How this list works
This isn't a ranked "best of" — it's a starting shortlist of well-known, well-regarded properties by island and by what they're actually known for, so you have real names to start comparing rather than a wall of search results. None of these placements are paid. We've begun publishing full independent reviews for a handful of properties (linked below); the rest of the list will get the same treatment over time — see the journal for progress.
Oʻahu
- Halekulani (Waikīkī) — one of Waikīkī's most consistently top-rated luxury properties, known for understated design and an excellent beachfront restaurant. Read our full review.
- Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort (Waikīkī) — a well-established, more moderately priced beachfront option right in the heart of the strip. Read our full review.
- Royal Hawaiian (Waikīkī) — the historic "Pink Palace," opened in 1927, for travelers who want Waikīkī's most storied address.
- Four Seasons Resort Oʻahu at Ko Olina — the top pick on the leeward side, adjacent to Ko Olina's calm lagoons.
Maui
- Andaz Maui at Wailea — a modern, design-forward pick on the sunny South Shore. Read our full review.
- Grand Wailea — large-scale, amenity-heavy, a strong choice for families wanting an all-in-one resort.
- Hotel Wailea — an adults-only, all-suite boutique option for travelers who want quiet over a big pool scene.
Hawaiʻi Island
- Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (Kona/Kohala) — consistently ranked among the state's top resorts, built around a genuinely excellent house reef. Read our full review.
- Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Kohala) — one of the original Hawaiʻi luxury resorts (1965), on one of the island's best beaches.
- Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (Hilo) — a straightforward, well-located base for the volcano side, without Kona-level resort pricing.
Kauaʻi
- Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi (Poʻipū) — large, lagoon-centered, a reliable South Shore anchor. Read our full review.
- 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay (Princeville) — a design-forward, sustainability-focused property overlooking Hanalei Bay.
Molokaʻi & Lānaʻi
Molokaʻi has no large resort-scale hotels by design — see our Molokaʻi guide for small-inn and vacation-rental options. Lānaʻi's accommodation runs through two Four Seasons properties, Sensei Lānaʻi (adults-focused wellness retreat, up in Lānaʻi City) and Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi (beachfront, at Hūlopoʻe Bay).