Hawaii’s islands are loaded with stunning resorts and secluded hideaways, perfect for family vacations or romantic getaways. While picking a favorite hotel may feel akin to picking a favorite child—they’re all great in their own unique ways—here are the ones that came out on top in our 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards. 1. Grand Wailea, Maui […]
Stepping into the ultra-luxe Kaiholo Residences is like entering the house of your wildest dreams. Owned and operated by Timbers Resorts, which specializes in the development and operation of luxury residence clubs, vacation homes and resorts, Kaiholo Residences features three or four bedrooms, depending on which town house you rent. As you open the front
Small in comparison to some of its sprawling neighbors, Koa Kea Hotel & Resort is proof that size doesn’t matter when quality is at such a high standard. Most suitable for honeymooners, couples or small families, the immaculate U-shaped resort surrounds a large lawn, pool, outdoor bar and hot tub. Everything about it feels exclusive
It feels like I’m living inside a postcard, lying on my banana-yellow stand-up paddleboard in the middle of the gorgeous, clear-blue Kaunaoa Bay that fronts Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. I close my eyes and let the calm water drift me this way then that, satisfied with the simplicity of the moment and wish I could
The Ritz-Carlton’s sophisticated and luxurious brand doesn’t need an introduction, however its Waikiki residences, which opened at the gateway to Kalakaua Avenue in 2016, deserves your attention. From the moment I pulled into the port cochere, and no less than four bellmen and valet attendants assisted me on my arrival, I had a hunch there
Formerly the Mokihana Resort, Castle Resorts & Hotels newest hotel, The ISO (an acronym for island, sky, ocean), opened this past May and the $5 million renovation has given this property a much-needed breath of life. Steak and lobster? Yes, please. Photo: Courtesy of The ISO Its restaurant, The Bull Shed, also serves up the
Once the Pacific Beach Hotel, a Waikiki landmark since the late ’60s, a $115 million renovation has given the old building a well-deserved facelift and the much anticipated launch of Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. The lobby greets you with grand allure—sculptures and large wooden pillars are strewn about the lobby alongside white-marble countertops that complement
In this tried-and-true guide, we highlight the most memorable, the most special, the most aspirational resorts to stay this year. After a year’s worth of checking into everything from the shiny new thing on the block to the enduring turn-of-the-century classic, this collection of properties falls under a special class of accommodations: the 50 hotels,
Ready to dive in? When you want to make a splash, it’s safe to say that these are some of the grandest pools around. Montage Kapalua Bay, Maui Lounge on the secluded poolside day beds at Montage Kapalua Bay. Photo courtesy: Montage Kapalua Bay The tropical gardens surrounding Montage Kapalua Bay’s multi-tiered, blue pools with
The iconic Pink Palace of the Pacific is as beautiful as I imagined it would be. Fashioned in a Spanish-Moorish style with a pink stucco finish, it stands out in the crowd of hotels that have taken up residence all around it in Waikiki. Ninety years have gone by since The Royal Hawaiian’s grand opening
The view is so extraordinary you can’t take your eyes off it. Walking into St. Regis Princeville’s restaurant Makana Terrace, I’m immediately stunned by the panoramic views of the gorgeous, green Hanalei Mountains, named Hihimanu, Namolokama and Mamalahoa, with thousand-foot-high waterfalls flowing down their sides. It’s a view that can only be described as absolutely
Standing at 44 stories tall and with 596 rooms, Hawaii’s second Holiday Inn Express opened this month in the heart of Waikiki. It’s the only Holiday Inn Express on Oahu (the first is in Kailua-Kona), and it’s being billed as “the largest one in the Americas.” Part of the Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts family of
