National Hawaii Day is today, July 5. To mark the occasion, yours truly, a 35-time visitor to the islands, is offering up some thoughts on special hotels and resorts you should consider for your next trip. Remember to visit responsibly and respectfully.
Side note: Travel + Leisure came out with their list of the top 20 resorts of Hawaii on Tuesday, July 9. I believe eight of their top picks are on my list below.
O’AHU
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina: Resting alongside the Aulani Disney resort outside of Honolulu, this is a chill spot overlooking a pretty lagoon with a beach. There isn’t much in terms of waves, but that makes it great for little ones. The food and cocktails are first-rate, and there’s a tremendous Hawaiian cultural program. Best for: Families. Mind you, the same could definitely be said for Aulani.
The Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Moana Surfrider is a Westin Resort and Spa in central Waikiki. There’s excellent food and entertainment by the water, and an old-style front porch with rocking chairs that I love sitting in. I had a tremendous meal here with my Dad and sister a few years ago. Best for: Someone who craves the action of Waikiki in a luxurious setting.
If you”re a youthful or young traveller who doesn’t need to be on the beach, try the Vive Hotel. It’s a boutique property with a cool vibe, and it’s only a short walk to Waikiki Beach. Best for: Anyone who’s hip, or thinks they are.
The Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu is the granddaddy of them all, an elegant, pink palace in the heart of Waikiki Beach. There’s style to spare, a tremendous location, and great food and cocktails. It’s a Marriott Luxury Collection property, so it’s great for Marriott Bonvoy members. Best for: Someone who enjoys old-time, romantic movies and Hawaiian history.
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach on the island of Oahu.
On the quiet north shore of O’ahu, Turtle Bay Resort was recently sold and will be turned into a Ritz-Carlton. Best for: Anyone who loves luxury, solitude, and big winter waves.
MAUI
Fairmont Kea Lani: All the rooms are suites, with generous living quarters in a separate room from the sleeping area, and large bathrooms. Ko restaurant serves up splendid sushi and other treats, and the Willow Stream Spa is first-rate. There are three main swimming pools and a fun, 140-foot water slide. The beach is terrific, too. Best for: Food Network lovers and families
The Ritz-Carlton Maui Kapalua is an elegant hotel/resort that rests on the slopes of deep green hills in a super-quiet area of West Maui. The swimming pools are gorgeous, and the service impeccable. Try to arrange a romantic, fireside dinner at The Banyan Tree restaurant. The 5,000-square-foot Club Lounge has fabulous food and pretty views. The resort is home to a Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment facility. When I stayed here last year I met with Jean-Michel himself. Best for: Anyone in need of a quiet, romantic getaway.
A lovely tray of sushi at the Ritz-Carlton Maui Kapalua. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Hana-Maui Resort is a Hyatt-managed property that sits on a grassy knoll above the water in Hana and features both hotel rooms and elegant but casual stand-alone bungalows. A magical experience in the super-chill Hana region. There’s a free, short golf course on site. Oh, and the drive to get here is heavenly. Best for: Honeymooners, nature enthusiasts, or anyone wanting to get away from it all.
The Napili Kai Beach Resort is a wonderful property on one of the best beaches in the islands, Napili Beach. The Sea House is a very good restaurant and bar that’s just a few feet from the sand. Grammy Award-winning singer and guitarist George Kahumoku Jr. plays a weekly Slack Key Guitar Show here with special guests. There are several pools and an 18-hole, grass putting green. Oh, and there are no resort fees. To my mind, there’s no better hotel on the planet. Best for: Families who love the beach and prize a place that’s casual yet stylish.
Some tables are only a few feet from the sand at the Sea House restaurant at the Napili Kai Beach Resort on Maui. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The Wailea Beach Resort from Marriott is a wonderful spot in the sunny, dry Wailea region of Maui. The grounds are impeccably groomed and there are several swimming pools, including one with a couple of zippy waterslides. If you’re like me, you’d almost certainly love the ground-floor units at Hale (house) 2, which are only a few meters from the ocean and have spacious patios. There’s a private spa retreat, and there are great beaches on either side of the property, as well as fab shopping next door at the Shops of Wailea. Perfect for: Families, sunbathers, and shoppers.
The Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa at Ka’anapali Beach is in the heart of the action at Ka’anapali, often voted the best beach in the state. The grounds are lovely, and they offer up a variety of great restaurants and Hawaiian cocktails. Fabulous sunsets, and great shopping nearby at Whalers Village. The nightly blowing of the conch shell and lighting of the torches on a huge block of lava rock overlooking the ocean is a great tradition.
The Sandbar lobby bar at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. Photo Courtesy Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
KAUAI
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay: Formerly the St. Regis, this was given a $200 million USD remake a few years ago and looks sensational. The views of Hanalei Bay and the Na Pali Coast are spectacular. Best for: Luxury Travelers and well-to-do Instagram enthusiasts.
I must admit I haven’t stayed at the north shore’s Hanalei Colony Resort, but I suggested it to my nephew and his wife for their honeymoon and they loved it. Not fancy, but the setting is beautiful, and you’re only a short drive from the famous Na Pali coast hiking area and lovely, pocket-sized Ke’e Beach. Best for: Nature lovers and anyone who loves a casual holiday.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa is a spacious, beautiful property in the popular, sunny Po’ipu area of the island. The grounds feature relaxing ponds and a romantic restaurant. There’s fabulous coastal hiking and excellent golf nearby, plus a great beach where turtles often come to nest. Po’ipu is a great spot for body surfing in winter. Best for: Romantics and families.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort at Poipu Beach.
The Aston Islander in Kapa’a has spacious grounds and barbeques, with plenty of shopping and restaurants nearby. The beach is okay, but not amazing. There is a pool and a hot tub. Best for: Families or couples on a budget.
HAWAI’I BIG ISLAND
In funky Hilo, the Hilo Hawaiian is a nice property on the water (but not the beach), with fine views and a pretty park next door. There’s a nice pool, and a lounge that often has live music. Hilo can be a little rainy, and there aren’t many great beaches, but there are beautiful hikes, lush gardens, and waterfalls all around. Best for: Nature lovers and people who don’t like sand in their bathing suit.
At Four Seasons Resort Hualalai you can have their dinner right on the sand and watch the sun go down and the stars come out while they mix fresh poke right at your table. Or you can try the spa for a relaxing and romance-inducing couples massage with rhythmic, ancient Hawaiian techniques. There’s a massive “swimmable aquarium” with nearly 100 kinds of colourful fish, including the Hawaiian state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua’a. There’s also a fine golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, with several holes on the Pacific Ocean. Best for: Golfers, honeymooners and families.
The Four Seasons Hualalai Resort on Hawaii Big Isand
Located on the sunny, Kona side of the island, Fairmont Orchid boasts what’s called an open-air “Spa Without Walls,” as well as the 45-hole Mauna Lani golf complex. There’s a protected beach and great snorkeling right off shore. They also offer unique Hawaiian cultural experiences. Best for: Families, spa lovers, and golfers.
Volcano Village Lodge is a tranquil B&B near Hawai’i Volcanoes Natural Park. I loved my brief stay there eight or 10 years ago. Best for: Nature lovers seeking quiet, and anyone dying to see the volcanoes.
MOLOKAI
The only hotel on this island of 7,000 people is Hotel Molokai. It’s not remotely fancy, and there’s no beach, but the grounds are lovely and there’s a small pool and a nice waterfront restaurant called Hiro’s Ohana Grill. They have a fabulous, second-floor suite that feels like a four-star, boutique hotel. Extremely reasonable rates on a super-quiet Hawaiian island. You can often find nice condo units at the Wavecrest condo complex in east Molokai for $150 a night. The grounds are peaceful and pretty, and there’s a nice pool with bbq’s. Best for: Anyone (like me) who craves a taste of Old Hawai’i.
Hotel Molokai in Hawaii.
LANA’I
Sensei Lana’i, a Four Seasons Resort, is the newest place to stay on this luxury island, which is almost entirely owned by Larry Ellison of Oracle fame. It’s a gobsmackingly gorgeous, inland resort that emphasizes wellness. The lush, water-filled sculpture garden is magnificent, and the food is exquisite. They offer one-on-one fitness classes, prenatal yoga, mindfulness sessions, and more. Best for: Spa lovers and wellness enthusiasts with big bank accounts.
Four Seasons Resort Lana’i: This is the waterfront resort near Manele Bay. They did a massive renovation on the property a few years ago and turned it into a South Seas paradise, with lush pools and rock waterfalls surrounded by thick stands of tropical flowers. There’s a Nobu restaurant on site, and the beach is one of Hawaii’s best. There’s great hiking, and one of Hawaii’s best golf courses, Manele Bay, is right next door. Best for: Foodies, quiet getaways, and families who don’t have to pinch their pennies.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Hotel Lana’i is a small, upscale property on the edge of tiny, charming Lana’i City, with style to spare. Ask for one of the rooms with a porch. Best for: Anyone who wants to the island and can’t afford Sensei or the Four Seasons at Manele Bay.
