Best Pet-Friendly Hotels to Stay in Honolulu
Honolulu has more pet-friendly hotels than many visitors expect, and the best ones sit in Waikiki, a short walk from the beach. Wayfinder Waikiki is a pet-friendly boutique hotel with an outdoor pool and hot tub, five minutes' walk from Waikiki Beach. The Laylow Waikiki, Autograph Collection is a mid-century modern hotel with pet-friendly policies, and Coconut Waikiki Hotel has kitchenettes and private terraces in some rooms. The Surfjack, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Ka Laʻi and Lotus complete the list. I compare the seven by setting, facilities and guest scores. The scores matter here: Wayfinder and Coconut rest on more than a thousand reviews each.
Honolulu's Waikiki has beaches, parks and a walkable hotel district, and several hotels there welcome pets.
Seven Honolulu hotels that welcome pets
Travelling with a pet to Honolulu is easier when the hotel is close to the beach and green space, and when the listing clearly welcomes animals. All seven hotels here list pet-friendly policies or stays, but none of the listings gives pet rules, sizes or fees. I therefore describe the hotels and recommend confirming the details directly before you book.
Wayfinder Waikiki, The Laylow Waikiki and Coconut Waikiki Hotel are the boutique options. Wayfinder has an outdoor pool and hot tub, overlooks the Ala Wai golf course, and offers family-friendly rooms with a refrigerator and a bathtub; it scores 8.5 from 1,543 reviews. The Laylow Waikiki is a mid-century modern hotel within a five-minute walk of Waikiki Beach and the Royal Hawaiian Center, with a swimming pool and a restaurant; it scores 8.8 from 212. Coconut Waikiki has an outdoor pool, a fitness center and some kitchenettes and private terraces, and scores 8.5 from 1,129 reviews.
The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club is the most characterful. It has vintage-inspired bungalows and suites with hand-crafted furniture, custom-tile bathroom floors, eclectic artwork and a private balcony, plus an outdoor pool, a spa and wellness area and optional in-room coffee and cocktail service. Its listing says it suits families looking for a downtown Honolulu stay. It scores 8.5 from 978 reviews. I would choose it for a pet owner who wants a room with a private balcony and a lively pool atmosphere rather than a quiet resort. Its pet-friendly tag comes with an outdoor pool, so it suits a stay built around the swim club.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach Hotel and Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts are the two five-star hotels. The Ritz-Carlton has ocean-facing rooms and suites across two towers, refreshed infinity pools, a hot tub and spa and wellness facilities, and it scores 9.1 from 385 reviews. Ka Laʻi has an infinity pool, spa facilities, a fitness centre, a sun terrace, a restaurant and a bar, a 24-hour front desk and a concierge, and scores 8.7 from 304 reviews. I would pick either for a special trip with a pet where a pool and spa matter.
Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head is the calm option. It sits across from Queen Kapiolani Park, which gives a green space close by, and its listing mentions walking paths to two nearby beaches and views of Diamond Head. Rooms have a balcony or patio, a refrigerator and an Illy espresso machine, and it scores 8.6 from 341 reviews. I would choose it for a quieter stay with a dog who needs a park walk, and I would check the pet policy with the hotel first, because the listings summarise it only briefly.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I were travelling to Honolulu with a dog, I would book Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head for the park across the road, or Wayfinder Waikiki for its outdoor pool and hot tub and its five-minute walk to Waikiki Beach. For a stay with a kitchenette, I would choose Coconut Waikiki Hotel. Whichever I picked, I would confirm the pet policy and any pet fee with the hotel before booking.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach Hotel
Honolulu
385 reviews
Luxury ocean-facing rooms with infinity pools and a full-service spa
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach Hotel spreads its ocean-facing rooms and suites across two towers, so every family wakes up to the Pacific. The refreshed infinity pools are the main draw for children, while parents can slip off to the hot tub or the spa. Pets are welcome, which is rare at this level in Waikiki. Parking on site is paid. A score of 9.1 from 385 reviews places it among Honolulu's top-rated stays.
The Laylow Waikiki, Autograph Collection
Honolulu
212 reviews
Mid-century modern hotel near Waikiki Beach with a pool and pet-friendly stays
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Laylow Waikiki is a mid-century modern hotel within a 5-minute walk of Waikiki Beach and the Royal Hawaiian Center, so beach mornings and rainy-day shopping need no car. Guests rate it 8.8 out of 10 across 212 reviews. The pool is there for a swim between beach sessions, the activity desk can help plan outings, and pets are accepted. Diamond Head Crater Hike is 4.8 km away, which I would suggest for an early start with older children.
Ka Laʻi Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts
Honolulu
304 reviews
Infinity pool, spa, and pet-friendly luxury in Waikiki
Check availabilityWhy guests love itKa Laʻi Waikiki Beach suits families who want resort service with some of the comforts of an apartment. Rooms list a microwave, a dishwasher and a tea and coffee maker, so snacks and simple meals are easy to handle. The infinity pool and sun terrace give children a place to swim between outings, while parents can book time at the spa. The restaurant serves American, local and Asian dishes with vegetarian choices, and room service covers tired evenings.
Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head
Honolulu
341 reviews
Luxury Waikiki retreat with Diamond Head views and beach access
Check availabilityWhy guests love itLotus Honolulu sits across from Queen Kapiolani Park, a few steps from the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium, which makes days with children very simple. Walking paths lead to two nearby beaches, so a morning swim needs no car. Every room has a balcony or patio, a refrigerator for snacks and an Illy espresso machine for parents. The setting below Diamond Head is calmer than central Waikiki, and on-site parking helps for island drives.
Wayfinder Waikiki - Voted Top 10 Best Hotels in Hawaii!
Honolulu
1,543 reviews
Pet-friendly boutique hotel with pool, hot tub, and Waikiki Beach nearby
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Wayfinder Waikiki is a 5-minute walk from Waikiki Beach, and I would recommend it to families who want the sand close without staying on the beachfront strip. Rooms have a refrigerator and a bathtub, useful for bathing small children, and the outdoor pool and hot tub cover the hours between beach sessions. The hotel overlooks the Ala Wai golf course, welcomes pets and has parking on site. An 8.5 from 1,543 reviews is a very good score for this boutique hotel.
Coconut Waikiki Hotel
Honolulu
1,129 reviews
Boutique hotel with an outdoor pool and pet-friendly rooms
Check availabilityWhy guests love itCoconut Waikiki Hotel is a boutique hotel under a 10-minute walk from the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, with an outdoor pool and fitness center. Rooms have a microwave, wet bar and coffee machine, and some add a kitchenette or a private terrace, useful for family breakfasts. Pets are welcome, which is not always the case in Waikiki. The airport is a 20-minute drive. Guests rate it 8.5 from 1,129 reviews.
The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club - NO AMENITY FEE
Honolulu
978 reviews
Vintage-inspired bungalows with an outdoor pool and pet-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itEvery room at The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club has a private balcony, and I would mention that first to families staying in Waikiki: there is outdoor space even inside the room. The bungalows and suites have a vintage feel, with hand-crafted furniture, custom-tile bathroom floors and eclectic artwork. The outdoor pool is the social heart of the hotel, in-room coffee and cocktail service is optional, and there is a spa and wellness area. Pets are welcome. An 8.5 from 978 reviews is a very good score.
Local tips
- 1Confirm pet rules, sizes and fees directly with the hotel, because the listings only say that pets are welcome.
- 2Choose Wayfinder Waikiki for an outdoor pool and hot tub and a five-minute walk to Waikiki Beach.
- 3Pick Coconut Waikiki Hotel if you want a kitchenette or private terrace, which are available in some rooms.
- 4Book Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head for a walk in Queen Kapiolani Park right across the road.
- 5Choose The Ritz-Carlton Residences or Ka Laʻi for a five-star stay with pools and spa facilities.
- 6Ask The Laylow Waikiki about its pet-friendly policies for family stays before you book.