StayAreasIs Ko Olina a good place to stay in Honolulu?
Yes, if you want a calm resort stay, especially with young children. The lagoons are lovely, but you'll need a car and Honolulu is 40 minutes away.
Stay here if
- Families with young children
- Couples and honeymooners
- Resort lovers
Look elsewhere if
- You don't want to drive
- You want restaurants and nightlife nearby
- You want to explore Honolulu every day
Stations and airports
40 min to Waikiki Beach. A rental car is essential; Honolulu, Pearl Harbor and the North Shore are each about 25 to 45 minutes' drive away.
- From Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)taxi or rental car in about 25 minutes25 min
Hotels in Ko Olina
All Ko Olina hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Ko Olina
Ko Olina is the place to stay on Oahu for a calm, relaxing resort holiday. Four sheltered lagoons line the coast, the resorts sit right behind them, and the west coast is one of the sunniest parts of the island. Pearl Harbor is about 25 minutes away, and Waikiki about 40.
The area is a planned resort, quiet and manicured. The lagoons are protected by rock walls, so the water stays calm enough for small children, and there's a golf course, a marina and walking paths between the beaches. Kapolei, a few minutes inland, has shopping, a water park and newer hotels that cost far less than the beachfront resorts.
The downside is the distance and the driving. You'll need a car for almost everything, restaurants outside the resorts are limited, and a day in Honolulu or on the North Shore means 40 minutes or more each way, with traffic.
What makes Ko Olina special is the calm. You can swim in a still lagoon, watch the sunset from your pool and escape the Waikiki crowds completely. For families with young children or a honeymoon, it's hard to beat.
Ko Olina questions
Is Ko Olina a good area to stay in Honolulu?
Yes, if you want a calm resort stay, especially with young children. The lagoons are lovely, but you'll need a car and Honolulu is 40 minutes away. It suits families with young children, couples and honeymooners and resort lovers.
How much does a hotel in Ko Olina cost?
A typical double is around $225 a night at a budget hotel, $270 mid-range and $1,100 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to Ko Olina?
About 25 minutes door to door: taxi or rental car in about 25 minutes.