Travel + Leisure this week came out with its annual list of top destinations and hotels around the world. Among the featured lists was a gathering of the top 20 resorts in Hawai’i, a place I love dearly.
Here’s there list, along with a few suggestions of my own.
- Hotel Wailea, Maui
- Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, O’ahu
- Four Seasons Resort, Maui (great food, beautiful beach and a terrific spa)
- Prince Waikiki, Honolulu, O’ahu
- Montage Kapalua Bay, Maui (only walked past it, but a stunning hotel with wonderful views and one of the best beaches on the planet.)
- Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Hawai’i Big Island
- Ko’a Kea Hotel & Resort at Po’ipu Beach, Kaua’i
- The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki, Honolulu, O’ahu
- Halekulani, Waikiki, Honolulu, O’ahu (fabulous mai tais, but I’ve never stayed the night)
- Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, Lana’i (an amazing resort, with gorgeous rooms and incredible food. Just steps from one of the best beaches in Hawai’i).
- Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i Big Island
- Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawai’i Big Island (a personal fave, with lovely rooms and first-rate food)
- Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Honolulu, O’ahu (a great choice for families)
- Kahala Hotel & Resort, O’ahu
- Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection, Hawai’i Big Island
- Hanalei Colony Resort, Kaua’i (never been but I’ve driven past it a few times and am dying to go)
- Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Kauai (magnificent property with a nice beach and excellent hiking nearby)
- Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Maui (only been for lunch but it’s lovely)
- The Laylow, Autograph Collection, Honolulu, Oahu
- Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui (a personal fave, with awesome food, enormous rooms and a fabulous beach)
I’ve been to Hawai’i 25 or 30 times, so I know the islands fairly well. Here a few other places I highly recommend.
Napili Kai Beach Resort, Maui: My fave hotel in the world; a gorgeous property on one of the best beaches in the world, Napili Beach. Great bar and restaurant just a few feet from the sand. (See photo above.)
Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, Maui: A very Hawaiian property that offers lei-making and ukelele lessons, as well as other programs. Their new restaurant, Huihui, is outstanding.
Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui: Stylish rooms and gorgeous grounds overlooking the sea and the island of Molokai. The food and cocktails are sensational.
Hana-Maui Resort: Now part of the Hyatt group, this hotel sits on a grassy knoll above the water in Hana and features elegant, stand-alone “cabins.” A magical experience.
Royal Hawaiian, Waikiki, O’ahu: An elegant, pink palace in the heart of Waikiki Beach, with style to spare and great cocktails.
Moana Surfrider, Waikiki, O’ahu: Another Waikiki Beach classic, with excellent food and entertainment and an old-style front porch with rocking chairs.
Vive Hotel Waikiki, Honolu, O’ahu: A cool, youthful property a few blocks from the beach.
Four Seasons Ko Olina, O’ahu: Fantastic food and craft cocktails in a posh property on the quiet west coast of the island, far from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay: Formerly the Princeville Resort, this has been given a $200 million USD remake and should be sensational. The views of Hanalei Bay and the Na Pali Coast are truly spectacular.
Hotel Lana’i: A small, boutique property on the edge of tiny Lana’i City, with style to spare. Ask for one of the rooms with a porch.
Hotel Molokai: Not remotely fancy, but the grounds are lovely and there’s a small pool and a nice waterfront restaurant called Hiro’s Ohana Grill. Extremely reasonable rates on a super-quiet Hawaiian island.
Volcano Village Lodge: A quiet, B&B in a jungle/garden setting on Hawai’i Big Island.
