The Best Vacation Hotels in Hawai'i
So, you’ve decided to take your next vacation to Hawai‘i. Lucky you! With some of the sandiest beaches in the United States and stunningly clear ocean waters, you will get some serious rest and relaxation during this tropical getaway. However, it’s important to choose your hotel wisely, as there are hundreds to choose from between the islands, and seventy-four on O‘ahu alone. Whether you are looking for an old-world, classic hotel at the center of the action or an updated resort tucked discreetly into a quieter Honolulu suburb, here are a few options on O'ahu that will have you more relaxed than you ever imagined you could be.
The Moana Surfrider
First opened in 1901, this gem of a hotel has since undergone a $50 million restoration, and thus offers the perfect union between the charm of yesteryear and the comfort of today. Located on Kalakaua Avenue at the center of bustling Waikiki, the hotel faces the street on one side and the ocean on the other, with a towering banyan tree at the center of it all. The hotel boasts 793 guest rooms, a freshwater swimming pool, a snack bar, cocktail lounge, and plenty of lawn chairs (including reserved space on Waikiki beach). Whether you want to hit the shops on Kalakaua Avenue, take a surf lessons from the locals on Waikiki, or relax with a cooling Strawberry Lava Flow, the Moana is the place where you can do all three—with the added enchantment of old world Hawai‘i.
The Kahala Hotel and Resort
Described as “Hawai‘i’s reigning luxury resort,” these five-star accommodations will make you want to stay forever. This “legendary hideaway” offers 338 guest rooms and five restaurants, as well as a world-class spa. The beach is only steps away (as it the pool!), and Hawai‘i’s Dolphin Quest, which professionally trains dolphins and educates the Hawai‘i community about this gorgeous creature’s environmental safety, can be found right inside the resort! They even offer the chance to swim with the dolphins with the hotel’s professional staff. Only ten minutes from Waikiki, The Kahala provides guests the perfect getaway without being too far from the action; this is one resort you won’t want to pass up.
