It’s fantastic to not have to give your credit card every time you dine or do an activity at an all-inclusive resorts. If you’re going to Hawaii for your next vacation, look beyond all-inclusive resorts and choose properties with amenities and optional add-ons like meals and parking.
A Hawaiian resort lets visitors experience the authentic culture, traditions, beautiful landscapes, and natural beauties of this destination. Prepare to eat native food and meet islanders.
Does Hawaii have all-inclusive resorts?
Hawaii lacks all-inclusive resorts like Mexico and the Caribbean. Instead, some hotels provide deals to make your journey cheaper and easier. Hawaiian vacation packages may include complimentary resort activities and increased amenities, but not food. Hawaii resorts provide free workout facilities, classes, child care, and kids camps, which can save you money.
While Hawaii doesn’t have all-inclusive resorts, the amenities, bonuses, discounts, and packages can be affordable. So you won’t feel guilty exploring Hawaii’s culture and islands throughout your vacation, U.S. News has selected the best Hawaiian resorts for value.
1. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa: Oahu
Disney characters meet tropical paradise at this family-friendly resort. Six pools, a private beach, a waterslide, a lazy river, a health center and classes, character experiences, and a free kids club are available at this O’ahu resort. Over 30 free activities, including nature walks, Disney movie nights, fire pit storytelling, and live music, make Aulani a good multigenerational getaway. There are also ukulele and hula lessons, adolescent gaming evenings, and ice cream socials.
Mickey Mouse and Moana are also available for photos and interactions. Members of the Disney Vacation Club can receive accommodation discounts, upgrades, free parking, member gifts, and special activities like character dance parties and Hawaiian oli (a cultural chant).
- Address: 92-1185 Ali’inui Drive, Kapolei, HI 96707
2. Royal Kona Resort: Island of Hawaii
The Royal Kona Resort’s resort fee includes a welcome mai tai, bottled water, an oceanfront pool and saltwater lagoon, a fitness center, yoga classes, live Hawaiian music, and cultural activities like ukulele, lei, and hula lessons. Recent guests at Royal Kona in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island rave about the lush tropical location, cleanliness, and range of activities on and off-site.
Online bookings provide packages that save money and make your stay feel like an all-inclusive resort. Free daily breakfast, a sunset dinner cruise, and a luau for two are included in the “Royal Experience Package”; other room add-ons include breakfast, parking, and car rental Signing up for the resort’s complimentary Royal Rewards reward program earns you welcome amenities and snack boxes.
- Address: 75-5852 Ali’i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
3. The Kahala Hotel & Resort: Oahu
Guest describes this five-star oceanfront resort with beach access as a magnificent hideaway with attentive service and thoughtful amenities in an exclusive residential setting… Less than 5 miles from Waikiki Beach and Kalakaua shops, the property has views of Diamond Head and Koko Head crater.
Free amenities at The Kahala Hotel & Resort include a lei greeting, bottled water, a health and fitness center, Hawaiian cultural classes (lei making and lauhala weaving), morning coffee and tea, bicycle rentals, shuttle service to nearby shopping centers, and beach loungers. Free photograph sessions are available on hotel grounds (photos are extra).
Consider a vacation package with breakfast or a full-service Kahala Spa credit to save more. Choose the “Mālama Hawaii” package for a more meaningful holiday, featuring beach cleanups and coastline restoration trips. The resort bundles airfare and rooms for convenience and savings.
- Address: 500 Kahala Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816
4. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua: Maui
Enjoy a tropical getaway at this 54-acre resort with ocean views and two championship golf courses. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua’s daily resort fee includes an improved lei greeting, a photo session, fitness programs, cultural tours, tennis, basketball, and shuffleboard.
Swim, join a yoga, hula, or origami lesson, construct a flower crown, enjoy a self-guided hotel cultural art tour or laze by the three-tiered pool. Attend a Hawaiian sunset ceremony. Guests can watch humpbacks from the property during peak whale season (mid-January to March) and learn about local marine life through the Ambassadors of the Environment program.
Packages include valet parking, resort credits, and golf. The Club Experience, which includes exclusive access to The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge at the Anuenue Room and unlimited free food and beverage throughout the day, is a great value for families. You can take grab-and-go items to the beach or back to your room. Recent guests love the gardens, but corporate gatherings make the hotel busy.
- Address: 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Kapalua, HI 96761
5. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay: Kauai
One Hotel Hanalei Bay is the place to stay if you want to stay at a hotel that cares about health and encourages you to explore the natural surroundings. It is also LEED-certified and carbon-neutral. This home is in Princeville, next to Hanalei Bay, across the island of Kaua’i from Poipu. People who have stayed there say it’s a beautiful place to swim, kayak, and paddleboard. The lodge doesn’t charge a fee, parking is free, and guests can use an Audi e-tron for free.
You can save money by booking with a deal that gives you a resort credit and up to 30% off your stay. You could also book a unique experience bundle that includes everything you need for a great trip. Some of these perks are a helicopter ride to and from the airport, a private surf session with the famous surfer Bill Hamilton, a private dinner on the beach with a massage for two, daily breakfast and personal training, or private cooking lessons with a chef.
- Address: 5520 Ka Haku Road, Princeville, HI 96722
6. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea: Maui
Discover the only Maui property without a resort charge, featuring lei greetings, nightly hula and torch lighting, putting green, croquet lawn, and game room fun. All day, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea serves chilled poolside snacks. You can swim in the ocean or pool and watch for breaching humpback whales (seasonally).
Tour the gardens, paddle an outrigger canoe, take a dive class, or use the resort’s free vehicle service to explore Wailea. Families will enjoy the free kids program with games, art, gardening, cooking, a touch pool, cultural activities, movies, and more. Resortgoers love the grounds and dining options.
Upgrade to the Club Floor for access to the private Club Lounge with continental breakfast, afternoon tea, snacks, hors d’oeuvres, evening cocktails, and dessert. A choice oceanfront suite includes free breakfast, welcome flowers, an in-room Peloton cycle, free parking, airport transfers, laundry services, and a personal assistant.
- Address: 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive, Maui, HI 96753
7. Royal Lahaina Resort: Maui
If you want to stay somewhere quiet and easy in Ka’anapali, the Royal Lahaina Resort is a great choice. The resort fee covers free fitness classes like Zumba and yoga, Hawaiian cultural classes like ukulele and hula lessons, a $20 credit for spa services, a fitness center, tennis, shuffleboard, and bocce fields.
You can walk around the grounds on your own and take a self-guided botanical garden tour. There are water refill stations all over the site, and you can take the shuttle to nearby Whalers Village shops and restaurants. When you book ahead of time or stay three nights or more, you can save money. New tourists say that the luau experience should be added.
- Address: 2780 Kekaa Drive, Lahaina, HI 96761
FAQ’s
Q1. What sets these Hawaii resorts apart in terms of amenities?
The resorts were chosen because they have great features like high-end rooms, restaurants with international cuisine, a wide range of fun activities, spas, and a dedication to giving guests an amazing Hawaiian experience.
Q2. Are these resorts truly all-inclusive, and what does that include?
Yes, these locations do offer all-inclusive packages that usually include lodging, meals, snacks, drinks (including some alcoholic ones), entertainment, and a lot of different things to do on-site. Some deals might also include trips outside the resort.
Q3. Can I find family-friendly amenities at these resorts?
Of course! These resorts are great for families because they have pools that kids can play in, kids' programs that are guided, and activities for people of all ages. Some even have family units or rooms that connect to each other.
