HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaii’s first compact luxury hotel is set to open soon, catering to residents and visitors. It promises a modern, sophisticated experience in a way rarely seen in the U.S.
Hawaii’s first capsule hotel will be opening on the 14th floor of the Waikiki Business Plaza. First Cabin International Hawaii will begin taking reservations to book rooms in the spring.
“I would stay in the capsule hotel. I think it’s pretty cool. Especially, if you’re coming to Hawaii for a short amount of time,” stated Taylor Carter, a tourist. “My hotel was pretty expensive. So, if I knew that something like that was available, I definitely would have looked into it.”
The $6 million project features spacious sleeping areas beyond traditional capsule sizes and offers flexible day-use to accommodate the needs of short-term travelers. 103 single-person pods will be available. Guests will have access to shower rooms, lounge areas, luggage storage services and more.
“It also goes with our locals who live across the island, who want to spend a day in Waikiki, but don’t want to spend too much on the bigger rooms,” said Yumi Nishikawa, First Cabin International Hawaii Operational Supervisor.
The concept is a familiar rooming experience commonly seen in Japan. In response to the decline in Japanese visitors due to the pandemic and currency fluctuations, First Cabin’s expansion into Hawaii aims to bring Japanese travelers while contributing to the revitalization of the tourism industry.
“We are looking at $100 give or take for the economy pods. Of course, business and first class will be a little bit higher. But as of now, that is kind of the base. For kamaʻaina, we will definitely have packages for them as well,” said Nishikawa.