Spend any length of time in Hawaii and you'll become familiar with handiwork of Robert Wyland. Daubed across numerous walls and sides of buildings across the state are the huge, eye-catching murals by which this California-born artist has made his name.
Wyland's "whaling walls", which have now brightened up more than a hundred giant canvases around the globe, are the most natural of fits for these islands; in Hawaii, whales roam just offshore for much of the year and the marine world is of virtually sacred importance to the locals.
Wyland has the market cornered when it comes capturing the elegance of the local sea-life in artworks, and he has now lent his name to one of the most elegant places to stay in Waikiki Beach on the island of Oahu. The Wyland Waikiki is something pleasingly different in a resort where hotels are generally fine but samey, impersonal and flashing way too much 1970s concrete. This boutique-style lodging feels small and welcoming and its unconventional setup - with lots happening right in and around the compact but open-plan lobby area - gives it the easy-going ambience of a hostel, but with five-star standards.
The Wyland art connection is apparent wherever you look. The playful dolphin and swordfish sculptures that greet vehicles in the driveway are Wyland's trademark and his familiar turtle portraits - defined with a few simple black brush-strokes on a white canvas - deck the walls all around the building.
The oceanic theme extends right throughout the decor, which is big on tones of aquatic green and a sandy brown. But there's lots more of note to this hotel than the novelty of its arty patron. This is one supremely well kitted-out place to stay - and a hugely welcoming one, too. There's free web access for guests on giant Mac screens, a large TV lounge area, the friendly "Wy Bar" just off the check-in desk and, best of all, a chill-out room kitted out with Xboxes and massage chairs.
Surfers get free storage for their boards at the Wyland and can keep trim in the sizeable fitness room when the waves are flat - which, in Hawaii, isn't often. In the courtyard is a very tropical-feeling little pool area, but sun-worshippers on a mission will want to head for Waikiki's famous beach, a ten-minute stroll away. The resort's endless array of shops, restaurants and nightspots are literally a few seconds from the Wyland's front door, so the location is pretty perfect.
Maybe it's a sign of these credit-crunched times that rooms at this charming place can be nabbed for as little as $129 a night - a whale-sized bargain if ever there was one, meaning that Waikiki's most stylish hotel is also one of the best value.
For more information on the Wyland and other Outrigger hotels in Hawaii, visit www.outrigger.com
- Picture Navigation
- Picture Number
