13 Best Hotels in Oahu, Hawaii

The centerpiece of this modern, stylish high-rise, across the street from the beach in the middle of Waikiki, is the lobby's mesmerizing aquarium, filled with nearly 300,000 gallons of seawater and colorful marine life. There's something for everyone here, including airy guest rooms with private lanai and ocean views; an expansive, rooftop-deck infinity pool with a bar that serves small plates all day; and two of chef Morimoto’s restaurants—Morimoto Asia, which has stunning views, and the casual, street-level Momosan. The resort fee here includes the Beach Candy program, with a first-come, first-served array of beach toys and accessories. The exclusive Longboard Club, open to concierge-level guests, offers plenty of indoor-outdoor seating and a great selection of food and drink for breakfast and dinner.

The outstanding service and attention to detail at this high-rise boutique property are the same as what's offered at its elegant sister hotel, the Halekulani, but without the beachfront location and higher prices. Only rooms on upper floors have ocean views, but all rooms feature lanai, modern furnishings, sleek bathrooms, and upscale amenities. The sundeck, with an infinity pool, sun beds, and a full-service bar, is a sanctuary eight floors up. Check out the street-level restaurant, UMI by Vikram Garg, and visit the spa at the Halekulani across the street. Note, too, that your key card allows complimentary admission to several Honolulu museums.

This property offers reliable and affordable accommodations close to the Polynesian Cultural Center and a short drive to some of the North Shore's most iconic beaches and surfing spots. Free Wi-Fi, daily newspapers, a fitness center, a pool, and proximity to the beach make it a welcome addition to the otherwise limited lodging options along the coast. The Bistro offers breakfast and dinner in the hotel, which houses the only 24-hour Starbucks on the North Shore. The Laie Foodland is close by for stocking up on essentials. Remember that Laie is a dry town, so buy beer, wine, and spirits in Honolulu or Haleiwa.

In a place where space is at a premium, this resort in the heart of the Waikiki Beach Walk dining and shopping area offers families and other groups spacious, one- and two-bedroom suites stylishly decorated in relaxing earth tones with splashes of color. In addition to amenities like pull-out sofas and wet bars with microwaves and mini-refrigerators, suites have at least two balconies—some with ocean views, most overlooking the 1,965-square-foot, open-air Grand Lanai with its heated pool, sundeck, and outdoor bar. Perks include a free (hot) breakfast daily and a free happy hour reception (with snacks) nightly. The hotel is steeped in Hawaiiana: not only does it offer cultural programs for adults and youth, but it's also home to famous chef Roy Yamaguchi's Roy's Waikiki restaurant.

Location, location, location: this five-tower mega-resort sprawls over 22 acres on Waikiki's widest stretch of beach, with the greenery of neighboring Fort DeRussy creating a buffer zone between it and central Waikiki's high-rise lineup. The property's sheer volume of facilities and many free activities (lei-making, ukelele lessons, turtle feedings) make it a good choice for families. The grounds incorporate not only gardens, koi ponds, and waterfalls, but also an aquatic playground of pools and slides, a 5-acre lagoon for kayaking, a pier that serves as a docking point for the Atlantis submarine, a post office, an ABC Store, the large Mandara Spa & Fitness Center, 20 restaurants and lounges (featuring some of Hawaii's best musicians), and dozens of shops. Rainbow Tower, with its landmark 31-story mural, has knockout Diamond Head views. Separate facilities and concierge services make The Alii feel like a private "resort within the resort." The Grand Islander, an on-site 418-unit vacation-ownership property, has lovely suites and access to many amenities. Be sure to check on the status of the hotel's weekly fireworks show, a favorite Friday night event that draws big crowds.

There's no other resort between the ocean and this high-rise hotel, which is across the street from Kuhio Beach and features a lively, atrium-style lobby with three levels of shopping (including a farmers' market on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons), a two-story waterfall, gardens, and free live evening entertainment. Other amenities include the luxury Na Hoola Spa, with 16 treatment rooms and an array of specialty therapies; the street-level Kai Coffee; the SHOR breakfast restaurant; and SWIM, a casual poolside bar and lounge that serves sustainable seafood. Authentic on-site activities, such as lei-making and hula, are led by a native Hawaiian cultural practitioner. Aloha Friday events showcase Polynesian tattooing and feature a Samoan fire-knife performance.

At Waikiki's ewa (western) edge, overlooking Ala Wai Harbor and a five-minute walk from Ala Moana Beach Park, this high-rise resort is a Honolulu landmark—Jack Lord's character, Steve McGarrett, appears on a lanai here in the opening of the original Hawaii Five-O TV series. It's fun to ride the glass elevator to the top of the "I," and the IIikai has an open-air lobby, two pools, a fitness center, waterfalls, and a mix of individually owned condos and kitchen-equipped resort suites of various sizes. On-site dining options include Cinnamon's, a local favorite that serves food all day, and the iconic Chart House, Hawaii's longest-running individually owned and operated restaurant. At sunset, the lighting of the torches and blowing of the conch prepare you for a romantic evening in paradise. Special offers abound, so ask about them when booking.

A prime location and aloha spirit keep guests returning to the Outrigger Reef, where rooms were renovated and the beach was widened in 2021, with 23 new rooms, a beachfront restaurant, and a luxury guest lounge added in 2022. For the best vistas, opt for ocean view or oceanfront accommodations in the Ocean Tower. The signature poolside restaurant, Kani Ka Pila Grille, is open all day and offers nightly live music by legendary Hawaiian entertainers. The Monkeypod Kitchen restaurant on the beach offers great ocean and Diamond Head views. 

With a contemporary look combined with a retro nod to the 1970s, the Queen Kapiolani Hotel is a short walk from the beach and is known for its stunning, unobstructed views of Diamond Head—a fabulous backdrop for its expansive pool deck. The adjacent Deck Bar serves food and cocktails and showcases music on some nights. Rooms are decorated in pastel colors; some include kitchenettes and private lanai. The hotel’s bright, open lobby has several stores, including a small café serving light bites, an art gallery, and a surf shop where you can sign up for lessons. It’s also worth checking out the hotel’s large, museum-quality art collection throughout the property. 

Situated on bustling Seaside Avenue, this 14-story, 1970s-era property has been transformed into an urban-chic boutique hotel with both island and retro touches that playfully blend 20th-century style with modern necessities. The bright, upbeat design of the lobby, featuring a rainbow of colors and funky furnishings, continues on the rooftop deck, with its bold mural, and in the rooms and junior suites, which also have amenities like iPhone docks, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. (Note, though, that some room amenities vary, so if you need a kitchenette—or even a mini-refrigerator or microwave—specify when booking.) Perks include free coffee and filtered water in the lobby, as well as a complimentary reusable water pouch.

A surfing vibe and authentic, whimsical Hawaiian touches throughout (the lobby, for instance, evokes the living room of the interior designer's grandmother) set this hip boutique property apart from other modernized midcentury digs. Guest rooms, all of which have private lanai, come in a number of sizes and configurations, and some are more updated than others, so ask for details when booking. The on-site Mahina & Sun’s restaurant, operated by renowned Kaimuki chef and local restaurateur Ed Kenney, has great house cocktails and a seasonal menu of dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. This hotel also offers free beach chairs for guests. 

A good choice for families, this recently refreshed (2022) high-rise hotel features a surf-inspired vibe and is directly across the street from a protected stretch of Kuhio Beach and near Kapiolani Park. Although rooms can be small, most have full or partial ocean views and private lanai. Breakfast, evening music, and other gatherings take place on the third-floor pool deck, and Tiki's Grill & Bar serves a popular coconut shrimp dish as well as island-inspired cocktails. Access to the Coconut Club, a penthouse-level lounge overlooking the beach, is included with some room packages, with breakfast and light bites available throughout the day. Kids love the pool deck and cultural activities, such as free hula and lei-making lessons, and the hotel provides towels and chairs for the beach. The lobby can get very busy. 

This hotel refreshed in 2023 offers a fun vibe and lively design that mixes modern and traditional island elements, as well as close proximity to the beach, restaurants, and shops—all just three blocks away. There's a high-rise tower and a three-story walk-up building where studio accommodations have kitchenettes. Rooms are small but stylish and well planned, and deluxe corner units feature lanai that overlook Ala Wai Canal, the golf course, and the mountains. There's a pool with loungers, and the hotel offers free chairs and towels for use at the beach. The popular Redfish restaurant serves poke bowls and island-style food, and a coffee shop and speakeasy bar are also on-site.