Hawaii’s hotel options are changing in 2026. A new-build resort on Kauai, a flagship renovation on the Kohala Coast, Waikiki’s oldest hotel finishing a facelift, and the first hotel in West Oahu near the new rail line. Whether you’re planning a first trip or your tenth, the options for where to stay are expanding.

Here’s what’s opening, what’s renovated, and what’s worth watching.

Where to Stay on Kauai (2026): Best Areas, Hotels & Resorts

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The first Curio Collection by Hilton property in Hawaii. It’s a new-build, not a conversion, set on a bluff overlooking the ocean and Ha’upu Mountain within the Hōkūala Resort community near Līhu’e Airport.

The property is within walking distance of Kalapaki Beach — a naturally protected bay with calm, swimmable water year-round. Amenities include a signature restaurant overlooking a tropical lagoon, an outdoor pool, fitness center, and access to the Ocean Course at Hōkūala, a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. There’s also 2,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 10,000 square feet of outdoor event space.

Designed by Hart Howerton in collaboration with Architects Hawaii, backed by a $150 million construction loan from Civitas Capital Group. General Manager Jon Itoga comes from Waikiki Beach Marriott. Hilton Honors members will earn and redeem points here.

For visitors, the location is strategic. Līhu’e is your arrival point on Kauai, and the resort puts you within easy driving distance of Waimea Canyon, Poipu, and the North Shore. Grab a rental car at the airport and you’re at the hotel in 10 minutes.

Where to Stay on Big Island (2026): Best Areas & Hotels

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The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has been one of the Big Island’s defining properties since Laurance Rockefeller opened it in 1965. The multiphase $200 million renovation is finishing its final piece: the spa. The rest of the property — rooms, lobby, restaurants, pool area — is already refreshed.

The Mauna Kea occupies one of the best stretches of sand on the Kohala Coast. Kauna’oa Bay is crescent-shaped, protected, and gorgeous. The hotel’s golf course (designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.) consistently ranks among the best in Hawaii. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to book the Mauna Kea, the full renovation completion this spring makes the case. Check rates at the Mauna Kea on Expedia.

Just down the coast from the Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani is adding luxurious oceanfront two-bedroom suites. Private lanais, floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in showers. The Auberge brand has positioned this as the Big Island’s top luxury pick since taking over management in 2020.

The first hotel in ‘Ewa Beach, a dual-branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House with 240 rooms. The five-story property includes a pool, spa, dining room, and fitness center. It’s located within the Ho’opili master-planned community, adjacent to a Skyline rail station.

This is a different play than Waikiki. West Oahu gives you proximity to Ko Olina, Kapolei shopping, and easy rail access to Honolulu and Ala Moana. For repeat visitors who’ve done Waikiki and want a local-feeling base with lower rates, this is interesting. For business travelers, the rail connection changes the equation entirely.

Where to Stay on Oahu (2026): Best Areas, Hotels & Resorts

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The “First Lady of Waikiki” — Hawaii’s oldest hotel, opened in 1901 — is in the final stages of a comprehensive renovation. The lobby and Tower wing are already complete. The Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort and Spa, sits directly on Waikiki Beach with the famous banyan tree courtyard.

The renovation is a restoration rather than a reimagining. The historic character stays. The bones of the original building, the verandas, the colonial architecture, all preserved. Rooms and common areas get modern updates without losing what makes this place feel different from every other tower in Waikiki. Check rates at the Moana Surfrider on Expedia.

The most anticipated and most uncertain project on this list. The Coco Palms Resort on Kauai — famous from the 1961 Elvis Presley film “Blue Hawaii” — has been abandoned since Hurricane Iniki destroyed it in 1992. Reef Capital Partners took ownership in 2022 and announced a $400+ million redevelopment as a Kimpton Hotel (IHG).

The plan calls for 350 accommodations, a spa, three pools, a cultural center, and a restored torch-lighting ceremony. Officially, the opening target is 2026.

The reality is less certain. Construction activity has stalled, legal challenges around the original foreclosure sale remain unresolved, and community opposition is persistent — including a 10,000-signature petition to convert the land to a park. A 2026 opening looks unlikely at this point. File this under “watch but don’t book around.”

Not a hotel opening, but a significant dining shift. Chef Alan Wong — one of the founders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine — is opening a new restaurant at The Kahala Hotel and Resort in early 2026, replacing the resort’s longtime fine dining restaurant, Hoku’s.

Hawaii Lodging Taxes: What You'll Pay in 2026

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The Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) increased to 11% from 10.25% starting January 1, 2026. That’s on top of the 4.712% General Excise Tax (GET) that most counties apply to hotel stays. Combined, you’re looking at roughly 15.7% in taxes on accommodations.

New parking fees are also hitting four state parks: $5 per person entry and $10 per vehicle. These apply to non-residents at parks that previously had no entry fee or lower fees.

None of this is unique to Hawaii — tourism taxes are rising everywhere. But it’s worth factoring into your budget, especially for longer stays.