Travel + Leisure readers recently named their fave 20 hotels and resorts in Hawai’i.
As someone who’s been a good three dozen times and has probably spent a year of his life in the islands, I have to say it’s a good list. But even a ranking of 20 top places to stay misses a lot of fine places to rest your head in the Hawaiian islands. With that in mind, I’ve got a list of my own places to try that didn’t make the Travel + Leisure list. I also have some thoughts on the T + L readers’ choices, based on my experiences at the ones I know.
Travel + Leisure Top 20 Hawai’i Resorts and Hotels
1. Montage Kapalua Bay: Maui. Reader Score: 98.13. (Have only walked through the grounds, but it’s a magnificent property on the west coast of Maui. Kapalua is one of the best beaches in all Hawai’i.)
2. Fairmont Kea Lani: Maui. Reader Score: 98.01. (One of my fave places to stay. It’s a posh yet not stuffy resort with gorgeous grounds, a fabulous swimming pool complex for kids and adults, fabulous food, a fine beach, and enormous rooms.)
3. Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort: Island of Hawaii. Reader Score: 96.87
4. Hotel Wailea: Maui. Reader Score: 96.59
5. Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection: Island of Hawaii. Reader Score: 95.95
6. Ko’a Kea Resort on Po’ipu Beach: Kaua’i. Reader Score: 95.86. (Visited in January and had a truly fantastic meal at their Red Salt restaurant)
7. The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii: Island of Hawaii. Reader Score: 95.02
8. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel: Island of Hawaii. Reader Score: 94.89
9. The Kahala Hotel & Resort: Oahu. Reader Score: 94.40
10. The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort: Island of Hawaii. Reader Score: 94.14
11. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa: Maui. Reader Score: 93.89 (My wife and I had a lovely stay in January. The grounds are lovely and we had a wonderful meal at their Japengo restaurant.)
The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Ka’anapali.
12. Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina. Reader Score: 93.00 (I stayed here in 2018 and thought it was terrific.)
13. Four Seasons Resort Lanai. Reader Score: 92.90. (I’d rank it much higher, personally. The food is exquisite, the swimming pools to die for, and the South Seas feel tremendously relaxing. You’re also steps from Hulopo’e Beach, one of the best in the islands.)
14. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach: Waikiki. Reader Score: 92.21
15. The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay: Oahu. Reader Score: 92.18
16. Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort: Maui. Reader Score: 92.15. (Had a tour of the property and a fine lunch ten years ago. It looks great but I haven’t stayed there.)
17. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai: Island of Hawaii. Reader Score: 92.00. (Super quiet, super luxurious place with a tremendous lagoon filled with colourful fish. Amazing food and golf, too.)
18. Halekulani: Oahu. Reader Score: 91.88. (Beautiful grounds on Waikiki Beach, and killer Mai Tai’s.)
19. Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa: Maui. Reader Score: 91.37. (A great family spot with nice swimming pools, first-rate sunsets and a nightly torch-lighting and cliff-diving ceremony.)
20. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea: Maui. Reader Score: 91.25. (Very good resort with excellent food, a lovely spa and a great beach.)
Jim’s Alternative Resorts and Hotels
Vive Waikiki, Oahu. This is a fun, youthful spot a couple blocks from the beach. There’s a tremendous, welcoming feel about the place I really enjoy.
Hanalei Colony Resort, Kauai. A tranquil spot on a lovely stretch of coast on the north shore of Kauai. Units are very nice but not over the top, and there’s a fine swimming pool and a small beach. The town of Hanalei is a restful, beautiful 10-minute drive down the road, and you’re only a few minutes from the Na Pali coast, which has the best hiking trail in Hawai’i.
Beachfront units at Hanalei Colony Resort, Kauai, Hawaii. Photo courtesy Hanalei Colony Resort.
Napili Kai Beach Resort, Maui. A truly tremendous setting on what might be the best beach in Hawai’i. It’s got a casual yet luxurious feel, and there’s tons of free Hawaiian programming. The Sea House restaurant serves up wonderful meals a few feet from the beach and the ocean. It’s a super romantic place that’s also great for families.)
Hotel Molokai: Not remotely fancy, but it’s the only true hotel on the super-chill island of Molokai. Rooms are simple but nice. There’s not much of a beach, but there’s a small pool and pretty landscaping. Staff is super helpful, and Hiro’s Ohana Grill has good food and live music.
Volcano Village Lodge, Island of Hawaii. Gardeners and lovers of quiet, romantic spots will love this place, a great B & B that’s only a few minutes from Volcanoes National Park.
The Royal Hawaiian, O’ahu. This Honolulu property 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.
Waimea Plantation Cottages, Kauai. Another super-relaxed place, WPC features cute-as-a-button cottages spread out on grounds covered with open fields of grass and towering palms and banyan trees. They don’t recommend swimming at the beach, but there’s a nice pool, and the tranquility is hard to beat. Try the on-site Chicken in a Barrel restaurant for a great meal.
Hana-Maui Resort: This is a magnificent, relaxed but luxurious spot in the lush Hana region of Maui that’s now under the Hyatt umbrellas They have hotel rooms, but the real prize here are the villas that stretch out on deep green grass above the bay. There’s excellent food and live entertainment, and an on-site spa. Take a couple days to explore the Hana region, including Hamoa Beach and O’heo Gulch, where a series of pretty pools drop down the side of the towering, dormant volcano of Haleakala.
I love the views from the restaurant at the Hana-Maui resort, especially in the morning. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Hotel Lana’i: This is a small, boutique hotel in tiny, adorable Lana’i City. There’s no pool, but I always enjoy wandering around the town to check out the shops and restaurants and enjoy the quiet. I haven’t tried their new on-site restaurant, but I hear good things.
Wailea Beach Resort, Maui: This is a top-notch family spot on Maui, with a series of great swimming pools, fun water slides and fine beaches on the north and south sides of the property. The food is quite good, and there’s great shopping a few steps away. We quite enjoyed the luau when we visited a couple years ago. There’s also a private pool area for adults.
Hilo Hawaiian, Island of Hawaii: A nice property on the water (but not the beach), with fine views and a pretty park next door. There’s a very good 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. The town has a fun, casual vibe, and restaurants tend to offer solid portions and excellent value.
The Historic Wailuku Inn, Maui: My Dad stayed at this B&B in the casual, funky town of Wailuku 10-12 years ago and loved it. The room was small but nicely kept. There’s a lovely garden out back and they serve an excellent breakfast, or did when we visited.
1 Hotel Hanelei, Kauai: Formerly the St. Regis, this was given a $200 million USD remake a few years ago and is utterly sensational. Rooms are divine, the food is excellent, and the views of Hanalei Bay and the Na Pali Coast are spectacular.
Koloa Landing Resort, Kauai: This is a fine, attractive resort in the Po’ipu Beach area of Kauai. Rooms are spacious and lovely, and the swimming pool complex has been voted best in the USA several years in a row. It’s part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
Koloa Landing at Poipu, a Marriott Autograph Collection resort in Kauai, Hawaii. Jim Byers Photo
The Mauian, Maui. A fine, moderately priced complex on Napili Beach that has gorgeous gardens, a nice pool, a lending library and shuffleboard courts steps from the ocean. It’s the first place I visited on Maui some 57 years ago, and I still love it.
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.
Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort and Spa. O’ahu. This is a fabulous Marriott property in central Waikiki. There’s excellent food and entertainment by the water, and an old-style front porch with rocking chairs.
