Researching hotels through travel books and the internet, I found the Aqua Bamboo, a small boutique (feng-shui) hotel which has the reputation of being "a gem", and which sounded like the perfect place for a peaceful two weeks, yet located in Waikiki near the beach. When I arrived, I was stunned by the beauty and atmosphere of the lobby - which also had a large flat-screen TV showing ever-changing landscapes of Hawaii. There were various comfortable places to sit and a spacious outer courtyard. No photos or descriptions could possibly translate the actual experience. As a woman artist traveling alone, wishing for a retreat near the white sand beaches and inviting waters of Waikiki, and where there is a fabulous bus system so I wouldn't even have to drive a car, and wishing for a hotel that would be quiet, safe, and with a Hawaiian atmosphere, I couldn't have found a better place to be. My room was amazing. I had a balcony with sunrise on one side, a large lanai with the sunset on the other side, and a to-floor window, I looked down on the inner courtyard (with pool, jacuzzi, spa building, big wooden chairs, tables & lounges, a thatched Hawaiian shelter to one side, a waterfall over lava rocks, jungle-like plantings all around), and, looking out above it, I could see the gentle incoming waves and surfers. In the room, the art was varied, all deeply spiritually Hawaiian, the colors relaxing, and there was a flat-screen TV which showed more than a few programs of Hawaian musicians and vistas of Hawaii. Every morning in the courtyard or lobby, there were warm and friendly Hawaians serving a continental breakfast of juices, fruit, coffee and assorted muffins. The staff at the Aqua Bamboo are full of information and always helpful and friendly, with true Aloha spirit. As you can see, I am always ready to recommend this hotel for a peaceful home-away-from-home, and, speaking for myself, - I didn't want to leave! Enjoy your stay! - Marlina Rinzen

I recently stayed at this hotel to potentially arrange a group booking for 20-30 pax for my up comming wedding in Hawaii. Being a travel agent there was no mention of any redevelopment which I soon discovered when I checked into my room. Prior to arriving I sent an email to their group reservation manager to arrange a tour of the hotel, this was ignored, instead I received an email with attachents of their rates. As an agent this is quite poor as I had many meetings with managers during my stay. Apon arrival, I was given a room on the 8th floor and when entering the lift there was a letter stating renovations were being done between 9-5pm with 'minimal noise' on floors 5-9. When I came to my floor the hallways vinyl was all ripped and masking tape was everywhere. When I came to my room I soon discovered that not only was I on a floor with rooms being renovated, one being the room next to me, that the room beneath and above me were also being renovated. The minimal noise that they advised was far from that! As I was purely there for business I was in my room for most of the week working. So I went down stairs to see about changing my room, I was rudely brushed away. Saying that the renovation was last minute and they wouldn't do anything for me. With respect for the room I was in it had been already renovated, however, it was of poor quality. There was mould in the bathroom, the bed was not made properly, the cushions were still in the wardrobe and the new paint work and furniture was chipped and paint work was very unprofessionaly painted. The kitchette looked like something from the 1960's. As for the 'continental breakfast' what a joke! The next morning I went downstairs as the noise was unbearable and my room was shaking from the drilling. Luckily there was new staff on and I actually spoke to a receptionist that was professional. My room was changed to level 5 so it was a at least a bit more quiet. Unfortunatley, being a small hotel all floors heard the noise. The temperature of the pool by the way is freezing, the self serve paying coffee machine breaks down, the night staff have friends hanging around at reception, and they watch tv at night on a plasma. This is rather unprofessional, just like the front office manager parking his white mercedes to show off out front of the lobby where taxis etc for GUESTS pull in. Instead of parking underneath in the carpark like all staff should. It is a shame that this hotel lacks any real professionalism or care for their guests as it has such potential. To add to my disasterous stay they over charged me an extra nights accomodation. I am still waiting on my refund which they apologised and said would be processed immediatly, I am not holding my breath. I witnessed and spoke to many disgruntled hotel guests during my stay, and the comments box I noticed when I checked out was full.I can only imagine what was written nothing positive I bet!! Obviously they have not only lost my business for my wedding, but for any future client referrals being a travel agent. VERY dissapointed!!!!

I was very afraid of staying at this hotel because of some of the bad things I read on here, but there was nothing wrong with this property! My boyfriend and I stayed in a moderate room from the 2-9 of April. Upon arriving we felt very welcome. The staff is excellent. When we first arrived we had a problem locking the door to the patio and as soon as we let Howel know, he came up and fixed it. Also, on our way out the door to dinner the woman at the front desk stopped us and told us she forgot to give us our bottled water, we thought that was extremely nice of her to remember. Our room was on the 12th floor. It was a little dated and small, but the balconies and the views made up for it. Our full sized bed was right next to the sliding glass door, which was great for sunny and breezy afternoon naps! We had plenty of closet/drawer/counter space for all of our stuff and the TV was nice. The bathroom was average. The only thing that bothered me was the carpet because it felt old under my barefeet...but I got over it. The pastries at breakfast were great and the cocktails on Thursday night were excellent (we made them when we got home!). Overall this is a great hotel and by the sound of drilling and hammering it's going to get even better!

My family and I stayed at the Aqua Bamboo Hotel and Spa, 2425, Kuhio Ave`, Waikiki, between the 20th and 24th March 2008.

We booked the hotel with a US travel agent after checking the hotel web site and being impressed with some of the previous

We have travelled to the US ( from England) on a number of occasions and expect the hotels to be of a good standard.

The Aqua Bamboo and Spa was particularly disappointing and in our opinion fell well below the standard that we are accustomed to during our holidays in the US.

It has to be said that the staff are excellant, very friendly and helpful. The hotel is also clean. However, the condition of the hotel is very dated and the furnishings are very well worn. It was probably great in the 1970`s. The "pool and spa" area are also rather shabby and not a place where we felt we could sit and relax.

The furniture in our room was also" well past its best", old, dark scratched and not particularly good to look at. The refrigerator and air conditioning unit was rusty, the shower faucet was also rusty and came off of the pipe in my hand. The T.V didn`t work and was not replaced or repaired during our stay.

Our room was on the front of the hotel and the traffic noise made it almost impossible to sleep at night. The hotel staff said that there were no other rooms available to enable us to move.

The hallways and elevators were also in desparate need of being refurbished.

A fellow guest and her family, ( from California) shared our thoughts and moved to a nearby hotel. Unfortunately, our budget did not permit us to make that move.

This hotel is in fact "saved" by its friendly staff. The hotel is in desparate need of being fully refurnished. The photographs do not give a true refelection of the quality of this establishment.

After travelling all the way from the UK, it was very disapointing to stay in such a poor quality hotel.

The "Aqua Bamboo is well past its best".

Bkenyon. Yorkshire, England.