A Pod Hotel Is Coming To Waikiki for Budget Travelers, But Will It Be A Rip Off?

Hawaii is notoriously an expensive destination, not only in terms of the cost of flights to get here, but lodging, food and drink, car rentals, and tours are all, generally speaking, not going to make things easy for budget travelers.

So, when I saw that a pod hotel was coming to Waikiki this spring, it caught my eye. Called First Cabin International Hawaii, it replicates a model that’s popular in Japan where guests forgo a traditional hotel room in favor of staying in a small capsule.

The capsules, or pods, come with just enough room for a bed and some modest storage for luggage, and operate as a hostel of sorts with shared bathrooms and common spaces.

First Cabin International Hawaii, which will begin taking reservations soon for the spring, will rent 103 pods across three categories.

The majority—90 in total—will be “Premium Economy” rooms that offer a living area of 27 square feet. The 13 remaining rooms will be “Business Class” or “First Class” rooms, with a max area of 47 square feet and slightly larger beds.

The starting rate, as of this writing, will be at or above $100 a night for “Premium Economy,” with increases for Business and First Class pods.

“We are looking at $100 give or take for the economy pods,” Yumi Nishikawa, First Cabin International Hawaii Operational Supervisor, told Hawaii News Now. “Of course, business and first class will be a little bit higher. But as of now, that is kind of the base.”

While I like the idea in theory, and always applaud the chance to experience a unique concept, the price point is a little surprising. Sure, it’s cheaper than a lot of what you can find in Waikiki, but in reality, it’s not that much cheaper—and on a cost per square foot basis, it may be one of the worst deals you can find.

Consider that hotels like the Twin Fin, Park Shore Waikiki, the Hyatt Central, and many others often have deals for less than $200 a night, with room sizes of 200-400 square feet (or more), and private bathrooms. Some of these options are even more or less beachfront, while First Cabin will be several blocks from the beach.

For someone who wants to drop their bag and go play, with no plans to spend any time in the room, the lower cost of the pods could be appealing. However, cheaper options are available in this regard, such as bunks in hostels that cost less than $50 per night.

I won’t draw any final conclusions until the First Cabin International Hawaii actually opens and we see where the nightly rates end up. Apparently, day-use rates will also be available for those flying out or passing through, which could prove useful in certain circumstances.

But as of now, it seems this concept is not truly for budget travelers, but rather, for those seeking a trendy, anti-hotel concept that are willing to pay up for the novelty.