Photography by Michele Equitz

Sweater c/o Lulus  |  AGOLDE denim c/o Lulus  |  Sam Edelman loafers  |  Furla handbag  |  Miu Miu sunglasses

The first thing I said to Michele when we started shooting was, "Can you make this sweater look flattering?" It's not that it looks bad, but when it comes to oversize sweaters, I'm all "the bigger the better," and it's easier to see the whole picture in real life. However, when paired with your tightest skinny jeans and long flats, it makes a little more sense. This has been my go-to look throughout the winter months.

There’s nothing like a few nights in the lap of four-star luxury to make you feel fully relaxed. Calling the Prince Waikiki home for a few nights came at a perfect time, after a stressful business trip and in the middle of a whirlwind week at POW! WOW! Hawaii. As soon as I made it from the lobby to the 24th floor in a stunning glass elevator overlooking Honolulu and mountain backdrop behind it, I realized Prince Waikiki was exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for.

Central Waikiki, while dreamy and charming as ever, is a bit of a hike from Kaka’ako, where POW! WOW! headquarters is located. Prince Waikiki, located right on a stunning marina, is directly next door to The Modern Honolulu, which is a POW! WOW! sponsor and where most of the artists stay, so Prince Waikiki was in an ideal location. And, 100% of the rooms offer an oceanfront view, so you can't go wrong.

My first morning kicked off with a luxurious in-room breakfast courtesy of the hotel, which was exactly what I needed. I had been craving pancakes for two days, and there happened to be a stack of three under one of the tray covers on the table delivery table. They must have had a sixth sense. The pancakes came with a magical, sweet, coconut cream icing type of topping, which I decided was a Hawaiian delicacy, and I now crave almost every morning. Also in the line-up was a delightful acai bowl, a plate of fresh fruit, and absolutely divine avocado toast with a poached egg on top. I was pretty impressed with myself eating at least half of every plate.

While breakfast left a lasting five-star impression, Prince Waikiki has dozens of other features that make you feel like you’re in a better version of home. For one, upon meeting marketing manager Shayneh, I was so impressed to learn about the stories behind the art pieces in the lobby. There is a huge copper installation in the lobby designed by local artist Kaili Chun titled Hulali i ka lā, using over 800 pieces of copper contributed by hotel guests, associates, employees, and local artists. The paintings scattered throughout the hotel are even done by a POW! WOW! artist, who happens to be one of my favorites—Solomon Enos. 

On a more trivial note, one thing I never take for granted in a hotel is remote-control drapes. If I can click a button and be in blackout darkness ten seconds later, you can bet I’m planning a return trip before I even check out, especially when the view outside is a happening marina with dozens of boats to look out on. From where my room was located, I could see Ala Moana Park and even a bit of Kaka’ako. Growing up in Seattle, I'm a huge fan of marinas. I often stroll them for inspiration, picturing myself manning my own craft out on the open water—it's the perfect place to daydream, and I could do it right from my window.

I spent most nights in watching the Olympics and ordering room service. Whenever I stay in a truly nice hotel, it's almost hard for me to go where I need to go and do what I need to do because I don't even want to leave the room! 

When I did get out, I even had a great parking experience at Prince Waikiki. Parking in the garage beneath the hotel was so convenient—I always found a space at the front right when I needed it, and it’s super easy to go in and out with a ticket that you can just charge to your room. It’s little, seamless things like this that can make a difference on just how relaxing your vacation ends up.

I was so grateful for the time I had at Prince Waikiki—it was the most relaxing three days of my time on Oahu. The renovations they've clearly dedicated a ton of time and planning to were worth the wait time for reopening. The spirit of aloha is alive and well at Prince Waikiki, and I can't wait to come back next year.

Thank you to Prince Waikiki for hosting my stay.

Photography by Rae Marshall

Top c/o Bishop + Young  |  Overall dress c/o ASOS  |  Espadrilles c/o Soludos  |  Handbag c/o 31 Bits  |  Ray-Ban sunglasses

I have to say...feeling five years old prancing around in an overall dress has its charms. This was my second trip to the island of Oahu, and finding a private lake just behind the mountains in Kualoa Ranch reminded me how much I love seeing new things and taking the time to just be. I'm almost done sharing my photos from Hawaii, but this trip is going to stick with me for a long time to come.