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, 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. With 514 rooms, suites and traditional bungalows, the property offers a choice of contemporary tower accommodation or low rise garden retreats set among palms and winding paths close to the shoreline.
Interiors blend soft neutrals with natural textures that draw on Maui’s landscape, creating a relaxed and welcoming feel. Guests can dine at the Royal Ocean Terrace Restaurant and Lounge with its open air setting and ocean views, enjoy light fare at the Beach Bar and stop by casual cafés for coffee and snacks.
The resort features two outdoor pools, a whirlpool, a fitness centre and direct beachfront access, while The Spa provides massages, facials and island themed therapies in both indoor rooms and open air cabanas. Tennis courts, lawn games and the celebrated onsite luau add to the experience. With Whalers Village, Kaanapali golf and Lahaina Town all close by, it is a well placed base for exploring the wider beauty and culture of West Maui.
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.
Hawaii, Maui, Kapalua
Montage Kapalua Bay
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.
Hawaii, Maui, Wailea
Four Seasons Resort Maui At Wailea
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.