The islands of Hawaii really are a slice of heaven—shimmering like jewels in Pacific waters and ringed by golden beaches, with lush emerald-green interiors punctuated by volcanic peaks. When it comes to staying here, the more hotels, the merrier. Take a look at some new properties that celebrate Hawaii’s amazing scenery and culture.
Hamakua Hotel, the Big Island
Newly opened as the first luxury boutique property on the Big Island of Hawaii, Hamakua Hotel is an adults-only haven perched high above a 100-foot cliff along the 50-mile stretch of the stunning Hamakua Coast. The 25-acre, 8-room property is 20 minutes from Hilo, the island’s largest city, and provides a “luxe meets laid back” retreat for discerning travelers seeking Hawaiian inspired accommodations with a modern elegance, private grounds, relaxing open-air common spaces, and world-class hospitality.
Rates include fresh breakfast treats, high-end tequila tastings, sunset happy hour with craft cocktails and mocktails served by a mixologist, and six-course gourmet dinners paired with wines. Guest amenities include the Yurts Spa featuring a variety of body and wellness treatments, a one-mile hiking trail that leads to the ocean and an oceanfront infinity pool will be completed at the Hamakua Hotel this fall. hamakuahotel.com
Romer House Waikiki
Oahu’s first adults-only hotel, Romer House Waikiki, splashed onto the scene in June 2024. A celebration of Waikiki’s eclectic lifestyle, the 179-key property offers an upscale urban hideaway with mid-century inspired interiors; exclusive access to local perks and neighborhood experiences; and an urban pool retreat for social relaxation and daylong cocktail culture…all sans-kids. An innovative dining experience from TableOne Hospitality awaits at IZAKAYA, inspired by the nostalgia of Waikiki’s famed (and nearly obsolete) sky-blue pay phones. Home to a crossroads of cultures, the spirited restaurant and bar welcomes visitors and locals alike to eat, drink and stay late.
Romer House puts a unique spin on classic amenities—instead of a welcome drink, guests receive a crystal that can be redeemed for a sake bomb or non-alcoholic bubbly—and in-room offerings such as ‘date night’ and ‘pillow talk’ bundles, creativity sets and more. Programming includes a tarot reader residency, sound baths, rap & reggae nights and more. romerhotels.com/romer-house-waikiki
Romer Waikiki at The Ambassador
Sister property to Romer House and offering experiences for all travelers, Romer Waikiki at the Ambassador recently debuted just steps away from Waikiki’s world-famous beaches. Accommodation options include a variety of easygoing rooms in different layouts, including adjoining lofted bunk bed rooms perfect for families and rooms furnished with record players and a vinyl collection curated by Hungry Ear Records, Hawaii’s oldest music store. Every guest journey begins with artfully designed key cards that serve as guides to the neighborhood, featuring curated maps, programs, events and access to Romer Waikiki partners, many of which provide discounts and small gifts such as a complimentary lei, dessert or jar of honey.
Programming includes poolside Pilates with Body Balance Hawaii, on-demand readings with the in-house astrologer, Dive-In Theater Singalongs, Slow Jam Sundays and more. The third-floor Waikiki Swim & Social Club evokes the feeling of an easygoing neighborhood pool party with a retro-modern design, Polaroid cameras and made-for-vacation bites and cocktails including the Summer Club Tahitian Spritz and Hawaii 5-0. romerhotels.com/waikiki-ambassador
Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa
The highly anticipated property opened its doors earlier this year as the Renaissance brand’s only location on Oahu and the first new-build hotel in Honolulu in over two decades. Located near the popular Ala Moana Center and the island’s renowned white sand beaches, the soaring 39-story oasis in the sky fills a gap in the luxury hotel market outside of Waikiki. The expansive 8th-floor Sky Deck serves as a sanctuary for fitness and wellness, featuring a full-service spa that is one of the best on the island, fully equipped glass-enclosed fitness center, state-of-the-art yoga studio, meditation gardens, heated 25-meter outdoor lap pool, Himalayan salt saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge baths, Oahu’s first traditional Japanese ofuro soaking tubs and more. Two hot tubs and a heated saltwater swimming pool are surrounded by large, shaded cabanas and BBQ pavilions. Home to the hottest reservation in town, signature restaurant MARA (above) from TableOne Hospitality offers innovative Mediterranean-inspired dining with tapas and fresh seafood in a lively setting. marriott.com
Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
It’s not a new build but a new feeling at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa following a recent $60M renovation promising to welcome guests to Keauhou, or a “new era.” Perched on the cliffs of Keauhou Bay with spectacular ocean views across the Kona coast of the Big Island, Outrigger’s revitalized 511 guest rooms/suites and meeting spaces artfully blend the property’s profound heritage and reverence for voyaging with modern aesthetics.
Located in the center of the property, the new Piko Coffee & Wine Bar features a variety of white and red wines, rosés and champagnes, sourced from California, France, Italy and New Zealand. Partnering with Big Island Coffee Roasters, a custom blend of Kona and Kaʻu coffee allows for a unique experience that evokes a sense of place through locally sourced ingredients.
Recreation and adventure abound here, from nightly manta ray tours and “fire luau” packages to daily cultural activities including guided tours of the historic villages of Kaukulaelae and Keauhou Bay, the birthplace of King Kamehameha III. outrigger.com
