Best Luxury Hotels in Hawaii
This Pacific island idyll has perfect beaches, dramatic surf, colourful flowers, rugged rainforests and soaring volcanoes – it’s the stuff of movies (and has been the backdrop for blockbusters including Jurassic Park, Jumanji and Pirates of the Caribbean). Hawaii has certainly attracted its fair share of stars over the centuries having famously been a favourite of Elvis Presley. Warm all year round and easy to access from the US mainland, it’s packed with rich culture and delicious food. Rather than a single destination, Hawaii is an archipelago, offering a range of different experiences and activities across its eight main islands, so you can pick the spot that suits you best.
Hawaii, The Big Island
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
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.
Hawaii, Kauai, Poipu
Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection
Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection occupies a 25-acre setting on Kauai’s sunny southern coast, close to the dining, shopping and beaches of Poipu. The resort comprises 298 accommodations, split between deluxe studios and expansive one to four bedroom villas, including a 3,600 square foot penthouse. Interiors are shaped by island-inspired design with rich woods, natural textures and breezy open-plan layouts, all with private lanais and generous living space. The fully equipped kitchens, in-suite laundry and multi-bedroom layouts cater well to families and longer stays.
Dining is focused around Holoholo Grill, a casual open-air venue led by celebrity chef Sam Choy, while a gourmet market and poolside bar cover quick meals and essentials. Wellness is delivered through The Spa at Koloa Landing, featuring Hawaiian-inspired therapies, alongside a modern 24-hour fitness centre.
The resort’s highlight is its 350,000-gallon lagoon-style pool, one of Hawaii’s largest, complemented by two additional pools, waterslides, hot tubs, fire pits and cabanas. There is also a soccer field, putting green and volleyball court, with concierge services supporting excursions to nearby Poipu Beach, Lawai Beach, golf courses and Napali Coast boat tours. This is a resort that balances villa-style independence with the scale and service of a full-featured luxury property.
Hawaii, Maui, Wailea
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, by Hyatt
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.
Hawaii, Maui, Wailea
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
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.
Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows brings a classic Hawaiian beachfront stay to Kaanapali Beach with an easygoing, island-inspired atmosphere. 330 guest rooms lie within its 12-story tower, along with 127 low-rise private bungalows and suites, spread out across the 27-acre, oceanfront property estate. Facilities that include two beachfront pools, a signature restaurant and casual dining options, a poolside bar, fitness and wellness spaces and direct access to a wide golden beachfront.
Its appeal lies in its scale, smaller than many of Maui’s sprawling resorts; the atmosphere feels calmer and less crowded, with no daily race for sunbeds and a level of service that benefits from fewer guests. It also delivers a more agreeable room rate than many other luxury properties on the island. Added value comes through inclusions such as wellness and cultural classes, nightly live music beneath the rubber tree at The Branches, tennis and pickleball privileges, fitness centre access, complimentary Kona coffee in room and a free shuttle to Whalers Village.
Hawaii, Maui, Wailea
Wailea Beach Resort Marriott Maui
Wailea Beach Resort Marriott Maui presents 547 rooms and suites beside Maui’s south shore, positioned between two crescent beaches with wide open views across the Pacific. The setting places guests close to the Wailea coastal path and moments from luxury shopping, golf and water based adventures. Interiors lean towards a clean, modern Hawaiian style with light woods, soft blues and an easy indoor outdoor rhythm that suits the island’s warm climate.
Dining spans relaxed poolside venues and ocean facing restaurants serving fresh seafood, Pacific Rim flavours and cocktails. The resort features a spa offering island sourced treatments a private Olakino wellness oasis, a 24 hour fitness centre and multiple outdoor pools including an adults only infinity pool with sunset views. Families benefit from dedicated areas, splash pool, two waterslides and seasonal kids programmes, while recreation includes snorkelling, cultural activities and cinema nights under the stars.
Hawaii, Kauai, Poipu
Koʻa Kea Resort on Poipu Beach
Koʻa Kea Resort on Poipu Beach is a boutique beachfront hideaway offering an intimate, adults-oriented atmosphere on Kauai’s celebrated southern shore. With 121 rooms and suites, the resort places you steps from a golden crescent of shoreline renowned for calm waters and year-round sunshine. Interiors take cues from the island’s natural palette with warm woods, soft neutrals and ocean-inspired accents that create a calm, contemporary feel.
Dining at Red Salt, where modern Hawaiian dishes are paired with views across the gardens and surf. The outdoor area features a heated pool and whirlpool with direct access to the beach, which includes watersports and access to Poipu’s coastal paths and championship golf.
Hawaii, Lanai
Sensei Lanai, Four Seasons Resort
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.
Hawaii, Oahu
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki
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.
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki
SAVE FOR LATERHawaii, Oahu
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
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.
Hawaii, Oahu
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
Following a $500 million overhaul, the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina opened in 2016. Here 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.
Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
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.