29 Best Hotels in Hawaii, USA

Six spacious rooms and suites—plus two vintage one-bedroom cottages perfect for honeymooners—are available at this 30-acre coffee-country estate, a few miles above Kailua Bay in the heart of the artists' village of Holualoa. Stunningly appointed with Asian furnishings and fine local art, the inn offers "garden-to-plate" breakfasts including Kona coffee grown on the property, fresh fruits, homemade jams, eggs from the inn's coop, quiches, French toast, and macadamia-nut butter. On-site are rooftop gazebos and a mosaic-tile swimming pool, hot tub, fireplace, guest kitchenette with refrigerator and utensils, massage pavilion, and tropical gardens. There's even a meandering coffee trail through archaeological sites. The inn offers an open-air pavilion for weddings and retreats. Two cottages, one a vintage farm building that has been transformed into a large bridal suite, feature a kitchenette and dressing room. The elopement package includes a two-night minimum, a beach wedding, lei for bride and groom, officiant services, and Champagne. The inn often sells out well in advance, so plan early. 

A luxurious intimate getaway without resort facilities, this stunning, 2-acre B&B in the foothills of West Maui's mountain, just south of Lahaina town, exemplifies quiet perfection. Most furnishings and building materials were imported from Bali. Each uniquely decorated room features traditional Balinese doors with mother-of-pearl inlay, a custom bed, private lanai, huge bathroom with giant bathtub, flat-screen TV, refrigerator, and—best of all—a private outdoor shower. Common areas provide great spots to snack, chat, or just relax, and immense glass doors open onto a small sparkling pool and a breathtaking view of the Pacific.

A thatched-roof gate opens to the courtyard of this informal Balinese-inspired guesthouse, which has a sweeping view of Hana Bay, a ground-floor studio with a private outdoor shower, and two other units with private whirlpool hot tubs on second-floor decks. The upstairs units can be combined to house six, and all units have kitchenettes with limited cooking supplies. In keeping with the community's ecominded spirit, owner John Romain keeps it green with photovoltaic solar panels, nontoxic cleaning products, and recycling receptacles in each unit.

If a taste of rural Hawaii life in plantation days coupled with quiet time and privacy is what you crave, you can find it at this 2-acre property: it's awash in tropical foliage, dotted with banyan trees, and has a 50-foot, saltwater pool and in-ground spa that afford views of Maui's northern coast and Molokai. The cottages (with granite-topped kitchenettes and private entrances) are simple and functional, but the gem is the 1927 plantation house, with its sprawling living and dining rooms, commercial-grade kitchen, and a lanai that will take you back in time.

Here, above the sea cliffs in North Kohala, sustainability meets luxury without sacrificing comfort: the resort generates its own solar and wind-turbine power, harnesses its own water, and grows much of its own food. Beautiful floors are made from sustainably harvested woods, and rooms take advantage of natural light and ventilation to keep energy usage low. Surrounded by 50 acres, 20 of which are a dedicated conservation area, the retreat feels both luxe and completely hidden from the world. Handsome rooms have high ceilings, elegant doors, crown molding, and private balconies. Three cliff-side hales (houses) with kitchenettes offer ocean views. More affordable options are available at the retreat's Yurt Village, which includes access to the saltwater infinity pool and fitness center. Breakfast is sourced from the resort's garden supply, augmented by island-fresh ingredients from local farms.

Nestled in gardens adjacent to one of Maui's most popular dining spots (Mama's Fish House) and fronting a small beach known as Kuau Cove, these well-maintained studios, suites, and one- and two-bedroom cottages (beachfront and garden options) have high-end appliances, contemporary furnishings, and local artwork that set the stage for beach house luxury. Each unit also has a private patio and fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette, making the inn ideal for both couples and families. It's best to make reservations for the restaurant when you book your accommodations or you may not get a table.

On a 5-acre coffee farm above Kealakekua Bay, proprietors Mike Martinage and Greg Nunn operate a grand yet very reasonably priced B&B in a plantation-style home featuring a 2,000-square-foot wraparound veranda with excellent views of the bay and the entire Honaunau Coast. The outdoor lava-rock shower is a treat, and the authentic Hawaiian cedar steam house, swing, and outdoor hot tub also offer panoramic views. Full breakfasts include ingredients harvested from the property, including homegrown 100% Kona coffee. Greg was once head of housekeeping at a five-star resort on Maui, and it shows. A detached cottage in back of the main house provides additional accommodations for families.

Hospitality abounds at this luxurious B&B in a secluded rain forest, where the separate suites (connected by paths) offer amenities including fine furnishings, dining niches, jetted bathtubs, heated blankets, and private forest entrances. In the lobby, the friendly staff "talks story" with guests and shares complimentary coffee, tea, cookies, and baked goods. On cool Volcano nights, warm yourself in the hot tub set under the stars.

This B&B on the grounds of an old banana plantation past Oheo Gulch (about a 40-minute drive southwest from Hana town) is a simple, back-to-nature kind of spot that is "off the grid." Banana trees still populate the property, alongside mango, papaya, coconut, and avocado trees. There's also a Balinese garden, complete with a lotus-shaped pond. The single room has a private lanai with an outdoor kitchenette, shower, and tub (there's a regular shower in the room as well), and astonishing views of the coastline. Sam and Mercury, a mother-daughter team, live on-site in the main house and are available to give tips and advice about exploring the area. Note that the owners prefer not to host children.

In the hills above Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, this guesthouse offers quiet elegance, complete privacy, and beautiful ocean views from every room. With a focus on nature, the house is tastefully furnished in tropically inspired earth tones. The bath products are 100% organic, and the yummy full breakfasts are as close to organic as they can muster, with produce grown on-site. Common areas include a kitchenette and living area with a high-definition television, DVD library, and computer with high-speed Internet. Minimum stays may be required, depending on the season. 

Quirky yet upscale, this accommodation features four artistically distinctive rooms that unveil beautiful views of the rain forest from a great location five minutes from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The hotel offers imported linens, custom-made wooden bed frames, a garden gazebo, a koi pond, and a six-person hot tub. It's one of several properties under the umbrella of Kilauea Hospitality Group; another is Lokahi Lodge, which has cozy rooms with comfy beds and plenty of exposed beams and wood. The group's most reasonably priced lodge is the Volcano Hale, which dates to 1912 and has a communal kitchen and fireplace.

A handsome, 1924, Craftsman-style house in the heart of Makawao town is on both the Hawaii and the National Historic Registers, and provides a great base for excursions to Haleakala, Hana, or North Shore beaches. Owner Cherie Attix has furnished three pretty guest rooms with antiques and fine art, and she allows you to peruse her voluminous library of Hawaii-related books; all guests have access to the main kitchen for light meal preparation. The lush serene grounds have a gazebo and one of the biggest Norfolk pine trees in Hawaii. Discounts are offered to guests who participate in volunteer projects through Cherie's site (www.volunteer-on-vacation-hawaii.com).

In cool, upcountry Holualoa, Hale Hualalai offers two exceptionally large suites with exposed beams, whirlpool tubs, and private lanai, but perhaps most memorable are the breakfasts ($15 per person)—owner Ricky Brewster was a chef at Four Seasons Hualalai Resort's Beach Tree restaurant. These are as varied as they are delicious, reflecting individual guest preferences—from Italian margarita frittatas with tomatoes and herbs grown on-site to Punaluu sweetbread French toast with Tahitian lime gastrique and crushed pecans. Ricky even grows and serves his own Kona coffee. Each 650-square-foot suite has a private entrance, whirlpool tub, and sunset views, making it perfect for couples.

On a bluff above Honolii surfing beach, this modern, 5,400-square-foot home is 2 miles from downtown Hilo and features four rooms—each with patio, deluxe bedding, and grand ocean views within earshot of the surf. Fresh flowers and artful decor add a warm tropical touch. A continental breakfast is served every morning on an outdoor deck or in the kitchen's bay-window dining area. From their lanai, guests can watch spinner dolphins or migrating whales during the season. These are ideal accommodations for honeymooners and empty nesters.

A charming old Craftsman home lovingly restored by a friendly and hospitable couple from North Carolina, the inn offers variety in guest room size and decor, though every room has a fridge. The Honu's Nest provides fantastic views of the sunrise from the comforts of a large bed. The larger Bali Hai Suite has a sitting room and a window seat that looks out on tree ferns, orchids, and anthuriums. Upstairs, the entire second floor is the Samurai Suite, furnished with traditional tatami mats and antiques imported from Japan. Breakfast is delicious and usually includes homemade baked goods. 

Surrounded by McCandless Ranch on 40 acres in South Kona, this place may seem remote, but it's actually just a short drive from some of the best water attractions on the island, including Puuhonua O Honaunau, Kealakekua Bay, and Hookena Beach. The gated driveway winds past herds of goats, donkeys, horses, and cows. Offering four suites with private entrances and lanai, plus beautiful ocean views, this tastefully appointed inn has an open-air living area, plus a media room with a DVD library of 1,500 titles. Buffet breakfast is served by the owner, plus there's a barbecue facility by the pool. Snorkel and beach gear are available. Minimum stays are required. 

Overlooking downtown Hilo and the ocean beyond, this inn sits next to a 120-foot waterfall that tumbles into a 300-foot-wide natural pond—enticing for swimming, conditions permitting. Powered by its own hydroelectric facility, the compound consists of a main residence with four guest rooms; the six-bedroom Harmony home; and the three-story Pagoda Guest House, with a bedroom and 1½ baths, perched near the cliff above the falls. All rooms have a private bath. Adding to the resort-style offerings, the chef's table dinners showcase local ingredients. Guest activities include waterfall rappelling and cooking classes. The addition of rustic off-grid cabins provides an affordable glamping option akin to a communal hostel experience. The inn offers a day-pass program for nonguests to enjoy the waterfall.

You wouldn't expect to find a top-notch B&B in Kau, but this grand residence offers large private suites with locally harvested hardwood floors and private lanai with ocean and mountain views. Choose between a full hot breakfast or a farm-to-table breakfast that presents locally sourced fruits and baked goods—and comes with award-winning Kau estate coffee. For those who want to explore the area's green- and black-sand beaches, or hike to the Kahuku unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, hosts Kenny Joyce and Kilohana Domingo are happy to share their knowledge of the area. The inn prides itself on its programs involving Hawaiian cultural arts, and guests may take part in Hawaiian feather arts or weaving workshops.

It isn't easy to find good budget lodgings on the southwest side of the island, but this old-fashioned neighborhood inn with studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites does an adequate job in cooler up-country Kalaheo Town. Suites have kitchenettes, and some have full kitchens. There's a great little hilltop park and nine-hole golf course just up the road, and it's an easy drive to West Side sights. The inn loans beach chairs and towels.

The former home of the late legendary artist Herb Kane, this luxury boutique guesthouse occupies a 16-acre avocado farm overlooking the South Kona coastline. Internationally traveled proprietors Michael and David leave no stone unturned; amenities include fresh flowers, evening turndown, robes and slippers, Molton Brown products, and tropical fruit baskets. Kane's iconic artwork is displayed in all the suites. Detached from the main residence, the Kane and Kanaloa suites are spacious and private. The Kane Suite opens onto a water garden and porch, and includes koa furnishings designed by the artist along with a minibar, library, marble bathroom, and atrium Zen garden. Breakfast features ingredients grown on the property.

This B&B, with its rare location within walking distance to splendid Kealakekua Bay, offers three high-luxury rooms with kitchenettes in the main house that share the pool-patio area, as well as two suites with more room and privacy in the detached Ohana Cottage. Gorgeous, well-appointed rooms feature plantation-style furnishings and decor with Hawaiian touches. The property, renovated in 2019, includes a sparkling, chlorine-free pool. Romantics take note: facing the emerald pali (cliff) is a lovely, grassy space with a small gazebo, should you wish to renew vows or pop the question.

This quaint, ocean view (but not oceanfront) inn with four studios of varying sizes sits next to Paia's shops and restaurants but is also secluded in its own little world—one where the grounds feature tropical fruits and flowers, hammocks in mango trees ("mangolani" means "mango heaven" in Hawaiian), a barbecue, and a hot tub. Other amenities include free on-site laundry, free Wi-Fi, and the use of towels and beach gear. A three-night minimum is preferred for advanced travel dates. Contact the inn directly for less than three-night stays.

Although it's set along Hana Highway, this chic inn with oceanfront accommodations and Southeast Asian influences is surprisingly quiet. All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen televisions, mini-refrigerators, bathrooms with travertine tile and spa-quality Malie Organics products, and regular housekeeping. The on-site VANA restaurant has one of the most impressive sushi menus on the island.

Entry to the property, which is in a residential area, is through a courtyard overflowing with colorful flowers and featuring a koi pond. Each of the four rooms has plantation-style furniture, well-equipped kitchenettes, private bathrooms and lanais, and either full or partial ocean views; the separate two-bedroom cottage is ideal for families.

Set amid 14,000 acres of forest and pastureland, this ranch is a great place to get away from it all, with oceanview accommodations that include two, romantic, two-bedroom cottages that are perfect for couples and a lodge that can accommodate up to 22 guests, with 12 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, and a large kitchen.

Close to Kailua Beach, this cozy bed-and-breakfast has been around since the 1990s and has two suites that are attached to the main house but have their own private entrances. The Garden Suite has a full kitchenette, while the Ginger Studio has a breakfast bar. Both have Wi-Fi, TV, air-conditioning, and beachy decor. The larger, open-air suite is spacious enough for a family of four. You can also reserve both spaces together. You can borrow bodyboards, beach towels, and beach chairs.

A stately and comfortable Queen Anne–style mansion, the Dillingham House is the centerpiece of the property and was built in the 1930s as a summer home for a wealthy Scotsman (the property is listed on the State Historic Register). There are three suites in the residence, two of which can be combined to create larger accommodations for families. The Grand Suite includes a fireplace, dining area, and two sitting areas. Also on the property tucked in near the rain forest, the Volcano Village Cottages offers six stand-alone cottages, some with full kitchens. Separate from the stand-alone cottages, there are five modern bungalows offering various luxury amenities including heated floors and towel racks. Continental breakfast is placed in your refrigerator while you're away in the afternoon so that you can enjoy it at your leisure in the morning.

Nestled amid the avocado, mango, coffee, and kukui trees of a historical plantation estate (circa 1932), this serene home provides a retreat close to the Waipio Valley. Each room has its own character with touches like warm woods, Chinese antiques, or patchwork quilts. A sprawling garden has an orchid-covered deck, and a little gazebo has hammocks for indulging your lazy side. Many of the rooms have ocean views. A full organic breakfast is served in the dining room.

Convenient, comfortable, and affordable, this Polynesian-style pole house provides a good base for exploring the area, as it's only a ½-mile from beaches, five minutes from golf courses, and close to restaurants and shopping. There's a feeling of old Hawaii here: the covered lanai is decorated with original tiki-style wood carvings by local artists, there are Hawaiian quilts on the beds, and stately palms shade the patio area, where you can barbecue or just relax next to a burbling fountain.