These Honolulu hotels combine luxury with local Hawaiian experiences

Just about every traveler to Hawai‘i will end up in Honolulu at some point, whether you’re just passing through, en route to another island, or plan to stick around and explore O‘ahu. Regardless of the length of your stay, you’ll be met with an overwhelming number of hotels to choose from.

The last thing most visitors to Hawai‘i want is a generic beach hotel. We want to feel like we came and experienced the best of Hawai‘i, with relaxation alongside cultural learning. On a recent trip to O‘ahu, I stayed at three luxury hotels around Honolulu that do just that.

Each hotel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, a curated collection of over 425 luxury properties in more than 80 countries – each with a unique and authentic story to tell. Of these properties, 80% are family-owned, many operated by the same families for generations. Here's an introduction to each of their Hawai‘i properties.

The Kahala Hotel & Resort

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Just around the bend of Diamond Head Crater, you’d never know the Kahala Hotel & Resort is mere minutes from the high-rise resort-lined coastline of Waikiki. It’s a true hideaway, private and serene. The Kahala is timeless yet somehow modern – not only in decoration and amenities but also in Hawaiian hospitality and dedication to cultural advancement. Many famous faces have graced its guestrooms, including the Obamas, Princess Diana and Dolly Parton.

Eat and drink

Order a “Soup and Sandwich” (a chilled tomato soup with grilled cheese and kalua pork), the kalua pig caesar and the Waialua chocolate crunch barat Alan Wong’s, the property’s celebrated fine-dining restaurant. Pair it with a “Bully’s Drink” (a pineapple martini).

Don't miss the signature thin pancakes and bread pudding at the Plumeria Beach House breakfast buffet. What can I say, I’m a breakfast carb connoisseur.

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Learn the arts of making your very own lei (or, in true Hawaiian fashion, gift it to someone else) and Ohe Kapala  – traditional stamps made from bamboo reeds. The Kahala is one of the only hotels that invites Native Hawaiians to come in and teach classes, ensuring guests can invest in the local community while having authentic cultural experiences. The property also invites people from the local community to take these classes at no cost.

Float between pool and beach. The Kahala’s pool sits on an 800ft-long, white-sand beach, which feels quite private, though it isn’t (there are no private beaches in Hawai‘i).

Halekulani

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An elegant oasis in the heart of Waikiki, Halekulani’s unobstructed view of Diamond Head from its oceanfront perch is reason enough that the hotel lives up to its name, which means “House Befitting Heaven.” The property itself is a historic staple in Honolulu, with its earliest iteration opening in 1907. It’s the sort of hotel I couldn’t seem to leave, drifting between my private balcony (all rooms have them), the spacious pool deck, restorative spa and numerous superb dining options.

Eat and drink

The tasting menu at La Mer, Halekulani’s fine-dining restaurant, draws inspiration from the South of France. Each dish is a work of art, like the poached lobster with tomato chutney and vegetables. Also, try the tomato butter on the side of a gorgeous assortment of bread.

The signature Halekulani Coconut Cake from Halekulani Bakery is light, fluffy and not too sweet. You can order it at other restaurants on the property. Want to taste it at home? The recipe has been shared online.

Go early, around 5pm, to secure a seat at the open-air lounge at House Without a Key, which sprawls beneath a nearly 140-year-old kiawe tree. Experience an excellent hula performance with the signature mai tai cocktail while the sun sets. Brook Lee, the only Native Hawaiian to win Miss Universe, is a regular performer.

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Book a treatment in one of the private suites at the newly remodeled SpaHalekulani. I’ve never received a massage so tailored to my needs (sitting at a desk all day will wreck your neck and shoulders, as many of you know).

No matter your skill level, Halekulani’s surfing experts at the Art of Surfing will have you confidently on a board in no time. But first, you’ll learn a bit about the sacred waters where the sport was born (aka, the waters you’re in).

Take a guided dojo session with visiting martial arts master and artist Ray Carbullido. Our group learned basic practices to improve everyday life through movement, breathing and mental exercises – ones I still find myself practicing on the subway platform.

The Halekulani also encourages guests to visit local cultural institutions, with the ability to arrange tours at the Manoa Heritage Center and complimentary access at ‘Iolani Palace, the Honolulu Museum of Art – which, to this New Yorker, felt like a mini Met – and to the Bishop Museum, where you can explore Hawaiian history and culture; it’s filled with fascinating natural history exhibits and memorabilia honoring all of Polynesia. Also check out the hotel’s very own fine-art collection, which features works by celebrated names as well as local artists.

ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki

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Luxury is a fluffy hotel robe and room service, but at the height of it all is total privacy with an entire floor to yourself and 24/7 butler and concierge service. That’s ESPACIO for you. All nine of its 3-bedroom suites (more like apartments) occupy their own floors, overlooking the lively and central Kūhiō Beach. It’s perfect for groups looking for a longer-term stay who want to experience the local lifestyle and culture.

Eat and drink

Tuck into any of the tasting menus (with matching wine pairings) at Mugen. It’s heavy on Japanese influence with plenty of other international flavors. Standouts were the Maine lobster risotto, crispy taro topped with ahi poke, and artful matcha semifreddo for dessert.

Bananas foster French toast for breakfast-time room service. It’s crispy, crunchy, sweet goodness. If you're not big on sweets in the morning, get one for the group to share at the very least. Apple chicken sausage and Kona French press on the side, please.

Treat yourself to a private culinary experience on the rooftop, beside the dreamy infinity pool. Our group did the champagne-and-caviar experience as the sun set over Waikiki – perfection.

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The infinity pool I mentioned above is incredibly special, offering panoramic views over Waikiki with total privacy. Guests can book time slots for the pool deck, as it’s rather intimate up there. My advice: book a Lomi Lomi massage (a traditional Hawaiian technique using rhythmic, wave-like strokes mimicking the ocean) at the spa, located on the same floor, right before your pool session for maximum unwinding.

Take advantage of ESPACIO’s house car service (chauffeured and self-driving) to explore the greater Honolulu area. Guests here also receive complimentary admission and exclusive access at ‘Iolani Palace, the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Bishop Museum.

More recs around Honolulu

Coffee: Skip the major coffee chains and grab an iced latte from the Sunrise Shack (the smoothies and smoothie bowls are also tempting).

Eat: For a casual lunch or dinner, head to Lulu’s for tropical cocktails and a Hawaiian-infused sports bar menu; it’s also a great place to catch a game, with TVs all around. For a more upscale vibe, Roy’s seafood-heavy menu awaits on the Waikiki Beach Walk.

Hike: Around a 30-minute drive from Waikiki, take on one of the best hikes in Hawai‘i, the Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail.

Entertainment: For some nighttime fun, check out ‘Auana, a Cirque du Soleil show packed with mesmerizing stunts – my jaw was either clenched or wide open the entire performance.  If you’re visiting in April, plan your dates around Waikiki SPAM JAM, a fantastic free cultural festival with musical and hula performances, vendors and snacks dedicated to the one and only canned meat product, SPAM. Even if you’re not keen on SPAM, try it at least once. It’s all part of the experience.

Museum: I briefly mentioned it earlier, but definitely sign up for a tour at ‘Iolani Palace, the home of Hawai‘i’s royal family in the 1880s and 1890s, until the government was overthrown by American businessmen assisted by the US government in 1893. I recommend the audio tour so you can explore the rooms at your own pace – including the room where Queen Liliʻuokalani was imprisoned for 8 months – and learn about how Native Hawaiians lost not just their government, but their land, language and sovereignty.

Ann Douglas visited Hawai‘i on the invitation of The Leading Hotels of the World. Lonely Planet does not accept freebies in return for positive coverage.