Hawaii: Meet Waikiki Edition, first hotel in mash-up of designer Ian Schrager and Marriott

Broken surfboards? Oversized sofas in the lobby? Outdoor movie theater? Relax (and really, that’s the point). These cool design elements and amenities come together at Waikiki Edition, the first boutique hotel in a new Marriott brand that’s scheduled for an official opening Friday in Honolulu.

The hotel, a few minutes from the beach, actually has been open to guests for the last few weeks. It occupies a tower of the Ilikai building, one of the city’s landmarks that some TV viewers may remember from the opening sequence of the original “Hawaii Five-0” series. Room rates start at $375 per night.

It’s been more than two years since Marriott and hipster designer Ian Schrager announced the new Edition “lifestyle” brand of small luxe hotels that would have a global reach but reflect local landscapes and culture.

The 353-room Waikiki Edition, for example, features a lobby installation made from more than 100 broken surfboard bits belonging to pipeline superstar Kelly Slater and other surfers, mounted above a custom-made reception desk. Coconut palms, lush gardens with native plants, a private beach and lagoon, pools and theater round out the hotel’s outdoor “playground.”

Inside, a restaurant bearing the name of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto features signature dishes such as tuna pizza (with raw tuna) and toro tartare, a concoction of caviar, crème fraiche, wasabi, avocado and more. There’s also a spa and Crazybox nightclub, which has a concrete-and-rusted-steel motif.

HawaiiMagazine.com took a peek earlier this month and described the vibe this way: “It looks more like an upscale East Coast beach house transported to Hawaii, with a few Island touches.” Hmmm, maybe it’s just those preppy-clad bellmen?

Contact: Waikiki Edition, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu; (808) 943-5800