The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best in travel in the West. These resorts are the 2025 winners of the Where to Stay: Best in Hawaii category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive and searchable travel directory to help you plan your next trip in the West, click here.
Mauna Lani
Courtesy of Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
The quintessential Big Island Kohala Coast resort packs all that you expect of a Hawaiian vacation into its beautiful 34 acres: lush tropical gardens, warm and welcoming service, restaurants serving island and international coastal cuisine, and a spectacular swimmable white sand beach with a new amenity-rich beach club. A modern classic.
Kaimana Beach Hotel
Courtesy of Kaimana Beach Hotel
Kaimana Beach Hotel is a beloved Waikiki icon on Oahu’s Gold Coast, where midcentury style meets surfy boho charm. It’s also home to world champion Kai Sallas’ surf shop, where you’ll find his signature Pez-colored longboards and the site of his exclusive retreats. Just steps from the sand, this 122-room boutique stay offers laid-back luxury with stunning views, a lively beachfront restaurant perfect for pau hana happy hours, and immersive experiences like lei-making, sunrise yoga, and surf lessons with Sallas himself.
Sheraton Maui
Courtesy of Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Paradise is found along the Kaanapali Coast at this dramatically positioned family-friendly hotel, situated right in front of the sacred Pu’u Keka’a (Black Rock). You’ll have beachfront access to 23 acres of tropical luxury and white sand beaches. And, did we mention the stellar mai tais and craft cocktails at The Sandbar, which are worthy of a trip in and of themselves?
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows
Courtesy of Royal Lahaina Resort
Set on 27 oceanfront acres of Kaanapali Beach once favored by Hawaiian royalty, Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows is a locally owned Maui icon that’s been welcoming guests since 1962. After housing locals during the Lahaina fires, the property revitalized its adorable beachside bungalows and added a darling new restaurant concept, showing that this beloved retreat’s historic charm still holds up.
The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay
Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay
Spanning 1,180 acres on Oahu’s legendary North Shore, The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay is an expansive luxury escape where you’ll feel a world away from it all. Situated on five miles of removed coastline, you’ll find transformative island experiences like the North Shore champ Jamie O’Brien’s surf school and a Hawaiian Cowboy luau that highlights the heritage of the paniolo. The expansive resort blends natural beauty with world-class amenities and is an absolute paradise for surfers, ocean lovers, and folks just simply wanting to unplug, island style.
