Best Luxury Hotels in Hawaii

There is a particular quiet at the western end of Waikīkī, where the crowds thin and the palms of Fort DeRussy Park stand between the tower and the sea. Ka Laʻi keeps its distance from the strip. Close enough to walk barefoot to the water, far enough that the evening comes in on birdsong rather than traffic.

Inside, the mood is domestic rather than hotel-like. Rooms open onto lanais wide enough to eat on, kitchens invite a morning spent slicing mango instead of queuing for a buffet, and the light shifts through the day from pale gold to the deep blue that settles over Diamond Head at dusk. Lava stone, teak and woven textures carry the islands indoors; Hawaiian artists carry their stories in with them.

Another from the Four Seasons portfolio, Sensei Lanai is just for adults. Found in a secluded enclave reached via a semi-private flight from Honolulu, the resort offers a quite unique experience. The wellbeing retreat has developed programmes and journeys, using a blend of science, evidence-based practices and innovative technology, led by expert practitioners. Engage in yoga, meditation, hiking and lectures, surrounded by beautiful artwork, a breathtaking sculpture garden and calming water features that help evoke an atmosphere of self-discovery. Guests staying here dine at Sensei by Nobu in a glass pavilion building, or outside, beside a koi pond.

At the four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina you can sip cocktails on the sand at Mina’s Beach Club, tuck into plant-bsed fare at La Hiki, swim up to Dr. Mai Tai’s in the infinity pool, pop along to a weekly barbecue and enjoy romantic dinners at Noe Italian and Mina’s Fish House. The indoor-outdoor Naupaka Spa and Wellness Center enables adults to unwind, while the kids take part in organized activities. Found on the western coast, the resort also has swimmable lagoons and an excellent golf course.

Just 17 miles from the airport and a few minutes walk from the sea, this resort hotel has something for everyone. Choose a room with an ocean, mountain, or garden view, or a presidential suite with up to three bedrooms. Dine on Hawaiian and California fusion cuisine at Chef Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant Spago, Ferraro’s Italian Bar e Ristorante, at sushi in the Lobby Lounge bar, or get a table at DUO Steak and Seafood restaurant, beside one of the three pools. There’s also a spa, a beauty salon and tennis courts.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, offers 150 free-standing hales and villas along the lava-lined shores of Kahuwai Bay on the western edge of Hawaii’s Big Island. Once a famed barefoot escape in the 1960s, the property has been thoughtfully restored under Rosewood’s stewardship, blending its storied past with contemporary refinement. The setting feels remote and elemental, with volcanic rock, ocean views and swaying palms defining the landscape, while the architecture and design celebrate traditional Hawaiian construction, tactile materials and open-air flow.

The atmosphere is understated and culturally rooted, appealing to families and couples looking for space, authenticity and barefoot sophistication. Each accommodation is an individual structure, with outdoor showers, local artwork, sustainable finishes and indoor-outdoor living as standard. Dining is a highlight, with venues that honour Hawaiian flavours, seafood and regional produce, including signature restaurant Moana and the more relaxed Kahuwai Cookhouse and Market.

Wellness is anchored by Asaya Spa, surrounded by lava and tropical foliage, with treatments guided by Hawaiian healing traditions. Guests can also make use of the yoga pavilion, modern fitness centre and two serene outdoor pools. A robust cultural programme, ocean adventures, and direct access to a private beach complete the experience. Children are welcomed with a nature-forward kids club, and nearby attractions include coffee plantations, historic Hawaiian sites and the dramatic volcanic landscapes of the Big Island.

Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort occupies one of Wailea’s most coveted stretches of coastline, its seven hundred and seventy six rooms and suites arranged across forty acres of gardens, ponds and palm lined pathways that flow toward the curve of Wailea Beach. The scale is impressive yet the atmosphere remains warm and distinctly Hawaiian, framed by natural textures, contemporary island design and a steady interplay between quiet corners and the resort’s sociable heart.

Days unfold between lagoon side dining at Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, the sculpture dotted Botero Lounge and the relaxed rhythm of Wailea Surf Haus, each offering a different lens on the property’s indoor outdoor lifestyle. Kilolani Spa brings a thoughtful wellness thread with hydrotherapy, treatment pavilions and restorative rituals, complemented by a spacious fitness centre and daily classes.

Families are drawn to the famed canyon pools with their slides, rapids and rope swing, while those seeking a more measured tempo find calm at the adults pool or within the Napua Lounge, reserved for guests of the Napua rooms. With tennis, pickleball, cultural activities and easy access to Wailea Golf Club, the resort delivers a broad, experience rich stay, moments from boutique shopping, coastal trails and Maui’s celebrated snorkelling reefs.

With an aquamarine roof shaped like a canoe house, Montage is a smaller, separate resort within the wider Kapalua hotel complex. It stands beside a rugged, rocky portion of coast, offering one, two, three and four-bedroom suites with sitting areas, kitchens and laundry spaces that are ideal for families. Guests can dine in the Cane & Canoe restaurant, drink and eat more casual meals in The Hideaway, get food by the pool, or snacks in Mahana Market – there’s also a stunning event space, Cliff House, which opens as a restaurant during peak times. Complimentary services include guided hikes and tide pool explorations and lessons on the regions cultural heritage.

Enjoy facilities on a large scale at this Ritz-Carlton property on maui’s northwest shore. Flanked by an enormous natural preserve and two protected marine sanctuaries, it’s the place for tropical eco-adventures. Or make the most of amenities across its 54 acres, such as a spa with treatments inspired by ancient Hawaiian traditions, two tennis courts, a kids’ club, 466 bedrooms and a triple-level free-form 24 hour outdoor pool, overlooking the ocean. There are many food and drink outlets too; the Banyan Tree is arguably the highlight, plus there’s a burger shack, a poolside diner and a chic lounge with firepits.

Perched beside one of the most famous beaches on earth, The Ritz-Carlton Residences has the highest infinity pool in Waikiki (eight floors up), furnished with private cabanas offering food service. Choose from a bedroom, a suite with sweeping ocean views, or one to four-bedroom apartments with kitchens and expansive living spaces. But with dining venues such as the 16-seater Sushi Sho showcasing the ancient art of edomae, Dean & Deluca and outdoor restaurants like La Vie and Quiora onsite, you’ll probably want to give the cooking a miss. And do visit the spa, with treatments incorporating volcanic stones, rainforest leaves, lehua blossoms and lomilomi massage techniques.

Formed from two man-made peninsulas protected from the elements, The Kahala has been in business for over 60 years. During that time it has welcomed almost every US president, the Hollywood elite (including Angelina Jolie, Christopher Walken, Elizabeth Taylor and Dean Martin), the British Monarch, international rock stars and the Dalai Lama – to name just a few of its iconic patrons. Inside you’ll find Thai-teak parquetry, enormous chandeliers made of Italian fused glass and even Japanese multi-feature toilets in bedrooms. Outside, there are waterfalls, a lagoon with turtles and dolphins, over 100 palm trees and the beach bar that was featured in TV’s Magnum PI.

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort occupies a prime stretch of Mokapu Beach in Wailea, long regarded as Maui’s most polished coastal address. The resort is home to 297 rooms and suites, set across a series of low rise buildings that open gradually towards the Pacific, favouring space, light and a strong connection to the outdoors over grand scale. Interiors are clean and contemporary, shaped by lava stone, warm timber and locally commissioned art, creating an atmosphere that feels creative, relaxed and quietly confident, with a natural pull for couples and design minded travellers.

Dining is integral to the resort’s rhythm, anchored by Morimoto Maui, where refined Japanese techniques meet the flavours of Hawaii, and Kaʻana Kitchen, which places local produce and open fire cooking at the centre of its menus. Elsewhere, poolside venues and ocean facing bars set an easy pace from sun soaked afternoons through to sunset cocktails. Wellness is centred on the ʻĀwili Spa and Salon, where island inspired treatments sit alongside a well equipped fitness centre and regular yoga sessions. Four infinity pools descend towards the shoreline, each offering a slightly different mood, while the beachfront location places Wailea’s coastal path, renowned golf courses and calm snorkelling bays within easy reach.

Boasting a private section of Waikiki beach, The Royal Hawaiian dates back to the 1920s and was once owned by the Royal Navy — it is instantly recognisable by its pastel pink Spanish-Moorish facade. Amenities include cultural activities, a programme for kids, two swimming paradises (a Malulani Pool and the Helumoa Playground), watersports, an onsite bakery, a seafood restaurant and the award-winning Azure, and Waikiki’s only waterfront luau. Stay in the landmark Historic Wing or the magnificent Mailani Tower in one of the hotel’s 528 colourful and glamorous rooms.