The Kahala

Honolulu, Oahu

Virgin rating

Diamond Head Ocean View Room
Hoku's
Diamond Head Ocean View Room
Hoku's

The hotel

The Kahala has always been one of Hawaii's top hotels, with a celebrity guest list that's included nearly every president since Richard Nixon! Even Cond Nasté Traveller thinks it has the 'Best Rooms and Restaurants in the US'. And when you get there you'll see why. Your spacious room will overlook either the ocean, mountain or lagoon. There's a beautiful pool area to relax by and even the fitness centre has ocean views to give you a boost. When it comes to eating here, you can choose between four stylish restaurants - the award-winning Hoku's, with its innovative fusion menu, comes highly recommended.

Amenities

  • Scuba Diving
  • Windsurfing
  • Kids Club
  • Wheelchair access
  • Bar
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Hot tub
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Valet parking

Where is it

Nestled on an exclusive crescent ivory sand beach, just east of Diamond Head on the island of Oahu.

Hotel information

338 rooms on 10 floors with 3 lifts. Newly renovated rooms all with air-conditioning, cable TV, complimentary WiFi, telephone, plush bathrobes, large bathrooms with Floris amenities, and hairdryer. Scenic Rooms sleep maximum 2 adults and 1 child (up to 17 years). Only rooms on the ground floor have a terrace.

Ocean View Rooms and Partial Ocean View Rooms, Ocean Front Rooms have a Juliet balcony. Ocean View Lanai Rooms, Ocean Front Lanai Rooms, Scenic with Lanai Rooms and Partial Ocean View Lanai Rooms, have full balconies with furniture and sleep maximum 2 adults and 1 child (up to 17 years).

4 restaurants: Hoku's (fine dining), Plumeria Beach House (à la carte and buffet), The Veranda (afternoon tea) and Seaside Grill. Swimming pool. Use of beachside chi health energy fitness centre with steam rooms, Jacuzzi and dry sauna. Award-winning spa suites. Water sports* including surfing* and scuba diving*. Keiki kids' club*. Guests are welcomed with a cool towel and Aloha lei at check in. Business centre. There is a free shuttle service to Waikiki with its shops, bars and restaurants. Valet or self-parking $32 plus tax per day (payable locally, subject to change).

Wheelchair accessible rooms available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. For more information and contact details please check out our Special Assistance page

*Denotes local charge.

Please note: There's a $8 daily donation for the Koa Tree Planting Fund (payable locally, subject to change).

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (3536)
  • Very good (712)
  • Average (250)
  • Poor (122)
  • Terrible (96)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Slice of Heaven

Jan 23, 2025 scottmeise Minnesota

We’ve been traveling to HI for years to visit our daughter. This trip was very special because of the Kahala resort. The property is beautiful, rooms are spacious, views are incredible, restaurants offered a nice blend of morning brunch to delightful dinners and the best beach!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Wonderful hotel

Jan 19, 2025 panCake444

The hotel is clean and elegant. Very peaceful. We loved the culture classes available. Part of the reason we selected the hotel was the access to the beach. And it was a wonderful beach, clean and mild. Great for swimming.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Kahala Experience

Jan 19, 2025 JPTorgerson Branford, Connecticut

The staff at the Kahala resort are wonderful. the facility is exceedingly well maintad. The restaurants are some of the best in Honolulu
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Beautiful hotel with a catch

Jan 17, 2025 Odyssey13266767186 Destin, Florida

The kahala is a beautiful property, excellently maintained with attentive staff. You get what you pay for, as this is not inexpensive. We had a first floor walkout that led directly to the beach. My daughter took advantage of the Dolphin Quest-which she loved. Valet was quick, friendly and efficient. The woman who checked us in, Carolyn, could… Read more
The kahala is a beautiful property, excellently maintained with attentive staff. You get what you pay for, as this is not inexpensive. We had a first floor walkout that led directly to the beach. My daughter took advantage of the Dolphin Quest-which she loved. Valet was quick, friendly and efficient. The woman who checked us in, Carolyn, could not have been nicer. She took the time to tell us about the property and was very kind to my daughter. Turn down service, room service and cleaning staff were all very kind. The only issue I had was with staff constantly asking us if we were guests. I understand the need to maintain security and safety and you don’t want people using the services that guests pay a lot of money for. But I was asked 10 times (I counted) if we were guests. That doesn’t include the necessary times they’d ask because of charging our lunch to the room or checking in for the buffet breakfast. We were asked 9 times while we sat on the provided beach chairs if we were guests and to provide our room number. I started watching if the over zealous employees would ask anyone else around us and they did not. Once, about 5 minutes after we were“carded” by a beach chair attendant, I overheard another attendant asking the woman who’d just asked us for proof of staying at the hotel, if we were guests. I started getting a bit of a complex. I’m a middle aged white dude and I was on a father/daughter trip before my child goes off to Basic Training. I don’t dress like riffraff and I’m polite and I tip well. I’m guessing some of the issue could be related to the fact that we don’t ask people to fawn over us. We grab our own chairs and towels and generally don’t make a fuss. But the capper was our last day when I went to breakfast. I provided my name and room number to the woman seating people at the buffet breakfast. The waitress, “Zee”, greeted me as I sat and asked if I wanted coffee. I got my coffee and grabbed my food and as I was about 10 minutes into my meal, “Zee” marched up and said,”What’s your room number and name?” There was no sugar in her pronouncement. I was not happy. I didn’t know why I had to prove myself yet again but I did. People were looking at me like I’d done something wrong and I was not impressed. I watched as Zee nodded and walked off and hugged some other guest sitting at a table nearby. Zee did not grill anyone else about their bonafides. Great hotel with some really nice folks but they can chill with some of the facist staff who grill middle aged men 10 times in 5 days. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great Employees at Kahala

Jan 12, 2025 Amanda G

I want to express my gratitude for the help I received from a server at The Veranda Restaurant at the Kahala last night. Unfortunately I didn’t get her name, but she was a young woman originally from the Philippines. There was another diner who was very inebriated and was very persistent in his attentions to me. The server very kindly kept asking… Read more
I want to express my gratitude for the help I received from a server at The Veranda Restaurant at the Kahala last night. Unfortunately I didn’t get her name, but she was a young woman originally from the Philippines. There was another diner who was very inebriated and was very persistent in his attentions to me. The server very kindly kept asking me if I was ok and if I wanted to move to a different table. She was very quick in getting my check and picking it up so I could leave without drawing notice. As a solo female traveler, I am so appreciative of anyone who goes out of their way to make me feel safe in unfamiliar and potentially dangerous environments. Once again, many thanks. Read less