Where to Stay: Luxury Options Abound in Honolulu

by Nicholas Gill

While it would seem that the most exciting new hotel designs left Honolulu for elsewhere on Oahu and Maui decades ago, the sophistication of the “urban Hawaii” is revolutionizing the way we look at the island chain. Even Nobu and Tiffany’s have moved in. Here are three options for Waikiki chic:

If Money is No Object: Halekulani
Starting Price: $410
For almost a hundred years the Halekulani has sat smack dab in the middle of Waikiki beach facing Diamond Head and been the favored choice for many upper-crusters, but the recent renovations and additions are what are luring travelers away from the North Shore. While the standard rooms are elegantly defined by personalized amenities, marble vanities and flat screens, the suites will rival any hotel room in the islands. Period. The latest is the $7,200 a night Vera Wang suite, designed by Ms. Wang herself. The 2,135 square foot suite comes with an additional 642 square foot oceanside lanai, hand picked furniture from around the Pacific, a “Vera’s favorites” movie library, private butler service and the a array of Vera Wang china, silverware and bath accessories. Dwarfing that is the recently renovated Royal Suite, a 4,066 square foot gem of Pan-Asian décor that has been brought into the new millennium with plasma and wireless TVs and a wraparound lanai.

Smart Luxury Pick: Wyland Waikiki
Starting Price: $165
If the Wyland Waikiki were on the beach, it would be quadruple the price. But everyone knows that the best beaches in Oahu are small, isolated spots with no resorts in sight—not Waikiki—so trade that ocean view for a better room and drive to the east and north shores during the day. The Wyland is everything you couldn’t find in Honolulu a decade ago: a chic, sophisticated boutique hotel with trendy amenities that resemble a hip Tokyo lounge more than an overpriced resort. Inspired by the art of ocean artist Wyland, the hotel is a virtual museum of sorts with the largest collection of his paintings and sculptures of marine life. The 408 rooms, set in dark woods, are ripe with extras like iPod docking stations, HD TVs and private lanais, as is the ground floor’s chill room with massage chairs, fresh and salt water pools and a reading room with ocean themed books.

Smart Family Pick: Hilton Hawaiian Village
Starting Price: $249
There’s little wonder the Hilton Hawaiian Village was named one of the top ten hotels for families by Parenting magazine. Spread out on 22 acres of Waikiki beachfront, the hotel is a city of sorts, with a few dozen restaurants, almost a hundred shops, its own bars, a museum quality art collection and five pools. The biggest plus is the Rainbow Express Keiki Club, the hotel’s children’s program featuring an array of fun and secretly educational activities like shell hunting, fishing, lei-making, hula dancing, boogie boarding, ukulele lessons, snorkeling lessons and nature walks. Wildlife on the grounds, like penguins, turtles and Ibis, are fed at scheduled times so families can watch and even join in.