Even though Hawaii began welcoming back visitors a week ago, many hotels have yet to reopen. So, I’ve put together a Hawaii hotel reopening guide to help navigate the Hawaii hotel reopening process.
With travel recovery expected to take years, Hawaii’s hotels are taking their time with reopening. True, some hotels never closed, but many did. So, I’ve put together a guide to help you navigate the reopening schedules.
Now, I don’t have all the time in the world to write this post. So, I will only cover the properties under the three major global hoteliers, Hawaii’s two dominant homegrown chains, and a smattering of some of Hawaii’s other well-known hotels.
Now Open
On day one of the pre-travel testing program, some hotels that did open included the Royal Kona Resort, Montage Kapalua Bay, and the Hyatt Regency Maui. In fact, hotels currently open include:
- Aqua-Aston
- Executive Center Hotel
- Waikiki Beach Tower
- Skyline at Island Colony
- Aqua Oasis
- Palms Waikiki
- Luana Waikiki Hotel & Suites
- Aloha Surf Waikiki
- Pagoda Hotel
- Maui Ka’anapali Villas
- Aston Maui Hill
- Mahana at Ka’anapali
- The Whaler on Ka’anapali Beach
- Aston Kona by the Sea
- Hilton
- Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo
- Kohala Suites by HGV
- Hilton Waikiki Beach
- Hokulani Waikiki by HGV
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
- Hampton Inn & Suites Oahu/Kapolei
- Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay
- Hyatt
- Regency Waikiki Beach
- Regency Maui
- Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach
- Residence Club Ka’anapali Beach
- Marriott
- The Laylow Waikiki
- Courtyard Waikiki Beach
- Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
- Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport
- Sheraton Kona Keahou Bay – wasn’t this being sold?
- Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach
- Residence Inn Oahu Kapolei
- Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club
- Sheraton Kauai Resort Villas
- Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu
- Marriott’s Waiahai Beach Club
- The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas
- The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Ka’anapali
- Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club
- Courtyard Oahu North Shore
- Kauai Marriott Resort
- Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club
- Marriott’s Kauai Lagoons – Kalanipu’u
- The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
- Ritz-Carlton Residence Waikiki Beach
- Marriott Waikoloa Ocean Club
- Residence Inn Maui Wailea
- Outrigger
- Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort
- Ohana Waikiki Malia
- Waikiki Shore
- Regency on Beachwalk Waikiki
- Airport Honolulu Hotel
- Honua Kai Resort
- The Kapalua Villas Maui
- Aina Nalu Lahaina
- Kaanapali Maui at the Eldorado
- Napili Shores Maui
- Palms at Wailea Maui
- Royal Kahana Maui
- Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai
- Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa Kauai
- Lae Nani Resort Kauai
- Royal Sea Cliff
- Kanaloa at Kona
- Fairway Villas Waikoloa
- Kohala Coast Vacation Rentals
Other hotels currently open that I’d like to give a shout out to include the Alohilani Resort, the Surfjack Hotel (they never closed), The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Four Seasons Lanai, Four Seasons Lanai Sensei, The Modern Honolulu, and the New Otani Kaimana Beach.
Clearly, Marriott is your best bet for point redemption opportunities right now. Though, at least on Oahu, most of their larger, signature properties remain closed. Even Hilton is keeping its largest properties closed for the time being. Hyatt seems to be the sole exception, which probably has to do with the fact that they have the smallest footprint out of the three.
Reopening in November
The next wave of hotel openings happens throughout the month of November. That includes the following:
- Aqua-Aston
- Ewa Hotel
- Waikiki Circle Hotel
- Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites
- Ilikai Lite
- Papakea Resort
- Ka’anapali Shores
- Paki Maui
- Aston at the Maui Banyan
- Waikoloa Colony Villas
- Shores at Waikoloa
- Islander on the Beach
- Poipu Kai
- Hilton
- Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alana
- King’s Land by HGV
- Hilton Waikoloa Beach
- Ocean Tower by HGV (Waikoloa)
- Grand Wailea
- Ho’olei at Grand Wailea
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Oahu Kapolei
- Hyatt
- Andaz Maui
- Grand Hyatt Kauai
- Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach
- The Lodge at Kukui’ula
- Mauna Lani Point
- Wailea Grand Champions Villas
- Wailea Beach Villas
- Polo Beach Club
- Ka’anapali Ali’i
- Wailea Ekahi Village
- Wailea Ekolu Village
- Marriott
- Waikiki Beach Marriott
- Sheraton Waikiki
- Westin Moana Surfrider
- Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Beach Hotel
- Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
- Westin Hapuna Beach
- Sheraton Maui Resort
- Westin Maui Resort & Spa
- Ritz-Carlton Kapalua
- The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
- Waikoloa Beach Marriott
- Marriott’s Waikoloa Ocean Club
- Wailea Beach Resort
- Outrigger
- Waikiki Beachcomber (reopens 10/31)
Notable hotels not under these brands reopening in November include the Aulani, Hawaii Prince, Four Seasons Maui, Fairmont Kea Lani, Fairmont Orchid, Auberge Mauna Lani Resort, and the Lahaina’s Plantation Inn.
Reopening In December
In December, we see most of the rest of the big brands’ hotels reopening.
- Aqua-Aston
- Espacio the Jewel of Waikiki
- Hilton
- Hyatt
- Hana Maui Resort
- Lahaina Shores Beach Resort
- Marriott
- Royal Hawaiian Hotel
- Outrigger
- Ohana Waikiki East
It’s worth noting that the Halepuna Waikiki is expected to reopen on November 30-ish, while the Four Seasons Hualalai plans on reopening on December 1.
Not Reopening This Year
Since COVID-19 looks like it’ll be around for a while, some hotels opted to reschedule renovation work. Two that I can remember off the top of my head include the Halekulani Hotel and the Turtle Bay Resort. So, don’t expect to be able to stay at either of these icons any time soon.
For its part, the Halekulani Hotel plans to reopen in July 2021. However, few details are available regarding the Turtle Bay Resort’s renovation plans. They did, however, hold an auction to sell off their old furniture recently.
Outrigger plans to reopen the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort on March 31, 2021, while it hasn’t set a reopening date for the Best Western The Plaza Hotel yet.
Aqua-Aston plans to open both the Waikiki Banyan and the Waikiki Sunset in January 20201. At this time, no reopening date has been set for the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel.
Four Seasons Oahu in Ko Olina has yet to set a reopening date.
Hawaii Hotels Plan a Gradual Reopening, Final Thoughts
If you came to Hawaii recently or are planning on visiting Hawaii in the next couple of months, I’m curious – where are you all planning on staying? Where do you usually stay when you visit Hawaii? Do you have a favorite hotel here?
The reopening strategies in use by the different brands, I admit, is a bit interesting too. Marriott, the largest hotelier, is opening the most hotels early on. Though, Aqua-Aston and Outrigger are both opening A LOT early on too. Hilton, on the other hand, seems to be holding back a bit. While Hyatt has a small, but aggressive opening schedule. Again, though, they are also the smallest of the groups listed above, so I can see why.
It’s worth noting that all of the above dates are subject to change. After all, cases are surging around the US and the EU. Heck, even parts of Asia are seeing increases in cases. So, naturally, there are concerns that infection rates here will increase and trigger another shutdown. And, even if that doesn’t happen, we could see demand seriously fall off. For reference, we’re seeing about 8,000 arrivals per day right now, which is down from 30,000 arrivals per day last year.
Westin Maui Resort and Spa is also opening in November
Also, Sheraton Kona was being sold but due to COVID hardship, Outrigger pulled out after extending the close day a month. It’s now staying Marriott managed and they’re still going to invest in a renovation.
Thanks for the intel, Eric. That makes sense and is a win for Bonvoy members! And thanks for points out the Westin Maui – I guess I missed that one haha
Any idea when the Four Seasons Ko’Olina will open? Website says the hotel is closed and not taking any reservations.
Aloha Jason, unfortunately, FS Oahu has not provided any reopening information, nor have they updated their reservation system. All FS Lanai properties are open now, though, while the FS Hualalai plans to reopen on December 1.