Review: Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Hawaii
Share

Blog

Book A Stay

The Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is probably the most convenient of all the Four Seasons hotels on the Hawaiian Islands. It is located on Oahu, around a half-hour drive from Honolulu Airport (HNL), and you can fly direct into HNL from mainland USA and Canada.

This hotel is one of the best hotels on Oahu as well as being one of the best luxury hotels across all of Hawaii and it features in our best Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii.

I reviewed the best way to get deals and special offers at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Hawaii. The key is to book your next Four Seasons stay via our luxury travel concierge, and we can give you free loyalty-style benefits, room upgrades, and perks at the same rate.

History

“Place of joy” is the true meaning of Ko Olina, and this special place has been bringing joy to the people of Hawaii for centuries.

Today Ko Olina is a 642-acre (260-hectare) resort community on Oahu’s leeward coast, alongside the Waianae mountain range. Home to Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, the sunny western shoreline offers some of the Hawaiian Islands’ most breathtaking scenery, featuring towering mountains, vast valleys, calm ocean waters, and wide white beaches.

Ko Olina was considered a sacred place by Hawaiian chiefs and royal families and was a favorite setting for rest and relaxation for King Ka’mehameha (1736 to 1819). The king and his wife, Queen Ka’ahumanu, spent their time bathing and fishing in the gentle waters of coastal ocean ponds.

Ko Olina was also a frequent retreat for the last monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani (1838 to 1917), whose principal residence, Iolani Palace in Honolulu, provides a fascinating glimpse into the royal era.

In 1877, the vast, arid Ewa plains surrounding Ko Olina were purchased by industrialist James Campbell, who had water wells drilled for irrigation and built a plantation for sugarcane production. Around 60 years later, his daughter, Alice Kamokila Campbell, moved to what was then a secluded shore in the Ko Olina area. She named her corner of paradise Lanikuhonua, the Hawaiian term for “where heaven meets the earth.” During World War II, she invited army and navy servicemen to use Lanikuhonua as a recreational retreat.

In the 1980s, Ko Olina was transformed into a resort community, and in 2016, this completely refurbished hotel became a Four Seasons resort.

Best Time To Visit

Visit in Hawaii’s off-season, when the rates are cheaper, along with three for two-night deals being available, and the islands are less crowded. Ideally, travel is spring (April to June) and fall (September to November). Winter in Hawaii can be cloudy and wet from December to March, but it is a popular time to travel simply because the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is so miserable and cold.

Why Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina?

The thing the Four Seasons hotels do so well is to provide a guarantee of room quality, service, and of a resort of an extremely high standard. Wherever you go in the world, the rooms will be large and luxurious. The bathrooms, in particular, are always enormous, even in the base rooms. Their cheapest rooms are still of an excellent size, standard, and quality. In fact, they are usually identical to the rooms with a larger price tag and are often only differentiated from each other by the view.

With 370 rooms and 55 suites, this is the largest Four Seasons hotel in Hawaii. It is located on the island of Oahu, a short drive (30 minutes) from Honolulu HNL airport and Waikiki.

Reasons To Stay at the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina

The thing that differentiates the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina from the other Four Seasons resorts on the various Hawaiian islands is the fact that it is designed around a calm artificial lagoon beach. Turquoise in color, this lagoon offers a gorgeous golden sand beach in a circular bay, making it an extremely calm and shallow place to paddle or swim. The comparative safety of this lagoon makes this an ideal Four Seasons to choose from if you have kids.

There are loungers, umbrellas, and beach equipment available, all free of charge, so you can snorkel, swim, or try other water sports without paying any premium.

If you prefer to avoid kids, there is also an adult-only area of the beach, which is situated nearby the adult-only pool, so whether you are a family or a couple, you will find your own piece of sandy paradise at this resort.

Other unique features include a private deep-draft marina and a mile and a half of seaside paths, making this a great choice if you like to jog or just stroll to wear off the delicious food.

The resort actually sits within a 10-acre nature preserve called Lanikuhonua (“where heaven meets earth”). The jungle-covered mountains behind the resort that drop down to the turquoise sea in front of the resort certainly make this one of the most picturesque spots in Hawaii.

Arrival is a delight, with bellmen ready to help with luggage and the presentation of a traditional lei, along with chilled towels (nice in the heat) and a soft welcome drink.

The décor feels Hawaiian, but in a good way. It feels stylish and sophisticated without losing its roots.

Activities beyond the beach, pools, and fine dining include a magnificent spa, a golf course, tennis courts, and a 24-hour gym. You are also encouraged to embrace Hawaiian culture with local experts teaching classes to learn to play the ukulele and to stargaze, which is how the ancient Polynesian voyagers found Hawaii in the first place.

The Pools

The Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina has a wonderful garden that stretches down to the beach, and its pools are also an absolute highlight.

There are two family pools on tiered levels that lead down to the beach, along with a serene adults-only infinity pool leading onto the adults-only beach. This adults-only pool is a place to listen to the peace and quiet and the breeze rustling through the palms with views of the Pacific Ocean and with a cocktail by your lounger (yes, you are allowed alcoholic drinks by this pool to help you relax!).

There is also an outdoor lap pool in Naupaka Spa & Wellness complex to keep you fit.

Rooms

It is worth mentioning that even the cheapest room at the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina is a great room, and you will have a similarly great holiday, whichever room you choose. If you book via our concierge, we can bump you up a room level for free (subject to availability on check-in) and add in a bunch of other free benefits as outlined.

Rooms at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu average around 640 sqft. (59 m2) with a spacious lanai where you can sit out on comfortable loungers. Inside, lots of traditional local woods and banana leaf headboards bring Hawaiian nature in (in a good way!).

The Best Room To Choose

The Resort View room with mountain views is undoubtedly the best deal as you get to enjoy all the benefits of the resort at the lowest possible price. They offer vistas of the nearby Waianae Range and are wonderful for watching the sunrise over Mount Kaala, but these Lanai can lack sunshine during the day, so don’t bank on sunbathing on the balcony in these rooms.

By booking via our concierge, you will get upgraded from these mountain view rooms to the Garden View Room for free (subject to availability), which are much sunnier and look out onto the resort’s lush gardens. Both rooms are the same size.

Next up is the Ocean-View Room with a sunny private lanai that looks out onto the shimmering Pacific. If you want to be lulled to sleep by the splashing of the waves, you should go for the Ocean-front rooms with their unobstructed, panoramic ocean views from their private lanai. Again, these rooms are the same in size. The only factor that differentiates these rooms is the views.

Our concierge offers the best value-free upgrade (subject to availability) when you book an Ocean-View room and get upgraded to an Oceanfront room. This upgrade is worth a staggering $225 USD per night, excluding taxes on an average night.

Our favorite room is, however, none of the above! We think the best room at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is the Delux Room with an outdoor spa tub. With these rooms (which are on the ground floor), you get a stunning outdoor space with 2 chairs, a table, and two loungers, all surrounding your own private pool. They call it an “oasis complete with a lush garden area,” and the space looks right out upon the ocean.

Having this garden area means that you can step out onto the easy-access beach straight from your room. You don’t even have to navigate the corridors for your fix of the beach. Once again, the room itself is the same size, but the added outdoor space makes it feel a whole lot larger and provides a magical space to spend the day or while away the evening in private.

The Best Suite

If you are looking for more space, the suites are the ones to go for, and they vary in size and in view. There are Junior Suites, One Bedroom Suites, and Prime Oceanfront Suites, which are all great for more space.

Once again, we have a favorite suite at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, and it is not any of those mentioned above. It is the Pacific Suite.

The Pacific suite has (and I quote!) “… A separate living and sleeping areas, plus a private outdoor lanai with your own spa tub and garden area. With the Pacific Ocean right outside your door, this ground-floor suite offers some of the best indoor/outdoor living accommodations at the Resort.” The indoor-outdoor nature of this room is pictured above.

There is also a “The Residence,” a “Presidential Suite,” and a “Penthouse Suite,” all with marvelous views and bags of space, but they lack the private tub, and outdoor space. The bottom line is that I like to be able to access my room directly from the beach and the beach from my room. I also like to be able to cool off in private, so it will always be the Delux Room with an outdoor tub and the Pacific Suite that win as the best rooms at this Four Seasons for my family.

Spa

Reconnect with your inner self at the excellent Naupaka Spa & Wellness Centre. It is everything you would expect from a Four Seasons spa.

Golf

Get into the swing of island life with an 18-hole foray into the Hawaiian landscape at the stunning Ko Olina Golf Club.

Restaurants

You are spoilt for choice for eateries; Fish House is the main seafood restaurant in a decked area on the edge of the sandy beach. It is indoor/outdoor, which means you can eat romantically under the stars at night here whilst also being able to escape the heat at lunchtime in the undercover bit.

La Hiki is right by the pool and offers the buffet breakfast that you get for free by booking via our concierge, and they deliver excellent pan-Asian dishes for dinner. This one is completely outdoors.

Noe is an Italian and set under pretty trees with lanterns hanging off them and is one of my favorites. Waterman Bar & Grill offers cocktails and light dishes for a snack right by the pool, and the Hokulea lounge is the place to have a light breakfast and cocktails, beers, wine, and nibbles into the evening. The seats are enormous rattan affairs with loads of cushions, and some of them sit on a glass balcony that looks right over the ocean. It’s a great place for a pre or post-dinner cocktail!

Kids Club

The complimentary Kids for All Seasons club runs daily activities for children ages five to twelve. It includes activities like crafts, hula lessons, and beach exploration from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm daily. Evening add-ons range from glamping to pizza-movie nights. Regular babysitting is also available. Like many Four Seasons, the Oahu hotel doesn’t charge extra for children aged 17 and under who stay in their parents’ rooms. Most come equipped with memory foam sofa beds, but cribs and additional cots are complimentary for children.

Resort Fee

Most resorts in Hawaii charge a resort fee, even if you are paying on points. Book the Marriott in Wailea, and you get your room rate for “free” (on points), but you are still charged an additional resort fee, which makes a point booking here quite a bad deal. Unlike the nickel-and-diming resorts across these islands, Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina does not charge a resort fee. Yet, it still offers a bunch of complimentary extras.

Reward Style Benefits At Four Seasons Hotels

There are ways to take advantage of loyalty style benefits, much like those that you would be gifted if you were the top tier of one of the big chain loyalty programs. In fact, you can take advantage of these loyalty style benefits from your very first stay. And Four Seasons is not alone in this luxury offering. Most luxury hotels have hidden travel agent loyalty programs that give you free benefits if you book with the right “Virtuoso” or hotel partner agent. I have outlined the best luxury hotel loyalty programs that give you upgrades and free breakfast.

Conclusion

Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina is a brilliant hotel for couples and families. It lives up to its reputation as one of the greatest resorts in the world. The restaurants are fabulous. The pools and spa are world-class, and we love the rooms with their own private pools. To get the best possible discount and offers as well as free perks, book via our concierge.

Have a read of our reviews of the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii below:

Four Seasons Hotels In Hawaii
Review: Four Seasons Lanai, Hawaii

Recommended Post In "Reviews"

We have reviewed the best Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, but if you are looking for true escapism on the Hawaiian Islands, look no further than the Four Seasons Lanai. Overlooking Hulopoe Bay, this relaxing retreat offers the emptiest hotel beach on the Hawaiian islands. Four Seasons Lanai is the most remote Four Seasons hotel on the Hawaiian Islands. I reviewed the best way to get deals and special offers at Four Seasons Lanai.

Hotel Review: Four Seasons Hualalai, Hawaii

Recommended Post In "Reviews"

We have reviewed the best Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, which includes the stunning Four Seasons Hualalai on Big Island, Hawaii. It may not be one of the cheapest Four Seasons hotels in the world, but it is definitely one of the best! Four Seasons Hualalai is located on Big Island, Hawaii, the one with the big and active Kilauea volcano, which means that the whole resort is built on the dramatic black rock and that you can take a trip to the live volcano if you like. It's worth bearing in mind that this island is pretty big, so the drive to see the volcano is lengthy if worthwhile.

Review: Four Seasons Maui

Recommended Post In "Reviews"

We have reviewed the best Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, which includes the stunning Four Seasons Maui in the most exclusive resort on Maui, Wailea. Four Seasons Maui is the most resort-based Four Seasons hotel on the Hawaiian Islands, being situated in the exclusive resort area of Wailea. I reviewed the best way to get deals and special offers at Four Seasons Maui. The key is to book your next Four Seasons stay via our luxury travel concierge, as we can give you free loyalty-style benefits, room upgrades, and perks while matching the rates on the Four Seasons Maui website.

Find out which hotels I consider to be the best Four Seasons hotels in the world.

Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.

Location