Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort is in the middle of a serious glow-up, with a roughly $100 million overhaul now underway at its oceanfront hotel on Kalākaua Avenue. The phased renovation will remake public spaces and refresh guest rooms, all in the name of a more elevated, “barefoot luxury” vibe, while keeping the resort’s popular restaurants and live music venue operating throughout the work. Company officials and local reporting say the project is expected to run into late 2026.
According to the Honolulu Star‑Advertiser, Outrigger Hospitality Group is calling this the largest single‑property renovation in the company’s history, with the investment touching guest rooms, public areas and dining spaces. Jeff Wagoner, Outrigger’s president and CEO, told the paper, "our role is to steward this iconic resort with care while thoughtfully evolving the experience to meet the expectations of today’s traveler."
The Star‑Advertiser reports that the resort’s Voyager 47 club lounge is set for a major upgrade, expanding to roughly three times its previous footprint and adding floor‑to‑ceiling views of Waikīkī Beach and Diamond Head. Local firms DTL, Powerstrip Studio and WCIT Architecture are on the design team. DTL’s Malia Kaaihue is quoted as saying, "to design in Hawaii is to remember," a nod to the cultural grounding behind the sleek new look.
Timeline and what guests will notice
Industry coverage notes that the project is rolling out in phases so public venues can stay open. Hotel Dive reported that renovation work began earlier this spring, with the program, which covers the resort’s 524 rooms and public spaces, expected to be substantially complete by October 2026. Hotel listings and booking platforms also flag renovation activity through 2026, with calendars calling out intermittent work and phased room updates during the year.
In practical terms, that means guests can still hit their usual Waikīkī haunts, but they may encounter construction during daytime hours in select areas. The plan is to keep operations as smooth as possible while the property quietly trades in its old finishes for something a bit more polished.
Where this fits in Outrigger’s plans
The Waikīkī overhaul is one part of a larger reinvestment strategy by Outrigger across its Hawaiʻi portfolio and international properties, a multi‑year effort to reposition the brand in the upper‑upscale beach resort tier. The company’s own newsroom has highlighted a recent run of renovations and brand investments across the islands, along with a push toward curated local programming and stated sustainability goals.
For guests and nearby residents, the bottom line is simple. Favorites like Duke’s Waikīkī, Hula Grill and Blue Note Hawaii are expected to remain open throughout construction, even as the resort cycles through intermittent daytime work and phased room upgrades over the next couple of years. Anyone planning a stay will want to keep an eye on booking notices and the resort’s guest communications to see which parts of the property are active at any given time.
