From the bustling resorts of Waikiki Beach to the surfers paradise of Waimea, Hawaii is a bucket list destination for many of us. With the huge draw being the natural beauty of this ancient island chain, it’s little wonder that there are so many eco-resorts in Hawaii.
Whether you’re looking to be right on the beachfront ready to surf up a storm or you’re looking for a quieter getaway in the rainforest, these are the 15 best eco-resorts in Hawaii for your upcoming trip.
Let’s dive in and find out more.
The 15 Best Eco-Resorts in Hawaii
1. The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls
Rainforest magic at this iconic waterfall site
Is there anything more magical than waking up, walking to your window, and seeing a huge waterfall cascading with lush forest all around? Well, that dream becomes a reality at The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls.
This stunning eco-resort goes above and beyond, and is even powered by the hydroelectric system from the waterfall itself! Everything here is about getting outdoors with guided hikes, rappel tours, and kayaking all available from the hotel itself. When you’re set on 22 acres of lush protected greenery, why wouldn’t you want to lace up your hiking boots and explore?
2. Hilton Waikiki Beach
Iconic hotel on the beachfront of one of the most popular locations in Hawaii
There are few destinations in Hawaii that are as popular as the stunning Waikiki Beach. Known for its big-name resorts, soft sands, beginner surf lessons, and nightlife, it’s the hub of all tourist activity in Hawaii. It’s little wonder then that the Hilton has an eco-friendly resort in this prime location.
Sprawling across the front of Waikiki Beach, this hotel is ideal if you’re looking to rack up those Hilton Honors points and be in the heart of the action.
With a gorgeous outdoor pool and deck area, a location that means the ocean is mere steps away and specially designated electric car charging points, this hotel is a great base for exploring Oahu.
3. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Luxury eco-resort with onsite golf course inspired by professionals
If you’re looking for a luxury resort experience in Hawaii, look no further than the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Filled with traditional Hawaiian-inspired decor notes and a whole host of amazing amenities, it’s the ideal place to stay if you just want to hang out and relax.
Located on the Kona-Kohala coast, you can enjoy sweeping ocean views, dreamy saltwater swimming pools, and an exclusive adults-only spa for the ultimate relaxation experience. If you want to feel a bit more active during your trip to Hawaii, carve out some time to visit the onsite Jack Nicklaus signature Hualalai Golf Course.
4. Fairmont Orchid Gold Experience
Relaxing eco-resort with private beach access
Want to enjoy a quintessential beach holiday but don’t want to share the beach with every other tourist in Hawaii? Well, with its own private beach access, the Fairmont Orchid Gold Experience might be right up your street.
Located on the picturesque Kohala Coast, you’ll be treated to stunning ocean views, a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, and first-class service while you’re at the Fairmont. If you’re looking to explore the local area on your own and don’t want to hire a car, the hotel also provides free bikes to rent during your stay. So, you can cycle around to even more secluded bays and secrete spots!
5. Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Sprawling 40-acre resort with every amenity you can think of
Okay, so if you’re planning a trip to Hawaii with your whole family, this mega eco-resort has something for everyone. The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa has a ridiculous amount of amenities including three separate golf courses, a full water park, and five different restaurants.
After you’ve had a long day on a kayaking or scuba diving adventure, organized by the resort, come back and enjoy a treatment at the Kilolani Spa. In addition to all the amazing massages, beauty treatments, peels, and scrubs, there’s also a full hydrotherapy bath circuit for the ultimate spa experience!
6. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali
Beautiful eco-resort in Lahaina with cultural activities
If you’re looking for one of the best eco-resorts in Hawaii that combine effortless relaxation with Hawaiian cultural activities, check out The Westin Maui Resort and Spa Ka’anapali. With a bright and airy, contemporary design, the focus of this resort is very much the views of the stunning Ka’anapali Beach.
One of the cool things about The Westin Maui Resort and Spa is the cultural activities that are available each day. From luaus to lei making to hula lessons, it’s about sharing Hawaiian experiences as well as relaxing by the beach. If you love locally sourced produce, you’re going to love the Mahele Market and Waicoco Restaurant, which both specialize in local Hawaiian cuisine.
7. Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
Cabana-style suites characterize this beautiful Maui eco-resort
Want to have plenty of space to relax with your family? Well, the Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui’s spacious cabana-style suites are filled with Hawaiian charm and high-end features, making it feel like your own private island getaway.
Enjoy kayaking tours of the local area, wraparound bars and panoramic ocean views, a wide choice of onsite restaurants, and more! If you’re in Hawaii to hit a few on the links, the Fairmont Kea Lani also runs a complimentary shuttle to the amazing Wailea Golf Club which is located just next door to the resort.
8. Hilton Grand Vacations Club Hokulani Waikiki Honolulu
Budget-friendly suites just a 10-minute walk from Waikiki Beach
Let’s be honest, Hawaii can be a seriously expensive place to visit, but with the 3-star Hilton Grand Vacations Club Hokulani Waikiki Honolulu, you can still be in the heart of the action without spending a fortune. All this, and it’s rated as a highly sustainable property on Booking.com!
With a beautiful rooftop swimming pool area, spacious suite-style accommodation, and a pretty amazing location just a 10-minute walk away from the bustling Waikiki Beach, this affordable Hawaiian eco-accommodation has a lot to love! You’ll also get amazing views out across the coastline – it’s a great way to start your morning in Oahu.
9. Kona Village A Rosewood Resort
Natural aesthetics and design make this eco-resort feel luxurious and high-end
If you want to feel like you’re in a private island-style resort with beautiful beachfront access and natural, high-end decor, check into the Kona Village. Located on the Kailua-Kona coastline, this unique and visually stunning eco-resort has a luxurious feel that makes you think you’re in a high-end travel magazine.
From the spacious villas and suites to the balconies and sun decks to the outdoor pool, everything here is warm and inviting. With so much native wood and contemporary Hawaiian decor touches, it feels like you’re surrounded by the beautiful nature of the islands. It’s one of the best eco-resorts in Hawaii to relax and recuperate on the beachfront!
10. Montage Kapalua Bay
Glitz and glamor await at this vibrant Kapalua Bay eco-resort
Located on the gorgeous sands of Kapalua Bay, Montage Kapalua Bay is a sprawling resort that is ideal for relaxation, adventure, or anything in between. Sat on 24 acres of gorgeous garden and beachfront property, this eco-resort offers the best of both worlds. Relax on the soft sands of Kapalua Bay or take a calming walk through the garden-style pool area.
With plenty of amenities and excursions including hiking and kayaking available directly through the hotel, the Montage Kapalua Bay is an ideal place to stay if you want a mix of eco-resort relaxation and Hawaiian island exploration. Add in the sheer scale of the resort and the spacious rooms that look bigger than some apartments and it’s easy to see why this place is one of the best eco-resorts in Hawaii.
11. Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences
Sweeping ocean views and huge villas await at this Kauai eco-resort
Located in Lihue on the Garden Island of Kauai, Timbers Kauai Ocean Club and Residences is the perfect place to stay if you want to be surrounded by nature. With an oceanfront infinity pool that’ll make you feel like an A-lister and lush greenery all around you, this is exactly the image that a luxury trip to Hawaii conjures up.
Situated just 500 meters from the stunning Kalapaki Beach, you can easily enjoy a beach break without having to walk too far from your hotel room. Speaking of which, the rooms at Timbers Kauai Ocean Club and Residences are insane. From floor-to-ceiling windows to full houses to private plunge pools, this place goes above and beyond.
12. Napili Kai Beach Resort
Traditional beach resort just yards from the golden sands
Honestly, beachfront resorts don’t come much closer than the Napili Kai Beach Resort. Located just 50 yards away from Napili Beach, unless you’re camping on the sand, this is as close as you’re going to get!
If lazing on the sand isn’t for you, then why not book a tee time at one of the two onsite 18-hole putting greens, or take the plunge in one of the four swimming pools? With onsite snorkeling lessons and equipment, you can easily learn a brand-new skill and see some of the best underwater wildlife that the region has to offer!;
13. OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
Impressive art hotel in the heart of Waikiki Beach
If you’re looking to start in the middle of the Waikiki Beach resort scene, then you need to consider staying at the OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. This beachfront eco-resort has a distinctly Hawaiian vibe and is filled with local artwork and design touches that set it apart from other large resorts in Waiheke.
With an impressive sweeping outdoor swimming pool area, including a massive sun terrace and bar area, whether you want to soak up the rays on the beach or closer to the resort, the choice is all yours. OUTRIGGER Reef also hosts a wide range of cultural activities including lei-making workshops which is great if you’re traveling as a family and want to enjoy some cultural immersion.
14. Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach
Grand, architectural eco-resort in the bustling Waikiki Beach area
If you’re looking for a Hawaiian resort stay with an architectural twist, check out the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach. With Victorian features, huge columns, and grandiose features, it’s definitely unlike any other eco-resort in Waikiki Beach.
Located right on the Waikiki beachfront, you can easily enjoy the expansive views and world-class beach facilities. With plenty of onsite restaurants and bars, you can have your fill here – there’s even daily afternoon tea to fit with the Victorian vibes of this unique Hawaiian resort.
15. Volcano Eco Retreat by Heart Core Hotels – Adults Only
Ultimate eco-friendly retreat on the side of a volcano
We couldn’t have a list of the best eco-resorts in Hawaii without including one with a volcanic twist. Located on the side of the amazing Kilauea Volcano, the Volcano Eco Retreat by Heart Core Hotels is an awe-inspiring and beautiful place to stay in nature.
With vegan and vegetarian cuisine, free bicycle hire, and natural decor and design, this is a Hawaiian eco-resort at its very best. Whether you want to lounge around in the greenery of the garden, take a dip in the hot tub, or check out the volcanic landscape, it’s all possible here. Of course, bookings at this particular Hawaiian eco-resort are subject to volcanic activity, so check before you book!
FAQs about the Best Eco-Resorts in Hawaii
Let’s round out this guide to the best eco-resorts in Hawaii with a few frequently asked questions!
Is Hawaii environmentally friendly?
As Hawaii’s main tourism draws are the pristine beaches, oceans, wildlife, and great weather, the islands are massively committed to being more environmentally friendly. In fact, native Hawaiians have a specific relationship with the land and the sea, making many places around the island chain sacred and protected.
What is the greenest Hawaiian island?
Known as the Garden Isle, Kauai is the greenest Hawaiian Island. Coated in verdant, lush greenery, it’s one of the most popular islands in Hawaii for hiking and adventure. As such, there are plenty of eco-friendly resorts and hotels around this island to keep this island looking at its best for years to come!
What makes a resort an eco-resort?
So, what’s the difference between a resort and an eco-resort? Well, it’s pretty simple. An eco-resort is committed to sustainable practices from how they power the resort to the impact they have on the land and surrounding community to the amount of waste that happens on a daily basis.
Some eco-resorts are more sustainable than others, and it’s now becoming easier to figure out which are the creme de la creme. Booking.com has a tier system for sustainable properties with one leaf being the lowest and 3+ leaves indicating a fully-sustainable eco-resort.
Which Hawaiian island is best for nature?
The best Hawaiian island for nature depends on whether you’re looking for amazing blue spaces or green spaces. Pretty much every Hawaiian island has world-class coastal locations and amazing ocean access. It’s probably one of the things that Hawaii is best known for.
If you’re after hiking, botanical gardens, and rainforests, head to Kauai. While it’s not the busiest of the Hawaiian islands, it’s massively popular with hikers and those who love flowers and plant life. As such, it does rain a little bit more than the other Hawaiian islands, but it’s worth it for the amazing green landscape and rushing waterfalls!