Resort-Style Hotels in Waikiki, Honolulu
Waikiki is where Honolulu's resort hotels cluster, between Waikiki Beach, Kalakaua Avenue and the Ala Wai Canal, with Diamond Head at the eastern end of the shore. The three stays on this page take different routes to a resort stay. Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, rated 9.1 across 3,008 reviews, has its pool and hot tub on the 8th floor, two minutes from the beach. Ka La'i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts is the five-star option, with an infinity pool and a spa. Luana Waikiki Park Views is a three-star condo hotel with kitchenettes, under 1 km from Fort DeRussy Beach.
Pool Decks, Spa and Fees in Waikiki
A resort stay in Waikiki rarely means a large private ground: the beach is public and the hotels are towers, so the resort part is the pool deck, the spa and the service. Two of these three listings also state that no resort fee applies, a detail worth checking because many Waikiki hotels add one to the nightly rate.
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani is the stay I would book first. It carries the strongest record on the page, 9.1 across 3,008 reviews, and it is a luxury boutique hotel rather than a sprawling complex, two minutes on foot from Waikiki Beach. The pool and hot tub sit on the 8th floor, above the street, and rooms have deep-soaking tubs. The listing states that no resort fee applies, which matters in Waikiki, and its link to the Halekulani name signals the service level. For couples who want the beach close and a calm pool deck, it is the clearest choice.
Ka La'i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts is the only five-star hotel here and the one that looks most like a full resort. It offers an infinity pool, spa facilities, a fitness centre, a sun terrace, a restaurant serving American, local and Asian cuisines with vegetarian options, and a bar, plus room service and a 24-hour front desk. Rooms add microwaves and dishwashers, useful for families who want to keep breakfast simple. It is rated 8.7 across 304 reviews, and on-site parking is available, which is not a given in central Waikiki.
Luana Waikiki Park Views is the practical option for a longer stay. This three-star condo hotel has rooms with balconies, kitchenettes and washing machines, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and a restaurant, and it is rated 8.9 across 91 reviews. It sits under 1 km from Fort DeRussy Beach, at the western side of Waikiki, and 15 km from Honolulu International Airport. Its listing states no resort fees and free parking, two costs that add up quickly over a week in Honolulu. It is less of a resort than the other two, but it is self-sufficient for families.
Keep expectations in line with what Waikiki offers. None of these hotels has a private beach: Waikiki Beach and Fort DeRussy Beach are public, and the resort experience happens on the pool deck, in the spa and at the restaurant. Diamond Head, Kapiolani Park and the Honolulu Zoo are at the eastern end of Waikiki, within reach on foot or by bus from any of the three. If a big pool and a spa matter most, Ka La'i Waikiki Beach fits best; if location and quiet matter more, Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani is my pick.
A traveler's perspectiveFor a resort stay in Waikiki I would choose Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, rated 9.1 across more than 3,000 reviews, because the 8th-floor pool and hot tub give a quiet deck two minutes from Waikiki Beach, and its listing states no resort fee. My advice is to save Ka La'i Waikiki Beach for a trip where the spa and the infinity pool are the point.
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani - NO RESORT FEE
Honolulu
3,008 reviews
Luxury boutique hotel with an urban oasis pool and hot tub
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHalepuna Waikiki by Halekulani is a two-minute walk from Waikiki Beach, so families can go back and forth between the sand and the room several times a day. The pool and hot tub on the 8th floor give children a calmer swim when the beach is crowded. Rooms have deep-soaking tubs, welcome after a long day of sun and salt water, and no resort fee applies, which keeps the final bill clear.
Luana Waikiki Park Views - no resort fees & FREE parking
Honolulu
91 reviews
Waikiki hotel with kitchenettes, pool, and free parking near the beach
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would choose this Luana Waikiki unit for a family that wants an apartment-style base in Honolulu. Guests rate it 8.9 across 91 reviews. Fort DeRussy Beach is under 1 km away, rooms have a balcony, a kitchenette and a washing machine, and free parking is included, which is rare in Waikiki. An outdoor pool, a fitness center and a restaurant are on site, and the airport is 15 km away.
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.
Local tips
- 1Check the resort fee before you book: Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani and Luana Waikiki Park Views both state that none applies.
- 2Choose Ka La'i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts for an infinity pool and a spa, the most complete resort facilities on this page.
- 3Book Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani for a short beach trip: Waikiki Beach is a two-minute walk and the pool deck is on the 8th floor.
- 4Take Luana Waikiki Park Views for a week with children, thanks to its kitchenettes, washing machines and free parking.
- 5Walk east along Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park and the foot of Diamond Head, a short trip from any of the three hotels.
- 6Use Fort DeRussy Beach, under 1 km from Luana Waikiki Park Views, for a beach day at the western side of Waikiki, near the park lawns.