23 Best Hotels in Waikiki and Diamond Head, Honolulu and Pearl Harbor

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.

Towering over its neighbors along the beachfront, this big, busy hotel offers stunning views from most of its modern rooms, which received a major renovation completed in 2023 that features neutral shades with splashes of color. On-site amenities are plentiful and include one of Oahu's largest ballrooms, shops, and even a walk-in health clinic. The Helumoa Playground, with two swimming pools and a 70-foot waterslide, is a kid magnet, while the Edge of Waikiki infinity pool is a more subdued, adults-only swimming and lounging destination. Order a stellar cocktail and a bite to eat from the local-style pupu menu at RumFire, an oceanfront watering hole, or grab a drink at the relaxing Edge Bar and toast the sunset.

This affordable property two blocks from Waikiki Beach appeals to the young (and young at heart) with surfer-chic rooms and suites, a cool blue-and-green color scheme, and lounge chairs throughout. Most accommodations have a lanai, mini-refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker. Note that although the resort fee includes beach towels and chairs, the hotel does not offer daily housekeeping services (and also charges a one-time cleaning fee); replacement bedding and towels are available upon request, however. There isn't any food at the hotel, but many dining options are just outside.

Families and active travelers love the convenience and action of this high-rise hotel, often referred to as "the Banyan," just a block from Waikiki Beach, the aquarium, the zoo, and bustling Kalakaua Avenue. The lobby is decorated in warm tropical woods with plenty of seating to enjoy the trade winds. All the suites here are privately owned (some units are dated), and many have fully equipped kitchens, as well as lanai that offer Diamond Head or ocean views. The recreation deck also has fantastic Pacific vistas, as well as outdoor grills; a heated swimming pool; two hot tubs; a playground; a mini putting green; and volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts. There is also a koi pond and a mini waterfall. 

Here, in the center of Waikiki, you get the elegance of a luxury all-suites condominium combined with the intimacy and service of a boutique hotel. Facing Kuhio Beach, this 39-story tower offers spacious (1,100–1,400 square feet) one- and two-bedroom suites with gourmet kitchens and windows that open to views of Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean. The property is a favorite for families looking for sophisticated space and facilities, all within a quick stroll to the beach. Amenities include in-unit washer-dryers, free in-room Wi-Fi, large flat-panel smart TVs, chef-inspired kitchens, pullout sofas, luxury bedding, large lanai, and dining areas to accommodate the whole family. Beyond your room, the resort offers an expansive pool deck, poolside cabanas, barbecue stations, a fitness center, and a yoga studio.

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.

On the ewa (western) end of Waikiki, a block from both the Ala Moana Center and Ala Moana Beach Park, this modern, family-owned, boutique hotel has a Hawaiian country theme that pays tribute to Hawaii's polo-playing history. All rooms have refrigerators and coffee makers; some have balconies and partial ocean views. On-site amenities include free Wi-Fi, a small swimming pool, and the Paniolo Bar & Cafe, which serves artisan coffees in the morning and craft cocktails in the evening. The front-desk staff is happy to assist with driving directions to the polo-playing fields at Mokuleia and Waimanalo, with free tickets for guests in season (April–September).

As its name suggests, this is one of the most luxurious hotel experiences in Hawaii, with nine designer suites, each occupying an entire floor and featuring smart-home technology, a large private lanai with a hot tub, two or three bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and spacious bathrooms with saunas. Stylish accents include beautiful Italian marble and Moroccan metalwork. Daily in-room continental breakfast, butlers, and a private luxury car are included in the rate. Guests also have access to private chefs and grocery-shopping services, as well as a small rooftop infinity pool. Mugen, the exclusive Asian Fusion restaurant, is on-site as well.

Most of the rooms at this expansive midrange chain hotel in the heart of Waikiki have a lanai with seating and feature a partial ocean or a Waikiki city view. On-site amenities include a rooftop pool and bar and a café–market. TR Fire Grill is adjacent to the hotel; International Marketplace, the multilevel outdoor shopping and dining complex, is across the street; and Waikiki Beach is two blocks away. 

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.

Tucked away on a residential side street near Waikiki's Ala Wai Canal, this locally owned, 17-story, condo-style hotel is a throwback to old Waikiki, offering partially refreshed, large units that are ideal for families. The glass-walled lobby—with its koa-wood furnishings, original local artwork, and friendly staff—feels like a Hawaiian home-away-from-home. Rates are decent for the spacious, updated (2022) studios and one- and two-bedroom suites, all with full kitchens, Wi-Fi, and spacious lanai. Note: Bathrooms are dated and are scheduled for renovation in 2025. There's also an on-site coin-operated laundry room. It's a two-block walk to Waikiki Beach, shopping, and restaurants. Parking is free but limited; when the spots are full, you can sometimes find parking on the street. Every Friday morning, the Ilima Ohana Chorus performs in the lobby, and guests are invited to sing along.

If you like Hawaiiana and appreciate a bit of kitsch in your decor, this welcoming hotel with both rooms and condo units is a great option. The two-story lobby is decorated with Hawaiian-wood furnishings and Island-inspired fabrics, and all the accommodations have private lanai; some also have kitchenettes or full kitchens. Perks include free beach gear and bikes and a Manager's Reception (4–5 pm) with complimentary wine and cheese periodically during the week. The recreational deck features an updated fitness center, a heated swimming pool, and a barbecue area. A comfortable mezzanine lounge and a coin-operated laundry room round out the on-site facilities. Shops and restaurants are a short walk away. 

An open-air lobby of Italian marble, a koi pond, hanging egg chairs, and a guava smoothie greet you on arrival at this hideaway a five-minute stroll from Kalakaua Avenue through one of the many public-access ways to the beach. The property's two towers offer nearly 100 standard rooms and junior or one-bedroom suites, some with small kitchen areas. All accommodations have a refrigerator, soaking tub, slick audio-entertainment systems, and free Wi-Fi. Request a room close to the top of the hotel's 11 stories if you want to see the ocean from your lanai. A limited continental breakfast on the lobby veranda is included. 

If you want to be in central Waikiki and don't want to pay beachfront lodging prices, consider the Ohana Waikiki East, which is a mere two blocks from the beach and within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. Don't expect any fancy lobbies or outdoor gardens here, but there are two on-site restaurants (Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar and Tanaka of Tokyo), as well as a laundry room, coffee bar, and pool deck that was refreshed in 2023. The property is dated, but accommodations are spacious, with options that include standard rooms, studios, and kitchenette-equipped one- and two-bedroom suites. Certain rooms on lower floors have no lanai, and all rooms have showers only.

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.