The Kahala Hotel and Resort
Honolulu's celebrity hideaway beyond Diamond Head
★★★★★📍 Kahala, Honolulu, Oahu$$$$
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Best rate guaranteed · free cancellation on most rooms
The legacy: the Kahala Hilton opened in 1964 and became Hawaii's discreet A-list address — the modernist tower on pillars over a saltwater lagoon was designed for privacy, and successive owners have kept the low-key, high-service register. Today it operates independently as The Kahala Hotel and Resort.
Room craft: ocean-view rooms in the main tower for the classic outlook, Dolphin Lagoon Wing rooms for ground-level lanais facing the lagoon (a favorite with families), and higher floors for the mountain-and-sea panorama. Book any dolphin encounter ahead if your family wants one, and plan an early Diamond Head hike from here before the crowds arrive.
Practicals: 5000 Kahala Avenue, about ten minutes from Waikīkī and 20 minutes from Honolulu airport; no resort fee (Wi-Fi, fitness center, cultural classes and a shuttle to Waikīkī and Ala Moana are included), with a daily parking charge. Fit: couples, families and Honolulu regulars — the city's quiet luxury beach.
Amenities
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Check rates →Frequently Asked Questions
How far is The Kahala from Waikiki?
About ten minutes by car, on the far side of Diamond Head — close enough for dinners and shopping, far enough for a quiet beach.
What is the Dolphin Lagoon?
A large saltwater lagoon at the center of the resort where Atlantic bottlenose dolphins live; Dolphin Quest runs paid encounter programs there, bookable in advance.
Is the beach good for swimming?
Yes — the reef-protected beach in front of the resort is usually calm, good for swimming and paddleboarding, and feels uncrowded because the surrounding neighborhood is residential.
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