Guess who’s getting a multimillion-dollar makeover? The already luxurious Four Seasons Resort Hualālai on Hawaiʻi Island. The redesign—helmed by San Francisco-based design firm BAMO and BrightView Design Group, which did the landscape architecture, design and construction—comes as the property celebrates its 24th anniversary, and is the most significant renovation the resort has undergone since its […]
For years, on my birthday, I would book a room in the historic wing of the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa in Waikīkī. It was my splurge—a quiet night in the original hotel built in 1901, decades before Hawaiʻi, then a U.S. territory, became a state. That year, then-President William McKinley was assassinated
The Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort is slated to reopen in late April 2021—after closing in early March 2020 due to COVID-19—with a slew of new amenities and renovations. The resort, known for its idyllic location on the sands of Waikīkī Beach, has converted a five-story oceanfront building—now known as the Diamond Head Tower—into 23
These days, when I’m thinking about the perfect vacation in Hawaiʻi, it involves somewhere I can put my toes in the sand, a place where I can feel pampered, where I can enjoy an oceanside massage complete with salty breezes, cocktails that fizz and foods that showcase the bounty of the island. My recent kamaʻāina
For the second year in a row, the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi, located at Manele Bay, earned the No. 1 top ranking on both the 2021 Best Hotels in the USA and Best Resorts in the USA lists published by U.S. News & World Report. (See the full report here.) The annual Best Hotels rankings evaluated more than 30,000
With pristine beaches, towering waterfalls and lush rainforests, Hawaiʻi is paradise on Earth. When the Aloha State rolled out its welcome mat to visitors after months of lockdown, the 19 Hilton properties on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawai‘i Island were ready with new protocols. Hilton’s top priority is its guests’ safety, which is why the hotel chain rolled out
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, many hotels in Hawaiʻi decided to temporarily close their doors, either for financial reasons or to renovate their properties. The Ala Moana Hotel, on the other hand, stayed open and completed a $16 million renovation, which began during the pre-lockdown era back in February. The property now features a myriad exciting new features and
As the state began its first shutdown due to COVID-19 and the daily visitor count reached historic lows, most hotels across Hawaiʻi entered a long hibernation. But some only closed temporarily. A prime example: The Kāhala Hotel & Resort, which shut its doors for only one month during the pandemic. That’s how long it took
When ESPACIO opened in Waikīkī in September 2019, it was lauded as the most indulgent luxe hotel on Oʻahu—arguably the state. The hotel features just nine three-bedroom suites sprawling over 2,250 square feet each with ocean-view balconies equipped with Jacuzzis and personal butlers. Rooms start at $5,000 a night, which includes two 50-minute spa treatments and
Good news for families and Disney fans of all ages: Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina on Oʻahu is planning to reopen on Nov. 1. SEE ALSO: Disney Aulani Resort’s Hidden Treasures The popular—and arguably most magical—resort had been closed since March due to the spread of COVID-19 in the Islands and around the world. Since
Earlier this month, Neighbor Island counties were considering the idea of “resort bubbles,” where out-of-state visitors to Hawaiʻi could stay in self-contained, full-service resorts during their mandatory 14-day quarantine. That means they could leave their hotel rooms and enjoy the resorts’ spas, golf courses, restaurants and shops—but that’s it. Today, at a press conference, Hawaiʻi Gov. David
When booking a family vacation, it’s important to choose a hotel that everyone can enjoy. With stellar accommodations and ample on-site activities, these five family hotels on Oʻahu topped the list of our 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards. 1. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa Photo: Courtesy of Hilton Hawaiian Village The Waikīkī Starlight Lūʻau at
