The Twin Fin Waikiki Review: Steps From The Beach and Zoo

The Best Family Friendly Hotel in Waikiki?

Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Hawaii is famous for a reason. The accessibility to a relatively safe beach with consistent waves has attracted people from all over the world for centuries. It was once the home of Hawaiian royalty and countless other local Hawaiians who had cared for the island for centuries.

Although the controversy of westerners coming in and taking over will continue on, the reality is that Waikiki has changed to an international tourist hotspot and, barring any major world event to change that, will still be so for a long time to come. There aren’t many places in the world that are like it, and people appreciate the convenience of nice restaurants and hotels being so close to a world-class beach.

But not all of the hotels are the best to bring kids along. Some of them are just a bit too fru-fruey, and others are bordering a seedier side of town that doesn’t get discussed in the tourist brochures. But for people who want to be close to the beach but not need something lavish or extravigant, we found a great hotel that was welcoming, clean, and had one of the best locations in Waikiki.

The Twin Fin Hotel

The Twin Fin is a relatively new name in Waikiki but the building has a long history. Before it was sold and remodeled, most knew it as the Aston Waikiki Beach hotel. The property sold in 2018 and went over a full-scale renovation to bring it into contemporary times. With that remodel came a whole new rebrand, giving the property a surfing energy that is palpable throughout.

But beyond just simple marketing and a look and feel, the hotel has made great stides toward doing things better, which means a big push toward being as sustainable as possible. In a place like Waikiki where excess is the norm, it was a welcome treat to see a hotel going beyond telling people to reuse their towels. There were no plastic water bottles on site, instead opting for aluminum reusable bottles with fill stations throughout.

The Coconut Club

One huge advantage of the Twin Fin to other hotels in the area is the Coconut Club, an open social area with a stunning view of the ocean that offers breakfast in the morning and entertainment at night. During our stay we enjoyed a full menu of breakfast delights, from some the usual staples like bacon and eggs to more local fare such as loko moko and acai bowls. It’s the perfect way to start out the day while watching surfers catch waves, whale watching boats cruising out to sea, and massive cruise ships entering and exiting the harbor.

At night, we got to catch a launch party for Parley, an environmental organisation dedicated to cleaning up our oceans. It included a panel discussion from some of the world’s top Big Wave surfers, including the winner of the 2022 Eddie Aikau Invitational, local North Shore lifeguard Luke Sheperdson.

Twin Fin's Sustainability Initiatives

Twin Fin Waikiki has teamed up with Parley for Oceans in an exciting multi-year partnership to protect Hawaii’s beautiful beaches and coastlines. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the new pop-up AIR Station at the hotel, where they can learn and get hands-on with local conservation efforts.

The station has three main areas: Bay 1 [Avoid], where Parley and local organizations run workshops and informative sessions; Bay 2 [Intercept], an interactive spot where guests can borrow sand sifters and jars to help clean up a local beach and contribute microplastics to a collaborative art piece; and Bay 3 [Redesign], which highlights innovative materials shaping a more sustainable future.

For a more immersive experience, you can visit the Parley Interactive Classroom, where you’ll discover ways to protect the ocean while creating art from marine debris collected from Hawaii’s beaches. This fun, weekly activity is kid-friendly and offers a unique perspective on Hawaii’s natural beauty and the importance of preserving it.

Thanks to an exclusive partnership with Mananalu, the sustainable water brand started by Hawaii-born actor and ocean advocate Jason Momoa, guests will find complimentary 16-ounce reusable aluminum water bottles in their rooms. Twin Fin is the first resort in Hawaii to provide these eco-friendly bottles, supporting Mananalu’s “Drink One, Remove One” initiative, which has helped remove over 10 million plastic bottles from the ocean.

Additionally, the resort’s amenity fee includes rental credits for Waikiki Beach Candy, so guests can enjoy activities like paddleboarding, surfing, or relaxing with beach chairs and umbrellas—all while promoting eco-friendly practices and minimizing waste during their Hawaiian getaway.

The Honolulu Zoo is Right Next Door

Everyone loves the zoo (ok maybe a lot of people think it’s outdated), but kids don’t know the politics behind it and the imagination it unfolds is pretty special. The Twin Fin is located right next to the world class Honolulu Zoo that hosts a massive variety of animals. Being so close to the zoo means you can come and go without much fuss, and can time the visit to when it’s not so busy.

It’s well worth a look to see some of the world’s most majestic creatures, in some wide-open habitats

To Sum It Up...

We really enjoyed our stay at the Twin Fin with our little girl, thanks to its proximity to the beach and the Honolulu Zoo. The fact that the hotel is making proactive moves to do better to the environment resonated well with us.

Being so close to the restaurants and easy, surfable waves that everyone can enjoy was a great treat. Our baby is just a bit too small to be surfing yet but I’m sure Waikiki will be one of the first places she stands up. In the meantime, the safe lagoons was a perfect place to play.

Waikiki isn’t for everyone, but with small children, it makes for an easy, hassle free vacation at one of the best beaches in Hawaii. We will be back!