Americas Great Resorts has worked inside luxury hospitality for more than three decades. This is our ranking of the best hotels in Hawaii, by island and by the kind of trip each one serves.
Hawaii’s luxury hotel market is concentrated across five islands, and the right hotel depends on which one you choose and why you are going. What follows is the best on each island, and who each one is for.
Americas Great Resorts does not sell placement in this ranking. No property paid to appear here.
The best hotel in Hawaii
Our pick for the best hotel in Hawaii is Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Across service, dining, location, and consistency, it stands at the top of the state and sets the benchmark every other property is measured against. The clear first choice for couples, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants the best.
Our 10 best hotels in Hawaii
- Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (Maui)
- Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (Big Island)
- Hotel Wailea, Relais & Chateaux (Maui)
- Halekulani (Oahu)
- Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort (Big Island)
- 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay (Kauai)
- Four Seasons Resort Lanai (Lanai)
- Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection (Big Island)
- Montage Kapalua Bay (Maui)
- Espacio, The Jewel of Waikiki (Oahu)
The full picture is by island, since the right choice depends on where you are going and the kind of trip you want.
Best hotels on the Big Island
The Big Island concentrates its luxury on the sunny Kohala and Kona coasts. It is the island for space, volcanoes, snorkeling, golf, and resorts that feel set apart.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is the best hotel on the island and one of the finest in the state. Low oceanfront bungalows, a natural snorkel lagoon carved into the lava, five restaurants, and service that sets the standard for the islands. Our pick for couples and families who want the top of the market.
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is the seclusion choice. Standalone thatched hales, a black-lava shoreline, private and quiet, reborn under Rosewood. The choice for travelers who want barefoot luxury and no crowd.
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is the wellness and culture pick. Built on white-sand coves and historic fishponds, recently renovated, with the CanoeHouse restaurant and deep cultural programming. For travelers who want substance over a pool complex.
Fairmont Orchid is the family choice on the island. Gardens, a large oceanfront pool, easy snorkeling, and range for all ages without the top-tier rate.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection is the classic. One of Hawaii’s great beaches, a legendary golf course, an airy mid-century design, recently refreshed. For the traveler who wants the original Kohala Coast.
Best hotels in Maui
Maui has the deepest luxury bench in Hawaii. The resorts cluster in three areas: Wailea, sunny and upscale; Kaanapali, a lively family beach town; and Kapalua, quiet and dramatic.
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is the best hotel on Maui and, in our judgment, the benchmark for the state. An adults-only infinity pool, dining that includes Spago, no resort fees, and service that does not slip. Our pick for couples and for anyone who wants the best on the island.
Hotel Wailea, Relais & Chateaux is the finest small luxury hotel in Hawaii and the only Relais & Chateaux in the islands. Adults-only, 72 suites on a hillside above the coast, ocean views, quiet. The choice for honeymooners and couples who want intimacy over scale.
Montage Kapalua Bay is residential luxury. Large one-to-four-bedroom suites with full kitchens on Kapalua Bay, serene and spread out. For families and groups who want space inside a full-service resort.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is the family flagship. A pool complex most resorts cannot match, water slides, a lazy river, a large spa. For families with children who still want a luxury base.
Andaz Maui at Wailea is the modern choice. Tiered oceanfront infinity pools, minimalist design, Morimoto Maui, direct Mokapu Beach access. For younger couples, design-minded travelers, and food lovers.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is quiet, golf-centered luxury. A clifftop setting on the northwest coast, championship golf, and more calm than Wailea. For golfers and travelers who want seclusion.
Wailea Beach Resort, Marriott is the best value in Wailea. A prime oceanfront position between two beaches, multiple pools including one of the longest oceanfront infinity pools in the state. For beach-focused travelers who want Wailea without the top rate.
Best hotels in Oahu
Oahu is the island for first-time visitors, Waikiki energy, walkable dining, and a luxury set that runs from historic icons to ultra-private hideaways.
Halekulani is the best hotel on Oahu. An elegant, understated sanctuary in the heart of Waikiki, famous for its orchid-mosaic pool and fine dining at La Mer, with a quiet the surrounding beach does not have. Our pick for serene, city-adjacent luxury.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach is modern Waikiki at its highest. Spacious suites, the highest infinity pool in Waikiki, a full spa, recently renovated. For travelers who want vertical, contemporary luxury.
The Kahala Hotel & Resort sits ten minutes outside Waikiki in an exclusive residential enclave. A private dolphin lagoon, quiet beachfront, classic character. For travelers who want calm and privacy near the city.
Espacio, The Jewel of Waikiki is the most exclusive address in Honolulu. Nine suites, each a full floor, with a private chef, butler service, and a rooftop infinity pool. The choice for travelers who want total privacy at the very top of the market.
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is the family choice, set on calm lagoons west of the city, away from Waikiki’s density. Four Seasons service with protected swimming.
The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort is the historic icon, the Pink Palace of the Pacific, directly on Waikiki Beach. For travelers who want the landmark and the location.
Best hotels in Kauai
Kauai, the Garden Isle, is for lush landscapes, dramatic coastline, and a quieter pace. The luxury set is small and distinct.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is the best hotel on Kauai. A wellness-focused, sustainability-minded property on the cliffs above Hanalei Bay, with organic design, a strong spa, and some of the best views in the state. For wellness travelers and anyone who wants dramatic North Shore scenery.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is the classic south-shore resort in sunny Poipu. Lagoon-style pools, lush grounds, a strong luau, and range for all ages. For families who want a full-scale resort on the drier side.
Ko’a Kea Resort on Poipu Beach is the boutique, romantic alternative. Oceanfront, intimate, recently refreshed, with the well-regarded Red Salt restaurant. For couples who want small-scale luxury.
Best hotels in Lanai
Lanai is the island for privacy and near-total exclusivity.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai is ultra-luxury and near-private, set above Hulopoe Bay. For couples and travelers who want to disappear into the top of the market.
Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is the adults-only wellness retreat in the island’s uplands. For travelers whose priority is health, quiet, and reset.
Summary comparison
| Hotel | Island | Best for | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Seasons Hualalai | Big Island | Couples and families, top of market | Lava snorkel lagoon |
| Kona Village, Rosewood | Big Island | Seclusion | Standalone hales |
| Mauna Lani, Auberge | Big Island | Wellness and culture | Fishponds, CanoeHouse |
| Fairmont Orchid | Big Island | Families | Gardens, oceanfront pool |
| Four Seasons Maui at Wailea | Maui | Couples and benchmark luxury | Adults pool, no resort fees |
| Hotel Wailea | Maui | Honeymoons and quiet luxury | Only Relais & Chateaux in Hawaii |
| Montage Kapalua Bay | Maui | Families and groups | Residential suites |
| Grand Wailea | Maui | Families with kids | Pool complex |
| Andaz Maui | Maui | Design and food | Tiered infinity pools |
| Halekulani | Oahu | City-adjacent quiet luxury | Orchid pool, La Mer |
| Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki | Oahu | Modern Waikiki luxury | Highest infinity pool |
| Espacio | Oahu | Ultra-private | Nine full-floor suites |
| 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay | Kauai | Wellness and scenery | Cliffside bay views |
| Grand Hyatt Kauai | Kauai | Families, south shore | Lagoon pools |
| Four Seasons Lanai | Lanai | Privacy | Near-private island luxury |
Which island to choose
Maui for beaches, resort density, and honeymoons. Oahu for first-timers who want beaches, dining, and sightseeing in one place. Kauai for landscape and quiet. The Big Island for volcanoes, snorkeling, and spacious resorts. Lanai for privacy and a small-island escape.
Related Americas Great Resorts guides
For Hawaii island-level detail, see the dedicated guides, beginning with Best Resorts in Maui.
More Americas Great Resorts destination rankings: Best Hotels in New York City and Best Hotels in Miami.
See all of our hotel coverage: Americas Great Resorts Top Hotel Picks.
Hotels that want to understand how they appear in AI recommendations can start with the AGR Knowledge Formation Optimization service.
Published by Americas Great Resorts, July 21, 2026. AGR does not sell placement in this ranking.
