By the Where to Stay in Hawaii editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026
The Short Answer
For younger kids, pick a resort with calm water and a big pool so you can stay put. Our top pick is Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa at Ko ʻOlina on Oʻahu, where a lazy river, slides and a calm lagoon are steps from your room. On Maui, the Hyatt Regency Maui in Kāʻanapali and Grand Wailea in Wailea both have huge pool complexes.
For longer stays or older kids, a condo with a kitchen and washer-dryer near a beach park, in Kīhei or Poʻipū, gives everyone more space.
The Best Family Bases Compared
| Base | Why families like it | From airport | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ko ʻOlina (Oʻahu) | Calm, sheltered lagoons; big resorts | 25–40 min | No lifeguards; far from Honolulu |
| Waikīkī (Oʻahu) | No car needed; lagoon at the ʻEwa end | 15–30 min | Crowds and fees |
| Kāʻanapali (Maui) | Big pools, beach walk | 45 min–1 hr | Resort fees |
| Wailea & Kīhei (Maui) | Pool complexes, beach parks, condos | 20–40 min | High prices in Wailea |
| Kohala Coast (Big Island) | Sand beaches, a lagoon resort | 25–40 min | Long drive to the volcano |
| Poʻipū (Kauaʻi) | Calm beaches, condos | 25–35 min | Hurricane repairs in 2026 |
Best Family Resorts
Kids' clubs, pools with slides and calm water, for families who want everything in one place.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Ko ʻOlina lagoons
Our top pick: Disney's lagoon resort at Ko ʻOlina, with a lazy river, water slides and character meet-and-greets.
Best for: Families with young kids
- Lazy river and two water slides
- Disney character meet-and-greets
- Hotel rooms and villas
More about this hotel
Disney's Hawaiian resort sits on a calm Ko ʻOlina lagoon, with a lazy river, water slides through a man-made volcano and Disney characters around the grounds. It has both hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas, and it is far from Waikīkī, so most families stay put.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
Ko ʻOlina, west Oʻahu
A calm Ko ʻOlina resort with a free kids' club for ages 5 to 12.
Best for: Families and couples
- Adults-only pool and quiet beach
- Free kids' club for ages 5–12
- Naupaka Spa & Wellness
More about this hotel
A calm, upscale resort on a Ko ʻOlina lagoon that splits neatly between families and couples: two family pools step down to the beach, and there is a separate adults-only beach area and pool. The kids' club is free for ages 5 to 12.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Kāʻanapali Beach, south end, West Maui
A lava-tube slide and a sand-bottom keiki lagoon on Kāʻanapali Beach.
Best for: Families and first-timers
- 150-foot lava-tube waterslide
- Sand-bottom keiki lagoon
- Drums of the Pacific lūʻau
More about this hotel
A big resort on 40 acres at the south end of Kāʻanapali Beach, with a half-acre pool, waterfalls, a 150-foot lava-tube slide and a sand-bottom lagoon for small kids. The Drums of the Pacific lūʻau and eight places to eat mean you rarely need the car.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Wailea Beach, Wailea & Kīhei
Nine pools with slides, a lazy river and a rope swing in Wailea.
Best for: Families who want a big pool
- Nine pools with slides, lazy river and rope swing
- Adults-only Serenity pool
- Steps from Wailea Beach
More about this hotel
A huge resort on Wailea Beach whose canyon of nine pools has seven waterslides, a lazy river and a rope swing. Couples can retreat to the adults-only Hibiscus Serenity Pool, but expect a daily resort fee and paid valet parking.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Fairmont Kea Lani
Polo Beach, south Wailea, Wailea & Kīhei
All suites and villas by Polo Beach, with room for families to spread out.
Best for: Families who want space
- All suites and villas
- Villas with private plunge pools
- Adults-only pool plus family pools with a slide
More about this hotel
An all-suite resort steps from Polo Beach at the quiet south end of Wailea, with two- and three-bedroom villas that have their own plunge pools. The family pools are joined by a 140-foot slide, and there is a separate adults-only pool.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: harley photo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hilton Waikoloa Village
Waikōloa Beach Resort, Kohala Coast
Trams, canal boats, slides and a saltwater lagoon with a sand beach.
Best for: Families with kids
- Saltwater lagoon with a sand beach
- Trams and canal boats
- Waterslides and Dolphin Quest
More about this hotel
A huge resort where trams and canal boats link the towers, with waterslides, winding pools, Dolphin Quest and a 4-acre saltwater lagoon with a sand beach. It is built for kids; for an ocean beach, ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay is a short drive or walk away.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
Kaunaʻoa Bay, Kohala Coast
A family pool and kids' club on the sand at Kaunaʻoa Bay.
Best for: Beach lovers
- On the sand at Kaunaʻoa Bay
- Adults-only infinity pool and family pool
- Keiki Club (reserve ahead)
More about this hotel
The classic Kohala Coast resort on crescent-shaped Kaunaʻoa Bay reopened in 2026 after a major renovation. It has a new adults-only infinity pool, a family pool and a kids' club, and no resort fee.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0
Easy Logistics
Close to town or the airport, with a lagoon or sheltered beach on site.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Kahanamoku Beach, ʻEwa end, Waikīkī
Five pools and a lagoon in Waikīkī, where you don't need a car.
Best for: Families who want it all on site
- Five pools and a waterslide
- Beachfront lagoon on site
- Mandara Spa
More about this hotel
A self-contained resort village on 22 beachfront acres at the ʻEwa (west) end of Waikīkī, with a calm lagoon, five pools and 18 places to eat and drink. It suits families who want everything on site; it is big and busy, and the Aliʻi Tower is closed for renovation until spring 2027.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
The Royal Sonesta Kaua'i Resort Lihue
Kalapakī Beach, Nāwiliwili, Līhuʻe & Kapaʻa
A huge pool and sheltered Kalapakī Beach, about 2 miles from Līhuʻe Airport.
Best for: Families and short stays
- Direct access to sheltered Kalapakī Beach
- Huge one-level pool
- 24-hour airport shuttle
More about this hotel
A large resort on sheltered Kalapakī Beach, about 2 miles from Līhuʻe airport, with what it calls the largest one-level pool in Hawaiʻi, and Duke's Kauai on site. It is open again after Hurricane Lowell and runs a 24-hour airport shuttle.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Condos and Villas with Kitchens
Room to spread out, and a kitchen for early breakfasts and picky eaters.
Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club
Ko ʻOlina lagoons
Villas with full kitchens and a children's pool on a Ko ʻOlina lagoon.
Best for: Families who cook
- One- to three-bedroom villas with full kitchens
- Heated pools with whirlpools
- Children's pool and daily activities
More about this hotel
A large villa resort on its own Ko ʻOlina lagoon, with one- to three-bedroom villas that have full kitchens. Heated pools, a children's pool and an activity center make it a practical family base on the west side.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Napili Kai Beach Resort
Nāpili Bay, West Maui
Kitchenettes on calm Nāpili Bay, with no resort fee.
Best for: Families and returning visitors
- On Nāpili Bay
- Studios and suites with kitchenettes
- No resort fee and free parking
More about this hotel
A low-rise resort on curved Nāpili Bay, with studios and suites that have kitchenettes. It charges no resort fee and no parking fee, which is rare on Maui.
Kiahuna Plantation & Beach Bungalows by Castle
Kiahuna Beach, Poʻipū
Beachfront condos with kitchens and a pool with a waterslide in Poʻipū.
Best for: Families on a mid budget
- On Kiahuna Beach
- Full kitchen in every condo
- Pool with a waterslide
More about this hotel
Poʻipū's only beachfront condo resort, on Kiahuna Beach amid 35 acres of gardens. Every condo has a full kitchen, the pool has a waterslide, and parking is free.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Family Hotels at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
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Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko OlinaKo ʻOlina, west Oʻahu · SplurgeFamilies and couplesCheck prices -
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Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach ResortKahanamoku Beach, ʻEwa end, Waikīkī · Mid-rangeFamilies who want it all on siteCheck prices -
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & SpaKāʻanapali Beach, south end, West Maui · SplurgeFamilies and first-timersCheck prices -
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria ResortWailea Beach, Wailea & Kīhei · SplurgeFamilies who want a big poolCheck prices -
Fairmont Kea LaniPolo Beach, south Wailea, Wailea & Kīhei · SplurgeFamilies who want spaceCheck prices -
Napili Kai Beach ResortNāpili Bay, West Maui · Mid-rangeFamilies and returning visitorsCheck prices -
Hilton Waikoloa VillageWaikōloa Beach Resort, Kohala Coast · Mid-rangeFamilies with kidsCheck prices -
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph CollectionKaunaʻoa Bay, Kohala Coast · SplurgeBeach loversCheck prices -
Kiahuna Plantation & Beach Bungalows by CastleKiahuna Beach, Poʻipū · Mid-rangeFamilies on a mid budgetCheck prices -
The Royal Sonesta Kaua'i Resort LihueKalapakī Beach, Nāwiliwili, Līhuʻe & Kapaʻa · Mid-rangeFamilies and short staysCheck prices
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Family resort
|
Ko ʻOlina lagoons | Splurge | Families with young kids | Check prices |
|
|
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
Beachfront resort
|
Ko ʻOlina, west Oʻahu | Splurge | Families and couples | Check prices |
|
|
Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club
Villa resort
|
Ko ʻOlina lagoons | Mid-range | Families who cook | Check prices |
|
|
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Large beach resort
|
Kahanamoku Beach, ʻEwa end, Waikīkī | Mid-range | Families who want it all on site | Check prices |
|
|
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Beachfront resort
|
Kāʻanapali Beach, south end, West Maui | Splurge | Families and first-timers | Check prices |
|
|
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Beachfront resort
|
Wailea Beach, Wailea & Kīhei | Splurge | Families who want a big pool | Check prices |
|
|
Fairmont Kea Lani
All-suite resort
|
Polo Beach, south Wailea, Wailea & Kīhei | Splurge | Families who want space | Check prices |
|
|
Napili Kai Beach Resort
Beachfront condo resort
|
Nāpili Bay, West Maui | Mid-range | Families and returning visitors | Check prices |
|
|
Hilton Waikoloa Village
Large family resort
|
Waikōloa Beach Resort, Kohala Coast | Mid-range | Families with kids | Check prices |
|
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Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
Beachfront resort
|
Kaunaʻoa Bay, Kohala Coast | Splurge | Beach lovers | Check prices |
|
|
Kiahuna Plantation & Beach Bungalows by Castle
Beachfront condo resort
|
Kiahuna Beach, Poʻipū | Mid-range | Families on a mid budget | Check prices |
|
|
The Royal Sonesta Kaua'i Resort Lihue
Beachfront resort
|
Kalapakī Beach, Nāwiliwili, Līhuʻe & Kapaʻa | Mid-range | Families and short stays | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.
Tips for Traveling with Kids
- Limit island hops. Each move costs about half a day; with young kids, one island a week is plenty.
- Choose sheltered water. The lagoons at Ko ʻOlina, Hilton Waikoloa Village and Hilton Hawaiian Village are calmer than open beaches. Ko ʻOlina's lagoons have no lifeguards, so watch children closely.
- Avoid north shores in winter. From about November to April, big swells make north-facing beaches on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi dangerous for swimming.
- Check what is included. Four Seasons Oahu's kids' club is free for ages 5 to 12, and at Kona Village the kids' club is included in the resort fee.
- Whale season: humpback whales are in Hawaiian waters from about November to April, a good time for a family whale-watching cruise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.