...requested with a smile and a "mahalo." There's washers and dryers in case you need to do laundry. And one staffer is quite knowledgeable about tours and rentals and is more than happy to help you book everything from snorkeling to barefoot cruises.
Waikiki is noisy early in the morning because of all the hotels... service trucks and garbage trucks begin their rounds well before 8. If you need quiet, then sleep with the doors and windows closed (anathema in Hawaii), and crank up the air conditioning! So if you need total quiet and prefer to be by yourself (i.e., not interested in socializing with others), then I'd recommend a cottage on the Windward side of the island, maybe even a tent on the North Shore. (Don't stay here...it's too friendly.)
But if you want a fun experience in a comfortable setting close to all the action (dining, shopping, beach, bars), then Cabana at Waikiki is a best bet.
Oh, is it a bargain? No, but then I haven't found any bargains in Waikiki in years. Prices fluctuate at various times of the year, just like the airline ticket prices do from month to month. So, ask the manager, Jim, if he's got a rate special coming up at any time of the year and book a room then. And we all hope the owners won't jack up the price when the remodeling project is completed. But, ya know, if they do, I think I'll still stay there. I'm hooked on the location and the friendly staff. You know, a smile and "aloha" goes a long way. Have a mai tai on me!