Which hotel is best, Four Seasons Lanai or Oahu at Ko Olina? While both hotels are some of the best Four Seasons in Hawaii, we think Four Seasons Lanai feels more exclusive than Four Seasons Oahu.
Four Seasons Lanai offers a gorgeous secluded beach not shared by any other hotel. I’ve never been to a luxury Four Seasons resort with such a large expanse of empty beach. The resort feels wild and remote compared to the fairly built-up resort area of Ko Olina on Oahu. The stars in the night sky on Lanai are phenomenal, as there’s next to no light pollution.
Lanai’s disadvantage is that it requires an extra flight, usually from Oahu, to get to the island, whereas Four Seasons Oahu is easy to reach and less than a 30-minute drive from Honolulu Airport. Four Seasons Oahu offers great dining and is usually less expensive than the other Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii.
Book your stay at either hotel via our luxury travel concierge for extra benefits and perks at both of these hotels, including free breakfast, resort credit, and a prioritized room upgrade.
What Is The Best Four Seasons Hotel In Hawaii?
Four Seasons has four hotels in Hawaii: Four Seasons Hualalai (on Big Island), Four Seasons Lanai, Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, and the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina, which is the newest of the four. They are all gorgeous, and they are all pretty expensive. They all feature in our picks of the best Four Seasons hotels in the world. Four Seasons is a particularly outstanding hotel brand, and Four Seasons hotels are usually the best option in any resort area. My reviews of the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii can be found below.
1. Location
Four Seasons Resort Lanai is directly on the beach in Lanai. The island of Lanai is a peaceful paradise across the water from Maui and a short flight from Oahu, and there is nothing around this hotel except a golf course and wild coastline. This hotel is a true escape and is usually reached by a flight from Honolulu Airport on Oahu or a ferry from Maui.
Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina sits prominently on the shoreline of the less exclusive resort community of Ko Olina, which houses multiple resorts, including Disney’s Aulani Resort, some residences, a golf club, all set around four artificial lagoons, which offer protected swimming, and loads of beach. It sits right next door to an uninteresting Marriott and is fairly high-rise in design with maybe 13 floors. The resort offers guests a secluded oasis away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki but is still in a busy resort area.
Four Seasons Oahu’s oceanfront location provides stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and easy access to the island’s natural wonders, including picturesque lagoons perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Guests can also explore nearby attractions such as historic Pearl Harbor, scenic hiking trails, and championship golf courses, so its location is good for sightseeing.
Four Seasons Maui Vs. Grand Wailea: Which Is Best?
Which is the best hotel in Maui? Four Seasons Maui Vs. Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort? The good news is that we have stayed at both of these hotels, and I have outlined the pros and cons of each hotel below. If you don't have time to read this article in detail, the Four Seasons Maui is the best hotel, far better than the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, in our opinion. It is more glamorous and more beautifully decorated. It even smells better due to the deliciously scented extravagant flower arrangements dotted all over the hotel.
2. Style & Character
Lanai feels very exclusive and is made up of low-rise buildings spread throughout the resort’s gardens. When you fly into the tiny Lanai airport, you are immediately given access to the Four Seasons lounge and are greeted by Four Seasons staff. So your arrival is very exclusive and is designed by Four Seasons.
The resort is much lower rise than the resort in Oahu and feels smaller and more boutique. Much like being on an ocean liner, you and the other guests are a unique group who have chosen to stay on this tiny island, and with that comes a feeling of camaraderie and togetherness.
All guests at the Four Seasons hotels in Lanai seem to feel blessed to be there and part of an exclusive Four Seasons Family during their stay.
Four Seasons Oahu is a high-rise hotel with around 13 floors. It has 371 rooms and was originally an independent hotel from the mid-1980s that was rebranded as a JW Marriott Ko Olina before being reopened as a Four Seasons in 2016 after a huge renovation.
Because of its age, some design features, such as the atrium lobby with open-air sides, feel from the 1980s, although the Four Seasons refurbishment, which included adding an adults-only pool, has been a fabulous improvement.
This is undoubtedly a beautiful hotel, but it feels bigger and less personal than Lanai. At the Oahu Four Seasons, you feel less like a member of an exclusive club.
Review: Four Seasons Maui
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, 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.
3. Beach & Pools
The beach at Four Seasons Lanai is fabulous and feels completely isolated (in a good way). We spotted dolphins jumping in the air just off the beach when we last stayed. The sand is golden, the beach is wide, and palm trees and bushes back it. Because it is only easily accessible to guests at Four Seasons Lanai, so it always feels fairly empty and exclusive. The only disadvantage of this beach is that it is a few minute’s stroll down a sandy pathway from the hotel, which means it’s an uphill walk back up to the hotel, which can be hot in the sunshine.
The Four Seasons Lanai has a gorgeous freeform pool on the terrace with views out to sea. A sandy pathway leads down to the virtually private beach on Lanai from this pool. Another pool is nestled in foliage in the tranquil pool gardens.
The Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina has four pools. The Ohana Pool is a circular but uninteresting family pool that is near the beach, pool bar, and a couple of restaurants. Adjacent and right next to the beach is a smallish kid’s pool with a stepped entry, hot tubs, and a spa lap pool. The most attractive pool is the adults-only pool, which was recently built and is infinity in design. This is a gorgeous pool area with views across the lawns, which are punctuated with palm trees, and out to the ocean in the distance.
Ko Olina has four artificial lagoons, and the Four Seasons’ beach area is a stunning patch of sand on the edge of one of these lagoons. Because of the lagoon design, the waters stay calm and are ideal for swimming. Families with young children will likely feel that this beach is safer for their children than Wailea Beach, which is relatively calm but can be wavey at times.
A beachfront boardwalk runs across the coast at Ko Olina and is lovely for an evening stroll.
Review: Four Seasons Oahu At Ko Olina
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is a brilliant luxury hotel on Oahu and arguably your best choice on Oahu’s leeward coast. It joins four other Four Seasons hotels which make up the best Four Seasons in Hawaii. We love the magical Islands of Hawaii, but the resorts there are largely limited to "middle-of-the-road" chain hotels. Certainly, you will not find overwater villas with plunge pools. So it is important to pick the right luxury resort. You are spoiled for choice when it comes to the magnificent Four Seasons Hotel chain, which is ever-expanding across these Islands.
4. Rooms
All the Four Seasons Lanai rooms are slightly larger than the rooms at Four Seasons Oahu at 663–734 ft². They are stunningly furnished with dark wood floors, white bedding, lovely large balconies, and an Asian feel. The bathrooms here are also gorgeous, large, and modern.
Pick an oceanfront room if you can stretch to it, as these almost hang over the ocean. At Lanai, the hotel is built on a hill, so the oceanfront rooms enjoy the crash of the waves when you fall asleep, but you can’t walk out of them and straight onto the beach, because you are up a hill.
When we stayed, we booked a garden-view room and got a complimentary upgrade to a partial ocean view. Our room upgrade was prioritized because we booked via our concierge.
This partial ocean view was to the side of the resort, overlooking a wild valley with the ocean in the distance. The view was gorgeous even though we were towards the back of the resort and some distance from the ocean.
The balcony in our room was particularly good for enjoying a private meal with views in the evening, although the restaurants within the resort are a wonderful place to spend your time.
The rooms at Four Seasons Oahu are also large, with a minimum of 640 ft². They feel modern and beachy, with a wooden floored entryway and rattan-style tan carpet. The bathrooms are large, and the rooms have a large balcony that houses a sofa, two seats, and a table.
The rooms are nice, and the views from the higher-floor ocean-view rooms are tremendous. They look out over the Koh Olina resort-y beach. One thing to mention at this hotel is that you are aware your room is located in an architecturally older and more dated hotel design. The high rooms have fabulous views but are high up in the sky.
Ultimately, most hotels in Hawaii have a slightly dated feel in their architecture, and the Four Seasons hotels remain your best bet if you are looking for a gorgeous and luxurious retreat. When comparing the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, we love the ground-floor rooms at the low-rise Four Seasons Hualalai on Big Island best, as you are near the ground and the ocean. I don’t much like being up in a tower, although towers do grant incredible views.
Digressing a little, but if you are looking for barefoot beach luxury, we also love the Four Seasons Los Cabos. If you pick one of their beachfront plunge pool rooms, the beach is only a couple of steps from your bed, and you can walk barefoot down to the shoreline for an early morning dip, much like you can at a Maldives resort.
10 Best Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts In The World
The best Four Seasons hotels & resorts in the world include Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, Four Seasons Lanai and Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii, Four Seasons Surf Club on Miami Beach, Four Seasons Costa Rica, Four Seasons Los Cabos At Costa Palmas, Four Seasons Palm Beach, and Four Seasons Hampshire. To be honest, we wanted to include several other properties in this article, but we would have to stray into the realms of the top 20 or 30 or even top 100 properties to include all our favorite Four Seasons hotels. There are just so many great ones!
5. The Club Floor
There is no club lounge or floor at Four Seasons Oahu or Lanai.
Best Hotel Executive Club Lounge In Hawaii
Which hotels in Hawaii offer the best executive club level lounges? We review lounges across Oahu, including Waikiki, Maui, Kaanapali, Kapalua, Wailea, Kauai, Poipu, and Hanalei, and the Big Island's picturesque Kona-Kohala coast. I have compiled a list below containing the best club lounges available across the best luxury hotels in Hawaii. I list the ones I consider to be the best at the top. I review each of these hotel club lounges in detail so you know what you will get if you book a room with club lounge access.
6. Food & Drink
At Four Seasons Resort Lanai, culinary excellence is celebrated through diverse dining experiences showcasing the island’s bounty in unforgettable settings. Experience the epitome of fine dining at Nobu Lanai, where stunning ocean views complement Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s innovative Japanese cuisine.
To taste Hawaii’s vibrant flavors, visit ONE FORTY, offering prime cuts of steak and locally sourced ingredients prepared with expert skill. Relax in the casual elegance of Malibu Farm, where farm-to-table dishes and refreshing cocktails are served against a backdrop of panoramic ocean vistas. At VIEWS at Manele Golf Course, savor gourmet fare inspired by local ingredients while enjoying breathtaking views of the Pacific.
Four Seasons Resort Oahu has numerous restaurants, all of which are open-air and have at least one side open to the elements. Some have seating in the grounds between the greenery and boulders.
Mina’s Fish House is a particularly lovely restaurant at the resort, as it is set right on the beach. Noe, the Italian restaurant, is set in the gardens surrounded by tropical plants and waterfalls, which is also rather nice.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai Vs. Hualalai: Which Is Best?
Which is best, Four Seasons Resort Lanai Vs. Hualalai on Big Island, Hawaii? The most popular hotels booked by clients of our luxury travel concierge are the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii. All the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii are amazing. Oahu is the most urban with a wonderful beachfront. It tends to be the best value Four Seasons hotel in Hawaii, and we love their Deluxe Room With Outdoor Spa Tub. Maui is lively and fun with another beautiful beachfront boardwalk that connects you to adjoining hotels. But I am often asked which is the best, Four Seasons Resort Lanai Vs. Hualalai.
7. Golf
Four Seasons Lanai has the Manele Golf Course. Built on lava outcroppings, this Jack Nicklaus signature course features three holes perched on cliffs, enlisting the Pacific Ocean as a water hazard. The five-tee concept challenges the best golfers. Tee shots over natural gorges and ravines must be precise, and novice players will enjoy practicing their swing amid spectacular vistas. Course access is exclusively available to Resort guests.
Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina offers guests access to the nearby Ko Olina Golf Club, a championship golf course designed by renowned architect Ted Robinson. Situated along the stunning western coast of Oahu, Hawaii, the golf course features lush tropical landscaping, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, and challenging fairways and greens. Golfers can enjoy 18 holes of play, with strategically placed bunkers, water hazards, and undulating terrain adding to the excitement and challenge of the game.
The Manele Golf Course gets fabulous reviews, whereas the Ko Olina Golf Club reportedly has pitted greens and less well-maintained greens. With this in mind, if golf is a big part of your holiday, pick Four Seasons Lanai.
8. Price
Winter in Hawaii can be slightly cloudier and wetter 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. Pricing is reduced at all the hotels in the lower season. November and early December often offer the cheapest time of year to visit.
When comparing pricing, Four Seasons Oahu is usually the cheapest Four Seasons hotel in Hawaii and is cheaper than the Lanai Four Seasons.
Cheapest Four Seasons Hotel In Hawaii
While all the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii are very special, they are not all the same price, so in this review, we investigate the cheapest Four Seasons hotel in Hawaii. Four Seasons has five exclusive hotels in Hawaii; Four Seasons Hualalai (on Big Island), Four Seasons Lanai, Lanai at Koele, Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, and the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina, which is the newest of the four. They are all gorgeous, and they are all pretty expensive.
9. Resort Fee
Unlike some nickel-and-diming resorts across these islands, Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii do not charge a resort fee.
10. Conclusion
Four Seasons Lanai offers a gorgeous beach and an exclusive remoteness unmatched by any other hotel on the Hawaiian Islands. We love it. Four Seasons Oahu has the advantage of a calmer beach and a glorious adults-only pool, but the other pools, restaurants, golf, and the high-rise and commercial nature of Ko Olina and Oahu means that we prefer the Four Seasons in Lanai. Both resorts are fabulous, and we are nit-picking to find fault with either. You will have a wonderful time if you can afford to stay at either of these Four Seasons for your holidays.
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