10 Beachfront Hotels in Hawaii for When All You Want in Life Is an Ocean View

Few destinations are more tied to the ocean than Hawaii: Polynesian voyagers arrived at the archipelago by canoe roughly a millennium ago, the cuisine draws heavily on the spoils of the sea and the most popular pastime involves taming the waves. So it’s not surprising that the best resorts in the Aloha State line the coast of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the island of Hawaii. Take, for example, The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, which overlooks Oahu’s famous swells, or the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, where guests have access to 15 waterfront acres on Mokapu Beach. (Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay.)

The setting can be quite different from one island to the next, from bustling Waikiki Beach to the ruggedness of Kauai’s North Shore, but no matter which hotel you choose, you’re certain to be spending much of your time in, on or around the Pacific—taking a surfing lesson, exploring teeming tide pools, watching for migrating humpback whales or simply sipping a fruity cocktail with your toes in the sand. 

The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort Waikiki (Honolulu, Oahu)
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A member of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, the “Pink Palace of the Pacific” traces its history to 1927, when it opened with a Spanish-Moorish architectural style inspired by Hollywood star Rudolph Valentino’s Arabian-themed movies. (Guests can take a historical tour Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. to learn about famous former guests and the hotel’s surprising stint as a Navy R&R center during World War II.) Rooms in the historic wing include doors carved with the Hawaiian coat of arms and boldly patterned wallpaper, while those in the newer Mailani Tower feature more contemporary decor.

The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay (Kahuku, Oahu)
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Surfers flock to the North Shore of Oahu for its consistent swells and world-famous reef breaks. While staying at this 450-room resort, you can get into the spirit of the area during a lesson with the experts at Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience. Playful guest rooms take the theme further with wall-sized images of crashing waves and bathrooms decorated with oversize hibiscus motifs. The resort is also home to stables, where you can learn horsemanship 101 (grooming, feeding) or plan an ocean-view trail ride during golden hour.  

Halekulani (Honolulu, Oahu)

This Waikiki Beach hotel takes its name from the Hawaiian word for “house befitting heaven,” so you can expect a little piece of paradise at every turn. The property has more than 450 rooms and suites designed for maximum serenity, with a signature “seven shades of white” palette. Splurge on the Vera Wang–designed Halekulani Suite, which pairs Asian silhouettes with tropical design elements, like coral-print pillows. The House Without A Key restaurant sits in the shade of a 130-year-old kiawe tree, and the adjacent cocktail bar, Earl’s, is a can’t-miss for its beloved coconut-cake martini. 

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay (Princeville, Kauai)
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This LEED-certified resort on the North Shore of Kauai is filled with sustainable touches, like reclaimed teakwood and efficient energy systems. Lush greenery defines the place, visible everywhere from tropical gardens to living walls to green roofs that double as kitchen gardens. The resort’s wellness space includes a medi spa, a hyperbaric chamber, an infrared sauna and even an outdoor gym, so you can exercise surrounded by nature, while 1 Kitchen restaurant sources ingredients from the Garden Island’s ranchers, fishermen and farmers. Even its drink menu is eco-friendly, with organic and biodynamic wines and zero-waste cocktails made with local rum. 

Ko‘a Kea Resort on Po‘ipu Beach (Koloa, Kauai)
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Following a recent renovation, this 121-room boutique property on the southern coast of Kauai leans even harder into its island roots: Wooden headboards are decorated with coral and capiz shells, lanai railings are shaped like tropical leaves and the pool is surrounded by lava rocks and palms. At sunset, tiki torches are lit on the beach, setting the mood for dinner at Red Salt, which is helmed by Kauai native Noelani Planas. By day, on-site activities include lei making and hula performances, or guests can venture farther afield to kayak on one of Hawaii’s only navigable rivers, the Wailua. 

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort (Wailea, Maui)
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Set on 15 waterfront acres with direct access to Maui’s Mokapu Beach, this design-centric property recently celebrated its 10th birthday with a complete overhaul of its 320 guest rooms and suites. Outside, a trio of cascading infinity pools face the ocean, with reservable cabanas for whiling the day away. The ‘Awili Spa & Salon offers traditional Hawaiian lomilomi massages, which rely on long, kneading strokes, while the Ka‘ana Kitchen serves island seafood like ahi tataki with passion fruit and burrata, buttered red crab with onsen eggs, and coconut clams with ulu (breadfruit). 

Montage Kapalua Bay (Lahaina, Maui)
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There may be no resort in Maui better for vegging out in your room than this Montage property near the northwestern tip of the Valley Isle: The smallest room category is a 1,250-square-foot, one-bedroom residence with a full kitchen and separate living and dining rooms, and they go up from there. (Depending on where you’re visiting from, they may be bigger than your apartment back home.) Experiences on the property include morning whale watching, a Mermaid Academy for kids, art workshops and tide-pool tours to commune with the resident hermit crabs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and more. 

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (Kihei, Maui)
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Immortalized as the resort in season one of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” this 383-room hotel is filled with works by artists who have lived in or been inspired by Hawaii, including enormous head sculptures by Jun Kaneko. Guest rooms and suites showcase the Four Seasons’ trademark neutral palette, crisp white bedding and sleek furnishings, and Wolfgang Puck heads up the signature restaurant, Spago, where Hawaiian-influenced dishes include bigeye ahi poke cones. Go big with one of the resort’s over-the-top Unforgettable Experiences, which include a catamaran ride under the stars or a helicopter ride to a Big Island coffee estate. 

Hana-Maui Resort (Hana, Maui)

This tranquil resort sits on Maui’s wild eastern coast, at the southern end of the Road to Hana. Here, 75 acres of tropical oceanfront surround 66 suites, bungalows and villas, each of which comes with a private lanai. Bungalows in particular are full of local flavor, thanks to lots of wood, natural fiber and rope details, set under vaulted ceilings. Be sure to have breakfast at the on-site restaurant, where you can order homey island classics like loco moco (a beef patty, eggs and gravy over rice) and saimin (noodle soup with Spam and fish cakes).

The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort (Waimea, Hawaii)

Overlooking the Island of Hawaii’s Kohala Coast, the Westin rewards those who want to spend all their time outside: splashing around in one of two pools, strolling through manicured gardens or playing a round of golf on an Arnold Palmer–designed course. Rooms take advantage of the impeccable weather with double-entry doors featuring wooden louvers, so you can get some privacy while still enjoying the tropical breeze and sound of crashing waves. Guests also have access to the luau at the sister Mauna Kea Beach Hotel next door, where poi, poke and kalua pig pair perfectly with Native Hawaiian entertainment.