Steps from International Market Place along a stretch of Waikīkī bustling with food, shopping and entertainment options sits the newly renovated Romer House Waikiki, conveniently located for easy access to the area’s more exciting offerings.
Romer House originally opened in 1960 as the Royal Prince Apartment Building, a 10-story, mid-century-styled property. Undergoing multiple ownership and name changes during the ensuing decades, it survived for a time as a budget hotel and was more recently refreshed and rebranded under the Aqua Hotels banner.
Today, the building enjoys a resurgence in popularity as the Romer House Waikiki, O‘ahu’s only all-adult property.
Albert C. Kobayashi Inc. (ACK) was contracted to complete the $29 million renovation and provide the hotel with a new lease on life. Working with owner Highgate Hotels LP and construction manager Rider Levett Bucknall, ACK and its project team navigated multiple unexpected challenges while on the path towards completion.
Patio View at the entrance of Romer House Waikiki
PHOTOS COURTESY HIGHGATE HOTELS LP
Izakaya 855-ALOHA serves Japanese fare.
PHOTOS COURTESY HIGHGATE HOTELS LP
The Backyard is a poolside respite for guests to relax without underage disruptions.
PHOTOS COURTESY HIGHGATE HOTELS LP
“We were contracted to completely renovate the existing hotel and build a new concrete deck in the back with a pool,” says Brian Niitani, ACK vice president, who oversaw the entire project alongside a project manager, engineers and superintendent. “During our final negotiations of the project, we were given Addendum #1, and these drawings now required us to install FRP (fiber reinforced polymer) at numerous locations around the project.”
And that wasn’t the only surprise the project team faced.
“We were contracted to completely renovate the existing hotel and build a new concrete deck in the back with a pool,” says Brian Niitani, ACK vice president, who oversaw the entire project alongside a project manager, engineers and superintendent. “During our final negotiations of the project, we were given Addendum #1, and these drawings now required us to install FRP (fiber reinforced polymer) at numerous locations around the project.”
And that wasn’t the only surprise the project team faced.
NEXT LEVEL CHALLENGES
Niitani has plenty of experience with renovation projects, so he knows to expect the unexpected — but the challenges encountered during this project “took it to another level,” he says.
The renovation called for ACK to convert the building’s single-loaded corridors (rooms on only one side of the building) to a new design with double-loaded corridors (doors on both sides of each floor).
But after demolition, several systems — including A/C ducts, the main sewer line, electrical mains, fire sprinklers — had to “be rerouted as they were located in either the new room layouts or proposed corridor location,” Niitani explains.
And this doesn’t account for FRPs that now had to be installed on each floor, a task requiring the team to core over 1,000 holes — which came out to an average of 125 cores per floor, according to Niitani.
Niitani’s team worked closely with subcontractors to get “creative” with scheduling, a plan that required the coring subcontractor to have as many as three coring crews on-site daily.
THE PAYOFF
Construction began in late September 2023 and was completed in May, with ACK and the project team completing renovations on time and within budget.
“Keeping our original schedule was our major achievement; as with all the additional scope our team was able to still complete the project as previously planned,” Niitani says.
Romer House Waikiki boasts 179 rooms and includes two food and beverage concepts: Izakaya 855-ALOHA, a modern spin on Japanese izakaya fare, and The Backyard, a relaxing poolside retreat featuring food and drinks without the disruptions of underage guests.
Niitani says he’s grateful to the entire project team and gives special recognition to Highgate and Rider Levett Bucknall for “entrusting us to renovate this hidden gem of a hotel in the heart of Waikīkī.”
Reviews of Romer House Waikiki have been generally positive since the hotel opened its doors to the public on June 1. It appears Niitani and his team brought the luster back to the property.
Romer House Waikiki
Subcontractors List
(In alphabetical order)
Bargreen Ellingson (Food equipment)
Beachside Roofing LLC (Roofing, waterproofing,
decking and pedestal pavers)
BMK Construction LLC (Tile and carpeting)
Coastal Construction Co. Inc. (Finish carpentry)
Commercial Metals Company (CMC) (Reinforcing steel)
Commercial Plumbing Inc. (Plumbing and fire suppression)
Gima Pest Control Inc. (Soil treatment)
Gordon Mechanical LLC (HVAC)
Hui Ku Maoli Ola (Landscaping)
Jayco Hawaii Inc. (Structural steel and decorative metals)
Kelikai Inc. (Micropiles)
Koga Engineering & Construction Inc. (Earthwork)
Kone Elevators & Escalators of Honolulu (Elevators)
Kula Glass Company Inc. (Glass and glazing)
Pacific AquaScapes (Pool)
Penhall Co. (Demolition and abatement)
R&L Ohana Insulation Inc. (Firestopping)
Sync Drywall Systems LLC (Gypsum board systems)
Road Builders Corp. (Asphalt concrete pavement)
Wasa Electrical Services Inc. (Electrical)
The Zelinsky Co. (Painting and wallcovering)
