Description: The Seaside Hawaiian Hostel is a great little hostel located in the bustling center of Waikiki, only two blocks from the Pacific Ocean. Unlike the Lemon Road chain-of-hostels on Waikiki's eastern flanks, the Seaside Hostel caters to a more civilized, mature crowd (but still plenty young). While the other hostels may have the reputation of being somewhat rowdy, unclean, and drug-addled, this hostel has none of the above - it's a place for young people to get a comfortable night's sleep, be treated well, and have a ton of things to look forward to with each passing day of their stay.
I spent three nights at this hostel, and was pleased to see the quality of their dorm rooms. The bunk beds, although rickety and hand-made, were draped with privacy curtains. This added a much-needed personalized touch to the room that I enjoyed. No need to worry about stranger's eyes peering upon you as you sleep - here, you're bed is your private domain. The bedsheets were changed daily, so there were no unclean, foul-smelling body odors being circulated through the air like at some other hostels. Also, each room at the hostel has an ensuite bathroom, which are clean and well maintained. Everything was sparkling. There were shampoo and conditioner provided, and towels were well supplied.
The hostel offers two types of rooms: Rooms with ensuite lockers, and rooms without. The rooms with the lockers were approximately $5 more than the rooms without, but the extra price is worth it for peace of mind. The locks are not included - so bring your own.
The common areas of the hostel are excellent, situated in the open-air courtyard. Sitting here watching their big-screen television under a starry sky is one of the best things to do while at this hostel, and demand for seating can be high, so get out there early. There is also a games table in the kitchen area, as well as a one-computer Internet cafe for checking your email. The hotel also offers free wireless internet to those with laptops, which was a nice amenity to find in a hostel. The hostel has a full kitchen, which is much larger than those at most hostels. You can release your inner chef every night, but be prepared to share with your fellow guests (depending on how good of a cook you may be). There is ample food storage space available, provided free of charge. Breakfast was provided each morning, consisting of toast, cheez whiz, jam, and coffee.
The property is very quiet, mostly due to the strictly enforced 11:00 PM curfew as well as the laid back clientèle. Don't come here if you want to party, it's not all about that. Dorms start at $19 - $27 per night. Free beach equipment, snorkel gear, and cheap tours are also included, on a deposit basis.
Need more inspiration? Visit the Seaside Hawaiian Hostel online at
www.seasidehawaiianhostel.comClose