103 Best Hotels in Hawaii, USA

The Princess Kaiulani sits across the street from the regal Moana Surfrider, without some of the more elaborate amenities (such as a spa or a kids' club), but with rates that are considerably kinder to the wallet. Rooms are a bit dated and are located within two towers—some peer at the ocean over the Moana's low-rise historic wing. It's a two-minute stroll to the beach. The hotel's pool is streetside, facing Kalakaua Avenue, and cultural activities like hula and ukulele lessons are available on-site. It can feel a bit rushed with guests coming and going, but the location is convenient, and the rooms are more than adequate for the price. Many visitors stay at the PK (as it's called by locals) to spend their days at the beach and the bars across the street.

Three private cottages set on a 10-acre working ranch afford total privacy, with a few more amenities than a vacation house or condo. Owners Mark and Amy drop off a welcome basket with breakfast goodies your first day, and there's a washer and dryer in each unit, an outdoor pool, and a hot tub. The ranch is great for animal lovers, as it is replete with sheep, friendly goats, and chickens throughout.

A good choice for families, this recently refreshed (2022) high-rise hotel features a surf-inspired vibe and is directly across the street from a protected stretch of Kuhio Beach and near Kapiolani Park. Although rooms can be small, most have full or partial ocean views and private lanai. Breakfast, evening music, and other gatherings take place on the third-floor pool deck, and Tiki's Grill & Bar serves a popular coconut shrimp dish as well as island-inspired cocktails. Access to the Coconut Club, a penthouse-level lounge overlooking the beach, is included with some room packages, with breakfast and light bites available throughout the day. Kids love the pool deck and cultural activities, such as free hula and lei-making lessons, and the hotel provides towels and chairs for the beach. The lobby can get very busy. 

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.

Set on 5 acres across from Kuhio Beach and close to Kapiolani Park, the Honolulu Zoo, and the Waikiki Aquarium, this flagship Marriott offers daily activities for children and adults and has an expansive pool deck with ocean views, several pools, plenty of cabanas and lounge chairs, and the large, outdoor Queensbreak restaurant. Rooms, all with private lanai, vary in size and configuration: those in the Kealohilani Tower are some of the largest in Waikiki; those on the Diamond Head side of the Paoakalani Tower offer breathtaking views of the crater and Kapiolani Park. Royal Kaila Spa offers an extensive menu of services, and the 3,000-square-foot, 24-hour fitness center has floor-to-ceiling windows and state-of-the-art equipment.

Nestled between Fort DeRussy Beach Park and the Outrigger Reef Resort, the only condo hotel directly on Waikiki Beach is beloved by some for its spaciousness and by others for its quieter, western-end location. Units, which are individually owned and have varying decor and amenities, include studios and one- or two-bedroom suites, each with private lanai and panoramic views. Some units have full kitchens; others have kitchenettes. All suites have washers and dryers in addition to a daily cleaning service (for an additional one-time fee). The property is overseen by two companies: Castle Resorts, which handles most of the rentals, and Outrigger, which manages about 30 units. Guests who book directly with Outrigger have access to the pool and fitness center at the neighboring Outrigger Reef and must check in at the Regency on Beachwalk Waikiki by Outrigger, about two blocks away.

Encompassing 15 acres replete with ancient fishponds, historic trails, and petroglyph fields, the Marriott offers rooms with sleek modern beds, bright white linens, Hawaiian art, and private lanai. The hotel has three pools: a heated infinity pool, a pool with a sandy entrance for kids, and one with a waterslide for the young and young at heart. The resort's two restaurants, Hawaii Calls Restaurant and Lounge (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and Akaula Lanai (a "coffee and cocktail" restaurant) showcase beautiful views of Waikoloa Beach. Experience a renowned luau and show Wednesday or Saturday. There are also many great eateries within walking distance at the Kings' Shops and Queens' MarketPlace. The hotel's Mandara Spa pampers with a full range of treatments in a spacious wellness center. Bordering the white-sand beach of Anaehoomalu Bay, the hotel offers ocean activities through Ocean Sports Hawaii, including stand-up paddleboards, hydro-bikes, kayaks, and wedding-vow renewals on a catamaran. The resort recently received honors for its efforts to enhance the local community. 

Overlooking Keawakapu Beach, this family-friendly vacation resort features studios and one- and two-bedroom suites in low-rise buildings that span 34 acres of tropical gardens and won't cost your child's entire college fund. Amenities include four swimming pools, paddle tennis, shuffleboard, and barbecue areas, as well as a covered beachfront pavilion—near the private entrance to Keawakapu Beach—with access to bathroom facilities, plus a full kitchen with an ice maker, a cold water dispenser, a refrigerator, a microwave, and an oven.

This 5-acre oceanfront condominium complex is convenient if you want to explore the east side of the island—it's 13 miles east of Kaunakakai, with access to a beautiful reef, excellent snorkeling, and kayaking. Individually decorated one- and two-bedroom units all have full kitchens and furnished lanai. Some have views of Maui and Lanai—be sure to ask for an updated unit when you reserve. The oceanfront pool has a covered barbecue area.

Known for its direct access to the Big Island's largest white-sand beach, this massive hotel has enormous columns and a terraced, open-air lobby with a rotunda ceiling, curved staircases, and skylights. All rooms face the ocean, creating an expansive property with long walking distances. At night, understated lighting transforms the hotel into an architectural showplace. Rooms are large, with marble bathrooms and plenty of in-room amenities like coffeemakers and robes, and the staff is exceedingly helpful. The spa offers both Balinese and Hawaiian therapies. The resort offers excellent cuisine—the Naupaka Beach Grill serves casual lunch and dinner daily, while Meridia features gourmet dining from its ocean-view perch. There's also a breakfast buffet each morning at Ikena Landing. An on-site deli-café provides affordable options for light meals on the go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The 18-hole golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, has topped many a "best courses" list.

This 12-acre beachfront paradise offers a setting that is both beautiful and calming, as evidenced by the green living wall and cascading waterfall in the lobby, which gives way to an aquatic playground with five swimming pools, as well as abundant waterfalls and lagoons. Book a room in the recently refreshed Hokupaa resort within a resort to enjoy deluxe rooms and lots of other perks.

It's rare to find a resort that so thoroughly incorporates authentic Hawaiian cultural symbols and traditions into its design, but this deluxe beachfront property in North Kaanapali carries this commitment into its native landscaping and its Puuhonua O Nanea cultural center, which offers displays of artifacts, as well as activities and talks. More home than hotel, the one- to three-bedroom "villas" have full kitchens, washer/dryers, and master bathroom perks such as free-standing soaking tubs and double-sink vanities.

Spread out over 18½ acres on a bluff above Anini Beach, this Westin property marries the comforts of spacious condominium living with the top-notch service and amenities of a luxurious hotel resort. Studios and one- and two-bedroom units are offered—many of which have ocean views and lawn-facing lanai where nene, Hawaii's threatened state goose, amble by with their young—and there's a nice pool for children. From the tapa-inspired art in each villa's living room to the wood cutouts of Hawaii's state plant, taro, the place has a relaxing ambience with Hawaiian elements.