Oahu – Where to Stay

Though Oahu is the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands, it might be surprising to learn that there are only four major beach hotel resort areas. The following map shows where those four Oahu resort areas are located.

We’ve stayed at all four major Oahu resort areas. On this page we’re sharing our insights to help you make your decision on where to stay.

TLDR: Waikiki Beach suits vacationers looking for an energetic environment where there’s a bit of nightlife. On the other hand, if you are looking for a more tranquil  environment for your Oahu vacation, we recommend that you stay on the North Shore, Ko Olina or Kahala resort areas.

Let’s overview the four major beach resorts of Oahu. We’ll start at Hawaii’s most popular destination, Waikiki and then go around the island clockwise, finishing at Kahala.

Waikiki Beach

Oahu’s iconic Waikiki Beach is a vibrant paradise with more than 100 hotels and accommodations. (I searched TripAdvisor for Waikiki hotels and it came up with over 300 results.) The urban vibe blends with the aloha spirit which perpetuates the popularity. You’ll find options ranging from basic economy to mid-range to luxury accommodations. Here are some pros and cons of Waikiki Beach:

Advantages

• • Waikiki has many excellent restaurants within walking distance.
  • You don’t necessarily need a rental car if you stay in Waikiki Beach as you can use shuttles, taxis, and public transportation.
  • Many tour companies will pick you up at or near Waikiki hotels.
  • Excellent shopping — especially high-end shopping.
  • There are plenty of water sports. It’s a popular spot to take surfing lessons.
  • This resort is located approximately 20 minutes from the Honolulu airport, HNL.

Disadvantages

• • The urban vibe can get mixed reviews. (Check out what our readers think of Waikiki Beach.) Some folks love the hustle and bustle, while others prefer a more relaxed environment.

Since Waikiki offers a huge selection of hotels to suit any budget, let’s look at it a bit closer. As you might expect, oceanfront resorts tend to be more expensive while hotels a couple of blocks away from the beach are much more budget-friendly.

There are only eight Waikiki hotels that are beachfront.  They are:

• Hilton Hawaiian Village (Large hotel complex with multiple towers. This resort has very good pools.)
• Hale Koa (Military only)
• Outrigger Reef on the Beach
• Halekulani (Waikiki’s top luxury resort)
• Sheraton Waikiki (Waikiki’s tallest hotel with many rooms having ocean views. This resort also has great pools.)
• Royal Hawaiian Hotel (One of Waikiki’s most historic and luxurious hotels, dubbed the “Pink Palace”. This resort also has good pools.)
• Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach
• Moana Surfrider (This Westin hotel is one of Waikiki’s most historic hotels.)
• I should also mention that Kaimana Beach Hotel is oceanfront, though please note that this hotel is beach front, but not in the heart of Waikiki’s shops and restaurants. It’s close to Diamond Head.

If you can afford an oceanfront room in an oceanfront hotel, it’s paradise. It’s much quieter and absolutely lovely to look out onto the ocean.

Other hotels on Waikiki beach that have rooms with very good ocean views, but are directly across from the beach on Kalakaua Avenue are:

• Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort
• Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort 
• Twin Fin Hotel
• Aston Waikiki Circle
• Higher rooms at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel
• ‘Alohilani Resort

Waikiki hotels that we know of which have decent but more obstructive ocean/beach views:

• Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk
• Higher rooms at Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
• Park Shore Waikiki Hotel – some rooms have nice views of Diamond Head
• Higher rooms at Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger (refurbished in 2018)

Want to stay where there’s a great pool in Waikiki? See our list of the Waikiki hotels with the best pools.

Ko Olina

Ko Olina is located in the southwest “corner” of Oahu. The Ko Olina resort community has a mix of condos and high-end hotels. Ko Olina offers the second most number of hotels outside of Waikiki including the new Disney resort, Aulani, and the luxurious Four Seasons Oahu. There’s also a Marriott Vacation (timeshare) resort here plus vacation condos.

Advantages

• • The manmade lagoons at Ko Olina offer a relatively sheltered area for kids to swim and play.
  • The area has some top luau options.
  • Area activities include golf, tennis, spas, and more.
  • Several great restaurants are located in the hotels and in the shopping centers.
  • We love catching sunset from Ko Olina.
  • It’s located approximately 35 minutes from Honolulu’s airport.

Disadvantages

• • We like Ko Olina, but one of the slight downsides is that we feel that we have to drive further to get to some of the sightseeing spots on the north and east shores of Oahu. If you stay here, you’ll definitely want to avoid driving to the east side of Oahu during rush hour. Ideally, plan east and north shore sightseeing on the weekends to minimize traffic.

Turtle Bay Resort

Turtle Bay Resort is located on the North Shore. The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay is the area’s only beachfront hotel. The hotel is built on a peninsula that’s flanked by two beaches, which means that most of their rooms offer at least an ocean view. Current laws prevent Hawaii hotels from being built so close to the ocean, so the hotel’s position is unique.

In addition to the hotel’s main towers, they also have more secluded bungalow rooms. If your budget allows, we recommend a bungalow room for honeymoons and special occasions.

Advantages

• • The North Shore is our top pick on Oahu for a relaxing vacation. It’s more peaceful than Waikiki, yet it is accessible/drivable to many great sightseeing spots on the north and east sides of Oahu.
  • The resort has several excellent pool options, including an adults-only pool.
  • The resort offers horseback riding, golf, spa, tennis and many more activities.
  • There’s not much onsite shopping, but the town of Haleiwa has many local shops.
  • Turtle Bay Resort has some good restaurants onsite. For more options, you’ll have to drive outside of the resort, for example to:
    • North Shore’s famous shrimp trucks are only about a 5 minute drive away.
    • Ted’s Bakery is also about a five-ish minute drive away.
    • A scenic 20-minute drive to the iconic North Shore town of Haleiwa provides many other eateries, plus some of Hawaii’s most famous places for shave ice.

Disadvantages

• • It’s the furtherest drive away from Honolulu airport. The drive time can range from about an hour to an hour and a half, depending upon traffic. Though the drive is longer, it can be quite scenic most of the way.
  • The ocean waves can be quite strong in winter months.

Kahala Resort

The Kahala Resort is located on southeast Oahu, about 15 minutes east of Waikiki Beach. It’s an oceanfront luxury in the Kahala community of Honolulu and the only hotel in the Kahala neighborhood.

Advantages

• • This luxury resort is beachfront and on a golf course.
  • They have Dolphin Quest onsite where you can swim with dolphins. Even if you don’t want to swim with them, it’s fun to watch them.
  • They offer a shuttle service into Waikiki, which is less than 15 minutes away, for more dining and shopping options. See our Kahala Resort review.
  • We love the delicious breakfast buffet at the hotel. It attracts both visitors and locals.

Disadvantages

• • Though there aren’t as many restaurants or shops within walking distance, the resort offers a shuttle service into Waikiki Beach for more options.

More notes about choosing an Oahu accommodation:

Traveling with a family? See our recommendations for the best family hotels in Hawaii.

In addition to hotels, you can also find vacation rentals and bed and breakfast accommodations around the island. For solo travelers on a budget, you can find hostels on Oahu, too.

For more insights into Oahu hotels, check this TripAdvisor link.

 

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