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Ka La‘i Waikiki Beach on Oahu has completed a $100 million, property-wide transformation, reopening as a reimagined luxury resort that marks Hilton’s first LXR Hotels & Resorts property in Hawaii and adding new momentum to Waikiki’s high-end hotel market.
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From Trump-branded tower to LXR luxury flagship
The 39-story tower overlooking Waikiki, long known to travelers as Trump International Hotel Waikiki, has been repositioned and reintroduced as Ka La‘i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts. Publicly available information indicates that the $100 million project reimagined the former condo-hotel into a full-scale luxury resort with a distinct identity separate from its previous branding and management.
Reports indicate that the rebranding and renovation, which began in mid-2025 while the property remained open, were designed to align the tower with Hilton’s LXR collection, the company’s ultra-luxury brand. The completed work delivers a new look and guest experience while retaining the building’s location just a short walk from the central stretch of Waikiki Beach.
According to published coverage, the 238 residential-style accommodations, which include studios, suites and multi-bedroom units, have been refreshed with updated finishes, furnishings and artwork. The result positions Ka La‘i to compete directly with other top-end Waikiki properties that have undergone major overhauls in recent years.
Guest rooms, sky lobby and social spaces reimagined
Hilton’s resort information describes a comprehensive redesign of the hotel’s interiors, from the elevated “sky lobby” level to individual guest rooms. The lobby has been recast as a central gathering space with panoramic views of Waikiki and Mamala Bay, integrating new seating areas and social zones intended to encourage guests to linger.
Design details are reported to draw on Hawaii’s natural palette, incorporating wood tones, soft neutrals and ocean-inspired hues. Publicly available descriptions of the project credit international design firm Bryan O’Sullivan Studio with the reimagined interiors, which blend contemporary lines with references to Hawaiian culture and landscape.
Within the accommodations, the renovation introduces updated bathrooms, refreshed kitchenettes or full kitchens in many units, and new textiles and lighting. The aim, according to resort materials, is to balance residential comfort with resort-style polish, targeting both vacationing families and longer-stay guests who value additional space and in-room amenities.
New dining venues and upgraded wellness offerings
The $100 million investment extends beyond guest rooms to a new food-and-beverage lineup and enhanced wellness facilities. Information released by Hilton highlights three primary dining and lounge concepts: Bloom Cafe & Restaurant, The Kini Room and Muse Lounge, all positioned around the sky lobby and pool levels.
Bloom Cafe & Restaurant is described as the resort’s all-day dining venue, with menus that emphasize local ingredients and contemporary presentations. The Kini Room offers a more intimate setting suitable for private events and small-group gatherings, while Muse Lounge provides cocktails and light bites with indoor-outdoor seating that takes advantage of the tower’s elevated views.
The property’s spa and fitness areas have also been overhauled. Spa Ka La‘i has been refreshed with new treatment rooms and a design that focuses on calm, nature-inspired elements, according to resort communications. The fitness center has been updated with modern equipment and improved layout, reflecting increased guest demand for comprehensive wellness options during resort stays.
Infinity pool deck and resort-style amenities refreshed
Outside, the renovation has reshaped the resort’s leisure experience around its elevated infinity pool deck. Previously a key selling point of the former hotel, the pool area now features new loungers, cabanas and landscaped details that frame views over Waikiki and out toward the Pacific, according to recent travel reviews.
Public information indicates that the pool deck upgrades are paired with expanded food and beverage service, allowing guests to order from the resort’s dining concepts while remaining poolside. The setting is positioned as an alternative to the often-crowded beachfront, offering a quieter vantage point above the city while still keeping the shoreline within easy walking distance.
Additional touches, such as refreshed meeting and event spaces and updated arrival areas, round out the resort’s transformation into a more fully realized luxury destination. For small groups and intimate celebrations, recently published coverage notes that the property now markets its upper-level venues and private dining rooms as options with skyline and ocean views.
Renovation underscores Waikiki’s ongoing luxury reinvestment
The completion of Ka La‘i Waikiki Beach’s $100 million renovation comes amid a broader cycle of reinvestment in Waikiki’s hotel stock. In recent years, several prominent beachfront and near-beach properties have announced or completed large-scale upgrades, signaling strong confidence in Oahu’s high-end tourism segment.
Industry observers point to the Ka La‘i project as part of a wider trend of repositioning older or branded assets into more distinctive luxury experiences. By shifting from a Trump-branded tower to an LXR resort with a Hawaii-forward design narrative, the property joins a growing list of Honolulu hotels that have used rebranding and renovation to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
For travelers, the changes at Ka La‘i Waikiki Beach increase the range of upscale options just off the sand, complementing longstanding beachfront icons and newer luxury developments. As visitor arrivals to Hawaii continue to recover and evolve, the resort’s owners and operators appear to be betting that demand for high-touch, design-driven stays in Waikiki will remain resilient in the years ahead.