O‘ahu’s most well-known tourist destination was once a playground for Hawaiian royalty and was originally built on swampland. Today, visitors and locals alike enjoy its turquoise waters from sunup to sundown. The area is home to the majority of the state’s hotels and resorts, from funky retro stays to ultraluxe accommodations.
Iconic Diamond Head overlooks this famous stretch of beach on O‘ahu’s south shore, which is home to world-class shopping, resorts for all types of travelers, and year-round fun in the sun. PHOTO BY IJFKE RIDGLEY
Elvis Presley introduced Hawai‘i to America through his movies, music, and concerts from the mid-1950s to 1970. He adored the Aloha State, and the Hilton Hawaiian Village was his hotel of choice when visiting.
Jams World (jamsworld.com) has been a Made in Hawai‘i favorite for 60 years. Their lightweight, breezy resortwear in vibrant colors and tropical prints is perfect for the islands. Ala Moana Center (alamoanacenter.com), the largest open-air shopping center in the world, is one of the islands’ best destinations for classic brands and the latest fashion-forward arrivals. It also boasts a quartet of top department stores—Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom—as well as some new stores making their mark, including Alo Yoga, Kahulale‘a,Yeti, Cartier, Marc Jacobs and Zegna. At the International Market Place (shopinternationalmarketplace.com), you’ll discover myriad stores not found elsewhere in the islands—think Christian Louboutin, OndadeMar, Balenciaga, and so much more. Resort-chic boutiques worth visiting include Mahina (shopmahina.com) and Tahitian-inspired Eimeo (eimeoclothing.com). Look no further than Aloha Collection (alohacollection.com) for waterproof island-inspired accessories, while beach babes hit San Lorenzo Bikinis (sanlorenzohawaii.com) for stylish and trendy beachwear. For uber-luxe retail, Luxury Row (luxuryrow.com) offers Miu Miu, Moncler, Saint Laurent, Chanel and more, all just steps from each other.
Some of Hawai‘i’s popular and most successful local brands are carried at House of Mana Up (houseofmanaup.com) in the Royal Hawaiian Center, the go-to stop for souvenir shopping. Mana Up is an economic development initiative to bring opportunity and growth to local consumer brands.
The over-the-top Sparkling Sunday Brunch buffet at Orchids in the Halekulani Hotel (halekulani.com) is a decadent spread of handmade sushi, fresh seafood, carving stations and baked treats. Forever-favorite Duke’s Waikīkī in the Outrigger Beach Resort (dukeswaikiki.com) is one of the only places in town to have a drink on the beach with toes in the sand. Take in the tourist and surfer crowd with a tiki cocktail from the kitschy bamboo bar. Enjoy the sunset over micheladas at breezy Mexican bar and resto Búho Cocina y Cantina (buhocantina.com). Hit the rooftop lounge at SKY Waikiki (skywaikiki.com) for moonlight drinks and dancing. At Blue Note Hawai‘i (bluenotehawaii.com), you’ll find an eclectic variety of performers nearly every night. By far the most popular udon place in town, Marugame Udon (marugameudon.com), always has a line around the block. The LGBTQ+-friendly Wang Chung’s Karaoke Bar (wangchungs.com) is always guaranteed to be a good time with killer bar snacks and a mean margarita. Inventive, modern French dining with vegetarian options by chef Nae Ogawa is served at NatuRe (naturewaikiki.com) is a hidden gem. For an upscale ode to seafood, Umi by Vikram Garg (umibyvikramgarg.com) is always a treat, while Lewers Lounge in the neighboring Halekulani Hotel (halekulani.com) is a great post-dinner drink stop for cocktails and jazz music.
Waikīkī has embraced its midcentury modern past with a slew of hotels renovated back to their retro-kitsch glory, and many have charming watering holes to match. In-the-know crowds also head to White Sands Hotel (whitesandshotel.com) to the Hey Day poolside bar kitted out with bamboo swings, or its hidden Green Lady speakeasy for well-made cocktails set in a tiki-kitsch outdoor area. Lost and Found is the newest bar in the Wayfinder Waikiki (wayfinderwaikiki.com), set next to one of the best pools in Waikīkī. Mahina and Suns (mahinaandsuns.com) serves chef Ed Leong’s local food with a twist in the hotel’s funky lobby, while Hideout at Laylow Waikiki (hideoutwaikiki.com) is the place for cocktails and live music on their outdoor deck.
Those looking to overcome jet lag or boost their immunity should head to Drip Hawai‘i (driphawaii.com) in the ‘Alohilani Resort, Waikīkī’s premier IV lounge and wellness center offering customized IV drips and vitamin shots. Guests of the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort (outriggerwaikikihotel.com) can take stand-up paddleboard yoga classes directly in front of the property with Yoga Floats (yogafloats.com), which also offers classes to nonguests at its Ala Moana Beach Park location. Popular Waialae Avenue yoga studio Yoga Under the Palms (yogaunderthepalms.com) lives up to its name with its Waikīkī location outside next to Queen’s Beach. Star Beachboys (starbeachboys.com) may not have a beach stand, but they have been family-run for over 40 years by an original Beach Boy and the go-to experts for surf and outrigger canoe surfing lessons.
Friday evening, dozens of sailboats hit the seas to cruise past Waikīkī toward Diamond Head before the weekly Friday fireworks. Join any number of catamaran tour boats that launch from Waikīkī Beach to enjoy a sunset sail of your own.
Waikīkī’s favorite ultraluxe retreat, Halekulani Hotel (halekulani.com), recently underwent a yearlong renovation addressing everything from the physical infrastructure to the decor. Rooms were refreshed with its signature “seven shades of white” aesthetic, and you can once again enjoy hula and the sunset at the resort’s classic restaurant, House Without a Key. Head to the ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach (alohilani.com) for a modern oasis in the heart of it all with an outstanding rooftop pool area. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach (ritzcarlton.com/waikiki) blends the conveniences of a hotel and the comfort of a residence, plus the highest infinity pool in Waikīkī. The trendy Kaimana Beach Hotel (kaimana.com) is a favorite for its exclusive location on the sand of Kaimana Beach, with a beachside restaurant and unbeatable ocean views.
A new hotel duo is the latest in Waikīkī stays to get a makeover. By day, head to Romer Waikiki at The Ambassador (romerhotels.com) to enjoy their new Instgram-worthy retro-cool pool deck and recently opened Favorite Son restaurant, a casual-chic deli-meets-diner bar. By night, adults only are welcome at Romer House Waikiki (romerhotels.com), which boasts laid-back Japanese eatery Izakaya 855-ALOHA, swanky interiors, and a decidedly sexy vibe.
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