44 Best Hotels in Honolulu and Pearl Harbor, Oahu

Outrigger's star property sits on one of the finest sections of Waikiki Beach, a location that, along with an array of cultural and dining options and great live-music and bar scenes, makes it a favorite. Guest rooms in the 16-story resort have lanai with either ocean or Waikiki-skyline views and soundproof windows. Duke's Waikiki, a quintessential beach bar, hosts famed Grammy-nominated Hawaiian musician Henry Kapono every Sunday afternoon for a rollicking good time around the pool. The scene is so iconic that Kapono sings about it in a song titled "Dukes on Sundays." The Blue Note Hawaii offers nightly jazz, rhythm-and-blues, or other music by top-shelf local, national, and international artists. The Outrigger's Voyager 47 Club, a spacious indoor-outdoor, ocean-view lounge, serves continental breakfast, happy hour beverages, and snacks to guests who upgrade for access. Take a break from all the buzz with a Hawaiian seaweed wrap, a hot stone massage, or some other treatment in the rooftop spa.

Almost directly across from the Royal Hawaiian Center and next to International Marketplace, the Beachcomber is a well-situated high-rise hotel for families as well as those looking for a boutique feel in the heart of the action. Rooms vary in size, but all are stylish, updated, and have flat-screen TVs. Take a sunrise yoga class, walk the surfboard-lined pathway to the beach, or maybe catch the Saturday night "dive-in" movie at the rooftop pool. Hawaiian Aroma Caffe, which is popular with Instagrammers, serves up coffee and quick bites just off the main lobby. The popular and lively Maui Brewing Company restaurant offers casual food, local beers, and two happy hours daily.

The sleek, modern Prince—which looks to Asia both in its high-style decor and such pampering touches as the traditional oshiburi (chilled hand towel) for refreshment upon check-in—has luxury oceanfront rooms and suites overlooking the Ala Wai Boat Harbor at Waikiki's ewa (western) edge. It's close to Honolulu's downtown business district, the Hawaii Convention Center, and world-class shopping at Ala Moana Center. There's no beach here, but the sprawling, contemporary pool deck with cabanas and plenty of seating is an ideal spot to relax and soak in the island vibes. Ala Moana Beach Park is a 10-minute stroll along the harbor, and the hotel also offers discounted golf rates at the Hawaii Prince Golf Club (and a complimentary shuttle there). 

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. 

The only Ritz-Carlton on Oahu welcomes well-heeled guests from across the globe with its signature elegance and impeccable service. Although the beach is a 10-minute walk away through Fort DeRussy Park, the hotel's two infinity pools with cabanas are lovely sunbathing alternatives. As the name implies, the hotel is part residential condo and part resort, with studios and one- to three-bedroom suites that have gourmet kitchens and ocean views. On-site dining options include La Vie, which features a French tasting menu; Sushi Sho, a single-table gourmet experience; and Quiora, an Italian restaurant that sources ingredients locally. The hotel is also home to upscale grocer Dean & DeLuca, a 24-hour fitness center, and a luxury spa, and there's endless shopping in the immediate area.

Close to Kailua Beach, this cozy bed-and-breakfast has been around since the 1990s and has two suites that are attached to the main house but have their own private entrances. The Garden Suite has a full kitchenette, while the Ginger Studio has a breakfast bar. Both have Wi-Fi, TV, air-conditioning, and beachy decor. The larger, open-air suite is spacious enough for a family of four. You can also reserve both spaces together. You can borrow bodyboards, beach towels, and beach chairs.

The Princess Kaiulani sits across the street from the regal Moana Surfrider, without some of the more elaborate amenities (such as a spa or a kids' club), but with rates that are considerably kinder to the wallet. Rooms are a bit dated and are located within two towers—some peer at the ocean over the Moana's low-rise historic wing. It's a two-minute stroll to the beach. The hotel's pool is streetside, facing Kalakaua Avenue, and cultural activities like hula and ukulele lessons are available on-site. It can feel a bit rushed with guests coming and going, but the location is convenient, and the rooms are more than adequate for the price. Many visitors stay at the PK (as it's called by locals) to spend their days at the beach and the bars across the street.

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. 

Set on 5 acres across from Kuhio Beach and close to Kapiolani Park, the Honolulu Zoo, and the Waikiki Aquarium, this flagship Marriott offers daily activities for children and adults and has an expansive pool deck with ocean views, several pools, plenty of cabanas and lounge chairs, and the large, outdoor Queensbreak restaurant. Rooms, all with private lanai, vary in size and configuration: those in the Kealohilani Tower are some of the largest in Waikiki; those on the Diamond Head side of the Paoakalani Tower offer breathtaking views of the crater and Kapiolani Park. Royal Kaila Spa offers an extensive menu of services, and the 3,000-square-foot, 24-hour fitness center has floor-to-ceiling windows and state-of-the-art equipment.

Guests who return to this older property year after year appreciate its proximity to restaurants and shops and its easygoing "come as you are" vibe. It consists of a pair of buildings, one with standard rooms, the other with kitchenette-equipped one-bedroom suites. There are also connecting rooms available for larger groups. Most guest quarters have lanai, but only some rooms have been refreshed (ask when booking), and the views are more city-and-concrete than foliage-and-ocean. The lobby has an IHOP and a sports bar. Stops for the city bus and trolley lines are right outside the front door.

Nestled between Fort DeRussy Beach Park and the Outrigger Reef Resort, the only condo hotel directly on Waikiki Beach is beloved by some for its spaciousness and by others for its quieter, western-end location. Units, which are individually owned and have varying decor and amenities, include studios and one- or two-bedroom suites, each with private lanai and panoramic views. Some units have full kitchens; others have kitchenettes. All suites have washers and dryers in addition to a daily cleaning service (for an additional one-time fee). The property is overseen by two companies: Castle Resorts, which handles most of the rentals, and Outrigger, which manages about 30 units. Guests who book directly with Outrigger have access to the pool and fitness center at the neighboring Outrigger Reef and must check in at the Regency on Beachwalk Waikiki by Outrigger, about two blocks away.

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.