Location: This Leading Hotels of the World property sits among five acres on a handsome stretch of beach in central Waikiki, the lively neighbourhood in Honolulu on the south shore of Oahu island. It is a 25-minute drive from the airport.

First impressions: A warm breeze runs through the lobby thanks to its open walls and high-pitched roof. Beyond the check-in desk, there’s a large freshwater pool and manicured lawns framed by exotic plants and swaying palms. The pool, hard to miss with its huge cattleya orchid mosaic, overlooks the beach alongside a recently opened pool bar, cementing itself as the beating heart of the hotel.

The facts: Halekulani is something of a luxury legend in Honolulu. The property opened in 1907 as a residential hotel called Hau Tree, and later found its name – meaning ‘house befitting heaven’ – in 1917, when new owners Juliet and Clifford Kimball expanded the resort, establishing it as a stylish resort for the wealthy. The property was sold to Mitsui Fudosan America Inc in 1981.

The Halekulani we know today – fresh from a 2021 refurb – features 453 rooms and suites across five buildings. Rooms boast crisp shades of cream, white and pastel blue and capitalise on natural light, with the majority offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and nearby Diamond Head Crater. 

The undeniable star of the property’s three restaurants is French institution La Mer, Hawaii’s longest-running AAA Five Diamond restaurant. Breakfast can be enjoyed in Orchids or House Without A Key, while three cocktail lounges offer sufficient choice for sundowners.

The facilities are nothing short of expansive: there’s a spa and fitness studio, a business centre, in-house laundry and dry-cleaning facilities, a print shop, bakery, florist and eight meeting and banquet rooms. With private showers, lockers and refreshments, the property’s hospitality lounge is useful for guests with early arrival or late departure times.

Ideal for: Clients of all ages keen to be close to the action in Waikiki while retaining a sense of space and serenity.

Explore: The location means the main stretch of Waikiki Beach, the designer fashion stores of Kalakaua Avenue and downtown Waikiki are a short amble away. Halekulani’s concierge can assist with requests further afield.

Wow: The view from our Ocean View King – all sparkling sunshine and rolling surf – never got old. Neither did the little touches such as the nightly turndown, which included the property’s own chocolates, and pool attendants who came around offering complimentary matcha cookies.

Book it: Prices start at $665 a night plus taxes. Halekulani.com