Overall impression: Reviews of The Plaza at Waikiki present a mixed but strongly polarized picture. A large portion of reviewers emphasize that the building is new, attractive and hotel-like, with bright, well-kept common areas, many on-site amenities, and a generally friendly and helpful staff. At the same time, a cluster of very serious and specific complaints—concentrated in the memory care area—describe unsanitary conditions, falls, injuries, assaults, missing belongings, and apparent lapses in laundry and basic hygiene. That dichotomy creates two dominant themes: excellent, modern facilities and programs for many residents contrasted with alarming safety and care-quality concerns for some vulnerable residents in memory care.
Facilities and amenities: The Plaza is repeatedly described as brand-new and stylish, with an impressive lobby and hotel-like presentation. Reviewers praise bright, spacious common areas, a theater, barber shop, exercise room, terrace and barbecue area, furnished apartments, and often-stated attractive views. Many found the grounds and maintenance to be good and the building very clean. Downsides to the physical space are also frequently mentioned: apartments are commonly characterized as small or cramped, outdoor/gathering spaces limited, some rooms have windows that cannot be opened, and a few reviewers described an 'industrial' vibe or limited patio access. Overall, the physical plant and amenities score high marks, but unit size and limited outdoor space are consistent pain points.
Staff and care quality: Most reviewers report that staff are friendly, patient, knowledgeable and helpful—references to ‘wonderful,’ ‘caring,’ and ‘responsive’ staff recur throughout the positive reviews. Activities staff, sales team, and front-of-house personnel receive particular praise. However, the reviews that raise serious concerns point to major staffing and care failures in memory care: CNAs allegedly unwilling to provide care, nurses delegating tasks inappropriately to CNAs, and an administration described as aware of problems but ineffective at correcting them. There is a clear split in experiences—the majority of impressions about staff are positive, but the negative reports about memory care staff indicate systemic issues affecting resident safety and dignity for some.
Dining, activities and lifestyle: The Plaza offers a robust activity program—movie theater nights (with popcorn), music programs, visits from school children, bus outings, dance and mahjong groups, and physical therapy/wellness options. Many reviewers enjoyed the variety and stimulation these programs provide. Dining receives mixed feedback: several callers praise restaurant-quality food and a varied menu, while others describe meals as bland, overly salty or fattening and note limited Asian cuisine options. Some reviewers specifically liked desserts and the dining area ambiance, but food consistency appears to vary across reviewers’ experiences.
Safety, sanitation and management concerns: The most serious and recurring negative reports are focused on memory care. Multiple summaries allege unsanitary conditions—urine and feces on walls, floors and bedding, soiled chairs and mattresses, towels with feces, and laundry being handled in plastic bags. These complaints are accompanied by reports of falls that caused injuries and fractures, resident-on-resident assaults, and lost jewelry. Some reviewers state that administration is aware of these problems but has failed to act effectively. Combined, these accounts point to potential lapses in infection control, hygiene protocols, staff training or staffing levels in the memory care wing—issues that directly affect resident safety. Families and prospective residents should view these reports as critical red flags and seek specific, verifiable information from management.
Cost, transparency and value: Price is a frequent concern—many reviewers describe The Plaza as expensive or ‘the most expensive,’ with at least one summary mentioning roughly $8,000 per month and others noting annual price increases. A few reviewers also noted that insurance is not accepted and that initial information or pricing transparency was unsatisfactory. Considering the mixed reports on care (excellent in many areas but severely problematic in memory care, according to some), several reviewers questioned whether the cost represents good value, especially for those seeking memory care or larger living spaces.
Notable patterns and takeaways: The dominant positive patterns are consistently modern facilities, plentiful amenities, friendly and engaging staff (in most accounts), and a strong activity program. The dominant negative pattern is concentrated, detailed, and serious: multiple reviewers independently describe poor sanitation, falls and staff unwillingness in memory care, with alleged administrative inaction. These are not minor complaints—they concern safety, hygiene and basic caregiving responsibilities. Prospective residents and families should balance the strong positives (facilities, amenities, many satisfied residents and families) with those safety and care-quality reports. Before committing, it's advisable to tour the exact unit type sought, inspect the memory care wing in person, request staffing ratios and turnover data, ask for recent incident and inspection reports, clarify laundry/linen procedures, verify meal samples and menu variety (especially for specific dietary preferences), and obtain clear pricing and contract terms.
