9 Stylish Hawaiian Hotels Whose Interiors Rival Those of the Fictional White Lotus

From 2,000-square-foot suites to in-residence dining opportunities, the amenities on offer are palpable
Image may contain Indoors Interior Design Room Furniture Plant Living Room Flower Blossom Wood Ornament and Vase
Inside the lobby at the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, the luxury resort opened in 2019.

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

From Celeste and Perry’s minimalist Scandinavian-inspired beach house on Big Little Lies to the Crellins’ De Gournay–swathed walls on Sharp Objects, the architecture and interiors gracing HBO Max’s recent slew of limited series are like their own characters. They subtly glide the story along without overshadowing either the actors or the compelling dialogue. That said, it’s impossible to ignore the impeccable architecture that takes cues from midcentury icons, as well as the carefully curated decor in each scene. This month’s most recently released HBO Max series with highly swanky interiors? The White Lotus, which was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, and makes an excellent argument for dropping everything and booking a flight to the U.S.’s 50th state.

 The White Lotus, filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui. 

For those seeking the luxurious spa experience that Jennifer Coolidge’s character is chasing, be sure to opt for a white-glove treatment in the Four Seasons’ renowned spa. The resort recently teamed up with health optimization and longevity center Next|Health, a collaboration that offers everything from deep tissue massages in oceanfront ​​thatched treatment huts to detox intravenous therapy. Otherwise, book a room, suite, or private villa at any of these design-centric Hawaiian hot spots that will make you want to binge The White Lotus one more time.

A suite at the Halepuna Waikiki.

Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani

The luxury resort may have opened its doors in 2019, but it’s quickly establishing its place at the top of the pack. Perhaps it’s because the 288-room (four of which are sizable suites) Honolulu oasis has managed to attract as many visitors from faraway places as it has locals. Though Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani features all of the luxe amenities expected of a AAA Four Diamond property, it also boasts a famed bakery and restaurant whose artisanal loaves of bread and decadent pastries are reason enough to extend a vacation. Not to mention the Urban Escape, a deck on the eighth floor where guests can dive into an infinity pool, hole up in a collection of private cabanas, and sip a tropical libation in a stylish bar.

The sweeping pool at the Grand Wailea. 

Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

From the original outpost in New York to the dreamy location in Amsterdam, the Waldorf Astoria has set the bar quite high, and the Wailea resort—on 40 lush acres—is hardly an exception. For starters, it features a 2,000-foot-long pool surrounded by Greek-inspired tented cabanas and seemingly limitless adjustable chaise longues. And the private villas are next-level extravagant. The oceanfront Ho’olei villas, for instance, boast panoramic ocean views in all three bedrooms, a luxury kitchen, and three and a half bathrooms. They even have a private lanai fitted with a grill.

A serene infinity pool at the Four Seasons Hualālai. 

Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

Idyllic waterfront retreats are getting a run for their money at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai on the overwhelmingly blue Kona-Kohala coast. The stately 249-room hotel, which just underwent a sweeping $100 million resort-wide renovation, may sit on 865 acres of white-sand beaches and black-lava landscapes, but the pièce de résistance is easily King’s Pond, Hualālai’s iconic 1.8-million-gallon swimmable aquarium. The pond’s dramatic refresh includes an elevated swimming pool, lounge deck, and Kumu Kai Marine Center, where on-site marine biologists’ interactive programming will most definitely keep you busy for the duration of your stay. Otherwise, spend the day at the Hualālai Golf Hale and practice with a pro or in one of the glossy wooden outdoor spa hales nestled within the resort’s tropical gardens. There is no wrong choice.

An aerial shot of the Four Seasons Maui Resort. 

Four Seasons Resort Maui

The 383-room Four Seasons Resort Maui completely elevates the concept of open-air beachfront resorts. No detail is left unattended—for one, the beautiful bushels of sweetly fragrant plumeria flowers flanking the adults-only infinity pool. There are also three delectable chef-driven dining concepts on the property: the sophisticated Ferraro’s Bar e Ristorante serving inspired Italian dishes, chef Wolfgang Puck’s famed Spago Maui, and the casual open-air Duo Steak and Seafood, which features an award-winning wine program.

But if The White Lotus has taught viewers anything, it’s the importance of an extravagant spa, and the Four Seasons Resort Maui’s takes the cake—especially with its new wellness-minded treatments offered in collaboration with Next|Health. Choose from a slew of IV drips that do everything from curing a hangover to improving gut health, or opt for a traditional healing facial or lymph drainage massage. Senior spa director Pat Makozak says, “Now, more than ever, guests are seeking to enhance their wellness while traveling. In collaboration with the experts from Next|Health, we are able to offer a next-level array of services that optimize health while guests are on Maui and beyond. Providing advanced treatments grounded in medical expertise is truly the next wave of wellness travel.” One such regimen that’s a bit more medically inclined? The series of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a naturally occurring coenzyme integral to a properly functioning metabolism) treatments. Guests can even combine the IV therapies with the NAD+ treatments to “tap into their fountains of youth,” Makozak adds.

The lush scape and pool at the Fairmont Orchid.

Fairmont Orchid

Situated on 32 truly pristine oceanfront acres along the black-lava Kohala coast of Hawaii Island, the Fairmont Orchid has made a concerted and noticeable effort to keep in step with the authentic energy of the island. Case in point: Upon walking through the heavy glass doors, guests are serenaded with traditional Hawaiian music. Plus, the resort offers expert cultural ambassadors who can teach you Hala frond weaving, lei making, and net throwing. They can also show you the best spots for stargazing and guide you on hikes to ancient petroglyphs.

It may be a sprawling resort, but the Fairmont Orchid is as relaxed as it is rural and charming. Not to mention: With three bars and six eateries, including a fine dining venue, a unique take on a traditional northern Japanese grill, and a casual thatched-roof hut, there’s no reason to leave the hotel.

The Westin Hapuna, a stone’s throw away from the Hawaiian shores. 

The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort

On the island of Hawaii, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort and its Arnold Palmer–designed 18-hole golf course, sit along the shores of its namesake beach, Hapuna Bay. Though Hawaii’s Big Island may be the most popular tourist destination, this resort is unique: It features a 249-room hotel and a collection of one- to four-bedroom residences that range from 670 to 3,500 square feet. And guests opting out of a traditional resort stay in favor of the Mauna Kea Residences still get to enjoy every amenity available to hotel guests, including the 6,800-square-foot freeform pool, adult-only infinity pool, indulgent menus at the three restaurants (plus the Piko Coffee+Bar), fitness studio, and spa, to name a few.

The lobby at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua.

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua

Tucked within 54 acres complete with hiking trails, natural sanctuaries, and six golden sand beaches, the 466-room hotel is as luxurious as to be expected of any Ritz-Carlton property. This one, however, offers six dining experiences, all of which boast local ingredients from the resort’s sustainable organic garden, spa treatments inspired by ancient Hawaiian traditions, and renowned golf courses. Typically taking up spots at the top of any golfer’s bucket list are this specific resort’s two 18-hole championship courses—especially the Plantation Course, which hosts the PGA Tour’s champions-only tournament.

An open-air walkway at the Montage Kapalua Bay. 

Montage Kapalua Bay

The Montage’s assemblage of sprawling resorts—from the Deer Valley, Utah, lodge-inspired hotel atop a steep mountain to the picturesque locale in Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina, where Southern hospitality reigns—know no bounds when it comes to luxury. Such is certainly the case at Montage Kapalua Bay. Most resorts tend to feel a bit grand, but the Montage’s Maui outpost is utterly intimate with its 50-plus residential-style lodgings (some of which are privately-owned Montage residences).

This year, the resort is rolling out a fresh take on private dining: extravagant culinary experiences led by newly appointed in-residence chef Riko Bartolome. Whether you opt for a full menu of up to 12 bespoke dishes (and live musical entertainment, course-by-course wine pairings, and an open bar) or go with a more interactive experience by sampling poke, poi, and lomi-lomi during live cooking demonstrations, you won’t go to bed hungry.

A bedroom with view at the Espacio The Jewel of Waikiki.

Espacio The Jewel of Waikiki

With nightly rates starting at $5,000, Espacio The Jewel of Waikiki may be Hawaii’s most lavish haute hotel. Of course, the nine 2,250-square-foot multi-bedroom suites, each of which occupies an entire floor, don’t hurt either. Guests of the highly exclusive spot can enjoy preferred reservations at the equally choice French-Japanese tasting concept, Mugen.

Did we mention that each three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom Espacio suite has sweeping ocean-view balconies outfitted with a Jacuzzi? Other in-suite amenities range from a private dry sauna and Bulgari bath products to fully equipped chef’s kitchens stocked with a customized selection of snacks and beverages.