Inspiration Hotels The Best Waikiki Hotels to Book Our top pick is the stunning Halekulani Hotel By Ligaya Malones Ligaya Malones Freelance Writer / Editor / Blogger Twitter Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 12/24/22 Fact checked by Patrice J. Williams Fact checked by Patrice J. Williams Instagram LinkedIn Temple University Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book Looking Fly on a Dime. TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. When it comes to Waikiki hotels in Honolulu (on Oahu island) there’s an accommodation for virtually every budget and travel preference. Whether you’re looking for kid-friendly amenities to bring the entire family or are driven by dining or décor, there’s a hotel in Waikiki waiting to welcome you. Below, use our superlative hotels list to guide your first or returning trip to Oahu. Whether you want to spoil yourself with a luxurious getaway or get the most aesthetic experience at a boutique hotel, there's something on this list for you. Best Waikiki Hotels of 2023 Best Overall: Halekulani Hotel Best Budget: White Sands Hotel Best Family Option: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Best Boutique: The Laylow Best Live Hawaiian Music: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Resort Hotel Best Beachfront Spa: Moana Surfrider Best Quiet Hotel in the City: Kaimana Beach Hotel The Best Waikiki Hotels to Book View All The Best Waikiki Hotels to Book Our Top Picks Halekulani Hotel White Sands Hotel Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort The Laylow Outrigger Reef Waikiki Resort Hotel Moana Surfrider Kaimana Beach Hotel See More (4) Final Verdict Compare Hotels Methodology Best Overall : Halekulani Hotel Halekulani See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Halekulani Hotel checks all the boxes for a relaxing, elevated stay in Waikiki—from its guest rooms to dining options, great service, and beautiful grounds. Notable Amenities Fine art collection on-site, great spa, nightly live jazz offered for guests Pros and Cons Pros Tranquil setting in the middle of Waikiki Top notch service Excellent dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Cons Pool closes early, 6:30-7:30 p.m. depending on the season No hot tub No direct beach access Hotel Overview Halekulani Hotel along Waikiki Beach offers guests understated elegance, and its many returning guests may notice its 2021 refresh to its 453 rooms, suites, and restaurants. Guest room décor leans on a mix of Hawaiian, Asian, and European cultures and also takes inspiration from sea and sky. Dining options include French fine-dining cuisine La Mer and outdoor dining at Orchids (including Cattleya wine bar, new in 2021) for Italian coastal cuisine. After dinner, drinks are served at Lewers Lounge, which makes a great Mai Tai to sip while enjoying nightly live jazz. By 2022, more casual House Without A Key will reemerge with an outdoor shaded bar and exhibition-style glass kitchen. While there’s no direct beach access—the hotel sits on the water, but not a sandy beach—the outdoor pool scene is lovely. Browse Halekulani’s fine art collection, and for something extra, get a relaxing Polynesian-inspired treatment at SpaHalekulani. Best Budget : White Sands Hotel White Sands Hotel See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It White Sands Hotel sports gives you a bang for your buck with clean beds outfitted with whimsical décor, a poolside bar, and private balconies. Notable Amenities GoPro rental available to guests, weekly yoga classes Pros and Cons Pros Affordable Close to the beach Retro design and décor by local artists Cons No beachfront or ocean views Self-parking only ($35/day) Hotel Overview Without a beachfront locale or ocean views, White Sands Hotel’s average nightly rate is considerably more affordable than its full-service neighbors. For those looking to spend their days sunbathing on Waikiki Beach—a quick two blocks from the hotel—White Sands is clean, comfortable, and more. With 91 rooms and three suites, White Sands maximizes design details with whimsical color palettes and quirky touches. White Sands collaborated with local designers to add homegrown personality to typically mundane furnishings like its artsy headboards and shaka (“take it easy” sign) hooks. Its onsite open-air restaurant Heydey serves an eclectic menu with dishes ranging from Filipino vegan lumpia to schnitzel with a side of potato mac salad. Its bar features swing seating, tropical cocktails, and rosé on tap. Best Family Option : Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort keeps kids top of mind with its impressive amenities—an expansive pool with a water slide is only the beginning. Notable Amenities Kids' club, wedding chapel on-site, doctors on call Pros and Cons Pros Diverse range of onsite activities and watercraft rentals Multiple onsite grab-and-go and made to order eateries Plethora of kid-friendly amenities Cons Not ideal for travelers looking for an intimate hotel experience Parking fee ($49/night), valet available Daily resort fee ($50) Hotel Overview If you want to go not just big, but really big with your family in Waikiki, there’s no place like the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. With some 3,000 rooms, it’s one of the largest hotels in the Hilton portfolio—and one of the largest properties in Honolulu. Across its 22 beachfront acres filled with gorgeous gardens, you’ll find five pools including its 5,000 square foot Paradise Pool with one of the only water slides in Waikiki. Its daily activities calendar hosts weekly keiki (children) games and other cultural activities like lei making and hula. The hotel also has an exclusive children's program called Camp Penguin, which teaches children the history of Hawaii while also giving them fun activities. If there is ever a medical emergency, the hotel also has A Doctors on Call center located in the Rainbow Bazaar. An adults-only pool, spa, and weekly fitness classes keep grown ups happy, too. Best Boutique : The Laylow The Laylow See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It This hotel has got cool retro design, fun amenities, tasty eateries, and eco-minded activities to boot. Notable Amenities Nightly entertainment, saltwater pool, trendy gift shop Pros and Cons Pros Design-driven rooms and suites Steps from shopping and dining, including International Marketplace Lots of lounge options around the pool Cons Not beachfront Pool is smaller than other hotels Limited self-parking for compact cars only, though valet parking is available Hotel Overview A typical afternoon at The Laylow might look like a quick workout at their 24-hour fitness center before lounging by the saltwater pool with daily shave ice service. After freshening up in your room (complete with king sized bed, device-connected TV, and Instagrammable wallpaper), and munching on local snacks from your welcome basket, one might head back down for a cocktail around Hideout’s fire pit before transitioning to dinner. Laylow is part of the Autograph Collection, under the Marriott International umbrella. The hotel is also a participant in Malama Hawaii, a state-wide environmental preservation program. In partnership with The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, Laylow guests may book experiences like planting new trees with Gunstock Ranch on the North Shore. Best Live Hawaiian Music : Outrigger Reef Waikiki Resort Hotel Outrigger Reef Waikiki Resort Hotel See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It We could jam out every night of the week to live Hawaiian music at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Resort. Notable Amenities Voyager 47 Club Lounge access with suite or Club room booking, airport transfer shuttle for guests Pros and Cons Pros Nightly live contemporary and traditional Hawaiian music Beachfront property Renovated in 2021 Cons Not ideal for travelers looking for a quiet poolside experience Valet parking only ($38/night) Daily resort fee ($40) Hotel Overview Catch some of Hawaii’s most beloved local musicians every night at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Resort’s Kani Ka Pila Grille. Kani Ka Pila has hosted contemporary Hawaiian music artists since 2008, and in 2021, the hotel revealed a new stage and revamped seating area as part of a $8 million renovation. Expect slack key guitar and ukulele sounds from a rotating roster of performers including Kawika Kahiapo, Sean Na’auao, and Ho’okena. Outrigger Reef’s 658 rooms and suites are split between two towers and one five-story oceanfront building offering ocean, city, and resort views. When renovations are complete (anticipated 2022), Monkeypod Kitchen by Chef Peter Merriman will serve casual, Hawaii regional dishes in a 12,000 square foot, beachfront space. Best Beachfront Spa : Moana Surfrider Moana Surfrider See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Experience a rejuvenating spa treatment to the soundtrack of waves lapping on shore at one of Waikiki’s most historic hotels. Notable Amenities Oceanfront spa, great fitness center, weekend afternoon tea service Pros and Cons Pros Elevated outdoor dining options Historic hotel features Victorian architecture Beachfront location Cons Valet service can take a while Smaller rooms Immediate beachfront is often crowded (common among Waikiki’s beachfront hotels) Hotel Overview A spa treatment at Moana Surfrider, now a Westin hotel and part of Marriott International, is a dreamy experience. As the only oceanfront spa in Waikiki, choose from a selection of traditional Hawaiian-infused treatments like a cooling stone massage using stones from ‘Āpuakēhau, an upland stream that flows beneath the property into the ocean. When you book a spa service, you’ll get all-day access to its sauna, steam room, and a whirlpool that looks out into the ocean. Its relaxation room is outfitted with loungers, infused waters and snacks, and offers similar ocean views. As the first hotel established in Waikiki in 1901, Moana Surfrider is often referred to as the First Lady of Waikiki. A towering banyan tree anchors its courtyard, which includes an outdoor pool, bar, and direct access to the beach. During weekends, its Veranda restaurant hosts an Victorian-style afternoon tea service. The best seat in the house is out on the covered, wide wraparound lanai—a feature popularized during the 19th century that is now synonymous with local architecture. Best Quiet Hotel in the City : Kaimana Beach Hotel Kaimana Beach Hotel See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Kaimana Beach Hotel’s calmer surrounds, located directly on the sand, feels like a true getaway. Notable Amenities Electra cruiser bikes available for guests, stand up paddleboard lessons Pros and Cons Pros Quiet, more private location Beachfront property Renovated in 2021 Cons Further from the heart of Waikiki Valet parking only; street parking can be tricky Daily resort fee is $25 Hotel Overview Kaimana Beach Hotel’s location at the eastern end of Waikiki makes it a sought after booking for travelers wanting a quieter stay. Its 122 rooms include ocean and mountain views, as well as several suites. The former New Otani hotel (and before that, Sans Souci hotel where author Robert Louis Stevenson frequented during the 1880s) is also the only boutique hotel located directly on Waikiki Beach. The hotel reintroduced itself in 2021 with a modern bohemian aesthetic and a revamped restaurant serving dishes like miso roasted eggplant and crab ravioli. Kaimana Beach is often a less-crowded and thus refuge for endangered Hawaiian monk seals to take rest. The beach is family-friendly and the resort fee includes beach chairs, umbrellas rental, and activities like stand up paddle boarding. Another interesting feature nearby is the natatorium, a saltwater swimming pool dedicated as a World War I memorial for Hawaii citizens who volunteered for the war. Final Verdict While you’ll pay a premium for a beachfront hotel and/or a room with ocean views, it’s well worth the cost to easily sprawl out on Waikiki’s sugary sand. And while the area’s other hotels may be several blocks away from the water, they typically make up for it with recreational amenities and solid dining and imbibing options. Compare the Top Waikiki Hotels Hotel Resort Fee Room Rates Free Wi-Fi Halekulani Best for Luxury No $$$$ Yes White Sands Hotel Best Budget Yes $$ No Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Best Family Option Yes $$-$$$ No The Laylow Best Boutique Yes $$-$$$ No Outrigger Reef Waikiki Resort Hotel Best Live Hawaiian Music Yes $$ No Moana Surfrider Best Beachfront Spa Yes $$$ No Kaimana Beach Hotel Best Quiet Hotel in the City Yes $-$$ No Methodology We sifted through dozens of hotels in Waikiki and assessed them for great service, amenities, proximity to the ocean and customer reviews. Extra consideration was given to hotels with unique touches as well as offerings for guests traveling with children. We also took resort fees, parking fees, and dining options into account. Getty Images Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! 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