When you’re looking for a great Hawaii hotel for the family vacation, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the choices. In general you can’t make a bad decision as most Hawaii hotels make great vacation bases whether you are looking for a romantic trip for two or a family fun vacation.
When planning a family beach vacation, we think one of the most important aspects to consider is to find a Hawaii hotel that offers safe and fun water sports. In this list, we’ve put an emphasis on hotels situated beside sheltered-ocean spots for swimming and/or have outstanding pools.
So there are a lot of great family-friendly Hawaii hotels, but the following hotels are the best of the best, in our opinion.
Where: Oahu’s Ko Olina Resort is an outstanding resort for families.
Reasons families like it:
Reviews: See our Aulani review and reviews from TripAdvisor
Nightly rates can be on the pricey side, however it’s worth noting that this resort offers many complementary amenities that are not provided in other resorts. Also this resort hasn’t charged a resort fee since opening. That’s subject to change, but if they continue that practice, it can save a lot of money.
Where: Waikiki
Reasons families like it:
Reviews: See our review of Hilton Hawaiian Village and reviews from TripAdvisor
Where: Oahu’s Ko Olina Resort is an outstanding resort for families.
Reasons families like it:
Reviews: See our review of Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina as well as reviews from TripAdvisor
This resort is one of Oahu’s most luxurious, so nightly rates are much higher than average.
Where: Kauai’s east coast near Lihue airport.
Reasons families like it:
Reviews: For up-to-date reviews, see this TripAdvisor link. This resort is formerly the Kauai Marriott. When we stayed there, it was a Marriott property, so our review is somewhat outdated, however the “bones” of the resort and location remain the same. See our review of Kauai Marriott.
Where: Kauai’s east coast near Kapa’a and within short walking distance of Lydgate Park
Reasons families like it:
Reviews: See this link to TripAdvisor
– Hotels and vacation rentals in the Poipu area are worth considering because of the sheltered kiddie beach at Poipu Beach Park.
Where: Located on the luxurious Kohala Coast.
Reasons families like it:
Reviews: See our review of Hilton Waikoloa Village and read reviews from TripAdvisor.
Where: Located on the luxurious Kohala Coast
Reasons families like it:
Reviews: See our review of Fairmont Orchid
and read reviews from Tripadvisor.Where: in sunny Wailea on South Maui.
Reasons families like it:
Please note that there isn’t a sheltered location for ocean swimming at the beach fronting Grand Wailea. So check conditions before allowing kids to play in the ocean.
Reviews: See our Grand Wailea review and read reviews from TripAdvisor.
– Honua Kai is an upscale condominium-style resort with full-sized gourmet kitchens and washer and dryers which families love. They have several pools including a fun pool with a waterslide. See our review of Honua Kai and more reviews from TripAdvisor. Please note that there isn’t a sheltered ocean swimming spot. So check conditions before allowing kids to play in the ocean.
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What other family-friendly Hawaii hotels do you recommend?
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We really liked the warm welcome given to our kids at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. When they were younger, they received a welcome pack of beach toys, water bottle and activity books. I'm not sure if they still do the welcome pack, but the atmosphere was still very family-friendly on our second visit a few weeks ago. There's no kid's club, but the location right across from the beach means little legs don't have to go very far to play in the waves! Tiki's restuarant on site has a great kid's menu, too. A definite reccommend!
Mahalo Christine for adding your recommendation. I did consider listing the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel and the Marriott Waikiki, which is next door, because of the sheltered swimming that's across Kalakaua Ave.