Where to stay · Honolulu · United States
Where to stay in Honolulu
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Waikīkī. Beachfront hotels, surf lessons and Kalākaua Avenue under Diamond Head.
Key facts
- First visit
- Waikīkī
- Families
- Waikīkī
- Nightlife
- Waikīkī
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Waikīkī | Beachfront hotels, surf lessons and Kalākaua Avenue under Diamond Head |
| Families | Waikīkī | Beachfront hotels, surf lessons and Kalākaua Avenue under Diamond Head |
| Couples | Kahala | Quiet beachfront homes and a resort hotel east of Diamond Head |
| Luxury | Kahala | Quiet beachfront homes and a resort hotel east of Diamond Head |
| Nightlife | Waikīkī | Beachfront hotels, surf lessons and Kalākaua Avenue under Diamond Head |
| Food lovers | Ala Moana and Kakaʻako | A giant open-air mall, a locals' beach park and street-art warehouses |
| Shopping | Ala Moana and Kakaʻako | A giant open-air mall, a locals' beach park and street-art warehouses |
| Quiet stays | Kahala | Quiet beachfront homes and a resort hotel east of Diamond Head |
| Beach | Waikīkī | Beachfront hotels, surf lessons and Kalākaua Avenue under Diamond Head |
Honolulu neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, beach, families and nightlife
Waikīkī
A strip of hotels about 3 km long between the Ala Wai Canal and the sea, Waikīkī has most of Honolulu's accommodation, from the Moana Surfrider of 1901 and the pink Royal Hawaiian to simpler hotels a few blocks back. Kalākaua Avenue runs along the beach with shops and restaurants, Kapiʻolani Park and Diamond Head close the eastern end, and the water is gentle enough for beginner surfers.
- Good
- Beach, restaurants and tours on the doorstep; Huge range of hotels; Walkable and lively in the evening
- Watch out
- Crowded and commercial; Resort and parking fees add up
- Nearby
- Diamond Head, Kapiʻolani Park, Kūhiō Beach, Honolulu Zoo
$$$ · Best for shopping, food lovers and families
Ala Moana and Kakaʻako
West of Waikīkī, Ala Moana has the huge open-air Ala Moana Center and Ala Moana Beach Park, the calm-water city beach that locals use. Next door, Kakaʻako has turned warehouses into a district of street murals, breweries, food halls and new high-rises around Ward Village. Hotels are fewer and can be better value than beachfront Waikīkī, which is about 10 minutes away by bus.
- Good
- Calm, local beach park; Excellent shopping and food halls; Closer to downtown than Waikīkī
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels; Busy roads between the beach and the mall
- Nearby
- Ala Moana Center, Ala Moana Beach Park, Kakaʻako murals, Ward Village
$$ · Best for culture, nightlife and food lovers
Downtown and Chinatown
Honolulu's historic centre holds ʻIolani Palace, the State Capitol, the gilded Kamehameha I statue and the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum. Next to it, Chinatown has lei stands on Maunakea Street, the Oʻahu Market, dim sum restaurants and the city's best cocktail bars along Hotel Street and Nuʻuanu Avenue. There are few hotels, and the streets away from the bars empty out in the evening.
- Good
- History and culture within walking distance; Lively bar and restaurant scene; Lower prices than Waikīkī
- Watch out
- Very few hotels; Some streets feel rough after dark; No beach nearby
- Nearby
- ʻIolani Palace, Kamehameha I statue, Foster Botanical Garden, Hawaii Theatre
$$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and couples
Kahala
East of Diamond Head, Kahala is an upscale residential area of large beachfront homes, home to the Kahala Hotel & Resort and a quiet, reef-sheltered beach. It feels far from Waikīkī's crowds yet is about 15 minutes away by car, with Kahala Mall and the restaurants of Kaimukī's Waiʻalae Avenue nearby.
- Good
- Peaceful and exclusive; Closer to Hanauma Bay than Waikīkī; Calm, uncrowded beach
- Watch out
- Very limited hotel choice; Need a car or taxi to get around
- Nearby
- Diamond Head, Kahala Beach, Kaimukī, Hanauma Bay
$$$ · Best for beach, families and quiet stays
Kailua
On the windward coast, about 30 minutes over the Pali Highway from downtown, Kailua is a relaxed beach town with soft sand, turquoise water, kayak trips to the offshore Nā Mokulua islets and neighbouring Lanikai. Accommodation is mostly in a limited number of licensed vacation rentals and B&Bs, so book early.
- Good
- Among Oʻahu's loveliest beaches; Small-town atmosphere; Good cafés and shops
- Watch out
- Few legal places to stay; A car is close to essential
- Nearby
- Kailua Beach, Lanikai Beach, Lanikai Pillbox trail, Kāneʻohe Bay
$$$ · Best for beach, couples and quiet stays
North Shore
Oʻahu's North Shore is a famous surf coast, with huge winter waves at Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach, and calm swimming in summer. The old plantation town of Haleʻiwa has shave ice, surf shops and food trucks, and Turtle Bay Resort sits at the eastern end. It is about an hour from Honolulu.
- Good
- World-class surf watching in winter; Laid-back country feel; Excellent food trucks
- Watch out
- An hour from Honolulu's sights; Dangerous winter swimming conditions; Limited accommodation
- Nearby
- Haleʻiwa, Waimea Bay, Banzai Pipeline, Turtle Bay
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury and beach
Ko Olina
On Oʻahu's dry, sunny west side, about 40 minutes from Waikīkī, Ko Olina is a gated resort area built around four man-made lagoons with calm, reef-protected water. It holds large resorts including Disney's Aulani and a Four Seasons, and suits families and couples who want a resort stay rather than city life.
- Good
- Calm lagoons ideal for small children; Sunnier and drier than the east of the island; Self-contained resort facilities
- Watch out
- Far from Honolulu's sights and restaurants; Expensive, with little outside the resorts
- Nearby
- Ko Olina lagoons, Aulani, Ko Olina Marina, Kapolei
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Waikīkī | $$$$ | Diamond Head, Kapiʻolani Park, Kūhiō Beach, Honolulu Zoo |
| Ala Moana and Kakaʻako | $$$ | Ala Moana Center, Ala Moana Beach Park, Kakaʻako murals, Ward Village |
| Downtown and Chinatown | $$ | ʻIolani Palace, Kamehameha I statue, Foster Botanical Garden, Hawaii Theatre |
| Kahala | $$$$ | Diamond Head, Kahala Beach, Kaimukī, Hanauma Bay |
| Kailua | $$$ | Kailua Beach, Lanikai Beach, Lanikai Pillbox trail, Kāneʻohe Bay |
| North Shore | $$$ | Haleʻiwa, Waimea Bay, Banzai Pipeline, Turtle Bay |
| Ko Olina | $$$$ | Ko Olina lagoons, Aulani, Ko Olina Marina, Kapolei |
Getting to your hotel
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is about 15 km from Waikīkī. Taxis and ride-hailing take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic, and shared shuttles serve the hotels. TheBus runs to Waikīkī, but large suitcases are not allowed on board.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Honolulu for first-time visitors?
Waikīkī. A strip of hotels about 3 km long between the Ala Wai Canal and the sea, Waikīkī has most of Honolulu's accommodation, from the Moana Surfrider of 1901 and the pink Royal Hawaiian to simpler hotels a few blocks back.
+Where should families stay in Honolulu?
Waikīkī: Beach, restaurants and tours on the doorstep.