The Kahala

Honolulu, Oahu

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

The hotel

Recognised as having the 'Best Rooms and Restaurants in the US' by Cond Nasté Traveller, The Kahala has always been one of Hawaii's premier hotels with a celebrity guest list that has included nearly every president since Richard Nixon! Spacious rooms all boast an ocean, mountain or lagoon view. There's a beautiful pool area to relax by or work out with state-of-the-art equipment at the fitness centre, whilst overlooking the ocean. Four stylish restaurants include innovative fusion fare at award-winning Hoku's. Enjoy a close encounter with dolphins at the hotel's very own dolphin lagoon.

Amenities

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

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. Dolphin Lanai Rooms, 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 $28 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 (2504)
  • Very good (584)
  • Average (199)
  • Poor (88)
  • Terrible (72)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Resort is Vegas at the Beach. The dolphin thing is wierd

Jul 18, 2019 Richard L

Keeping dolphins as pets in a hotel - nothing I can write will change your opinion. You either think it is the coolest thing ever or you are thinking that you stepped into a generational time warp and want the hotel to rethink the whole thing. The super tame beach that was built as part of the resort along with the obsession about its show biz… Read more
Keeping dolphins as pets in a hotel - nothing I can write will change your opinion. You either think it is the coolest thing ever or you are thinking that you stepped into a generational time warp and want the hotel to rethink the whole thing. The super tame beach that was built as part of the resort along with the obsession about its show biz ties all add up to a Vegas style fantasy land as opposed to a remote vacation spot. The physical grounds are lovely, as are the rooms. Staff was super helpful and nice. We were there for a conference - my wife was working and I was the plus 1. Not a great fit as anything the conference didn't pay for was out of range of most business traveler budgets. The remote location also makes it hard to use as a base if you want to tour O'ahu. Conclusion: If you want to spend a few days with family sitting on the beach, playing golf or by the pool go for it. If you are coming to Hawaii to experience Hawaii stay in Waikiki or better yet get out of Honolulu. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Will not stay anywhere else in Oahu

Jul 15, 2019 samanthakaplan1

If you're looking for a quiet relaxing yet elegant resort in Oahu I would never suggest anything but the Kahala. Hotel staff always go above & beyond asking & truly make the entire experience amazing.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Love this place, if you have the $ don't hesitate

Jul 15, 2019 FredHayek Melbourne, Australia

2nd time I've stayed. They offered us a big discount on a suite overlooking the ocean when we couldn't get two interconnecting rooms (which we had booked separately at different times, so not their fault) We love it here. The setting is beautiful, the canoeing around fish and turtles, swimming with fish around the coral. Love the lounge. The pasta… Read more
2nd time I've stayed. They offered us a big discount on a suite overlooking the ocean when we couldn't get two interconnecting rooms (which we had booked separately at different times, so not their fault) We love it here. The setting is beautiful, the canoeing around fish and turtles, swimming with fish around the coral. Love the lounge. The pasta is really delicious. David Swanson is a superb musician Tue-Sat I think. Really relaxing, all kept in immaculate cleanliness and maintenance despite the age of the resort. The bad - it's expensive to hire canoes and so on but you probably guessed that. Service in the casual restaurant at dinner was really lacking the one time I tried it. There were about three tables there at 8pm and we couldn't get anyone's attention, food was slow. Don't know if it was just a one-off difficult night but I'd go back. And the dolphins, OMG please discontinue the dolphin stuff, it's terrible. I don't know what you would do with those poor animals now but please don't raise/capture (??) any more of them. Please. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating The Perfect Place to Stay in Honolulu!

Jul 10, 2019 12DT Austin, Texas, Usa

The Kahala Hotel & Resort is absolutely perfect. It is located in Kahala Town, just East of busy Honolulu. The resort is upscale. and well designed. The rooms are very spacious, and the staff are phenomenal. The property is the perfect size, super clean, green, and best of all... quiet! I had teetered back and forth trying to determine if we… Read more
The Kahala Hotel & Resort is absolutely perfect. It is located in Kahala Town, just East of busy Honolulu. The resort is upscale. and well designed. The rooms are very spacious, and the staff are phenomenal. The property is the perfect size, super clean, green, and best of all... quiet! I had teetered back and forth trying to determine if we should stay in Waikiki, or in Kahala so we could slow down a little. Well... after a trip in to Waikiki... I put that dilemma to rest! After about an hour, I was completely done with that excursion... talk about crazy! We felt like We were in Vegas... full of traffic, commercialized, and way too many people. Waikiki Beach was super noisy, and looked like it had more people on it than sand! The Kahala has its own private beach, and the only things you hear out there are the wind and the gentle waves. The Kahala has a lagoon with four of the most beautiful dolphins, several restaurants to compliment most tastes, and its bordered by a beautiful golf course on the mountain side. You’ll need a rental car, or arranged personal transportation to reach the hotel. If you choose to go back and forth in to Honolulu... it’s cheaper than taking a taxi. The resort does have transportation available to certain locations about town as well. Just remember... Oahu is gorgeous, so you’re missing out if you don’t get a rental car. We are so pleased with our choice to stay at The Kahala, and my wife and I highly recommend the resort to everyone who is planning a trip to Oahu! Mahalo Kahala Resort... it was wonderful! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Honolulu Heaven

Jul 7, 2019 AltaPine Altadena, California

Let me start by saying I am a very picky/discriminating hotel guest. I am bothered by things that most people would ignore, so I am very difficult to please. So when I come across a hotel where I can't find anything to complain about it is a reason to celebrate. I read a few negative reviews on TripAdvisor which alarmed me so I contacted the… Read more
Let me start by saying I am a very picky/discriminating hotel guest. I am bothered by things that most people would ignore, so I am very difficult to please. So when I come across a hotel where I can't find anything to complain about it is a reason to celebrate. I read a few negative reviews on TripAdvisor which alarmed me so I contacted the hotel via email. My email was responded to promptly, my concerns were addressed, and I was assured I had nothing to worry about. When I arrived at my room (Beachfront Lanai) it was spectacular. It was spotlessly clean, beautifully appointed and very comfortable. Some reviewers complained that the furnishings were “tired” or needed updating, but I did not find that to be the case whatsoever. The furnishings were beautiful and appropriate to a Hawaiian hotel. In addition, the staff, from the general manager on down, were beyond nice and accommodating. The Plumeria restaurant is situated on the most beautiful ocean front site one could imagine. The breakfast buffet is delicious. The round waffles that are made fresh at the site of the omelette station during the week are the most delicious waffles I have ever tasted. They are different than the a la carte waffles, or the ones made on the weekends (which are also good, but not the same). The beach area is lovely and never feels crowded as it does in Waikiki, especially in the area away from the pool. I give the Kahala my highest recommendation. Read less