39 Best Hotels in Hawaii, USA

If you don't need everything to be totally modern, consider setting up house at this great value condominium-by-the-sea. Three different room plans cater to couples, families, or friends traveling together; make sure to request a unit with air-conditioning—a must for hot, dry Kihei. The heated pool and deck is a social place, with gas grills, a full outdoor kitchen, hot tub, sauna rooms, and shuffleboard court.

The Kaanapali Golf Course's fairways wrap around this fine, well-priced, two-story condo complex that has spacious studio, one-, and two-bedroom units with fully equipped kitchens and access to a stocked beach cabana on a semiprivate beach. The complex itself isn't exactly on the beach—it's a quick golf-cart trip away—but when you arrive, you will have beach chairs at your disposal, as well as a full kitchen and lounge area at the cabana, Maui's only beachfront clubhouse. Back at the condo complex, the style of the privately owned units may vary, but most are tastefully decorated and offer modern appliances and spacious bathrooms. There is no elevator.

High on a ridge overlooking a favorite local surfing spot, Molokai's best condominium property has mature tropical landscaping, a nice pool, and barbecue grills. Elegant studios and one- or two-bedroom units have beautiful screened lanai, well-equipped kitchens, and washers and dryers; some also have spectacular ocean views.

Perched about as close to the water's edge as they can get, these one- and two-bedroom condos are the most luxurious on the South Shore. The rocky beach is good for snorkeling, and a short drive or brisk walk will get you to a sandy stretch. Two barbecue areas, big picture windows, spacious living rooms, lanai, and modern kitchens with washer-dryers make this small hotel a home away from home. Units are individually owned, so they differ in decor. Grocery stocking service and on-call massage is available.

Complete modern kitchens, tiled lanai, and washer-dryer units are found in every suite of this comfortable oceanfront condo complex with a welcoming entry lobby and a reception area that feels like a hotel. The nearest sandy beach is 2 miles away, but the pool is next to the ocean and 50 of the rooms are oceanfront. A second, ocean-fed saltwater pool sits at the edge of the property, perfect for relaxing in the waves. Although the complex is not within walking distance of downtown Kailua Village, there are plenty of convenience stores and delis nearby.

Though the name claims Kaanapali, this older, 12-story oceanfront condominium complex, where all units have unobstructed panoramic views of the ocean and nearby islands, is actually in quiet, neighboring Honokowai. There's a range of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units—all with spacious bedrooms, kitchens, living areas, and floor-to-ceiling windows—and an elegant pool that faces a sandy beach that's good for snorkeling because of the shallow reef.

Take in sweeping views of the ocean and Haleakala from the large lanai of the one- to three-bedroom units at this sprawling, well-maintained property just outside the swanky Wailea Resort. There's not much in the way of amenities (pool, small whirlpool spa, tennis court, putting green, shuffleboard, and daily housekeeping), but just across the street is Kamaole Beach Park III, one of the area's most popular spots for family picnics and sunset watching.

These slightly older condominium units, spread out among three low-rises on the ocean side of Alii Drive, are situated at Kona's most popular surfing spot, Banyans, and also just a couple of minutes' drive from Kailua Village and within walking distance of popular Laaloa (Magic Sands) Beach Park. Kitchens are fully equipped. Choose between the lower-priced mountain view, midrange partial ocean view, and more expensive oceanfront rooms; the rates are surprisingly decent. There's a great Hawaiian poke café (Da Poke Shack) nearby, plus a cash-only sundry shop across the street.

Perched on a rocky point above the pounding surf—perfect for whale- or turtle-watching—these three low-rise buildings have individually owned condos with full kitchens and washer-dryers. All condos have large windows, and many have bedrooms on the ocean side; each unit either shares a sundeck or has its own lanai. There's an oceanside pool, and weddings are sometimes staged on a little lawn beside the sea. A sandy swimming beach is a 10-minute walk away.

If you're looking for lodgings that won't break the bank and put you just a block from gorgeous Hanalei Bay, look no further, as this is literally the only choice among the town's pricey vacation rentals. The four attached studio cottages are bare-bones simple; the chief appeal here is price and location. Besides a private bath and queen-size bed, every room has HDTV and Wi-Fi, as well as a kitchen or kitchenette. Outside, you share a picnic table, hammocks, soda machine, and barbecue with other guests.

Set back from the ocean's edge on a quiet road in the heart of Poipu, Hideaway Cove is a boutique vacation rental with three units ranging from studios to two bedrooms, each appointed with tropical-style furniture and original artwork. The two-bedroom top-floor Sea Breeze unit comes with a hot tub and grill. All units have air-conditioning and full kitchens.

Amenities like maid service, an activities desk, a small store with complimentary DVDs for guests to borrow, and a 24-hour front-desk service—and no pesky resort fees—make this a winning choice for families and others wanting to play house on Maui's most stunning shores. The four secluded 11-story buildings offer one- and two-bedroom units with ample space, sunken living rooms, and separate dining rooms. Amenities also include a state-of-the-art fitness center, three tennis courts, and an upgraded pool area with flat-screen TVs and cabanas. A "grill master" is on hand Friday through Tuesday nights at oceanfront gas grills to assist guests with advice and complimentary herbs, spice rubs, and other necessities or to cook your food for you.

This South Kihei property sits across the street from Kamaole III beach and is perfect for active families. Ten four-story buildings wrap around 15 acres of grassy slopes with a swimming pool, a small waterfall, tennis courts, and barbecues. Units include one-, two-, and three-bedroom options, and all units have two bathrooms, kitchens, laundry facilities, and private lanai.

The 16-acre grounds provide a peaceful and verdant background for this low-rise condominium complex bordering the Keauhou-Kona Country Club and within a five-minute drive of the nearest beaches, Kahaluu and Laaloa (Magic Sands). The property has three swimming pools, two tennis courts, hot tubs, and barbecue areas. Large units have koa-wood cabinetwork and washer-dryers. Cleaning fees apply. The proximity of Keauhou Bay and Keauhou Shopping Center makes this complex an excellent choice for families.

An old rock etched with kanji (Japanese characters) reminds you that the site of this condominium gem was once occupied by a Shinto temple. Today, it's home to studio and two-bedroom rentals—all equipped with full kitchens and private lanai—either oceanfront or with ocean views. Studios feature pull-down Murphy beds to create more daytime space. Air-conditioning is a pleasant new addition.

Set among the 22,000 sprawling acres of the Kapalua Resort, these posh condominiums are named for their locations or offerings—the Golf Villas line the fairways of Kapalua's Bay Golf Course, the Ridge Villas are perched along a cliff overlooking the ocean, the Bay Villas are at the water's edge, and the Gold Villas are ultra-luxe. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom units are all fully furnished with kitchens and washers and dryers. The $39 daily resort fee for all units includes Wi-Fi, self-parking, preferred tee times, and free shuttle to shopping, dining, and activities within the resort.

Located in a residential neighborhood, this vacation rental includes quaint studio units near the mouth of Waikomo Stream, about two blocks from a nice snorkeling cove, and the Pool Cottage in central Poipu. The two tropical-theme studios each have a kitchen, a private patio with gas grill, beach gear, and easy front-door parking with one-step access. The cottage has a deck overlooking the lush garden and pool, and it is a super easy walk to Kalapaki Joe's to pick up breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

At this 1½-acre, sloped, beachfront lot with six duplex bungalows, you can choose from studios and one- or two-bedroom units—outfitted with breezy beach-house furnishings, individual grills, hammocks, and picnic tables—and enjoy access to a 200-foot strand of sugary white-sand beach running between the North Shore's famous Waimea Bay and Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline). Swimming is best here in summer; winter months bring monster waves to the North Shore that are best tackled only by professional surfers.

These pleasant, spacious one- and two-bedroom condos near the beach—each with a washer, dryer, and a fully equipped kitchen—have ocean views and nicely maintained tropical landscaping. Look for bougainvillea-laden trellises and spacious interiors decorated with rattan and pastels. Amenities on the condo grounds include a nice pool with hot tub and tennis courts.

This longtime Kauai condo project consists of 42 plantation-style low-rise buildings with individually owned one- and two-bedroom units set on grassy fields leading to a lovely beach. The units vary in style, but all are clean, have lanai, and get lots of ocean breezes. Green-thumb visitors will enjoy wandering the Moir orchid and cacti gardens that surround the sugar plantation manager's home, which now houses the front office. Guests have complimentary access to the Poipu Beach Athletic Club, with its restaurant, pool, and fitness classes just across the way.

Ruling Hawaiian chiefs once returned from ocean voyages to this spot, now host to comfortable condominiums, and OUTRIGGER has created attractive plant, water, and rock features. The one- and two-bedroom condominium units are all individually owned, so some are nicer than others. They all have a full kitchen and a lanai. Though there's generally no air-conditioning, there's typically a good breeze. The landscaped grounds include lighted tennis courts and a large pool. The beach is swimmable, and the property is near shops, restaurants, and a coastal walking and biking path. There is a three-night minimum stay.

Of the many condo complexes lining the ocean-side stretch of Honoapiilani Highway, this one offers friendly service, a saline oceanfront pool, and affordable units—some with million-dollar views. You won't be charged for parking or local phone calls, and most of the individually owned one- and two-bedroom units have been renovated to include flat-screen TVs and granite countertops in the kitchens. The interiors tend to be charming "old Hawaii" (lots of rattan furniture, silk flowers, and decorative items). This quiet older complex is a short stroll away from Honokowai's grocery store, beaches, and restaurants.

For travelers who've done all there is to do on Maui and just want simple but luxurious relaxation at a condo that spills onto a private beach, this is the spot. The secluded complex, which hugs the South Shore coastline, is designed to belie its size—from the road it's hard to tell that the two- to three-bedroom units are taller than a palm tree, all with ocean views. Privacy envelops the grounds, which include remnants of an ancient Hawaiian fishing heiau (a temple comprising a rock formation).

You simply cannot get any closer to gorgeous Keawakapu Beach than this unsung hero of South Shore hotels, offering both renovated hotel rooms and condos that may be older than those of its competitors but are well priced and have marvelous ocean views, especially during the winter humpback whale season. One- and two-bedroom condos have private lanai and kitchens, and on-site amenities include a heated oceanfront pool, an activity desk, and a yoga studio.

These one- and two-bedroom condos—some with ocean views—lie across the street from one of Maui's best beach parks, Kamaole III, and the property has tropical gardens, two tennis courts, two pools (one in a grotto with a waterfall), a whirlpool spa, and barbecue grills. Condos have two bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, cable TV, and washers and dryers; for extra space, reserve the popular two-bedroom units, which have a loft-style master bedroom.

Many of the units in this three-story condominium complex have a view of the ocean and Lanai in the distance, and there's a chance to see whales in season. One-bedroom, one-bath units (some with lofts) or two-bedroom, two-bath units all have full kitchens and furnished lanai, which look out on 4 acres of lawn. There is a two-night minimum for most units.

Two high-rise towers contain these individually owned, eco- and family-friendly units combining the conveniences of a condo with the amenities of a hotel, including concierge service, an on-site restaurant, and an organic gourmet food market run by Oo Farms. Active families will enjoy the spacious suites with large lanai, as well as the water features—slide, waterfall, lazy river, and serenity, lap, and kids' pools—and the fitness center. Those vacationing at a slower pace can stroll along the dune restoration area that fronts the beach, and perhaps spot endangered bird species and turtles. The Hoola Spa houses Maui’s first Himalayan Salt Room, and provides massage and other treatments. The property is also home to the Luana Garden Villas, three-bedroom private residences with resort privileges and its own pool.

These older, plantation-style one-bedroom units with garden lanai have well-equipped kitchenettes and are clean and comfortable, with a queen-size pullout sofa for extra guests. This is one of the lower-priced options in the area, and you couldn't ask for a more convenient location for dining, shopping, and sightseeing: it's across from Waipouli Beach and near Coconut Marketplace.  Request a unit away from noisy Kuhio Highway.

Set down within an extinct volcanic crater known as Piha ke Akua, or "Place of the Gods," these two-bedroom condominium units in South Pacific–style townhomes are fairly spacious, with large windows, high ceilings, and full kitchens (some have air-conditioning). It's family friendly and one of the best-priced properties with ocean and beach proximity; Keoneloa Bay (Shipwreck Beach) is a great spot for family holiday card photos.

The condos here—many with cathedral ceilings and all with large furnished lanai and big windows overlooking the lawns—give the 85-acre development the feeling of a quiet retreat inside and out. All condos—one- to four-bedroom units, as well as two-level units with sleeping lofts—are furnished with full kitchens. Villas have air-conditioning and their own gym. Walking paths connect eight distinct resort zones to both Brennecke's and Shipwreck Beaches, but to swim or snorkel safely, walk the extra 100 yards past Brennecke's to reach calmer Poipu Beach. The eight-court tennis club is well established, offers pro lessons, and hosts tournaments.  As one of the largest condo developments in the area, Poipu Kai has a wide variety of unit styles and sizes, and multiple rental agencies. The one- and two-bedroom units offered by Aqua Aston are a good value.