Is The Kahala Hotel Open – The Kahala Hotel is one of the best 5-star Honolulu Hawaii hotels on the coast. Here’s everything you need to know about Kahala Resort from the restaurants to Kahala Beach.
Hawaii is one of my favorite travel destinations. I love Kauai and Maui, but for a recent mother-daughter trip, we chose Oahu. Join us at Kahala Hotel & Resort.
Is The Kahala Hotel Open
Kahala Hotel is a legendary resort outside of Honolulu. It is removed from the bustle of Waikiki and is located on a beautiful private lagoon – Kahala Beach.
Land Board Grants New Permit For Hotel’s Use Of Kahala Parcel
Here is our overview of the Kahal Hotel’s restaurants, beaches, dolphin lagoon, and more. If you’re looking for a 5-star resort on Oahu, you shouldn’t miss this unbiased Kahala Hotel & Resort review.
The Kahala Hotel is located directly across Diamond Head from Waikiki. This is an ideal location if you prefer a quieter, more relaxing vacation. In Kahala, you can avoid the crowds but easily walk to Waikiki for shopping, dining and city life.
This resort is about a 20 minute drive from the Honolulu airport and a 10-15 minute drive from Waikiki, making it one of the most comfortable Hawaiian resorts I’ve ever stayed at.
Known then as the Kahala Hilton, this resort opened in 1965. It quickly became known as a Hollywood hideaway, thanks to its private location. The resort is famous for hosting many celebrity guests and every US president from Lyndon Johnson to Obama.
Go ‘nuts’ At The Kahala’s Store
We booked a sea view room which is about 550 square feet. We had a beautiful view of the ocean and resort. The room was clean and comfortable and the bathroom spacious.
If you like Italian food, you will love Arancino. We ordered some great pizza and salads and had dinner down the beach. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. I’d recommend Arancino even if you’re not staying at the Kahala.
While you are staying at Kahala Hotel, you might want to have breakfast at Plumeria Beach House. You can order on Opentable but the two of us had no trouble getting in.
There’s usually a great breakfast buffet, even if it’s closed due to COVID protocols. Make this Papaya Boat at home – delicious.
The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Hawaii
Enjoy cocktails and live music on the verandah at sunset. The menu is small and mostly includes appetizers, but we enjoyed some delicious sushi rolls here.
Hoku’s is Kahala’s most exclusive restaurant, offering 4- and 8-course tasting menus with ocean views. We didn’t visit this restaurant, but I like that they offer a vegetarian tasting menu.
Seaside Grill is a pool/beach restaurant. It’s super casual and a great option if you want to take your salad, tacos, or mai tai to the beach. The food is nothing special so I suggest bringing something to the beach from Whole Foods.
Kahala Beach is a dream. This private beach has clean, soft white sand and warm, shallow turquoise water. It has two artificial peninsulas/islands to protect the coast. This is an ideal swimming beach and great for kids. We had no trouble getting our lounge chairs, and unlike Waikiki, there weren’t any crowds.
The Kahala Hotel And Resort
Hotel Kahala offers paddleboards and kayaks for rent but it was too windy when we were there to enjoy them.
Many families book this hotel and the Dolphin Quest experience specifically for the dolphin lagoon. Although the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin family is very beautiful, it is heartbreaking to see them trapped in small man-made pools and exploited for photographs.
Most, if not all, animal rights groups like the Humane Society of U.S., PETA, and the Dolphin Project agree that you shouldn’t swim with dolphins on vacation.
An even more magical experience is watching fish, dolphins and whales in their natural habitat. Try the snorkel or whale watching experience.
The Kahala Hotel And Resort, Honolulu (hi)
Compared to other 5 star Hawaiian resorts, the pool area at Kalaha is very disappointing. There is one relatively small basic oval shaped pool on the property. The swimming pool is bought and filled by the children in the afternoon. If you want an armchair, be sure to set it up in the morning.
Kahala Beach is so beautiful that the lack of a luxury resort-style pool doesn’t bother me, but if I had young children who wanted a pool I might be disappointed. If you prefer resorts with waterslides and lazy rivers, check out the Grand Hyatt Kauai or Kea Lani Maui.
The Kalaha hotel & resort has everything you really need, but you may want to explore a bit.
We didn’t see many fish directly from Kahala Beach, but there are good snorkelling spots nearby. Next time we will make a reservation at Hanauma Bay, which is now a protected area for marine life.
Afternoon Tea At Kahala Hotel (oahu)
Hiking Diamond Head Crater is a popular activity in Honolulu. There are also other hiking options. I like the AllTrails app for planning my trips.
We didn’t see any surfers right on Kahala Beach during our stay, but there are surf breaks nearby. There are several surf schools for beginners right on Waikiki Beach.
There are several golf courses and country clubs nearby which you can access as a guest at the Kahala hotel.
While you don’t actually have to leave the property, I recommend getting out and trying some of the local restaurants. This will save you money and provide a change of scenery and a more authentic local experience.
The Kahala Hotel & Resort Rooms: Pictures & Reviews
Our first stop was Kahala Whole Foods to pick up some local fruit, snacks and drinks to stock our in-room mini fridge.
I recommend soaking up the energy of Waikiki one night and other low-key local spots. We love Hawaii Sushi which is about a 10 minute Uber ride away.
Kahala Mall is about 20 minutes walk from the hotel and has lots of shops and very good Whole Foods. For a more lively shopping experience, head to Waikiki.
We flew from SBA to LAX to HNL on United. From the airport we took an Uber to the resort which is about a 20 minute drive.
Executive Insight: Instilling Culture At The Kahala Hotel
I was happy to avoid the hassle of renting a car on this trip and we didn’t need one at all. It was easy to get around on foot or by Uber the few times we left the resort.
I booked our hotel and flight package through American Express Platinum. It’s quick and easy and allows me to use points to pay for most trips.
The only disappointment was that upon booking, the hotel was enrolled in the Fine Hotels & Resorts program which included daily breakfast and room upgrades, among other benefits. However, we later found out that this is not the case if you book a package that includes airfare.
Some resorts offer day passes so you can enjoy the resort without having to stay at the hotel. You can book a day pass or a cabana at Kahala on the Resort Pass. This is a great option if you are staying in a vacation rental and want to enjoy the pools and beaches in Kahala.
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
We loved our time at Kahala Hotel & Resort. Pristine white sand beaches, warm turquoise waters, and a serene location can’t be beat. The resort itself is beautiful with some great restaurants and nice staff. When our kids were little, I preferred resorts with more pool activities. Lower price point than most other 5 star Hawaii hotels. If you are looking for a relaxed luxury hotel in Honolulu on the beach I would recommend Kahala. Iconic Restaurant Under the direction of Executive Chef Jonathan Mizukami, the award-winning cuisine at The Kahala embraces a diverse mix of Honolulu restaurant trends and cultural influences. Chef Mizukami has more than ten years of experience working in renowned Michelin-starred restaurants across the US and internationally, including a 10-year position as Sous Chef at Thomas Keller’s highly acclaimed Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry.
With more than a decade of training in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, Executive Chef Jonathan Mizukami brings his culinary vision to Kahala, blending classic French techniques with bold local flavours. Escape from the ordinary and enjoy worldly adventures.
Treat yourself to an indulgent breakfast in the comfort of your luxurious accommodation at The Kahala. Our large breakfast is served in your room and includes delicacies such as king crabs, French omelettes, freshly squeezed orange juice and more.
Please make a reservation one day in advance. A large breakfast is available between 7 AM and 11 AM. For reservations contact ext. 47 or 808-739-8741.
Plan Your Stay
We have a number of special dining events throughout the year, from our delicious weekly TeiHoku Sunday Brunch to insightful wine tasting events.
This coveted award celebrates culinary excellence, innovation and exceptional service. Supported by an outstanding staff, Executive Chef Jonathan Mizukami blends French-influenced cooking with authentic Hawaiian flavours. At Hoku’s, fresh and local ingredients play a major role, with panoramic ocean views. Congratulations to Chef Mizukami and the entire Hoku team.
Hoku’s at The Kahala Hotel & Resort offers global Hawaiian cuisine in a casual setting with ocean views. Experience the magic of our head chef Jonathan Mizukami with his creation, Grand
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