The Kahala Hotel & Resort

The Kahala is about 20 minutes from Waikiki but it feels words away. It is situated on a cove that is mostly quiet . Service and traditional elegance are A Plus. We were greeted with cold towels and leis upon check in. Staff upgraded us to a very large lagoon view room that overlooked Dolphin Cove. It was a pleasure to watch them daily. (They are a part of the Dolphin Quest Program). Rooms have Nespresso coffee makers and all kinds of amenities. We went to three restaurants on property all were great. Valet and self parking are the same rate. This hotel is a bit off the beaten path. An historic golf course is next door along with many high end homes. Because of the golf course green parrots abound. If you don’t need to be in the hustle bustle this gem of a hotel is for you.

We had a wonderful stay at The Kahala and would definitely return. The customer service was truly top-notch from start to finish. The staff was attentive without being overwhelming, and we never had to search for help—whether at the beach or in the restaurants, someone was always available. The small touches really stood out, from nightly turndown service to having extra water, umbrellas, and beach towels readily available. The room was very comfortable. The beds were great, water pressure was excellent, and everything was extremely clean. I also appreciated having a tea kettle in the room, which was a nice personal touch. Breakfast was excellent, and every restaurant we tried delivered a great experience. Even with several rainy days during our stay, we still had a relaxing and enjoyable time. One of the biggest advantages of this property is its location. If you’re looking for a quieter, more relaxed experience in Honolulu, this is a great choice. It’s a nice contrast to Waikiki, which can feel crowded and busy. The Kahala offers a much more peaceful atmosphere. There were a few minor drawbacks. The exterior of the hotel could use some updating—the arrival experience doesn’t quite give a “wow” first impression. However, the lobby is beautiful once inside. The rooms are semi-updated and lean more traditional than modern in style. I also would have preferred a larger TV, and the coffee setup in the bathroom felt a bit awkward. Additionally, we did notice cats roaming around the restaurant and beach areas, which wasn’t ideal for us. We had one minor service issue with a bellhop who wasn’t very friendly, but aside from that, the staff was exceptional. Overall, this is a beautiful, well-run resort with excellent service and a relaxing atmosphere. I would absolutely recommend it and look forward to returning—next time, I would likely book an ocean view room instead of the mountain/golf view.

Amazing stay. Exceptional service, beautiful beach, and great access to anywhere on the island. Highly recommend for families with young and older kids (9, 12, 14 with us). Restaurants are good and decent price point relative to elsewhere on the island. Staff and housekeepers pamper you. Spotless rooms and grounds. All amenities were great. Rental car onsite was super convenient and a lot cheaper than airport. Beach snack shack great for drinks and lunch. Felt like a vacation and easy to unplug. Easy drive to Kailua Beach, Sandy, or Ala Moana as well as restaurants and hikes. Blessed to have spent time here.

We had an extraordinary stay at the Kahala back in 2018 and did not consider any other hotel for our recent trip to Oahu. We had a similar, if not better, experience during our March 2026 visit. From the grand entrance with the exquisite chandeliers, luxurious accommodations, friendly and helpful staff, and secluded but convenient location, the Kahala is the definition of paradise on earth. Once again, we had an ocean front room with lanai, which overlooked Dolphin Quest. Between the soothing sounds of the ocean and watching the dolphins before and after Dolphin Quest, we could not help but be completely and truly relaxed. We also had another good experience with the photo session with Pacific Dream Photography. It is pricey, but worth every penny to have beautiful, professionally taken memories. The only “disappointment” of the trip, and I use that word very lightly, is the Kahala’s addicting version of Malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts covered in Li Hing) were only served at the weekend breakfast buffet and had run out of them before we arrived. To compensate, they took a percentage off the bill. I cannot say enough good things about the Resort. While pricey, it is worth every penny. I would highly recommend the Kahala to anyone planning a trip to Oahu.

My sister and I stayed for a short Ukulele retreat in March. Just after the Kona low storms. Unfortunately the ocean was a no go, but their pool is nice and they have a convenient pool bar right next door. All the catered food was delicious and the restaurants look amazing. There are vegan options too. We were most impressed with the staff, everyone in Including the maid service were very kind and helpful. The location is perfect being south of Waikiki, nice and quiet.

What truly stood out during my stay was the incredible kindness of the staff. From the moment I arrived at the entrance to the staff I met by the pool and even the housekeeping team in the hallways, everyone was welcoming and genuinely friendly. It made the whole experience feel very warm and personal. I especially appreciated the small gesture of being given chocolates during my stay — it was such a cute and thoughtful touch that made me even happier. The facilities were also very satisfying. The hotel has its own beautiful beachfront, which made the stay feel even more special and relaxing. Although the pool was a bit small, it didn’t really matter because everything else about the hotel was so enjoyable. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I would definitely love to come back again.

While the weather didn't cooperate, the staff and the hotel did as much as they could to make sure we had as good a time as possible. The hotel has over a 60 year history and has been able to maintain a standard of quality that's certainly unmatched on the south-shore of Oahu. It's not cheap, but if you are thinking of staying at the Kahala, you must know that already. We were on a family "stay-cation" so we were able to take advantage of local rates, but it was still a major luxury holiday for us. It's a kind of "unrefined" luxurious hotel, where comfort and aloha are premium. We'll return someday and we hope they are able to maintain an old-school Hawaiian feel that welcomes everyone.

Our trip to Oahu was unfortunate. There was a massive storm the night before we arrived, which knocked out the power to the hotel. They have some generators, but they are not enough to restore A/C, or the elevators, or most of the restaurants (there's only 1 restaurant to begin with that the hotel owns, the Italian one is on their property but not related to the hotel). This is hardly adequate for a hotel of their size. We asked for a rollaway bed for one of our rooms and it took 5 phone calls and/or visits to the front desk to get this delivered, on the second night. There are no ice makers on the floors, or lobby, you have to ask housekeepin gand wait for it. The housekeeping team was very good, FWIW. It was unbearably hot to stay there w/o AC which made it difficult to sleep. There's ceiling fans in each room, but they don't do much - on the highest power they are not very fast. No additional fans were offered. The hotel is nice enough, and quiet. But for what you pay, I expect better service and updated amenities. The gym was large and well equipped. The pool and hot tub are a little gross and in need of repair. The whole place felt dated.

We arrived Monday, March 15th after the Kona Low came in and the resort did not have air conditioning and were running on the generators. All of the resort staff were absolutely wonderful during the inconvenience. Both Nandi and Reiko worked to get us a better room, so we had more of a breeze. We were given fans and extra water was always brought in our room The housekeeping kept the rooms fresh daily. The air was restored and we are still enjoying the same superb service. We definitely would come back to this resort.

Great hotel and resort. It is a little bit far from Waikiki, and there are no sidewalks to walk to the Kahala mall. So you will need a car. We used the shuttle to travel to Ala Moana and Waikiki, and it was very convenient and easy to get back and forth. We were able to save on parking fees at the hotel. They have a rental car option right in the lobby, so you can rent the car for one or two days. The room is excellent. The staff are great. The beach is amazing. It is a great place to stay.

My wife and I have stayed here about 5 times in the last 4 years and were gifted a Staycation weekend by our son and daughter-in-law. The reservation was for a two bed room (due to my "alleged" snoring) with a balcony, but instead we were assigned a single King bed room. We tried to call the front desk before bringing in our luggage, but the phone died (room 622). Even the bellman bringing our luggage could not get the phone to work - suspect the battery was dying. When we returned to the front desk to get the room we reserved, the clerk was unusually "cool" as we have always had such great service and when his colleague asked what was the problem, told his colleague "the guest is not happy with the room". The CORRECT response would be the guest is not happy with the WRONG room provided. This is a small point, but is definitively uncharacteristic of the service we had experienced in the past. The clerk did provide us an upgraded ocean view room but WITHOUT a balcony as requested in the reservation. We went for a cocktail at the Plumeria bar and we treated, and entertained, well by Aaron and Steve. When going to the pool area with our son, daughter-in-law (who gifted us this Staycation weekend) and two grandkids (age 3 and 5), we were told ONLY registered guests were allowed poolside and our son and his family would have to remain on the public beach. Fortunately, Jock at the front desk said there was only one person listed for our room despite registering two of us staying in the room, but was able to get everyone "registered" so we could all enjoy the pool. He mentioned the poolside database was not the same as his, which may have contributed to the issue of only one guest in our room - and said to tell the pool attendants to call the front desk if there was any problem. . Despite relaying the pool attendants all this information, we were approached at least FIVE times by different attendants asking if we were guests of the hotel. Once they asked that we allow a red wristband on the 5 year old grandson. The fifth person finally said with the upcoming shift change, he recommended all of us wear a red wristband. Not sure why the hotel simply doesn't issue red wristbands at check-in with a request we wear them poolside. We did order food from the poolside bar, and as before really enjoyed the Kahala burger and fries (excellent fries). A club sandwich was also very tasty. Despite all this, the hotel remains a favorite of ours and we will return!

In Hawaii 'Kahala" infers an abundance and connection to the land and to the water. This hotel has been nurturing that connection for years and it always offers abundant hospitality. We live in Hawaii and when we wish for rest and renewal, we make a reservation at the Kahala. An amazing massage, a lovely room with views of the mountains and the seas, the dolphins entertaining us with their enthusiasm to show off and relate to the staff and guests, and the service we experience at the hotel always remind us of the special spirit of Aloha. Mahalo to all at the Kahala!