As long are you're pulling out the carpet and scraping the popcorn ceiling, I'd just take the built-in out too, BUT if it is the right height for a bar, you could take off the top, install a new stone counter and mount shelves for barware, glasses and liquor. You might try a wine fridge in that center section.

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^thats a great idea.maybe take out one on the cabinets and add a wine fridge or beverage fridge. I think the track lighting is what dates the area.

I am not a fan of bringing the kitchen into the living space. These suggestions look like counters discarded from a kitchen. If you are going to remove it, I would replace with free standing something something so you have more options for arranging the room. We haven't see the entire room, but once installed a built in is rather bossy as to furniture arranging.

I love decoenthusiaste's idea of turning the built-in into a bar! Awesome idea!

The shine on the cabinets makes me think they are not real solid oak cabinets, so paint won’t stick. Rip them out, they aren’t worth saving.

Congrats to you! getting a condo in Hawaii is no easy thing to do. What's your budget? IMO, you have many more things to update than that cabinet. If you have a big budget, then remove the carpet and smooth the ceiling. Update the lighting. Then address the cabinet as part of an overall design plan. If it really is all oak, then sanding and doing a brown stain would be very traditional Hawaiian but if that's not the overall design, it might just look worse.

I would not pull those out - they are quite neutral in style and will provide lots of great storage. I would paint them and maybe paint the wall behind them a beachy color:

Or fresh and white:

or a solid color:

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A couple more popped up. I would also update the lights above the unit.

Dark top on the light cabinets:

unit painted white, wall painted a color and shelves left wood:

The bumped out middle shouts old-style TV. It's also odd they notched it under that beam, rather than stopping there. I would rip it out to reclaim the floor space.

If you are removing the popcorn ceiling and replacing the carpet, you'll want to do the built-in now.

Painted white with a dark coloured wall behind it and beef up the shelves. Similar to the last picture posted by olychick.

Appreciate all your comments what amazing ideas!! I do like the bar idea CHEERS!!

Here’s another peek of the room.

Looks like a great view! I'd come up with a comprehensive plan for the floors, the lighting and ceiling, then decide what to do with the cabinets. Also, what's your furniture placement? That may help dictate if you keep or tear the cabinets out. I think you can work with them, possibly painted, if furniture placement allows. Looks like good storage and maybe a fun bar!

I found these photos of another unit same as ours in the building. I really like what they did with their furniture placement.

That is wonderful! It’s amazing what a difference angling and floating furniture instead of lining it up against walls can make.

I totally agree with you olychick! I was so happy to find the same unit as ours decorated in a very pleasing way. LOVE IT!

I would leave bottom part of this unit.