Beachtree Properties recently selected Hawaii-owned and operated AQUA HOTELS & RESORTS to rebrand the 53-room Hotel Molokai. Situated oceanfront on Kamiloloa Beach, Aqua Hotel Molokai is the island’s only hotel and home to Hula Shores Restaurant, the most popular gathering place for visitors and residents on Molokai.
“We are elated to have been selected by Beachtree Properties,” said Bill Henderson, Aqua’s VP Development. “Aqua’s island heritage fits in nicely as we fully understand the product and experience this unique hotel, spa, and restaurant offers visitors. It’s an excellent addition to our growing boutique collection.”
Aqua Hotel Molokai is designed after a Polynesian village and features a variety of spacious accommodation options including garden and ocean front bungalows and a lovely oceanfront honeymoon suite. Recently renovated and upgraded, rooms suggest a Polynesian ambiance and include private lanais, high-speed Internet access, mini-refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, and cable televisions. In addition, many of the rooms have full kitchens.
“Aqua Hotels is a great match for this resort,” remarked George Joosten, Resort Operations Manager of Beachtree Properties. “Their understanding of the islands and lifestyle will surely target and bring the best customers to the island and Hotel Molokai. We share a similar vision and work ethic and are looking forward to a great partnership.”
“Aqua Hotel Molokai offers a natural and rural Hawaiian experience and we are looking forward to pairing it with the urban vibe of our Waikiki boutiques,” commented Ben Rafter, Aqua’s President and CEO. “The natural beauty and diversity of Molokai, the magic of unspoiled Hawaii, the captivating appeal of the hotel is a huge magnet for leisure travelers looking for indigenous island experiences.”
Molokai, Hawaii’s fifth largest island, is 38 miles long and 10 miles wide. It is dubbed the ‘most Hawaiian Island’ because nearly half of its 7,000 residents are of Hawaiian descent. The island offers breathtaking natural beauty, unspoiled deserted beaches, a rural way of life and genuinely friendly people. There are no tall buildings, no neon signs, no traffic lights and the pace is slow but there are lots of things to see and do. It is the legendary birthplace of hula, home to the famous mule ride to the quaint settlement of Kalaupapa – a National Historic Site, Hawaii’s only barrier reef, highest sea cliffs and tallest waterfall.
Molokai is 20 minutes by air from Oahu and 90 minutes by ferry from Maui. Travelers looking for unspoiled Hawai‘i, outdoor adventure, and ocean activities will enjoy visiting Molokai.
Welcome to the Aqua Waikiki Pearl. Previously known as Honolulu Prince Hotel, Aqua Waikiki Pearl is located at 415 Nahua Street. The hotel recently completed a $5 million refurbishment which completely changed its status to a fresh new boutique hotel.
According to Richard Mandel, President of Ramsfield Hospitality Finance, the New York-based owner of the hotel, “It was exciting to watch the Aqua Waikiki Pearl evolve from a neglected property into a stylish, modern hotel in central Waikiki. It was literally a top to bottom refurbishment process including the lobby and elevators.”
Wong-Oglesby used warmer wood tones and paint colors which added to the overall warmth she wanted to achieve, accentuated with bright tropical patterns on the bed scarf. “The upholstery patterns have very organic, free flowing designs that help to balance the clean lines of the furnishings and cabinetry – this fluidity is also carried over into the artwork, where various surf and ocean scenes were utilized and printed in a sepia tone on a gallery wrapped canvas.” The resulting décor plus open layout of the room creates a very spacious and comfortable environment.
New roofing, exterior paint and renovation of street-front retail spaces were completed early on. Retail tenants will start moving in this summer.
“The changes and improvements were all-encompassing and totally renovated the hotel,” added Elizabeth Churchill, Aqua’s VP Sales & Marketing. “Aqua Waikiki Pearl is an excellent addition to the Aqua Boutique brand.”
Current free amenities at the hotel include WiFi in the lobby, daily local newspaper and use of the in-room safe. Guest room amenities feature free high-speed Internet access, free local calls, blackout drapes, mini-refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker or a full-kitchen. Aqua Waikiki Pearl is pet-friendly (dogs under 20 lbs) and a non-smoking hotel.
“Ramsfield Hospitality Finance continues to show tremendous commitment to Waikiki’s revitalization,” said Churchill. “In late 2006, Ramsfield completed the upgrade and transformation of Aqua Waikiki Wave at an investment of over $7 million which was long overdue for a hotel with a very popular Waikiki location.”
“Similar to cultured pearls that are created manually under controlled conditions, we had a vision and initiated a renovation process to produce this wonderful little gem of a hotel,” remarked Mandel.
About Aqua Hotels & Resorts
Aqua Hotels & Resorts is a management company founded in 2001 by Hawaii hotelier Mike Paulin. The company provides independent hoteliers and individual owners with full-service administration including revenue management, Internet distribution, sales, reservations, as well as individualized and brand advertising and marketing for maximum profitability.
Currently representing contemporary hotels and resorts located on Oahu, Maui and Molokai where there are eight properties in the Aqua Boutique Collection, each with their own unique identity and features. The Lite line represents the company’s transitional and value product with six comfortable and affordable hotels.
In 2007 and 2008, Aqua Hotels & Resorts was ranked the #8 ‘Fastest 50’ growing Hawaii Company by Pacific Business News.
Headquartered in Waikiki, Aqua became Hawaii’s first employee-owned hotel company in 2008 when it executed an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. For more information on the company and individual hotels, visit www.aquaresorts
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