Honolulu Resorts & Waikiki Beach Hotels

About Honolulu

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaiʻi and the gateway to Oahu, and for most resort travelers the story centers on Waikiki, the curving shoreline beneath Diamond Head where the surf rolls in toward a skyline of hotel towers. It is a place built for easy days: a morning swim, an afternoon of lessons or lounging, and an evening stroll along Kalakaua Avenue as the sky turns gold over the water. Beyond the beach, Oahu offers well-known outings such as Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, so a stay here can be as laid-back or as full as you like.

Three of our Honolulu hotels sit directly on the beach along Kalakaua Avenue. Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa suits travelers who like to learn something local: ukulele, lei making and hula lessons are part of its resort fee, Na Ho’ola Spa and a sauna are on hand for slower hours, and most rooms have a private balcony. OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort leans into atmosphere, with water sport facilities on site, live music, happy hour and daily Hawaiian cultural activities, plus Voyager 47 Club Lounge access for club rooms. Aston Waikiki Beach Tower, a five-star property, is the pick for longer stays, with suites that have full kitchens and in-unit washing machines, a heated outdoor pool with a hot tub, and admission to the Bishop Museum and Honolulu Museum of Art included.

The rest of our lineup offers a different rhythm. Hilton Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa pairs a rooftop pool with a games room, mini golf, yoga classes and a spa and wellness center, and its balcony rooms look out over the ocean, mountains or city. Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk gives families suites with kitchenettes, a kids' pool with a shallow end, and a pool bar. The Laylow Waikiki, Autograph Collection, rated 9.1 from 527 reviews, brings nightly live entertainment and ukulele lessons. DoubleTree by Hilton Alana - Waikiki Beach, on Ala Moana Boulevard, offers suites up to 1,001 square feet along with valet, garage and EV charging parking. Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts, is a five-star resort rated 9.5 by 464 guests, with an infinity pool, a spa and a private lanai in most rooms and suites.

When to go

Honolulu is warm all year, with temperatures that shift very little between seasons. Summer, roughly May through October, is typically the drier stretch, with sunny days and generally gentler water along the south shore, which suits swimming and beginner surf lessons. Winter, roughly November through March, brings more passing showers and bigger ocean swells on Oahu's north-facing shores, though Waikiki still sees plenty of sunshine. Winter is also the season when humpback whales visit Hawaiian waters. Spring and autumn offer a pleasant balance between the two. Summer and school-holiday periods tend to be popular, so it helps to check live rates and book early for those dates.

Tips for your trip

• Decide whether you want to be right on the sand: Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort and Aston Waikiki Beach Tower are all beachfront on Kalakaua Avenue.
• Check what the daily resort fee or amenity fee covers. At Hyatt Regency it includes ukulele, lei making and hula lessons, at Hilton Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa it includes beach gear, classes and WiFi, and at Aston Waikiki Beach Tower it includes valet parking for one vehicle.
• Traveling with a longer stay or a family in mind? Look at suites with kitchens or kitchenettes, such as those at Aston Waikiki Beach Tower, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk and Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach.
• Bringing a pet? Hyatt Regency, The Laylow, DoubleTree by Hilton Alana, Embassy Suites and Ka Laʻi all allow pets, but charges and restrictions can apply, so confirm the details before you book.
• Renting a car? DoubleTree by Hilton Alana and Embassy Suites offer valet, garage and EV charging parking, and Ka Laʻi has an electric vehicle charging station on site.

Frequently asked questions