A Luxurious 10 Days Visiting the Hawaiian Islands

One of the best things about staying at these luxury resorts is that each is a destination in itself. There is no need to rent a car, vet and search for the right tour guides and companies to trek all over the island in order to experience what each island has to offer. These resorts have everything you need, including some incredible and unique experiences that will have you feeling like you have it all right there.

Start your journey through the Hawaiian Islands on the Big Island. Mauna Lani is an Auberge Collection Resort on the stunning Kohala Coast. A quick 30 minute drive from KOA Airport, and you are transported to a stunning resort surrounded by a rugged natural coastline and swimmable beaches. You’ll never want to leave this resort - there is so much to do here, from e-biking around lava fields, royal fish ponds and golf courses to see petroglyphs, to a sunrise canoe paddle where you’ll greet the sun coming over the mountain, a sacred experience (and I saw spouting whales and rainbows during this experience making me wonder if this was real life!), to surfing, snorkeling, golf, tennis, pickleball, spa, luau, paddle boarding, lei-making and spa treatments. My absolute favorite was the Kalama Kai experience - an intimate private yacht experience where we saw so many whales, snorkeled and dove under coral arches and had a beautiful lunch of ahi tacos, delicious gourmet sandwiches and fresh fruit while hearing old Hawaiian stories from our Captain. The staff here was truly exceptional.

At Mauna Lani, every restaurant was superb and the meals fresh and delicious. We started at Canoe House, watched the sunset and dined under the stars. We had an excellent buffet breakfast at HaLani, enjoyed cocktails at HaBar and had a special private dinner experience at the Surf Shack (and enjoyed time with our amazing chef, who kindly explained how each dish connected to his family traditions on the island). There’s also a well stocked market for quick bites and meals to go, as well as the Hale Ho’Aloha Luau on Friday evenings.

The next island is Kauai. The only hotel I dream of on this island is the ocean front 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on the north side. The views of the majestic mountain range and Hanalei Bay are breathtaking, and the newly built resort has beautifully designed, comfortable rooms. The 1 Hotel is focused on wellness and cultural experiences, including sunrise meditation, breathwork, pranic healing, high intensity workouts, snorkeling, paddleboarding, pools, beaches, golf, pilates, yoga, local crafts and private experiences.

The 1 Hotel Hanalei strives to provide local, sustainable and plant focused cuisine. I Kitchen is the signature restaurant open for breakfast and dinner. All Day Cafe is great for a quick breakfast, lunch or snack. Sandbox is perfect for a poolside, locally sourced Hawaiian lunch - think poke bowls and fish tacos, or head to Kai Maika’i at the adult pool for a light meal and craft cocktails. Welina Terrace is great for artisan cocktails and a stunning view. You can even get shaved ice at Wai’oli at this resort.

Next, hop on a quick flight to Oahu and be picked up in a luxury SUV, arranged by Turtle Bay Resort. An hour later, you’ll arrive at the legendary surf breaks of the North Shore where you’ll stay in an ocean view room, roomy suite or oceanfront bungalow. I recommend the Ocean Club Room for lounge access and several food presentations throughout the day. This resort offers a ton of experiences - golf, horseback riding (yes - they have their own stables), pools, several beaches, kayaking with turtles, a multi-island helicopter expedition, beach picnics, cultural bike tours, Paniolo Luau, surf lessons and more. The Nalu Spa is perfect for relaxation. The resort is on 1300 acres, including farmland.

Turtle Bay offers several restaurants, including Alaia which serves up modern Hawaiian comfort food, Ho’Olana for a quick bite, the Beach Club, Beach House by Yamaguchi and Lei Lei’s Bar and Grill at the golf club. We were so lucky to have been able to experience a special private beach picnic served by the chef and his team and a chef-curated private Pavilion dinner. I highly recommend requesting these unique private dinners for a memorable meal.

When you have your fill of exciting activities, you’ll need some relaxation and rejuvenation. You’ll want to show up 30 minutes before your private charter flight on Lanai Air to get to your next destination - the small island of Lanai, population right around 3,000 people. You’ll be picked up in a Luxury Shuttle Bus and transferred to your preferred Four Seasons property - The Four Seasons Lanai or The Sensei.

The Four Seasons Lanai is ocean facing, and the large rooms are elegantly designed. Away from the crowds of Oahu, this is a secluded island paradise, perfect for lounging by the pools with serene ocean views, golf, private catamaran tours, horseback riding, sporting clays, hikes, tennis, whale watching, snorkel or sunset sailing. Amazing for couples, friends and families.

Dining at the Four Seasons Lanai is an elevated culinary experience at Nobu Lanai (Japanese) and One Forty (steaks, seafood). Malibu Farm offers fresh and locally sourced meals for a poolside lunch. Take out items can be picked up at The Break and the Malibu Farm Bar and Nobu Bar offer upscale cocktails, wines and sake.

If you choose The Sensei, you will be doing a quick shuttle ride into the mountains, where temperatures can be a bit cooler. This adult sanctuary and wellness resort blew me away - the lush tropical garden paradise was unlike any I had seen before and the art collection was incredible. The wellness offerings are extensive - yoga (of course), guided hikes, meditation, floating yoga, golf, sailing, horseback riding, sporting clays, archery, Lanai Adventure Park, electric mountain biking and guided sessions (I did a Mindset session and it was great for a work and balance reset). There are highly recommended spa services here, as they are done in a private Hale, which are exquisite private bungalows with onsen baths, infrared sauna and steam room, along with a wooden Japanese style bathtub. One of the most special things about this resort is the onsen garden - they have 10 private onsen (natural hot springs) you can experience in nature privately whenever you wish. Pure paradise!

The Sensei offers fresh and locally focused cuisine and dining options include Sensei by Nobu with indoor or outdoor dining in a Glass Pavilion overlooking the pond and lush gardens. Koele Garden Bar is great for light meals, cocktails and wine.

I hope this trip report inspires you to experience more than just one island on your next trip to Hawai'i. There are many amazing resorts on all these islands which are great for couples getaways or multi-generational trips. Reach out and let me plan your perfect Hawaiian Islands vacation!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Hawai'i. In need of further inspiration? Check out Anne Bisgaard’s guide, Oahu, Hawai’i: A Perfect Blend of Natural Beauty, Cultural Exploration and Relaxation.