The Kahala Hotel & Resort

This resort style hotel is perfectly positioned in a private, quiet, peaceful and charming beachside setting conveniently located close to but just far away enough from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. We stayed for four nights in a spacious suite overlooking the magnificent golf course and mountain views with the added bonus of sea views from the side of the large balcony. The room was very well furnished and equipped and cleaned to a meticulous standard. The hotel very kindly and efficiently accommodated our request for early access to the room as we had arrived very early from a cruise that disembarked in Honolulu. The establishment exudes a charm and quality from yesteryear and has real historical aspects to it. For the most part the staff are very friendly, polite and helpful. There is a very useful courtesy shuttle bus available for guests use but one of the drivers is not so friendly and is rude and very disinterested in the customer experience. The complex has everything you would need including shops and a small convenience store, but we felt that the range of dining to be limited and geared towards local patrons use rather than prioritising hotel guests. For three of our four nights stay our preferred dining establishments were either fully booked or given over to expensive 'theme dinners' which appeared to be for the general public benefit and enjoyment, at the expense of in-house guests. This was a frustrating and disappointing aspect of our stay and spoilt our experience. Whilst we enjoyed the overall ambiance and relaxing aspect of our stay, there were a couple of other niggling issues that could have been addressed: the rather antiquated and noisy air conditioning unit in the bedroom (which became an annoying disturbance to sleep quality with its loud on/off action) and, the limited availability of shaded areas for sunbathing around the pool and 'beach garden' areas (which for a hotel of this size was sadly lacking). If the aforementioned issues (including those of dining prioritisation to in-house guests and the grumpy shuttle bus driver) were improved upon, this would elevate the hotel to a much higher standard. On a final point, and it is something that always leaves an impression: it does not take anything from a staff member to ask you 'how was your stay' when you settle up your room account and leave the keys. In this instance, no such question was asked of us!

Firstly I will start by saying we have genuinely loved The Kahala over many years, however with approx 1,000 contributions on Trip Advisor I like to hopefully provide constructive feedback, vs the resort favourites with 3 contributions. It's great to highlight the good but as a leader surely you want to hear the areas of improvement? Having staying here many many times over the last 10+yrs it is a shame my feedback on the terrible buffet breakfast is always met with "thanks for the feedback, we will look into it and review to do better". Hands down the worst buffet breakfast globally for a 5 start resort at these prices for accommodation. Simply ridiculous how poor it is including how limited the selection is but again, this will fall on deaf ears. *the service staff as always are a 10 and this isn't on the staff. Prices here in general keep going up, and that's fine, yet it is at the cost of guest's experiences. So the staff (below senior management) are truly special and world class, doing their best whilst clearly under staffed. Prime example is the seaside grill/pool bar and restaurant. Historically you would have pool side service including a buzzer similar as you'd find in many Tokyo restaurants where you select to order food, or drinks, or get the cheque. This is all gone, as are the more comfortable pool side chairs with cushioned seats which now are only via a paid price. I heard another couple arrive and say "let's sit by the pool as I want the service", they later said "let's go I'm not waiting an hour". I asked one of the pool staff "do you no longer do pool side service" to be told he was so sorry (not his fault one bit) as they are so busy servicing the seaside grill but would try to come by - they never were able to. Food by the pool took a ridiculous amount of time inc a side of fries took 80mins. *this was same every day, not a one off. So prices have increased, while clearly staff have been cut back on which is sadly typical and sure that's a business decisiom but at the cost of your guests experience will show soon enough. I hate to say, after so many visits, I now doubt we will return. Again this will fa of deaf ears as history proves. *Huge shout out to the day to day staff who are exceptional and are keeping The Kahala alive - for now......

The Kahala Hotel & Resort was, without question, the perfect weekend getaway. From the moment we arrived, it felt as though we had been transported to another world—peaceful, luxurious, and completely removed from the busyness of everyday life. What truly made our stay exceptional was the incredible attention to detail and the genuine hospitality of every staff member. We felt valued and cared for every step of the way. From the thoughtful birthday surprise of champagne and cupcakes delivered to our room to the outstanding service provided by the front desk, housekeeping, pool attendants, servers, and food and beverage team, every interaction was warm, welcoming, and memorable. The Kahala doesn't just provide a beautiful place to stay—it creates an experience where guests feel truly seen, appreciated, and celebrated. We left feeling refreshed, grateful, and already looking forward to our next visit.

I love this hotel. I almost hesitated to write this review because I worry it will become even busier than it already is. What I appreciate most is its unique combination of convenience and seclusion. It is just minutes from Whole Foods and an excellent shopping center which is perfect for picking up food and supplies for kid, yet it feels like a private retreat. The hotel has its own quiet beach with beautiful views of the nearby mountains, creating a peaceful atmosphere that feels far removed from the city. The property blends old-world luxury with modern touches. The overall vibe is relaxed and understated, and the crowd tends to be older, perhaps because of the golf amenities. I think this hotel is especially well-suited for families. Dolphins regularly swim through the lagoon near the pools, which is a memorable experience for both adults and children. There is a small children's pool, and the beach offers calm waters that are ideal for kids to play in safely. Breakfast was outstanding and was included with our stay through the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts benefit. We stayed in a suite without an ocean view, but it offered beautiful mountain views instead. The balcony was enormous. It was large enough for my kids to have their own dance party. The spacious jetted bathtub and Toto toilet were thoughtful luxury touches that we appreciated. The furniture was somewhat dated, though still tasteful and well-maintained. If there is one area for improvement, it would be updating some of the furnishings. The main restaurant can become very busy, so expect some delays with valet service during peak dinner hours. Overall, this hotel delivers an experience that exceeds its four-star rating in my opinion. Between the beautiful setting, family-friendly amenities, and relaxed atmosphere, it is a property I would gladly return to.

Amazing staff members providing very kind, attentive services. Kahala beach is at the doorstep of the hotel- it is not a private beach but it feels like one, never crowded, a world of difference from madness of Wikiki. In such nice secluded location with dolphin lagoons and a pool, it is incredibly beautiful and relaxing place - we could easily Uber our way to USS Arizona and Ala Moana mall. Although we didn't use it, they also offer free shuttle service to Kahala Mall and Ala Moana. Highly recommended! If you book a month or earlier, they give 30% off (driectly on their website), which would be in $400s for the cheapest option - and no resort fee, a great deal for a 5-star hotel in Hawaii!

From the moment we talked by phone to Cynthia in Reservations (a real person not AI!) about what would be the perfect room, to Preston who checked us in, to every server, and pool attendant, valet, and room attendant, the service was perfect. And it’s genuine. None of that pretense of “we care” when they don’t found at too many resorts. Here they DO care and work hard to make your stay memorable. The perfect service, matches the facilities which are also without flaw. We enjoyed a seventh floor room overlooking the pounding surf and the pristine beach. There is nothing more that one could want in a beautiful Hawaiian stay. The room is immaculate. The linens are crisp. The towels are plentiful. Fresh water bottles and even a toothbrush kit are provided. The shower hot and the water spray powerful. Small thing yes but they say much about the hotel and the attention to detail. Nothing was out of date which for a 60 year-old building seems remarkable. It is a testament to the management and ownership. The beach is kept immaculate. We had no trouble securing lounge chairs and an umbrella. We did so in the middle of the day when it would typically be too late at most resorts. And lastly, there is the location. The hotel sits east of Diamondhead - a location takes you away from the hub and the bub of Waikiki. It is peaceful. It is a wonderful place to vacation.

Absolutely amazing resort. Just on the other side of Diamond Head from Honolulu so it is close to everything, but away from the crowds of Waikiki. So quiet and peaceful. It has an amazing beach and reef, but the beach is always empty. The most people we ever saw on it was a group of 5 people. Rooms are great, staff is very friendly and helpful. We had an ocean view lanai room and the view was amazing. Ocean to the front, Coco Head to the left and Diamond Head to the right. The restaurants are wonderful and varied, but they are busy so be sure to make reservations. .

Best spa on the island! I have tried the most recommended ones and this the the one I keep going back to and recommending to others. Even better that it isn’t all the way on the west side. Jamie is so kind and helpful for questions and reservations. They pay attention to your intake form and remember your preferences. Sayuri is an excellent masseuse and aesthetician. I asked for deep pressure but not pain. When she found knots in my shoulders she stretched and moved my shoulders to release the tension rather than painfully going to town on the knot, which takes skill and knowledge of anatomy. My husband had Ryuko as his masseuse he asked for medium pressure and loved his massage. He appreciated her talking through the steps of his facial as well. They also have a great Kama’aina discount and monthly specials.

Sayuri was professional, kind, and so effective. She maintained the “moderate” level of pressure I requested and yet I know the massage was effective because I was just a tad sore later. She opened up muscle tissue that needed attention. I loved the scalp massage and heated eye mask I added on to the 60 minute custom massage. I fell asleep and woke up feeling clearheaded and relaxed. Get the CBD lemongrass. Costs extra but it’s worth it.