Halekulani

At 453 rooms it’s not small. But once you’ve settled on Waikiki Beach as a destination it’s clear that you’ve decided to forget about secondary concerns like secrecy, exclusivity, hipness, and the like, and simply focus on pleasure. And at that point you could do a whole lot worse than Halekulani.

After all Hawaii is nothing if not accessible — there’s something to be said for the romance of an arduous journey but there’s also something to be said for maximizing your beach time. And Halekulani does a very fine job of modulating the hustle and bustle of what can be a very busy location.

It’s got 5 acres of prime beachfront all to itself, and a recent renovation leaves it looking fairly sharp — in conservative creams and whites, with traditional rattan furnishings, but with views like these (and most rooms face the sea) there’s plenty to look at. For an added dose of style you can always book the Vera Wang suite, down by the water’s edge.

The up side to a resort of Halekulani’s size is that it’s completely self-sufficient. With two pools, three restaurants, and a spa and fitness center, it’s got all the bases covered — plus a charmingly old-fashioned shopping arcade.