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While Oahu may be popular among romance-seeking couples and surfers, it also offers plenty of family-friendly activities and resorts that cater to the kids. Whether you’re looking to be in the heart of the action at Waikiki Beach or enjoy a more remote setting away from the crowds, you’ll find the perfect place to stay here. These properties offer everything from budget-friendly rooms to luxurious villas.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa - Kapolei
The Aulani is sure to thrill the kids as one of the top family-friendly resorts in Hawaii and the world. This Disney resort comes complete with their favorite characters who roam the grounds, ready to pose for pictures. The daily Disney character breakfast buffet is a big hit, although the stunning pool, lazy river, water slides, and private snorkeling lagoon are a definite highlight too. Other notable features include a beach with calm water for swimming, child-friendly dance parties, and daytime activities. You’ll appreciate the spacious rooms, all of which have kitchenettes, with upgraded options including full kitchens and laundry facilities.
Turtle Bay Resort - Kahuku
The only true resort on the North Shore, Turtle Bay Resort offers a gorgeous, remote location away from the big tourist crowds. It also boasts a long list of amenities that are sure to please all ages. There are two championship golf courses and many other activities, including everything from surfing lessons to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Plus, there are dozens of little tide pools and opportunities to watch sea turtles in their natural environment. Kids will love talking to the parrots every morning and even feeding fish and turtles. There’s a pool for the younger ones with a fun splash slide and another pool the whole family can enjoy too. All accommodation comes with an ocean view, but the ocean villas are perfect for families.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort - Honolulu
The oceanfront Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort feels like a true island village, set across 22 acres of lush gardens with tropical flowers. It comes complete with its 10,000-square-foot Super Pool, Paradise Pool, and waterslides. Kids up to 12 can enjoy Camp Penguin, which can include outings to nearby attractions, craft sessions, movies, and more. Older kids and adults love the beach, with water sports gear available for rent. There are multiple restaurants, bars, and cafes, serving locally sourced and seasonal Hawaiian ingredients, while the 3,000+ rooms are extra-spacious, spread across five huge towers.
Sheraton Waikiki - Honolulu
Set along the best stretch of Waikiki Beach, the Sheraton Waikiki is a high-rise hotel that boasts sweeping ocean views and a wide array of family-friendly activities. It has two pools for the kids, including one of the largest in Waikiki, a freeform Helumoa pool, and a shallow pool for tiny tots. For parents who want to take part in activities like surfing lessons or relax at the spa, which offers multiple pampering body treatments, Poppins Daycare is available for kids 12 and younger. Rooms come with ocean, mountain or ocean views.
Waikiki Shore by Outrigger - Honolulu
Tucked along Waikiki Beach, Waikiki Shore by Outrigger is an ideal option for families with accommodation that includes everything from studios to two-bedroom condos. Features include floor-to-ceiling windows, flat-screen TVs, kitchens or kitchenettes, and private balconies. Some boast unparalleled views of the ocean and iconic Diamond Head. The sand and the sea are the top attraction here, with water fun for all ages and abilities, from beginner surf lessons to customized surf excursions. Outrigger canoe surfing and stand-up paddleboarding are popular too. After a day of recreation and adventure (excursions can be arranged at the hotel’s independently-owned tour and activity desk), guests can enjoy Dive-In movie nights and live music while dining on Hawaiian fare.
Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel - Honolulu
This ocean-view hotel is just across the street from Kuhio Beach, only a three-minute walk from the Honolulu Zoo. It has rooms that include video game systems, flat-screen TVs, and balconies, most of which have at least a partial ocean view. A DVD and video game library is complimentary. There’s a big ocean view pool and a lively tiki-inspired eatery that serves Pacific Rim dishes featuring local, sustainable ingredients. It also offers a variety of weekly events and live music.
Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club - Honolulu
The Surfjack is more of a boutique resort, ideal for families who want plenty of space with one-, two- and three-bedroom suites that come with various bed configurations, plus balconies or lanais. If you want to experience Hawaiian culture firsthand, take part in a creative workshop like lei making with a floral master or flower crown making, although it’s easy to spend your days at the beach, just a few blocks away. Enjoy the outdoor pool with cabanas, poolside movies, and complimentary bicycles for exploring on two wheels. There is an on-site restaurant and many other eateries close by.
Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club - Kapolei
Surrounded by lush greenery on 640 acres in a gated community, this Marriott property sits on a gorgeous beach in a manmade protected cove, lined with sunbeds and lounge chairs. The highlight, however, is its three heated lagoon-style pools with waterfalls, waterslides, and hot tubs. There’s also a sandy zero-entry swimming area for kids and the Keiki Club for ages 5 through 12. The Mermaid Kariel and Friends events are a big hit with the younger ones, including “swimming with a mermaid” and mermaid storytime. Complimentary activities like Hawaiian Lei Making, the Ko Olina Oceanside Theatre, and Aqua Bingo can be enjoyed too. Rooms have kitchenettes, but there are also villas with full kitchens and multiple bedrooms.
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa - Honolulu
The oceanfront Moana Surfrider was Waikiki’s first hotel, with its doors opened back in 1901. It offers historic charm and plenty of luxuries, along with what’s often called the best stretch of sand on Waikiki Beach. It also has a beachfront pool, a popular spot for families to be, along with activities like hula dancing, snorkeling, and making leis. Supervised programs are available for the kids when parents need a break, perhaps enjoying a traditional Hawaiian massage at the spa. A casual beach bar for drinks and light bites and a full-service oceanfront restaurant serving Hawaiian and mainland dishes can be found on-site too. Rooms come with a long list of amenities, with cribs available upon request. The Tower Wing rooms are the most spacious, making them best for families.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa - Honolulu
Set in two towers overlooking Waikiki Beach and the ocean, the Hyatt Regency offers lots for families, including a kids’ club and Hawaiian-themed activities, like ukulele lessons, lei-making classes, and hula dancing. It’s also possible to spend time together at the beach, build sandcastles, swim in the pool, and relax in the hot tubs. Surfing classes are available too. There’s a full-service spa, a breakfast buffet, and a steak and seafood restaurant with terrace seating, while rooms are all spacious and bright with picturesque mountain, sea, or city views. If you can swing it, book the King Family Ocean Suite, which boasts 1,000-square-feet of space, a balcony with an ocean view, and many extra perks.
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina - Kapolei
This family-friendly luxury resort offers four pools and a swimmable beach, even for the kids. It sits right along the shore in the posh Ko Olina development, a half-hour’s drive west of Honolulu, boasting lavish rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, private lanais, and spectacular ocean or mountain views, some of the best you’ll find in Oahu. Families can snorkel, play in the sand, enjoy the pools, learn how to hula or play the ukulele. The spa even offers special kid-friendly manicures and facials. The complimentary kids’ program for ages 5 to 12 features a wide range of fun and educational activities, while dining options include American, seafood, Italian, and buffets.
The Kahala Hotel & Resort - Honolulu
The Kahala Hotel & Resort has been around for nearly 60 years, located about 10 minutes from Waikiki Beach, with complimentary shuttle service to a number of attractions nearby. A beachfront hotel, it has two swimming pools, including one just for kids, multiple on-site eateries with plenty of options to please the younger ones, a spa, and a children’s program. All rooms come with kitchens and all the standard amenities like Wi-Fi.
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort - Honolulu
The “Pink Palace of the Pacific” sits on the waterfront, offering the perfect mix of relaxation for the adults and fun for the kids. What makes it a standout is the tranquil setting, yet right next door, guests have access to the Sheraton amenities, including a pool with a waterslide and multiple affordable, casual eateries. If you want to learn to surf, the Royal Hawaiian’s beach activities kiosk is the place to go. It also hosts its own pool, onsite dining, and cultural programming. Rooms come in various layouts great for families, like the Ali’i Suite that sleeps up to four featuring panoramic views and a full kitchen.
Halekulani Hotel - Honolulu
One of the best luxury hotels for families, Halekulani offers gorgeous rooms with breathtaking ocean views and a family-friendly vibe. The poolside restaurant serves kid-friendly food and delicious virgin drinks for the kids, while the staff goes out of their way to show the little ones a good time, sometimes even joining in on a game of hide-and-seek. There’s nightly entertainment, including hula dancing, a large beach, and frequent opportunities to watch sea turtles too.
