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As in real estate, location matters. And although Oahu is just 44 miles long and 30 miles wide—meaning you can circle the entire island before lunch—it boasts neighborhoods and lodgings with very different vibes and personalities. If you like the action and choices of big cities, consider Waikiki, a 24-hour playground with everything from surf to karaoke bars. Those who want an escape from urban life look to the island’s leeward or windward sides, or to the North Shore, where the surf culture creates a laid-back atmosphere.
Most of the island’s major hotels and resorts are in Waikiki, which has a lot to offer within a small area—namely shopping, restaurants, nightlife—and nearly 3 miles of sandy beach. You don’t need a car in Waikiki; everything is nearby, including the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium, the 300-acre Kapiolani Park, running and biking paths, grocery stores, and access to public transportation that can take you to museums, shopping centers, and historic landmarks around the island.
You’ll find places to stay along the entire stretch of both Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues, with smaller and quieter hotels and condos at the eastern end, and more business-centric accommodations on the western edge of Waikiki, near the Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, and downtown Honolulu.
The majority of tourists who come to Oahu stay in Waikiki, but choosing accommodations in downtown Honolulu affords you the opportunity to be close to shopping and restaurants at Ala Moana Center, the largest shopping mall in the state. It also provides easy access to the airport.
If you want to get away from the bustle of the city, consider a stay on Oahu’s Leeward Coast. Consider the Ko Olina resort area, about 20 minutes from the Honolulu International Airport and 40 minutes from Waikiki. Here, there are great golf courses and quiet beaches and coves that make for a relaxing getaway. But you’ll need a car to get off the property if you want to explore the rest of the island.
Other, more low-key options are on Windward Oahu or the North Shore. Both regions are rustic and charming, with quaint eateries and coffee shops, local boutiques, and some of the island’s best beaches. One of Oahu’s premier resorts, Turtle Bay, is located here, too.
Just a block from Waikiki Beach, this unassuming but stylish boutique hotel focuses on wellness and renewal, making it a calm alternative to the big, bustling resorts that dominate the area. The cozy rooms feature muted tones and mid-century modern furnishings. Perks include free Wi-Fi, morning coffee in the lobby, and yoga or other wellness programs. There's also a grab-and-go food station and a (very) small lobby bar.
Modern and stylish, with an urban beach vibe, the Hyatt Centric has a friendly staff, rooms in several sizes and configurations, and a sprawling, seventh-floor lobby with a breakfast café and lovely outdoor pool area. Although no rooms have lanai, all have large windows, great views, high-tech amenities, contemporary decor (neutral with lots of wooden touches and splashes of color), and spacious, well-lit bathrooms—some with both generously sized soaking tubs and showers.
There's no other resort between the ocean and this high-rise hotel, which is across the street from Kuhio Beach and features a lively, atrium-style lobby with three levels of shopping (including a farmers' market on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons), a two-story waterfall, gardens, and free live evening entertainment. Other amenities include the luxury Na Hoola Spa, with 16 treatment rooms and an array of specialty therapies; the street-level Kai Coffee; the SHOR breakfast restaurant; and SWIM, a casual poolside bar and lounge that serves sustainable seafood. Authentic on-site activities, such as lei-making and hula, are led by a native Hawaiian cultural practitioner. Aloha Friday events showcase Polynesian tattooing and feature a Samoan fire-knife performance.
Right on picturesque Kaneohe Bay amid the junglelike fauna of the windward side, this resort offers apartment-style units ranging from cozy studios to spacious two-bedroom suites with breathtaking views of the majestic Koolau Mountains; one stand-alone cottage is in a remote area not generally frequented by tourists. All accommodations have either a full kitchen or kitchenette; suites have a private lanai. Units do not have their own washer/dryers, but there is guest laundry on-site. For an additional fee, you can take a guided tour of Kaneohe Bay on Wednesday afternoon to snorkel with endangered Hawaiian sea turtles and manta rays, or, on Saturday morning, take a chartered boat to the sandbar. Wi-Fi, use of the pool, and beach gear are included in the hefty resort fee; pets can stay for an additional nightly fee.
