Best Hotels in Hawaii

What makes a hotel qualify as one of the best in Hawaii? At Oyster, we know that the "best hotel" is different for just about everyone. For some, the best hotel is the most luxurious, and for others, it's the one that offers the most for kids. We compiled lists of the best luxury hotels, best value hotels, best family-friendly hotels, most romantic hotels, and best hotel spas. Don't have time to read all that? Not to fear. We selected one hotel from each list that bests its competitors (if only slightly). Below, we present the best hotels in Hawaii.

Best Luxury Hotel

• Hotel: Four Seasons Maui
• Price: $761/night
• Pearls: Rating: 5.0 Pearls
• Location: Maui, Hawaii

The Four Seasons is quieter and more subdued than Maui's more grandiose resorts, but a two-to-one staff-to-guest ratio means over-the-top pampering like nowhere else in Hawaii -- poolside Evian spritzes, beachside yoga classes, and they even have someone to unpack your bags for you. The best part? It's all free -- gym and spa access, beachside cabanas, outrigger canoe outings, and even the kids' club. No ugly "resort fee" surprises either, unlike at most Maui resorts.

Best Value Hotel

• Hotel: Marriott Kauai Resort And Beach Club
• Price: $321/night
• Pearls: Rating: 4.0 Pearls
• Location: Kauai, Hawaii

Renovated in 2009, this 356-room, family-oriented resort on Kauai's Kalapaki Beach boasts big flat-screens in every room, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a free fitness center, five affordable restaurants, and the biggest single-level pool in Hawaii. It might not have the fancy frills of the islands' pricier hotels, but it's still the best resort for the buck in Hawaii.

Best Kid-Friendly Hotel

• Hotel: Hilton Hawaiian Village
• Price: $204/night
• Pearls: Rating: 4.0 Pearls
• Location: Oahu, Hawaii

The largest resort in Hawaii, the amenities-packed Hilton Hawaiian Village has more to offer families than any other property on Oahu -- or Maui or Kauai for that matter. The crowds are big. But if you can make a pre-breakfast detour to stake out chairs by one of the four impressive pools -- one is Waikiki's largest-- your kids will be thoroughly entertained. Among the top-shelf attractions are the dozens of species of animals on the grounds, including parrots and penguins, and the calm, coral-reef-protected waters at the beach. What'll you love? A chance for kid-free relaxation, thanks to the Rainbow Express Keiki Club, which plans field trips to the aquarium or zoo and activities like sandcastle building, for kids ages five to 12. (The $90 per day cost is half of the price of Sheraton Waikiki's kids' club.)

Most Romantic Hotel

• Hotel: Hotel Hana-Maui
• Price: $561/night
• Pearls: Rating: 4.0 Pearls
• Location: Maui, Hawaii

Situated along craggy coastal cliffs on the rainforest-like east coast of Maui, hours from other big resorts, the Hotel Hana-Maui offers guests ample chances to be alone. After hikes to nearby waterfalls or hunts for hidden beaches, couples can take a dip in the infinity pool or the Honua Spa's outdoor lava-rock pool, dine at the excellent restaurant, and then retreat to spacious modern cottage suites (some with private hot tubs), where guests will find no phones, TVs, radios, or alarm clocks to spoil the mood.

Best Hotel Spa

• Hotel: Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa
• Price: $586/night
• Pearls: Rating: 5.0 Pearls
• Location: Maui, Hawaii

The 50,000-square-foot neoclassical Spa Grande is the biggest in Hawaii -- and one of the top-rated in the U.S., thanks in large part to its extraordinary baths. They include five aromatic pools, a Japanese furo bath, cascading waterfall, Roman hot tub, and Swiss jet shower. The spa offers more than 100 treatments, including locally inspired signature therapies like the Pala'au Journey ($225 for 80 minutes). Use of the facilities is $55 for two hours (or free with a treatment)-- more than most spas charge for a whole day.