Internationally famous for its white sand beaches, jungle covered volcanoes, and laid back Aloha culture, Hawaii is a destination that many people spend years dreaming about.
And when you finally do visit, you want to be regaled with an accommodation that goes above and beyond to provide your fantasized experience.
The best way to ensure you receive this level of attentive service is by booking your stay with a boutique hotel. Unlike large resort complexes, boutique hotels are able to provide attentive and personalized stays by featuring smaller properties with a limited room selection.
Of course, there are a few exceptions, including several accommodations that manage to blend extensive luxury resort complexes with the personalized and friendly stay experience more often associated with a B&B-style inn.
From lavish 5-star beachside resorts with private concierge services to intimate countryside hideaways, these are the 11 best boutique hotels in Hawaii.
The 11 Best Boutique Hotels in Hawaii
1. Mahana House Country Inn
Quiet 4-Star Lodge on an 11-acre Fruit Farm
Occupying its own breathtaking corner of an 11 acre fruit farm along the Big Island’s Hamakua Coast, the Mahana House Country Inn is one of the most charming boutique hotels in Hawaii.
The intimate 4-star hotel offers its premium lodging in a selection of four luxury suites and three private cottages. Each of the hotel’s suite units feature premium in-room comforts that include a kitchen and spacious seating area, while each of the private cottages promise even more privacy for a romantic getaway.
Whether you stay in a suite or villa, all guests receive access to the property’s communal facilities, which include a full shared kitchen, a laundry room, and lounge areas with complimentary fruit picked fresh from the farm.
While the hotel promises a peaceful setting for enjoying the quieter lifestyle of Hawaii, its convenient location along the Big Island’s eastern coast makes it a great spot for exploring the further reaches and attractions of the destination, including Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and the Akaka Falls State Park that is practically within the hotel’s backyard.
2. Holualoa Inn
5-Star Jungle Retreat with Breathtaking Views
Perched atop the slopes of Mount Hualalai on the other side of the island, the Holualoa Inn is a lavish boutique hotel that overlooks the striking Kona coastline from its lush 30-acre property.
Here, you can expect breathtaking views and an abundance of natural beauty seamlessly blended with modern luxuries and world-class services of a 5-star accommodation complex.
Offering just four private guest rooms, two suites, and two stand-alone cottages, the Holualoa Inn promises a quiet, intimate stay within the countryside, allowing for a more personalized and attentive experience for each of its guests.
While certain in-room comforts vary between each of its suites, each unit is thoughtfully designed to facilitate a sense of zen relaxation and wonder while featuring top of the line luxury amenities.
All guests staying at the hotel also receive access to the property’s outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, and BBQ area and even enjoy complimentary breakfast served each morning alongside Kona coffee brewed using the estate’s onsite coffee beans.
3. Hotel Wailea, Relais & Châteaux – Adults Only
Exclusive Hilltop Property Promising Unmatched Luxury
Boasting a beautiful hilltop location that overlooks three Hawaiian islands, Hotel Wailea promises unparalleled adult-only luxury from its extensive 5-star resort property along the slopes of Maui’s lush volcanic ridges.
The hotel features 72 individually designed suites spread across its 15-acre complex, each carefully designed to accentuate the upscale opulence and zen relaxation of the property itself.
While each guest room offers unique comfort, each unit is designed with a spacious floor plan that includes a separate bedroom, bathroom, and living area with a kitchenette. Meanwhile, the hotel’s more luxurious suites even include a private balcony with surreal views of the ocean or gardens.
The overall bliss of the private rooms is continued throughout the property’s communal facilities, which include a private pool, zen gardens, and a spa and wellness center offering yoga and open-air classes.
The hotel also features a fantastic culinary adventure at its onsite award-winning restaurant, along with its private treehouse dining experience and birdcage lounge with open-air bar and ocean views.
Whether seeking to unwind at a seaside resort or looking for a luxury base to explore Maui, Hotel Wailea is easily one of the best boutique hotels in Hawaii for basking in the lap of luxury.
4. Halekulani
Large Resort Complex with Personalized Concierge Services
While larger than most boutique hotels, Halekulani is able to provide unparalleled hospitality within its luxurious complex through its attentive concierge services, award-winning dining experiences, and a great variety of recreational facilities.
Halekulani is a spot where guests are welcome to sip a tropical cocktail while soaking at the large outdoor heated pool just steps away from the palm-fringed sands of the beach and the refreshing waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Those looking for a higher sense of relaxation can even head over to the award-winning Spa Halekulani for a specialty massage or sign up for an in-room spa treatment.
Speaking of private rooms, Halekulani promises unmatched 5-star luxury in each of its rooms and suites, each designed using natural, neutral tones that promote the complex’s overall goal of providing a peaceful and rejuvenating getaway.
While each suite offers varying levels of opulence, common in-room comforts featured in every unit include deep soaking tubs with separate glass showers, luxury amenities from the onsite spa, and a private balcony with stunning views of the coastline.
As for the hotel’s culinary experience, Halekulani features four onsite restaurants, two elegant bars, and a bakery, for an exploration of new and diverse flavors from around the world.
5. Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani
Affordable Luxury with Personalized Services
Located across the street from Halekulani, the Halepuna Waikiki doesn’t feature the same beachfront location as its sister hotel, but it does offer equally as lavish of a hotel complex for much more affordable nightly rates, making it the perfect option for visitors looking for the extravagant luxury experience without breaking the bank.
Along with providing full use of the facilities at Halekulani, Halepuna Waikiki provides its own great selection of recreational complexes, including its vitality pool and sundeck where you can soak in the sun while admiring the sea views, a fitness studio boasting modern high-tech equipment, and a peaceful garden area perfect for some meditation.
The Halepuna Waikiki offers its premium accommodation within seven varieties of rooms. While each room type features increasing levels of extravagance, all units boast the same base comforts that include 50-inch flat screen TVs, window shades with lighting control, and beautiful views of ocean, Waikiki, or surrounding mountains.
6. Volcano Village Lodge
Charming Jungle Retreat Near Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Set within Volcano Village, just two miles from the entrance to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the Volcano Village Lodge is the perfect boutique hotel for visitors looking to experience the quieter side of Hawaii’s natural landscapes.
Located 4,000 feet above sea level, the Volcano Village Lodge brings 4-star elegance to the rugged rainforests of Hawaii’s Big Island promising a relaxing upscale bed & breakfast style retreat within its selection of five luxury suites.
Each suite operates out of its own private treehouse and is equipped with premium in-room comforts that include luxury linens, electric fireplaces, and small kitchenettes with a refrigerator, microwave, and toaster oven.
A complimentary breakfast of fresh fruit and local Kona coffee is provided to each room every morning and varies throughout the week. Meanwhile, the hotel’s friendly staff is readily available to provide personal attention and is always happy to help facilitate your stay.
7. The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Waikiki Beach Boutique Hotel with Swim Club
The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club is a chic boutique hotel in Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach area that promises a laid back atmosphere for enjoying its 4-star complex of luxury amenities.
The hotel offers its premium lodging in a selection of one-room bungalows, as well as one and two-bedroom suites. All units feature elegant designs with carefully curated artwork, mid-century-inspired coffee tables, and all the modern in-room amenities you would expect from a 4-star hotel.
All guests also receive complimentary access to the Swim Club, which includes a spacious outdoor swimming pool with plenty of poolside entertainment and programming, such as poolside films and adult swim.
Also featured on the property is the Mahina & Sun’s Restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of traditional dishes and cocktails using only locally sourced organic ingredients.
8. Kauai Shores Hotel
Laid-Back Hotel Along Kauai’s Royal Coconut Coast
Located along the quiet eastern shores of Kauai, the Kauai Shores Hotel promises a natural beachside setting for exploring the lush jungle landscapes of Hawaii’s ‘Garden Island.”
Providing exclusive access to the island’s Royal Coconut Coast, the charming boutique hotel boasts simple and colorful stylings carefully designed to enhance the natural tropical allure of the destination itself.
Each of the hotel’s private guest rooms are decorated with the vibrant colors of the island and boast plenty of modern in-room amenities, including flatscreen TVs, a refrigerator and private balcony.
Additional facilities offered within the property include onsite dining at the Lava Lava Beach Club, a beautiful pool area with private beach access, and plenty of outdoor activities ranging from snorkeling to outdoor yoga classes.
Another benefit that comes with staying at the Kauai Shores Hotel is that they feature a ‘Every 5th Night Free” policy, making it a great option for guests looking to spend five or more days exploring the island.
9. Queen Kapiolani Hotel
Waikiki Beach Resort with Unique Facilities
Tucked away between Waikiki Beach and the Honolulu Zoo, the Queen Kapiolani Hotel is an upscale boutique resort that promises the full Hawaii experience with plenty of onsite activities, including lai making workshops, yoga classes, surfing lessons, and an exclusive QK Run Club.
Those looking for a more laid-back experience can instead head over to the outdoor pool to soak in the sun along a lounge chair, or enjoy a casual hangout space within the Royal Club Lounge found within the hotel’s second floor.
The Deck restaurant is also featured on the property. Operating out of the hotel’s third-floor terrace, the open-air restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining, serving delicious food and cocktail menus best enjoyed while admiring the beautiful beach views.
The Queen Kapiolani Hotel provides its exclusive lodging experience with a variety of guest rooms. While in-room comforts vary between suite levels, all units are equipped with common amenities that include a private lanai balcony, in-room refrigerators, and a 49-inch LCD TV.
10. SCP Hilo Hotel
Family-Owned Boutique Resort in Hilo
Set on the banks of the Turtle Ponds of Reeds Bay in Hilo, the SCP Hilo Hotel promises the upscale comforts of a 4-star resort complex while providing the attentive and welcoming services often associated with a family-run hotel.
Thanks to its location along the eastern coast, the hotel serves as a fantastic base for exploring Hawaii’s big island, and is just a short drive from popular sites that include Hawaii Volcano National Park, Rainbow Falls, and the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.
With plenty to explore in the area, it is important to have a comfortable spot to retreat back to. Luckily, each of the hotel’s 128 private guest rooms feature simple and modern designs that facilitate a soothing atmosphere.
SCP Hilo Hotel continues its elevated hospitality within its extensive complex of onsite facilities that include a 24/7 Provisions Market, a fitness center with modern and high-tech equipment, and a beautiful outdoor pool and garden area.
11. Imperial Hawaii Resort
Waikiki Beach Hotel with Affordable Luxury Suites
Operating out of one of Hawaii’s most thrifty neighborhoods, the Imperial Hawaii Resort is less than 100 meters from Waikiki Beach and promises all the luxury of the region at affordable nightly rates.
Along with offering basic in-room comforts that you would expect from a 3-star hotel, all of the Imperial Hawaii Resort’s private suites feature premium additions that include spacious seating areas and either a full kitchen or kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, and toaster.
Regardless of your room choice, all guests receive access to an extensive property of communal facilities that include a 27th floor rooftop pool, onsite restaurant, and a spa and wellness center with massage treatment rooms, a hot stone sauna, and a fitness center.
FAQs About Boutique Hotels in Hawaii
