The Kahala Hotel & Resort
If you’re looking for a polished luxury resort in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Kahala Hotel & Resort certainly fits the bill. Surrounded by a posh residential area amid sprawling beachfront mansions, luxury condominiums, and Honolulu's most exclusive golf courses, this luxury resort is a favorite with presidents, international royalty and celebrities.
A 15-minute drive from Waikiki, the Kahala Hotel & Resort recently completed a major renovation, evidenced in part by its lovely rooms. The oceanfront hotel features 338 rooms and suites. The overhauled rooms show upbeat and innovative design. Whimsy and quality blend effortlessly in the gingham-upholstered plantation chairs, two-poster beds and oversized bedside mirrors framed in what look to be giant oyster shell fragments. Even the standard rooms here are as big as many suites in lesser hotels.
The units in the 10-story main wing facing the dolphin pond and ocean beyond are superbly private and offer the best views. Rooms in the two-story Dolphin Wing, which hover over the dolphin pond or eye the golf course or the sea, cost the most yet have the most residential feel. About half of the rooms have large, elliptical well-furnished balconies that are worth the upgrade.
Room service is offered around the clock, and twice-daily maid service and turndown are executed in superlative fashion. The hotel now prohibits smoking in all guest rooms and public areas.
The famously lush grounds contain lots of surprises. Along with the stunning greenery, swaying palms, splashy waterfalls and coral-trimmed walkways, Kahala Hotel & Resort provides habitat for a variety of marine life, including tropical fish, rays, turtles and most notably the hotel's famous family of dolphins.
Restaurants include the Plumeria Beach Cafe, where breakfast buffets, lunch and dinner are served alfresco, and Hawaiian entertainers perform as the sun drops into the Pacific. Its reasonably priced Twilight Menu is a set meal with lots of options, including a sensational catch-of-the-day.
Hoku's is the signature restaurant for lunch and dinner, which commanders several levels to optimize ocean views from all tables. With a focus on Pacific Rim fare, Hoku's is considered by many to be one of the premier dining rooms in the islands.
The hotel is on a tranquil, secluded beach opposite an elite country club. Golfers should keep in mind that the hotel is not affiliated with the golf course, but Kahala has arrangements with other nearby courses.
The lagoon-style pool sparkles in the oceanfront patio, and a children's pool and whirlpool are also available. This is a child-friendly resort, with extensive children's programs. Restaurants supply appropriate menus. Child-size robes and in-room amenities are part of the hotel's commitment to making families feel at home.
The Kahala Hotel and Resort is a member of exclusive Virtuoso travel network. Book online or contact our Virtuoso Travel Advisor [email protected] for more details.
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