Top 8 Five Star Hotels in Honolulu - Isa Weber's Guide 2024 (2024)

Resort. Highly elegant. Superb breakfast. Popular among couples. Located on Waikiki Beach overlooking Diamond Head, the Halekulani hotel boasts 3 restaurants, a live jazz lounge, and a day spa. A spacious lanai is provided in each guest room. Free WiFI is available throughout the property. A fresh fruit bowl and signature chocolates welcome guests in each room at Halekulani. All guest rooms include a luxurious en suite bathroom with plush bathrobes, premium toiletries, marble vanities, deep soaking tub and a separate glassed-in shower. A flat-screen TV is also provided. The oceanfront, internationally-awarded La Mer restaurant, open daily for dinner, features fine French cuisine utilizing fresh, local Hawaiian ingredients. Orchids restaurant offers seafood specialties for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a sumptuous Sunday brunch. Oceanfront casual terrace dining and nightly entertainment is available at the landmark A House Without a Key restaurant. The Spa Halekulani offers a complete menu of treatments incorporating traditional Polynesian rituals. Massages, facials, body therapies and beauty services are offered. A full-service business centre is located on site. A heated swimming pool with glass tile mosaic and views of Waikiki Beach is offered, and pool attendants are available to fulfill guest requests. Upscale shopping and dining at Ala Moana Shopping Center is 10 minutes’ drive away. The Halekulani is 35 minutes’ drive from Honolulu International Airport.

This is likely one of the most ELEGANT resorts in Honolulu.

Hotel rating: 9.3 (superb)

Rooms: 451

Stars: 5

Resort. Luxurious. Comfortable beds. Situated on beach in Honolulu, this luxury resort boasts 4 restaurants and a full-service spa. A free shuttle to Ala Moana Shopping Centre is provided. A 40-inch flat-screen TV and iPod docking station are featured in each Hotel Kahala room. Most boast a large bathroom with robes, a deep-soaking tub and separate shower. Every elegant room is decorated in warm colors. On-site activities include culture and wellness classes. Free access to the outdoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness centre and saunas is provided to all guests. Kahala Spa features 10 private treatment rooms, massages and beauty services, and an open-air relaxation space. Dining options include Plumeria Beach House, an all day open air restaurant, the award-winning Hoku's fine dining restaurant, and the Seaside Grill for causal fair by the pool and beach, The Veranda for afternoon tea, co*cktails and Arancino for Italian. The Veranda features live music. The Honolulu Zoo is 6 km from this oceanfront resort and Honolulu International Airport is 20 minutes’ drive away.

This might be one of the most luxurious, relaxing and stylish resorts in Honolulu! WOW!

Hotel rating: 9.1 (superb)

Rooms: 187

Stars: 5

Luxury Hotel. Cosy rooms. Discover Waikiki’s most distinctive luxury resort experience that combines home conveniences with resort amenities. Oahu’s first Ritz-Carlton property features 552 ocean-view rooms and suites with residential amenities that include gourmet kitchens and kitchenettes and premium brand washers and dryers. With 246 suites, the resort boasts the largest number of hotel luxury suites on the island. Guests can discover a vast array of distinctive experiences along with legendary Ritz-Carlton service. Amenities include two of the highest infinity pools in Waikiki with private cabanas, a premier fitness center, yoga room and movie theatre. The Ritz-Carlton Spa offers customized treatments that highlights the balancing elements and traditional healing methods of the islands. Adding to the enjoyment is a fine selection of dining experiences that are both creative in taste and presentation, ensuring an adventure for the senses, including a sushi legend from Japan, modern French cuisine, outdoor Italian concept and a global high-end gourmet market. With more than 6,000 square feet of indoor function space, meetings and events at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach ensure attendees go home feeling productive, inspired and better yet, with a story to tell. Waikiki International Marketplace Shopping Center is 200 metres from The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki, while Waikiki Beach Area is 300 metres from the property. The nearest airport is Honolulu Airport, 11 km away.

Hotel rating: 9 (superb)

Rooms: 254

Stars: 5

Luxury Hotel. Opened November 2023. Situated in Honolulu, 1.5 km from Ala Moana Beach, Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa features accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, private parking, a fitness centre and a restaurant. Featuring a bar, the 5-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The accommodation offers room service, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage for guests. The rooms at the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV and a safety deposit box. Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa provides some rooms with city views, and rooms have a coffee machine. At the accommodation every room is fitted with bed linen and towels. Guests at Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa can enjoy a continental breakfast. Guests at the hotel will be able to enjoy activities in and around Honolulu, like snorkelling. Popular points of interest near Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa include Kahanamoku Beach, Hawaii Convention Center and Ala Moana Center. The nearest airport is Honolulu International Airport, 12 km from the accommodation.

Hotel rating: 8.7 (fabulous)

Rooms: 129

Stars: 5

Luxury Hotel. Newly opened, March 2024. Set in Honolulu, 1.6 km from Ala Moana Beach, Renaissance Residences Oahu Honolulu offers accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, private parking, a fitness centre and a restaurant. This 5-star hotel offers room service, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. Guests can have a drink at the bar. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a wardrobe, a coffee machine, a fridge, an oven, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Renaissance Residences Oahu Honolulu all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. A continental breakfast is available every morning at the accommodation. Renaissance Residences Oahu Honolulu offers a sun terrace. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center and Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The nearest airport is Honolulu International Airport, 12 km from Renaissance Residences Oahu Honolulu.

Hotel rating: 8.8 (fabulous)

Rooms: 100

Stars: 5

Apartment hotel. Trendy. Comfortable beds. Popular among women. Aston Waikiki Beach Tower is an all-suite property located across the street from Waikiki Beach. Each suite offers fully equipped accommodation with kitchens. On-site amenities include an outdoor pool and a modern recreation deck. Daily maid service is available. All suites feature views of the Pacific Ocean. Each includes a fully-equipped kitchen with a microwave, a refrigerator, a coffee machine, a toaster, and a dishwasher, as well as a washing machine and a tumble dryer, a balcony/lanai, a TV with cable channels, a DVD player, ironing facilities, a safety deposit box, and air-conditioning. The en suite bathroom includes a shower and a hairdryer. Daily housekeeping and nightly turndown service is available. Guests can relax in the hot tub at the aparthotel. The recreation desk includes access to the barbecue grills, an open-air dining area, billiards, jet spa, Yoga class on site and a fitness centre. Aston Waikiki Beach Tower is 1.6 km from the Hawaii Convention Center. Honolulu International Airport is 16 km away.

I would describe this as the most WELL DESIGNED five-star hotel in Honolulu.

Hotel rating: 9.4 (amazing)

Rooms: 77

Stars: 5

Resort. Delightful property. Popular among couples. The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort is located in the heart of Waikiki, in Honolulu, and offers a fitness centre, full-service spa, an on-property bakery, exclusive area on the beach, beach activities, two outdoor pool options, and cultural activities. Offering basic high-speed WiFi, each room is equipped with an iPod docking station and a refrigerator with 2 bottles of water. Decorated in tropical colors and themes with airy windows the rooms also feature views of the garden or ocean. Guests at The Royal can swim in one of two outdoor pools, the Malulani Pool and the Helumoa Playground, or relax on the beach. The resort also features a hot tub and water sports rentals. Daily cultural activities are also available to guests. The Mai Tai Bar serves tropical co*cktails and nightly entertainment with views of Diamond Head. Surf Lanai is open for breakfast and lunch, specializing in mainland classic dishes with tropical accents presented in a refreshing manner. Azure Restaurant serves the freshest local seafood caught daily. Kids under 5 years of age can eat for free off the kids menu with one paying adult. The Royal Hawaiian is one mile from the Honolulu Zoo, and 5 minutes' walk to the International Market Place.

Hotel rating: 8.7 (fabulous)

Rooms: 484

Stars: 5

Luxury Hotel. Hip. Great value. Popular among women. Featuring a 280,000 gallon, two-story saltwater Oceanarium in the middle of the lobby filled with a large variety of colorful native Hawaiian reef fishes, ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach offers beach side accommodation in Honolulu and boasts several on-site restaurants and a bar. Many rooms & suites provide unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head. All rooms are fitted with an HD flat-screen TV. Certain units have a seating area where you can relax. All rooms come with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer. Swell Pool & Bar offers guests the opportunity to enjoy a saltwater infinity pool, hot tub, a private cabanas and nightly live music overlooking the fabled Waikiki Beach. Guests can dine at several restaurants available. Morimoto Asia serves an Asian cuisine and Momosan features ramen dishes in a more casual setting. Saint Augustine by-the-Sea is 100 metres from ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, while Kuhio Beach Torch Lighting & Hula Ceremony is 300 metres from the property. Honolulu Airport is 12 km away. Lodging is subject to state general excise and transient accommodation taxes and may be subject to change at any time without notice, as determined by hotel management in order to remain compliant with Hawai'i County Council.

Hotel rating: 8 (very good)

Rooms: 831

Stars: 5