When Hawaii’s exoticism was intoxicating and only the most privileged came here to get away, the Halekulani was there. In fact, it’s been here for nearly 100 years. And amazingly, it’s still one of Hawaii’s top hotels and a favorite of honeymooners and vow renewers. No surprise: The Halekulani oozes romance. Made up of five buildings in Waikiki, the resort trades floral patterns and tropical kitsch for soothing shades of white and brown. And no one goes without a lanai to catch glimpses of Pacific sunsets and emerald Diamond Head (and a full 90 percent of the rooms have ocean views).

For more information: Halekulani, Oahu

“I love the location of this stunning resort,” said Linda Reist of Azumano Travel. “It is situated on a secluded bay in a very affluent neighborhood, ten minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. I’ll be back again this October.” James Gandolfini and the Prince of Monaco are also fans.

For more information: Kahala Hotel & Resort

Located on Kauai’s sunny southern shore, the Grand Hyatt wins high marks for its almost eerily sharp service and awe-inspiring spa facilities. The hotels' ANARA spa is currently in the midst of a multi-million dollar expansion which will result in a staggering 45,000 feet of space exclusively devoted to sybaritic pursuits. One of the more family friendly luxury hotels in Hawaii, the Grand Hyatt hosts an array of activities for kids and parents, including visits to nearby sugar plantations.

For more information: Grand Hyatt Kauai, Kauai

“Koele Lodge on Lanai is like being in Scotland in Hawaii,” said Bev Gannon, Chef and Owner of Haile’Maile and Joe’s Simple Delicious Food. “Large Cooke Pines all over, cool breezes, warm, wonderful great rooms with fireplaces at each end, afternoon tea… great golf for my husband… local Hawaiian music playing… a unique Hawaii experience.”

For more information: Four Seasons Resort Lanai

, Manele Bay

Set on high lava bluffs along Lanai’s dry and hot southern coast, this Four Seasons property overlooks dolphin-popular Hulopoe Beach (a five-minute walk away) and feels a million miles from everything. That’s not surprising, of course, since Lanai is practically a private island unto itself, with only 30 miles of paved road and no traffic signals. There is another Four Seasons here (taken over from Castle & Cooke Resorts), but as the other is the English-style Lodge at Koele, in the island’s interior, this is your best waterfront option. With a large beach and a Jack Nicklaus oceanfront golf course (and since tiny Lanai is not built for extensive sightseeing), the emphasis is on totally unplugging.

For more information: Four Seasons Resort Lana'i

Staying at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is like walking back a century, to a time when package tourists didn't flood the beaches of Hawaii in search of the perfect sunset and the ideal tan. Set on the lush North Kona coast of the Big Island, the meandering resort is a collection of two-story bungalows carved into a lava field (which is still evident in the outdoor showers and curved walls throughout the property). The ultimate goal is to be authentically Hawaiian, and in its own Four Seasons way, it excels.

For more information: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Since it debuted in 1990 as the first Four Seasons in Hawaii, this jewel of a property has been winning raves and hospitality awards. Set on the southeast coast of Maui (which also boasts the island’s nicest weather), the resort feels like an oasis of privilege even though it’s surrounded by upscale properties. Site-specific renovations began in August 2006, sparing guests excessive construction hassles but bringing the resort’s decor, which was looking dated, into the same league as its service. Fortunately, the resort was spared any major damage in the earthquake of October 2006.

For more information: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

NOTE: The Maunau Kea is currently closed as a result of the October 2006 earthquake. Mauna Kea, built by Laurence Rockefeller in 1965, is the Big Island’s grande dame, now somewhat faded from its years as Hawaii’s in spot for the rich and famous. The 60-acre resort has one of the best beaches on the island, a white-sand bay set between black volcanic rocks. The modernist architecture is offset by 1,600 pieces of Asian and Pacific art, some of which are antiques, ranging from Buddhas to tikis. For many years Mauna Kea was the only place to stay, but the competition now includes the Four Seasons Hualalai, a tough act to beat. The Japanese-owned Prince Resorts opened the sister Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel next door in 1994, and now the shuttle-connected resorts share restaurants and facilities.READ REVIEW »

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A Hawaiian classic harking back to the days when visitors to the Aloha State were greeted with leis on the tarmac, this 60-year-old resort on the deliciously undeveloped east coast of Maui is not your standard Hawaiian beach hotel. Set on 66 lush acres of a 4,000-acre ranch, the cottage-style property of manicured gardens and grazing horses has the feel of a graceful Hawaiian plantation more than a Honolulu luau. Some well-heeled families have been coming here for generations, but since the resort's much-needed 2002 renovation, movers and shakers as well as serenity seekers have discovered it, coming for the natural Hawaiian setting, daily yoga and award-winning Honua Spa.

For more information: Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa

The most incredible thing about the Ihilani is not the awesome oceanfront location, the fabulous golf course or the incredible cuisine. It's the fact that Marriott has somehow transformed a suburban setting on the western edge of Honolulu into a vacation oasis that seems more like the end of the earth than a short drive from the biggest city in the entire Pacific. Ihilani is one of the few places in Hawaii where you get the best of both worlds: a tranquil retreat within easy striking distance of killer nightlife; a quintessential seaside setting only minutes away from big-city shopping; strolling along an empty beach by morning and going wild on Waikiki by afternoon. Why bother with the other islands when you can get the whole Hawaiian package in a single place?

For more information: JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa

NOTE - the resort is closed for a $125 million dollar renovation and will open in January 2008. When the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua was first being built at the beginning of the '90s, all of Maui rose up to protest the potential desecration of an ancient Hawaiian burial site. As a result, the entire resort was moved back considerably, leaving the sacred grounds intact on the bluff over the ocean, and ever since, Ritz-Carlton has made an effort to provide guests with as much knowledge of Hawaiian culture as they care to absorb. Yet it's hardly just a cultural hotel: The plantation-style U-shaped building is set in a former pineapple plantation that's now home to three championship golf courses, and from the moment guests pass the entry gates it's like having joined an exclusive country club.

For more information: The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua