About Where to Stay in Hawaii

Who we are

Where to Stay in Hawaii is an independent planning guide to where to stay in Hawaii, including Waikiki and the rest of Oahu, Kaanapali, Kapalua, Wailea and Kihei on Maui, Kona, the Kohala Coast, Hilo and Volcano on the Big Island, and Poipu, Princeville and Hanalei on Kauai. It is not an official tourism website, and it is not run by a hotel, a tour operator or a booking platform.

What we publish

We write island and area guides that explain which Hawaiian island, and which part of each island, suits which kind of trip, with flight and drive times, seasons, reservation rules and the trade-offs of each base. Each guide names specific hotels at different budgets and says who each one suits, so you can judge whether it fits your own trip.

How we choose areas and hotels

We start with location: what you can walk to, how far the drive is to the beaches, parks and sights people come for, and what the roads are like. We then pick named properties at each budget from their Booking.com listings, official websites and guest reviews, and note drawbacks such as steep access roads, noise or a long walk to the beach. Practical details such as park hours, ferries and drive times are checked against official sources, which we link from the guides.

Every guide shows the date its hotel details were last checked. Prices, room types and availability change, so the live booking page is always the final word before you pay. No hotel pays to be listed.

Unless a guide says otherwise, our recommendations are based on research into published listings, guest reviews and official sources, not on staying at every hotel ourselves.

How the site is funded

Some links earn us a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Our affiliate disclosure explains how this works.

Corrections

We update guides when listings or official information change.

Photo credits

Photos on this site come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the Creative Commons licenses linked below. We have resized and cropped them. Most show the areas we cover. A hotel card photo labelled "Area photo" shows the place where the hotel is, not the hotel itself; a card photo without that label shows the hotel.

• The fluted green cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast on Kauaʻi rising above the sea: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Diamond Head crater above the reef and apartment towers at the eastern end of Waikīkī, seen from the air: Anthony Quintano from Honolulu, HI, United States, CC BY 2.0
• Swimmers off Waikīkī Beach with Diamond Head rising behind the shoreline: Ossewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Cinder cones and colored slopes inside the summit crater of Haleakalā on Maui: Christoph Strässler, CC BY-SA 2.0
• Kāʻanapali Beach in evening light, with resort buildings behind the palms: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Beach umbrellas and swimmers along the curve of Wailea Beach on Maui's south shore: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• The black-sand beach and steep green walls of Waipiʻo Valley on the Big Island's Hāmākua Coast: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
• Sunset over the lava-rock shoreline at Kailua-Kona on the Big Island: Terry Ott, CC BY 2.0
• The wide white sand of Hāpuna Beach on the Kohala Coast: Ekrem Canli, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The walls of Kīlauea caldera with the long slope of Mauna Loa behind, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Thomas Tunsch, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Red and green ridges of Waimea Canyon on the west side of Kauaʻi: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Palm trees along the curving sand of Poʻipū Beach on Kauaʻi's south shore: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Hanalei Bay below the mountains of Kauaʻi's North Shore, seen from Princeville: Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0
• The black-sand beach at Waiʻānapanapa State Park near Hāna on Maui: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• A sheltered, palm-lined lagoon beach at Ko ʻOlina on Oʻahu's west coast: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Puʻupehe, the sea stack known as Sweetheart Rock, off the coast of Lānaʻi near Mānele Bay: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
• The pool and oceanfront lawn of the Halekulani, with Diamond Head across the water: ErgoSum88, Public domain
• The pink facade and lawn of The Royal Hawaiian hotel on Waikīkī Beach: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The white columned facade of the Moana Surfrider on Kalākaua Avenue: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
• Hilton Hawaiian Village's towers, including the mosaic-sided Rainbow Tower, behind the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0
• The entrance and tower of Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani: Peaceray, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The street entrance of the ʻAlohilani Resort Waikiki Beach: SueDonem, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club building on Lewers Street in Waikīkī: Peaceray, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The Kaimana Beach Hotel's entrance sign, from its New Otani years, in front of the hotel: davidpinter, CC BY 3.0
• The twin towers of the Prince Waikiki, formerly the Hawaii Prince Hotel, behind the Ala Wai Boat Harbor: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0
• A spreading monkeypod tree on the lawn of Kapiʻolani Park: hh oldman, CC BY 3.0
• The Ala Wai Canal between tree-lined banks and apartment towers on the inland edge of Waikīkī: Daniel Ramirez, CC BY 2.0
• Beachgoers on Kūhiō Beach in central Waikīkī in late-afternoon light: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 PL
• The trees of Kapiʻolani Park and Queen's Beach at the Diamond Head end of Waikīkī: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
• Clear shallow water in the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, with the hotels of the ʻEwa end of Waikīkī behind: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
• The Kahala Hotel & Resort tower above its palm-lined beach: Studio Sarah Lou, CC BY 2.0
• Aulani's towers above its beach on one of the Ko ʻOlina lagoons: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina above its lagoon beach: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
• A tower of Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club behind a lagoon beach: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The resort hotel on Kuilima Point at Turtle Bay, seen across the rocky shore: Simon_sees from Australia, CC BY 2.0
• The long sand of Sunset Beach on Oʻahu's North Shore: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
• Swimmers in the shallow water off Lanikai Beach, with the Mokulua islets offshore: claralieu, CC BY 2.0
• Diamond Head crater and the Honolulu neighborhoods behind it, seen from the air: RL0919, CC BY-SA 4.0
• A pond in the gardens of the Hyatt Regency Maui at Kāʻanapali, below one of its towers: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
• The entrance gardens and curved tower of The Westin Maui at Kāʻanapali: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• The Sheraton Maui on Puʻu Kekaʻa (Black Rock) at the end of Kāʻanapali Beach: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
• Kāʻanapali Beach and its beachfront hotels in afternoon light: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• A rainbow over the Royal Lahaina Resort tower at the north end of Kāʻanapali Beach: Ian Gratton, CC BY 2.0
• The terraced pools and gardens of The Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua, looking toward the ocean: chadh, CC BY 2.0
• The low-rise Napili Kai Beach Resort on the point at Nāpili Bay at sunset: G. Lamar, CC BY 2.0
• The curve of sand at Nāpili Bay, lined with palms and low-rise condos: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• The Aston Kaanapali Shores buildings and driveway in Honokōwai: Peaceray, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The lawn, path and palms of Kahekili Beach Park at the north end of Kāʻanapali: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
• A green on the Kāʻanapali golf course below the West Maui Mountains: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
• A large shade tree and picnic tables at Honokōwai Beach Park: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
• Clear water over the reef in Kapalua Bay, with palms on the point beyond: Hakilon, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The wedding chapel and guest wings of the Grand Wailea resort: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• The Wailea Beach Path above the shore, with the Wailea resorts along the bay: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 2.0
• Terraced gardens and white arched buildings at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea: harley photo, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The rocky coast of Wailea and the homes on the slope above it, seen from the air: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
• Palm trees on the oceanfront lawn of Kalama Park in Kīhei: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 2.0
• Coastal plants on the Kīhei shore, looking northwest across the water: Dana Hutchinson, CC BY 3.0
• The sand and grassy bluff of Kamaʻole Beach Park III in Kīhei: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Waves on the lava rocks and sand at Kamaʻole Beach Park II in Kīhei: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Sunset over the water at Keawakapu Beach, between Kīhei and Wailea: Viriditas, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The long golden sand of Big Beach in Mākena State Park: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Waves rolling into Hāna Bay below the forested hill at the edge of Hāna town: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• The Four Seasons Resort Lanai on the hillside above Mānele Bay: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 2.0
• King's Pond, a swimming and snorkeling pond cut into the lava at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai: Holly Cheng, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Beachgoers and a lone tree at the white-sand beach of Kua Bay, north of Kailua-Kona: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• The King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel sign and building in Kailua-Kona: W Nowicki, CC BY 3.0
• The lava-rock shore at Keauhou Bay, south of Kailua-Kona: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
• Aliʻi Drive along the Kailua-Kona seawall, with the steeple of Mokuaʻikaua Church ahead: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Waves on the boulder shore of Kealakekua Bay below its high cliff: Bamse, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Swimmers at Kamakahonu Beach beside Kailua Pier in Kailua-Kona: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Kailua Pier and Kamakahonu Beach in Kailua-Kona, seen from the air: Kyle Hawton, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel behind the sand of Kaunaʻoa Bay: Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0
• The broad sand of Hāpuna Beach under a cloudy sky: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• The Kalahuipuaʻa fishponds among palms at Mauna Lani: troy mckaskle, CC BY-SA 2.0
• Lawns, palms and guest wings at the Fairmont Orchid: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0
• Flowers and a lagoon with a colonnade in the grounds of Hilton Waikoloa Village: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0
• Trees along the beach and fishpond at ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay (A-Bay): dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• A tiki torch and palms at sunset on the shore of the Waikōloa Beach Resort: benmacaskill, CC BY 2.0
• Cattle grazing on the green pastures around Waimea in upcountry Hawaiʻi Island: Bonus Onus, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The crescent of sand at Kaunaʻoa Bay (Mauna Kea Beach) on the Kohala Coast: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
• The Mauna Kea tower of the Grand Naniloa Hotel on Banyan Drive in Hilo: Yoshi Canopus, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel across the water on Hilo Bay, near the footbridge to Coconut Island: Yoshi Canopus, CC BY-SA 4.0
• A spreading tree on Banyan Drive, looking across the water toward the Port of Hilo: Yoshi Canopus, CC BY-SA 4.0
• An arched stone bridge over a pond in Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens, Hilo: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
• Steam rising from Kīlauea caldera at dawn, seen from Volcano House: Hawai‘i Volcanoes NPS, Public domain
• The front of Kilauea Lodge in Volcano village: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
• Tree ferns under ʻōhiʻa trees in the rainforest near Thurston Lava Tube: John Game, CC BY 2.0
• A path through tree ferns on the Crater Rim Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0
• The floor of Kīlauea Iki crater seen through rainforest from the rim: Aleksomber, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The palm-lined entrance drive of the Koʻa Kea resort in Poʻipū: E bailey, CC BY-SA 3.0
• Sunset over the lava shelf at Kiahuna Beach in Poʻipū: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
• A tree and grassy shore at Kiahuna Beach in Poʻipū: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
• The sheltered cove and palms of Poʻipū Beach Park: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Palms and calm water at Poʻipū Beach in evening light: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• Water shooting up through the lava shelf at Spouting Horn, west of Poʻipū: Michelle Maria, CC BY 3.0
• Shipwreck Beach on Keoneloa Bay, below the sandstone headland at the east end of Poʻipū: Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0
• 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay stepping down the cliff at Puʻu Poʻa point in Princeville, seen from the bay: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
• Hanalei Bay and the North Shore mountains seen over the trees of Princeville: Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0
• Lava rock along the Princeville coast, with the mountains beyond Hanalei in the distance: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
• The reef and beach at Hāʻena below the peak of Makana: Travis.Thurston, CC BY-SA 3.0
• Hanalei Pier reaching into Hanalei Bay under passing clouds: Jawed Karim, CC BY-SA 3.0
• Taro fields on the floor of the Hanalei Valley, seen from the lookout above: Janine Sprout, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Surf breaking on the reef along the Kapaʻa coast: Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0
• The sand and palms of Kapaʻa Beach Park in Kapaʻa town: Travis.Thurston, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The wide sand of Wailua Beach on Kauaʻi's east side: Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0
• Lava rocks and surf on the shore of Wailua Bay at sunrise: Heath Cajandig, CC BY 2.0
• The lit entrance of the Royal Sonesta Kauaʻi Resort in Līhuʻe at night: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
• The lighthouse on Ninini Point at the edge of Nāwiliwili Bay, Līhuʻe: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
• Līhuʻe and the farmland around it seen from the air, with the coast beyond: Christopher P. Becker aka Polihale, CC BY-SA 3.0
• The beach and rock-walled swimming area at Lydgate Beach Park in Wailua: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
• The Wailua River winding through its green valley inland from Wailua: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Late light over Kalapakī Beach and the hills around Nāwiliwili Bay in Līhuʻe: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0