The 5 Best Hotels for Families on Oʻahu
If you’re looking for family-friendly accommodations, here are the five that topped our 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards.
When booking a family vacation, it’s important to choose a hotel that everyone can enjoy. With stellar accommodations and ample on-site activities, these five family hotels on Oʻahu topped the list of our 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards.
1. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Since 2011, Disney’s Aulani Resort has provided families with unforgettable memories. Start the day at Aunty’s Breakfast Celebration at the Makahiki, a breakfast buffet experience complete with character photos and interactions. Later, kids ages 3 to 12 can meet up at Aunty’s Beach House, a supervised 5,200-square-foot kids club featuring activities centered around Hawaiian culture, art and music. The whole family will enjoy taking a dip in the Waikolohe Pool and Stream, which features a tunnel body slide, lazy river and rapids. Then, head over to Mama’s Snack Stop for a quick bite poolside. Menu options such as fish and chips, chicken tenders and fries are sure to please the whole family. Dry off in the Pau Hana Room, where you can learn to play the ʻukulele or sign up for the Menehune Adventure Trail, a free high-tech scavenger hunt throughout the resort. Don’t forget to make time for Ka Waʻa, Aulani’s signature lūʻau show to end a magical day. 92-1185 Aliʻinui Drive, Kapolei, (866) 443-4763, disneyaulani.com
2. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
The Waikīkī Starlight Lūʻau at the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a Waikīkī mainstay, featuring live music, a group hula lesson, hula and fire knife dancers, and a locally sourced feast of kālua pig, grilled chicken, Hawaiian fried rice and more. Families can choose from six swimming pools and take a ride on the longest water slide in Waikīkī. Camp Penguin, the hotel’s program for guests ages 5 to 12, gives kids the opportunity to embark on half-day and full-day excursions to nearby educational sites, such as the Honolulu Zoo, Bishop Museum, Waikīkī Aquarium and Children’s Waikīkī Center. Before you end your stay, don’t miss the weekly Friday night fireworks off Waikiki Beach at 7:45. 2005 Kalia Road, (808) 949-4321, hiltonhawaiianvillage.com
3. Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikīkī Beach Walk
You can forget about the hassle of car rentals and ride-sharing apps at this convenient Waikīkī hotel. Attractions like Waikīkī Beach, the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Honolulu Zoo, Waikikī Aquarium and International Market Place are all within walking distance. In the morning, guests can enjoy a free made-to-order breakfast, replete with a breakfast bar and a cook-to-order omelet station, then indulge in complimentary small plates and drinks at the nightly evening reception. Spend a day sunbathing on the Grand Lānai, with a heated pool, children’s pool and hot tub, or head over to the activities desk to rent a bike or a watercraft at the beach. 201 Beachwalk St., (808) 921-2345, embassysuiteswaikiki.com
4. Hale Koa Hotel
This hotel has accommodated military members and their families since 1975, and continues to entertain guests with eight dining and drink options, a newly renovated pool with two slides and immersive on-site activities. The free hourlong Hale Koa Hotel garden tour introduces guests to 72 acres of sustainable gardens. More than a dozen local artisans and crafters sell handmade products in the Maile Tower Lobby three times a week, and hula lessons open to all ages are offered twice a week right on hotel grounds. Of course, no stay at the Hale Koa Hotel is complete without a visit to the lūʻau dinner and show. (The Hale Koa is a retreat for qualifying military members and their families.) 2055 Kalia Road, (808) 955-0555 or (800) 367-6027, halekoa.com
SEE ALSO: There’s More Than a New Pool Complex at the Hale Koa Hotel on Oʻahu
5. Turtle Bay Resort
At this iconic 850-acre North Shore resort, you can take a horseback ride, play a round of golf or tennis, explore 12 miles of hiking and biking trails, embark on an eco-kayak tour, drink and dine at one of six options, and relax your worries away. For an experience the whole family will enjoy, we recommend The Breaks putting course, an 18-hole challenge designed for both experienced and beginner golfers of all ages. 57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, (866) 475-2567, turtlebayresort.com
