To capture the current state of luxury travel in the Pacific, we analyzed a massive data set of 757,109 individual votes cast by travelers worldwide for the 2025 Readers' Choice Awards. The results signal a definitive shift in the Hawaiian hospitality landscape—what I call the "Oahu Dominance." An astonishing 80% of the top-rated Hawaii hotels for 2025 are located on Oahu, reflecting a sophisticated traveler preference for the island's evolving culinary scene, urban accessibility, and high-design residential concepts. While the serene outposts of Maui and the Big Island maintain their allure, the data suggests that today’s traveler seeks a blend of cosmopolitan flair and traditional "Aloha" spirit.
The clear standout of the year is The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, which has secured the #1 ranking for 2025. This property exemplifies the move toward residential-style luxury, offering guests a more permanent sense of place without sacrificing the five-star service of a traditional hotel. For those prioritizing exclusivity, Hotel Wailea on Maui remains the premier adults-only sanctuary, while the SCP Hilo Hotel on the Big Island leads the charge in regenerative tourism.
| Category | Winner | Island |
|---|---|---|
| Overall #1 Winner | The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach | Oahu |
| Best Adults-Only | Hotel Wailea | Maui |
| Best for Sustainability | SCP Hilo Hotel | Big Island |
| Best for Legacy Luxury | Halekulani | Oahu |
| Best for Design | The Laylow, Autograph Collection | Oahu |
| Best for Business | Prince Waikiki | Oahu |
1. ? The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach (Oahu)
Island: Oahu | Price Range: $$$$ | Best For: Sophisticated travelers and long-term stays
Earning the top spot for 2025, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, is less of a hotel and more of an elevated urban sanctuary. Unlike the older, more crowded beachfront towers, this twin-tower masterpiece is set slightly back from the sand, offering a vantage point that overlooks the lush Fort DeRussy Park and the Pacific horizon. The architecture favors wide-open spaces and floor-to-ceiling glass, ensuring that the "residential-style" moniker isn't just marketing—it’s the core experience.
The eighth floor serves as the property's heartbeat, home to the two highest infinity pools in Waikiki. Here, the service is surgical in its precision: chilled towels appear before you realize you’re warm, and the cocktail menu is curated with local botanicals. Nearly all suites feature full kitchens and laundry facilities, finished with Miele appliances and Bianco di Carrara marble.
The culinary offerings are equally prestigious. Sushi Sho, the 16-seat omakase led by legendary chef Keiji Nakazawa, remains one of the most difficult reservations to secure in the Pacific. For a more casual but no less refined experience, the Dean & DeLuca wine bar provides a curated selection of global vintages paired with artisanal local cheeses. It is an exercise in restraint and high-end living.
2. ? The Laylow, Autograph Collection (Oahu)
Island: Oahu | Price Range: $$$ | Best For: Design enthusiasts and mid-century modern fans
The Laylow represents the "New Waikiki"—cool, confident, and steeped in mid-century aesthetic. Upon entering the open-air lobby, guests are greeted by a striking wall of vintage hula-girl figurines and custom-patterned wallpaper that has become a staple of design blogs. The atmosphere is curated but never pretentious, appealing to a demographic that values aesthetic as much as amenities.
The centerpiece of the property is the saltwater pool, a lush oasis surrounded by cozy cabanas and tropical greenery. The transition from the bustling streets of Honolulu to this secluded deck feels almost cinematic. Each room features a signature "Laylow" kit including classic Hawaiian snacks and a ukulele, encouraging a tactile connection to the local culture. The Hideout, the hotel's signature restaurant and bar, offers a sophisticated terrace where guests can enjoy live music and fire pits, bridge-building the gap between the hotel and the local creative community.
3. ? The Kahala Hotel & Resort (Oahu)
Island: Oahu | Price Range: $$$$ | Best For: Families and privacy seekers
While Waikiki hums with energy, The Kahala Hotel & Resort remains a world unto itself. Located in the affluent residential neighborhood at the foot of Diamond Head, this property has maintained its status as the "private island" of Oahu since it was opened in 1964 by Conrad Hilton. Its history is palpable, having hosted every U.S. President since LBJ and celebrities ranging from Elizabeth Taylor to the Dalai Lama.
The resort’s 338 rooms and suites are expansive, featuring a "tropical chic" decor that leans into the property’s heritage. The real draw, however, is the seclusion. The beach here is remarkably quiet compared to the main Waikiki strip, and the resident dolphins in the private lagoon provide a unique touch for families. There’s afternoon tea and champagne service on the Veranda, beach-facing brunch at Orchids, and upscale French dining at La Mer—a trio of experiences that justify the short drive from the city center.
4. Prince Waikiki (Oahu)
Island: Oahu | Price Range: $$$ | Best For: Modern professionals and harbor views
For the luxury traveler who prefers a contemporary, streamlined experience, Prince Waikiki is a masterclass in modern Hawaiian hospitality. Following a $55 million renovation, the hotel shed its traditional "resort" skin in favor of a sleek, glass-fronted design where every single room offers an ocean view.
The hotel is strategically positioned at the gateway to Waikiki, overlooking the Ala Wai Harbor. This location provides a unique vantage point: instead of looking at other hotels, you are looking out over the yachts and the sunset. The infinity pool on the fifth-floor deck is arguably one of the most Instagrammed spots in Honolulu, featuring a minimalist design that blends seamlessly with the horizon. The 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar serves as a social hub, known specifically for its high-end buffet that focuses on fresh island seafood and prime rib.
5. Hotel Wailea (Maui)
Island: Maui | Price Range: $$$$ | Best For: Couples and adults-only seclusion
As the top-rated adults-only resort in the state, Hotel Wailea offers a profound departure from the typical beachfront resort model. Spread across 15 manicured acres on a hillside 300 feet above the ocean, this Relais & Châteaux property feels more like a private estate than a hotel. With only 72 suites, the guest-to-staff ratio ensures a level of personalized service that is rare in larger establishments.
Because the property is not directly on the beach, it avoids the crowds and noise associated with Maui’s more tourist-heavy corridors. Instead, guests are chauffeured to the shore in a Tesla Model X beach shuttle. On-property, the focus is on sensory experiences: treehouse dining in a canopy of mango and avocado trees, aerial yoga, and a cocktail program that emphasizes local Maui distillers. It is an oasis of calm that appeals specifically to those who find the standard resort experience too chaotic.
6. The Twin Fin (Oahu)
Island: Oahu | Price Range: $$ | Best For: Surfers, influencers, and young families
The Twin Fin has successfully rebranded the former Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel into a vibrant, surf-centric hub. The vibe here is "check in, surf out," catering to a younger, more active demographic that prioritizes proximity to the waves. The decor is breezy and beachy, with a mid-century modern twist that feels authentic to the Waikiki surf culture of the 1960s.
The rooms are designed with functionality in mind, often featuring balconies that look directly down onto the world-famous "Walls" surf break. The communal spaces are the highlight, with the poolside deck serving as a gathering spot for morning yoga and evening DJ sets. It is a high-energy property that proves you don't need a four-digit nightly rate to experience the best of Honolulu's oceanfront.
7. Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach (Oahu)
Island: Oahu | Price Range: $$ | Best For: Cultural travelers and value-driven luxury
Located on the quieter eastern end of Waikiki, Hyatt Place offers an intelligent middle ground for travelers who want reliable luxury and proximity to Honolulu's cultural landmarks. While many visitors never leave the beach, guests here find themselves within walking distance of the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium, and a short transit from the Bishop Museum and Iolani Palace.
The property features expansive event spaces and a 24-hour fitness center, catering to the "bleisure" (business and leisure) trend that has accelerated in 2025. The rooms are surprisingly large for Waikiki, often including a "Cozy Corner" with a sofa-sleeper, making it a favorite for small families who want the Hyatt brand's consistency at a more accessible price point.
8. Wayfinder Waikiki (Oahu)
Island: Oahu | Price Range: $$ | Best For: Local immersion and culinary discovery
Wayfinder Waikiki is part of a new wave of boutique hotels that celebrate the "hidden" side of the island. Tucked away on the Ala Wai canal side of Waikiki, it offers a more neighborhood-centric feel. The design is a bold departure from tropical tropes, utilizing a darker, moodier palette and brutalist architecture softened by lush interior plantings.
The culinary draw here is Redfish, an innovative poke concept that has quickly become a local favorite. By focusing on the Ala Wai side, the hotel encourages guests to explore the independent boutiques and cafes of the "Gold Coast" and the nearby Kapahulu neighborhood. It is the ideal choice for the traveler who has "done Hawaii" before and is looking for a deeper, more localized perspective.
9. Halekulani (Oahu)
Island: Oahu | Price Range: $$$$ | Best For: Purists and old-world elegance
Halekulani translates to "House Befitting Heaven," and for those who value tradition, it lives up to the name. This is the gold standard of Hawaiian hospitality. The property is famous for its "seven shades of white" decor, a minimalist philosophy that allows the blue of the Pacific to provide the primary color for the rooms.
The most iconic feature is the oval-shaped swimming pool, composed of 1.2 million individual glass tiles that form a stunning Cattleya orchid pattern on the floor. Dining at La Mer remains the pinnacle of the Honolulu culinary experience—it is the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant in Hawaii. The service here is choreographed and quiet, catering to a clientele that appreciates the finer details, such as the nightly hula performance at the House Without A Key under a century-old kiawe tree.
10. SCP Hilo Hotel (Big Island)
Island: Big Island | Price Range: $$ | Best For: Sustainable and eco-conscious travel
The SCP (Soul, Community, Planet) Hilo Hotel is the most significant addition to the Big Island’s hotel inventory in years, though not for reasons of opulence. It is the vanguard of sustainable travel in Hawaii. The "Every Stay Does Good" program is the core of their business model: for every guest stay, the hotel facilitates the planting of a tree and the removal of plastic from local beaches.
The design is minimalist and "fair trade," using locally sourced materials and avoiding the plastic-heavy amenities typical of large chains. The SCP Hilo encourages guests to engage with the Big Island's natural wonders—Volcanoes National Park is just a short drive away—while maintaining a carbon footprint that respects the delicate local ecosystem. It is proof that the 2025 traveler is increasingly voting with their values as much as their wallets.
Expert Tip: In 2025, we are seeing a "shoulder season" shift. While December and July remain peak months, May and October now offer the best balance of weather and value, with 15-20% lower nightly rates and significantly less congestion at top-tier restaurants like Sushi Sho or La Mer.
Hawaii Travel Planning Essentials for 2025
The 2025 data suggests that "Island Hopping" is being replaced by "Deep Diving." Rather than spending two days on three different islands, travelers are opting for 7-10 day stays on a single island to truly immerse themselves in the local culture. For those choosing Oahu—as 80% of our top-rated hotels suggest—I recommend splitting your time: three nights in the high-energy center of Waikiki (The Ritz-Carlton or Halekulani) and four nights on the North Shore or the Kahala coast for a balanced experience of urbanity and nature.
Plan Your 2025 Hawaii Itinerary →
FAQ
Which Hawaii island is best for first-timers in 2025? Oahu remains the top recommendation for first-timers. It offers the most diverse range of activities, from the historical significance of Pearl Harbor to the world-class dining of Honolulu and the legendary surf of the North Shore.
What is the "Every Stay Does Good" program? Exclusive to the SCP Hilo Hotel, this initiative ensures that your travel has a positive impact. For every booking, the hotel partners with local non-profits to plant a native tree and remove a predetermined amount of plastic trash from the Hawaiian coastline.
Why are residential-style suites like the Ritz-Carlton becoming more popular? Travelers are staying longer and seeking more autonomy. Having a full kitchen and in-room laundry allows for a "live-like-a-local" experience while still enjoying the luxury services of a five-star hotel.
James Wright is a Senior Travel Critic with over 15 years of experience reviewing luxury destinations. His analysis is based on a combination of proprietary data, on-site inspections, and industry trends.
