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•9 min read•from HAWAIʻI Magazine

2026 Readers Choice Awards: Oʻahu

Our take

Welcome to the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards: Oʻahu, the Gathering Place, where vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes come together. As the most populated and visited island in Hawaii, Oʻahu offers a plethora of activities for every adventurer—from hiking to the summit of Lēʻahi and riding the waves at world-famous surf spots to immersing yourself in Hawaiian history at the Iolani Palace. This year, we spotlight the Best Hotels and Resorts on Oʻahu, featuring luxurious stays like The Royal Hawaiian and The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu. Discover the unique experiences that make Oʻahu a must-visit destination. For more insights, check out our related article, "2026 Readers' Choices Awards: All Islands," for a broader look at the best across Hawaii.
2026 Readers Choice Awards: Oʻahu

The latest 2026 Readers Choice Awards for Oʻahu reveal more than just reader preferences—they illuminate the evolving soul of Hawaiʻi's most dynamic island. When travelers consistently crown destinations like 2026 Readers Choice Awards: Maui alongside Oʻahu in their annual selections, it signals a deeper appreciation for islands that balance accessibility with authentic discovery. This isn't merely about popularity contests; it's about understanding which places continue to offer meaningful encounters with local culture while providing the luxurious comforts modern explorers expect. For those curious about how Oʻahu stacks up against its neighbors, the comprehensive 2026 Readers' Choice Awards: All Islands provides fascinating context on what makes each island uniquely compelling.

What strikes us most profoundly about Oʻahu's recognition is how readers gravitate toward properties and experiences that honor the island's rich cultural tapestry. The Royal Hawaiian, with its iconic pink facade and storied past, represents more than luxury accommodation—it embodies a bridge between old Hawaiʻi and contemporary hospitality. Similarly, The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu demonstrates how modern resorts can elevate traditional Hawaiian design principles while creating spaces that feel both sophisticated and grounded. This duality speaks directly to today's traveler, who seeks indulgence without sacrificing authenticity, preferring curated experiences over generic luxury.

The island's diversity becomes evident when you consider the range of activities readers celebrate—from hiking the volcanic slopes of Lēʻahi to catching waves at legendary surf breaks, then transitioning to contemplative moments exploring the halls of Iolani Palace, America's only royal residence. This spectrum of experiences reflects Oʻahu's unique position as both Hawaiʻi's gateway and its cultural heart. Unlike 2026 Readers' Choices Awards: Kauaʻi, which offers a more intimate, nature-focused escape, or Maui's resort-centric luxury, Oʻahu provides a comprehensive island education that appeals to travelers seeking both adventure and cultural depth.

Looking ahead, we're watching how Oʻahu's hospitality landscape continues balancing growth with preservation. As sustainable tourism becomes increasingly important to conscious travelers, the island's ability to maintain its authentic character while evolving its offerings will likely determine future reader recognition. Will the next generation of resorts and experiences continue honoring Hawaiian culture while meeting modern luxury expectations, or will market pressures dilute what makes this island so special? The answer may well shape not just future awards, but the very essence of Hawaiian hospitality itself.

As the most populated and visited island, Oʻahu is referred to as the Gathering Place. There are countless activities here, from hiking to the summit of Lēʻahi and surfing world-famous breaks to exploring Hawaiian history at a former royal palace.

Best Hotels and Resorts on Oʻahu

Kahala Hotel and Resort
Photo: Courtesy of The Kahala Hotel & Resort

Best Luxury Resort 

  1. The Royal Hawaiian
  2. The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay
  3. Halekūlani
  4. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
  5. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
  6. The Kahala Hotel & Resort
  7. Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort, Waikīkī Beach
  8. ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach
  9. Prince Waikīkī
  10. The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikīkī

Best Value Hotel or Resort 

  1. The Imperial Hawaiʻi Resort
  2. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
  3. Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort
  4. Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra
  5. Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
  6. Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel
  7. Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel Waikīkī Beach
  8. Holiday Inn Express Waikīkī
  9. Waikīkī Malia
  10. The Ambassador Hotel of Waikīkī, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Best Boutique Hotel 

  1. The Imperial Hawaiʻi Resort
  2. The Kahala Hotel & Resort
  3. Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel Waikīkī Beach
  4. Regency Beachwalk Waikīkī by Outrigger
  5. Kaimana Beach Hotel
  6. Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
  7. The Laylow, Autograph Collection
  8. Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head
  9. Espacio, The Jewel of Waikīkī
  10. Castle Bamboo Waikīkī Hotel

Best Hotel or Resort for Families 

  1. The Imperial Hawaiʻi Resort
  2. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
  3. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
  4. The Kahala Hotel & Resort
  5. Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort
  6. Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa
  7. The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay
  8. ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach
  9. Hilton Waikīkī Beach
  10. Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikīkī Beach Walk

Best Hotel for Romance 

  1. The Royal Hawaiian
  2. Halekūlani
  3. The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay
  4. The Kahala Hotel & Resort
  5. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
  6. Four Seasons Resort Oʻahu at Ko ʻOlina
  7. Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikīkī Beach
  8. Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort
  9. ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach
  10. Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa

Best Hotel or Resort Spa 

  1. The Kahala Spa at The Kahala Hotel & Resort
  2. Moana Lani Spa at Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikīkī Beach
  3. SpaHalekūlani at Halekūlani
  4. Mandara Spa at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
  5. Infinity Massage & Spa at Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort

Best Hotel or Resort Pool 

  1. The Imperial Hawaiʻi Resort
  2. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
  3. Sheraton Waikīkī Hotel
  4. The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay
  5. Halekūlani

Best Resort for a Wedding 

  1. The Royal Hawaiian
  2. The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay
  3. The Kahala Hotel & Resort
  4. Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikīkī Beach
  5. ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn 

  1. Diamond Head B&B
  2. Mānoa Valley Inn
  3. Hawaiʻi’s Hidden Hideaway B&B
  4. Sheffield House Bed & Breakfast
  5. Manu Mele Bed & Breakfast

Best Vacation Timeshare 

  1. The Imperial Hawaiʻi Resort
  2. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
  3. Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Hilton Hawaiian Village
  4. Marriott’s Ko ʻOlina Beach Club
  5. Wyndham at Waikīkī Beach Walk

Best Food and Drink on Oʻahu

Leonardsbakery2022
A fresh malasada from Leonard’s Bakery, which was voted best bakery on Oʻahu by HAWAIʻI Magazine Readers.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox

Best Restaurant 

  1. Duke’s Waikīkī
  2. Roy’s Waikīkī
  3. The Pig and The Lady
  4. Merriman’s Honolulu
  5. Hy’s Steak House

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant 

  1. Duke’s Waikīkī at Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort
  2. House Without a Key at the Halekūlani
  3. Plumeria Beach House at The Kahala Hotel & Resort
  4. The Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikīkī Beach
  5. Morimoto at ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach

Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant 

  1. Monkeypod Kitchen
  2. Merriman’s Honolulu
  3. Moku Kitchen
  4. Mud Hen Water
  5. Fête

Best Seafood Restaurant 

  1. Duke’s Waikīkī
  2. Nico’s Pier 38
  3. Roy’s Waikīkī
  4. Hale‘iwa Joe’s
  5. 53 By The Sea

Best Traditional Hawaiian Restaurant 

  1. Helena’s Hawaiian Food
  2. Waiāhole Poi Factory
  3. Highway Inn
  4. Yama’s Fish Market
  5. Young’s Fish Market

Best Plate Lunch 

  1. Rainbow Drive-In
  2. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
  3. Nico’s Pier 38
  4. Kono’s
  5. Alicia’s Market

Best Poke 

  1. Foodland
  2. ‘Ono Seafood
  3. Tamura’s Market
  4. Tanioka’s Seafood and Catering
  5. Fresh Catch

Best Shave Ice Stand or Store 

  1. Matsumoto Shave Ice
  2. Island Vintage Shave Ice
  3. Waiola Shave Ice
  4. Island Snow
  5. Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha (closed)

Best Noodle

  1. Marukame Udon
  2. Ramen Bario
  3. Shiro’s Saimin Haven
  4. Shige’s Saimin Stand
  5. Palace Saimin

Best Pizza 

  1. Giovanni Pastrami
  2. Big Kahuna’s Pizza
  3. Round Table Pizza
  4. Boston Pizza
  5. J. Dolan’s

Best Burger 

  1. Cheeseburger in Paradise
  2. Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
  3. Rainbow Drive-In
  4. Kua ʻĀina Burger
  5. Boarded Up by Chubbies Burgers

Best Steak House 

  1. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
  2. Hy’s Steak House
  3. Wolfgang’s Steakhouse Waikīkī
  4. Morton’s Ala Moana
  5. The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood

Best Food Truck 

  1. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
  2. Da Bald Guy
  3. Big Wave Shrimp
  4. Flyin’ ‘Ahi
  5. Sabrozon Mexican Food Truck

Best Breakfast or Brunch 

  1. Eggs ‘n Things
  2. Liliha Bakery
  3. Koko Head Café
  4. Cinnamon’s Restaurant
  5. Waiʻoli Kitchen & Bake Shop

Best Bakery 

  1. Leonard’s Bakery
  2. Liliha Bakery
  3. Halekūlani Bakery
  4. Kamehameha Bakery
  5. Ted’s Bakery

Best Coffee Shop 

  1. Island Vintage Coffee
  2. Kona Coffee Purveyors
  3. Island Brew Coffeehouse
  4. Kai Coffee Hawaiʻi
  5. Sunrise Shack

Best Bar or Lounge 

  1. Duke’s Waikīkī
  2. Maui Brewing Co.
  3. House Without a Key at the Halekūlani
  4. RumFire Waikīkī
  5. Aloha Beer Co.

Best Happy Hour 

  1. Duke’s Waikīkī
  2. Yard House
  3. Monkeypod Kitchen
  4. Tiki’s Grill & Bar
  5. Maui Brewing Co.

Best Cheap Eats 

  1. Zippy’s 
  2. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue 
  3. Rainbow Drive-In 
  4. Liliha Bakery 
  5. Marukame Udon 

Best Outdoor Adventures on Oʻahu

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve was voted the best snorkeling spot on Oʻahu.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Best Beach 

  1. Waikīkī Beach
  2. Lanikai Beach
  3. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
  4. Waimea Bay
  5. Kailua Beach

Best Snorkeling Spot 

  1. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
  2. Shark’s Cove
  3. The Lagoons at Ko ʻOlina
  4. Kahe Point Beach Park (Electric Beach)
  5. Three Tables

Best Surf Spot 

  1. Waikīkī Beach
  2. Hale‘iwa Beach Park
  3. Diamond Head
  4. Pua‘ena Point Beach Park
  5. White Plains Beach

Best Hiking Trail 

  1. Diamond Head Summit Trail
  2. Mānoa Falls Trail
  3. Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail
  4. Kaʻiwa Ridge Trail (Lanikai Pillbox)
  5. Koko Crater Stairs

Best Botanical Garden 

  1. Waimea Valley
  2. Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden
  3. Wahiawā Botanical Garden
  4. Koko Crater Botanical Garden
  5. Foster Botanical Garden

Best Dinner Cruise or Sunset Sail 

  1. Star of Honolulu
  2. Na Hōkū II Catamaran
  3. Maita‘i Catamaran
  4. Holokai Catamaran
  5. Atlantis Adventure Cruises

Best Extreme Tour 

  1. Kualoa Ranch
  2. Diamond Head Parasail
  3. Skydive Hawai‘i
  4. Climb Works Keana Farms
  5. Xtreme Parasail

Best Zipline

  1. Kualoa Ranch
  2. Coral Crater Adventure Park
  3. Climb Works Keana Farms
  4. Bay View Mini-Putt and Zipline

Best Helicopter Tour 

  1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
  2. Magnum Helicopters
  3. Honolulu Helicopters
  4. Paradise Helicopters
  5. Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours

Best Farm Tour 

  1. Dole Plantation
  2. Kualoa Ranch
  3. Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts
  4. Kahuku Farms
  5. Kō Hana Distillers

Best Guided Tour 

  1. Pearl Harbor National Memorial
  2. Polynesian Cultural Center
  3. Kualoa Ranch
  4. ‘Iolani Palace
  5. Roberts Hawaiʻi

Best Golf Course 

  1. Turtle Bay Golf
  2. Ko ʻOlina Golf Club
  3. Hawai‘i Kai Golf Course
  4. Mākaha Valley Golf Course
  5. Ala Wai Golf Course

Best Live Show (Not a Lūʻau) 

  1. Fireworks Show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
  2. Hā: Breath of Life
  3. Cirque du Soleil ʻAuana
  4. Blue Note Hawai‘i
  5. Rock-A-Hula

Best Lūʻau 

  1. Ali‘i Lū‘au at the Polynesian Cultural Center
  2. Germaine’s Lū‘au
  3. Chief’s Lū‘au
  4. Aloha Kai at Sea Life Park
  5. Experience Nutridge

Best Museum 

  1. Pearl Harbor National Memorial
  2. Bishop Museum
  3. ‘Iolani Palace
  4. Honolulu Museum of Art
  5. Capitol Modern (State Art Museum)

Best Shopping on Oʻahu

Best Shopping Center or Mall 

  1. Ala Moana Center
  2. International Market Place
  3. Royal Hawaiian Center
  4. Kāhala Mall
  5. Pearlridge Center

Best Clothing/Fashion Boutique or Store 

  1. Hawaiʻi’s Finest Clothing
  2. Blue Ginger
  3. Kāhala
  4. Reyn Spooner
  5. Tori Richards

Best Store for Souvenirs 

  1. ABC Stores
  2. Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
  3. Dole Plantation
  4. Hilo Hattie
  5. SoHa Living

Best Surf Shop 

  1. North Shore Surf Shop
  2. T&C Surf Hawai‘i
  3. Local Motion Hawai‘i
  4. Surf N Sea
  5. HIC

Best Services on Oʻahu

Waikikisurf
Photo: Getty Images/ Pgiam

Best Surf Instruction Co. 

  1. Waikīkī Beach Services
  2. North Shore Surf Girls
  3. Big Wave Dave Surf Co.
  4. Hans Hedemann Surf School
  5. Faith Surf School

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rental 

  1. Waikīkī Beach Services
  2. Snorkel Bob’s
  3. Hawaiian Watersports
  4. Surf N Sea
  5. Aloha Beach Services

Best Snorkeling/Scuba Rental or Instruction

  1. Island Divers Hawaiʻi
  2. Waikīkī Dive Center
  3. Hawaiʻi Dive Center
  4. Aaron’s Dive Shop
  5. Trident Adventures

Best Transportation Service 

  1. Waikīkī Trolley
  2. Uber
  3. Roberts Hawaiʻi Tours
  4. Skyline/The Bus
  5. Holoholo Mobility

Best Wedding Venue (Not a Beach or Resort) 

  1. Kualoa Ranch
  2. Haʻikū Gardens Weddings
  3. Ko‘olau Ballrooms and Conference Center
  4. Loulu Palm Retreats & Events
  5. Dillingham Ranch

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