Moana Pacific

been living here about 3 months now. great views from the 8^th floor. staff is super nice and was helpful during my move-​in. they called me around 245am just checking if I was going to move a friends car from visitor parking before 3am (when they tow). I got there quickly and thanked him for the reminder.

I’ve rent here for abut 5 months and overall have been pretty satisfied, though I’d expect higher standards for the price we pay.
Pros:
Views – Best thing about living here. I’m on one of the top floors and face makai. It’s nothing short of incredible. Friends that visit from the main land are blown away.
Location – can’t be beat, right across from the mall, short walk to the beach, $ 10 cab to Waikiki.
Security – Feel completely secure here.
Amenities – Love the pool and tennis courts, the gym isn’t fancy but has enough that I prefer to use it than pay for a gym membership.
Staff – the doormen have all been very friendly and helpful to me.
Cons:
Cleanliness – When we moved into the unit, it was not professionally cleaned AT ALL. The guys who lived here before were friends of ours, and they had the carpet cleaned, but it didn’t seem to do any good. There’s stains all over the carpets. Management allowed them to touch up spots on the walls themselves, which left the walls looking splotchy. Additionally, there was just dirt and grime EVERYWHERE when we moved in. I spent a considerable amount of time scrubbing the walls, doors, window ledges, etc. It was seriously GROSS. If they took anything out of the last renters’ damage deposit, they certainly did not spend any of it cleaning or fixing the unit for us.
Addressing unit issues – The only thing I’ve really asked the office about with regard to our unit was if they could tell me what size air filters to buy for the AC unit. I have a dust allergy that has been very irritated by the AC unit and needed to buy custom HEPA filters for it They didn’t know the answer to that, but offered to make an appointment to help me measure it, of course only during 9 – 5 work hours when I can’t be here. Not sure why they needed me here to do that, and I’m pretty sure that all units have the same AC system so I’m at a loss why they couldn’t have done that for me. Instead, I got a tape measure out and beared the brunt of the dust while trying to measure to ensure I got the right size.
ZERO storage – If you want to buy things in bulk at Costco, there’s no place in the kitchen for it – better build your own shelving unit if you need storage. We leave the vacuum cleaner in a corner because there’s no closet or anything to put stuff like that. The bathroom is even worse; there’s not even a cabinet below the sink.
Poor construction – We keep getting notices about using High Efficiency detergent in the washer, even though it’s not an HE washer. It sounds like they have problems with the plumbing and try to blame it on residents. We also have a window that’s damaged and a few things broken in the kitchen. The kitchen cabinets are really cheap, crappy material.
Parking garage – parking is ok; I have a good spot next to the wall. I’ve seen other buildings though that have bike racks or surfboard racks. We do not, and have to keep our boards in our living room. I do not own a bicycle but I see others just store their bikes in the back of their parking spot, which is awkward.
Fees – When moving in, you have to pay $ 100 to rent the elevator for a day. There are other fees you agree to on the lease, however I was not charged the fee for locking myself out and needing a doorman to let me into my place. That might depend on who’s working at the time though.
Bottom line: Good place to rent if you care mostly about views/​location and you’re a minimalist, but would not want to invest in one of these units.

We have been living in this building for two years now and we just love the location! It’s close to Ala Moana center, Ward Center, Walmart and within walking distance from a lot of restaurants.
The building design is unique and it looks very nice. The amenities are great and the building in general is clean. Most of the staff and security guards are friendly.
What prompts me to write this review is about the so called beautification project of the new board of the homeowner association. Without consulting the residents, the board decided to extend the hours of the water fountain until 10:00pm. The water fountain is a nice feature but is creating a lot of noise at night. Our bedroom is right above the water fountain and I found the noise pretty disturbing,
I have filed a complaint in the past and the building did change the time to turn off the water fountain earlier but I guess the new board decided that the esthetics are more important. Who is going to look at the water fountain at 9:00 pm or ten pm? It is a waste of electricity. I hope that the board will really set priority on what is important such as saving utility bill!

This place is so good, it’s crazy good. Amazing ocean views, luxury amenities and It is so family friendly. It has all the amenities of the other ultra luxury places (theater, fancy gym, gorgeous pool, tennis courts, golf, close to beach, mall) and it is just a beautiful property, but Moana Pacific provides a whole different lifestyle. It’s so friendly and cheerful, less cold formality. You just feel welcome and very safe. Also the apartments are very quiet — we never hear neighbors and with the lanai closed, can’t hear traffic or anything else. So peaceful! The management does a great job of keeping a big community clean and orderly (there have to be rules!), but they do it in a really sensible and personal way. When you think of luxury places that are either too rigid (tickets all the time) or can’t keep order (parking stalls used as storage), you know how valuable good management is! Everything is so clean and the elevators are so fast. The unique perks are awesome too. Halloween, little kids can trick or treat in the building. If you want to participate, you just put a special ribbon on your door and if you don’t, no one bothers you. You might bump into a bunch of adorable kids in costume in the hall, but that’s all. The kids tend to be very well behaved and if they start to get fussy, parents can just take the elevator back to their luxury ocean view home, so no one gets bothered. If you have young kids or love Halloween, you know how awesome this perk is. For Christmas, they have a Santa and a professional photographer. Because there are two towers, the rec area is bigger than any other place. Great for evenings outdoor without worrying about traffic, parking, safety etc. We also have the Wine Bar downstairs, Ala Moana Mall or Beach a block away. A high-​end, luxury, well-​run, family friendly place. It’s so unique. I love this place so much that after renting for a couple years, we bought and my parents want to buy in too. Couldn’t be happier. p. s. Since safety is a priority, I like the announcement system they have so I know what is going on for my family and I also like that they do not let cars linger all night in the guest parking. No top notch building does because it doesn’t feel safe.
There is one bad thing I should mention. The developers kept a bunch of apartments for themselves as part of their development deal and these owners are the pushiest people. When some decision goes against their interests, they will literally hire people to accost other owners in the parking lot or while you are riding the elevators. It is actually awful. It’s pathetic too because seriously, these developers are shooting themselves in the foot. No one will support you if you are a jerk. Fortunately, they seemed to have calmed down lately and all is well for now.

Not sure how I would rate this place? My husband and I were looking to buy a condo in the Kaka’ako area and we thought «aah, Moana Pacific!». The staff their is unfriendly and didn’t treat their «prospective buyers to be» with respect what so ever. They weren’t accommodating to our questions… no smiles at all.
Took a tour of place, I must say the amenities were really nice! Love the pool deck and reck area; however it was so busy and packed with people, it was like I was at hotel in Waikiki or something.
The hallways on 35^th floor were narrow (but I’m sure all floors are like that), I didn’t like that the kitchen seemed so shabby for a luxury design, it basically looks like bar area for the 2b/​2b/​den. Something modern with straight edges would have been fine.
Didn’t like that the whole condo was designed with curvatures and the bedrooms were extremely small? How are you suppose to find furniture that curves around a wall and glass panels?
Also I find it extremely funny when our friends who live their «irritated as ever» had to do all their shopping, food prep’s, exhaust their kids as much as they can, buy tons of batteries and flashlights for «all unit electricity turn off» from 6pm to 6am the next day… WTF, and this was to fix the elevators apparently?
Overall 2 stars.

Do you like JAIL? if YES this is the pefect place you want to live!
I lived in many places around the world.
This condo was the most expensive rent I paid and worst place I ever lived in my life.
I don’t know where to start…
First, you think you will get good services from very friendly worker right?
Forget about it… They are really unprofessional zero knowledge of service. I’m not sure if because they are not satisfy in their job but they really looks like they hate their job. They don’t care about people who live in condo, always sting in the desk just staring at you with creepiest face without saying a word, I still remember that creepiest people in the world haha
They won’t open the lobby door if you lost or forgot the key even thought they know you live more than a year! And this is the worst part, underage kids are not exception in this rule, they wont open the door for kids who forgot or lost the key and let them stay under hot sun outside until the parents come down and open the door! And again they know your face and know you live there for more than a year! I should have sued them when this happened.
Next, you go to Red Box in the first floor to rent a DVD and soon you realize there is strange smell coming from the next door where only workers can enter, you can smell a same smell when people smoke to get high.
The other bad part is that manager of the condo is horrible, he doesn’t have no respect and no care for people who live in the condo.
He will watch and follow you everywhere if you looks stranger or if he doesn’t like you.
One day this old manager followed me and asked me «what you think you are doing?» I was like what? But I said «oh I live here» and he just left with no apology.
That’s the kind of people you will deal with if you live here and good luck because this manager lives in pant house same condo.
I don’t know if he has some kind of problem or age but this guy is the most responsible for all this nightmare in the building and I’m not sure what connection he use to keep him sitting in that chair for long time as a manager.
PS Last day in the building when you moving out the security will come to your unit often to see if he can get some furniture or something for free and be very nice to you haha it’s just ridicules.
You pay more than $ 3000 a month and this is what you get. I’m living elsewhere now and paying way less but 1000 times happier now and thank god I moved out.
Not all but most of the worker are like this in this building, I don think this will change unless the manager changes.
And you also will pay a lot of hidden fees like stupid fine $ 200, To stop elevator when move in move out $ 200($ 100×2), worker who come to you ask he will give you $ 200 fine and to stop it he ask for $ 100.
Overall everything is a problem in this building.
This is just my opinion from REAL experience.
I hope this will help and save many people’s money and time.

Best thing about this condo complex is the location and amenities. It’s location is convenient to the mall, restaurants, bars, the beach. The amenities — great gym, pool, hot tub, BBQ area, tennis courts. The security downstairs calls a cab when I need one. The security holds any packages you get in the mail. Key fob security system to get into the building. There are vending machines and video rental RedBox available.
The downside is the overall construction is pool. I have heard that the plumbing is bad and hearing neighbors is common from above/​below floors, but not so much on the sides. Great view from higher floors.

These buildings look great. .. from the outside. Once you enter, it’s a whole different story. The quality and workmanship of the interiors is cheap and shoddy. The units are too basic and bare-​bones for the price. What you’re paying for is the convenience of location and the amazing view. That is, if you can buy a unit here. We looked into buying instead of renting and due to the lawsuits, you can only get a portfolio loan ($$$) from First Hawaiian Bank for the mortgage. No thanks.
The building offers the standard luxury condo amenities, but you really pay for it through the maintenance fees. Not only that, they charge you for every little thing. Want to move in? You’ll need to pay them $ 250. I don’t even wanna know how much they are going to charge us to move out.
They also have this crazy intercom system that is very loud and annoying. It chimes twice before they make an announcement. And they announce everything. This morning, they announced that someone had vomited in the pools and jacuzzi so they were cleaning it. Couldn’t they have just put up a «Closed» sign? My better half works nights so these announcements wake him up and stress him out. Last night, we had a tsunami warning, which they first announced repeatedly over the intercom. Then at 9:55pm, they announced they were shutting down all elevators except for one at 10pm. It would have been nice to have been warned about that more than 5 minutes prior to the shutdown.
What prompted this review, however, occurred this morning at 3am. The building offers guest parking, but only until 3am. After that, they tow the cars that are still parked there. They called my boyfriend who was working at the hospital at 3am to tell him that my car was parked there and it would be towed. They even described my car to him. He was stressing out trying to alert me. However, if the security guards had just LOOKED out the window at the parking lot, they would have realized that my car WAS NOT THERE. I had briefly parked it in the lot earlier, then moved it to the street. How could they not have checked to see if my car was actually there before calling and threatening to tow me at 3am? I asked the guard that very question as I was leaving this morning and not only did he not have a good answer for me, he didn’t even bother to apologize. I don’t think he even got it. This whole building just misses the mark.

THE 411: Moana Pacific is a convenient place to live, offering gorgeous views and excellent amenities that many other Honolulu condominiums often lack. Great for renters; buyers beware.
*****
Location, location, location. Moana Pacific is situated on Kapiolani boulevard, almost directly across from Ala Moana Center. I lived at MP a few years ago and aside from a few complaints, MP can be an ideal place to live.
PROS
— Locale: It’s central location can’t be beat. Literally everything in Honolulu is only a stone’s throw away. Downtown Honolulu and Kaka’ako are right next door, and Waikiki is less than 10 minutes away by car.
— Scenery: MP boasts spectacular views of Ala Moana beach – that is, if your unit is on the makai side of the building. My unit was a few floors below the penthouse, and I loved waking up every morning to the gorgeous view. An added bonus: Waikiki fireworks on major holidays and Friday evenings!
— Amenities: MP has a fitness center, swimming pool, movie theater, golf driving range, putting green, playground, and BBQ cabanas. I loved going to the fitness center so much, I gave up my 24 hr fitness subscription.
— Guest Parking: In comparison to other condos in Honolulu, MP has ample guest parking for each tower.
— Cost: I think the price is reasonable (for Hawaii standards). Units start at around $ 500,000 AND the building is new AND it’s in town! Definitely caters to young professionals and middle class families.
CONS
— Floorplan & Living Space: While I understand that when choosing to live in a condominium, one must sacrifice living space, the amount of room in each unit at MP is severely limited. I lived in a three-​bedroom end unit in the east tower that viewed Ala Moana and Diamond Head. I could barely fit my queen-​sized bed in my room, and nothing else – a fine time to be a minimalist. Also, the floorplan is a bit awkward. The living room had a outward curve that presented a major challenge for configuring and placing furniture.
— Cheap Materials: Things in the apartment break frequently. I remember a specific time when I attempted to open the balcony door. The door broke free from its frame and nearly fell over the railing. THANK THE LORD I was strong enough to pull that heavy thing back onto the balcony.
— Management: I haven’t had any bad experiences with the doormen, but I haven’t had any good ones either. They’re very standoffish and tend to keep to themselves, unless you’re doing something wrong.

Let me start by saying that these buildings are beautiful and the views of Honolulu can’t be beat.
That’s about the only good things I can say about living in this building. Building management are the WORST I’ve ever encountered… Unfriendly, unhelpful and generally unpleasant. I have gotten «warnings» for the most ridiculous things and the fines that go along with these warnings? $ 200 per day… Please. When you already pay an exorbitant amount in rent (about equivalent to your first born) you expect a smidge of leniency. And there are hidden fees all over the place…
Some security guards are friendly but most are just as rude and unpleasant as management. They scour the building just waiting to get someone in trouble… It’s like living with your parents, if your parents sucked.
The only thing that excites me about living here is that my lease is almost up and I can move out. Oh and thank god I didn’t BUY a place here, I would rather fork my own eyeball. Do yourself a favor, save your time and money and live elsewhere and then drive to Tantalus for some spectacular views.

I’ve lived here since it opened and I love it.
The view from my unit is outstanding, you can’t beat the convenience of the location, and the amenities (like the gym) are great.
Some of the units do have strange floor plans. That’s because the towers are basically oval shaped, so you get strange corners.
But I own a unit here and one in the 909 Kapiolani and we prefer to live here.

I love the ocean view, the location, and the security this place offers but management and building quality can be a pain. I have been renting here for over 2 years now and there are problems with central AC and elevators, like all the time. This building is new, how could they have so many problems? I am just glad that I am not an owner!
Pros
— Amazing ocean view and unobstructed view to weekly Waikiki firework, free entertainment for the dinner guests, always a hit.
— within 2 blocks from the infamous mall (with EVERYTHING there, supermarkets, post office, restaurants… etc)
— within 2 blocks from the beach
— private playground for the keiki (I have children, this is appealing to me personally)
— outside windows got professionally cleaned twice a year
— fancy looking modern building
Cons
— Broken AC (4x in 2011, 1x in 2012)
— broken elevator (s) (I lost count)
— unfriendly doormen, only a few, but nevertheless enough to ruin your day or party
— tiny, TINY, party room. I have never seen smaller party/​club room! and can only be booked for 3 hours per apartment (how long does it leave you to host a party including the clean up and preparation? 25 minutes, maybe?)
— small fitness center with outdated equipment
— swimming pool is NOT heated
— parking stalls are so very small, you can barely open your car doors to get out
— overall the building is cheaply made, if you’re looking to buy, don’t.
As for me, I’m only living in Hawaii temporarily, I can put up with the cons for a while longer. However, if i’m not looking to spend 5k on moving expenses, I will certainly move else where.

We’ve now lived here exactly two full years and wouldn’t live anywhere else. Can’t beat the location in Honolulu… everything worth doing is well within reasonable walking distance, tons of restaurants and entertainment options… and we couldn’t be happier with the professional building management. The Security staff, Maintenance crews, and Janitorial workers all do an excellent job.

Amazing amenities, my husband and I truly enjoy living here.