This budget boutique hotel just one block from Waikiki Beach makes up in convenience (and price) what it lacks in luxury. High-speed Internet connections in every room, Wi-Fi in the common areas, and buffet breakfasts of fruit, yogurt, and pastries are all complimentary here. The 93 rooms, decorated according to feng shui principles with vintage Polynesian rattan and bamboo furnishings, have just enough modern accents to pass for stylish—although they are starting to look a little worse for wear. Each has a balcony and a fully equipped kitchenette. The outdoor saltwater pool area—which also includes a hot tub, cabanas, a man-made waterfall, and a spa—is pretty kitschy, but it's also pretty fun. A young, trendy crowd tends to stay here (many of them Japanese tourists), which makes for a friendly, uninhibited vibe.

Since opening in 1917 on this prime Waikiki beachfront spot, the Halekulani has grown to 454 rooms—but it still manages to feel like the most intimate, peaceful hotel on the island. There's a special Vera Wang–designed honeymoon suite and an excellent spa offering lavender-orchid body wraps and hibiscus-infused scalp massages. Even the basic amenities are pretty lavish: For instance, all Halekulani guests have VIP access to some of Honolulu's top cultural attractions, such as the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and Shangri La, the Doris Duke estate. Guests also have equal access to the small slice of beach, the superb, mosaic-tiled swimming pool, and the attentive staff. (Ask the concierge for dinner reservations at Nobu, which is located in the Halekulani's sister hotel, the Waikiki Parc). The rooms, all outfitted in soothing blue and cream tones, have large lanais, and all except the Garden Courtyard rooms have ocean views. (For the best views, book a Diamond Head room.) For a souvenir of your stay, pick up one of the wonderful Halekulani-brand body products scented with maile, a fragrant Hawaiian vine, at the on-site spa boutique.

The 72-room Hotel Renew, Waikiki's only "design hotel," is a favorite among fashion and film industry types from New York and California. Originally part of the cheap-and-cheerful Aqua chain, Renew reopened in June 2007 with a more upscale, urban design and nice extras such as valet parking, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary beach gear. Both the rates (sometimes under $200 per night) and the square footage (a standard room is about 300 square feet) are as minimalist as the design: Expect a sexy, moodily lit sanctuary with dark wood furniture and a somewhat overwhelming 80-inch projection television. The hotel has neither a pool nor a restaurant, and you probably won't want to spend too much time in the only public space—the lobby café where your complimentary continental breakfast is served—but Waikiki Beach is just a block away, and the neighborhood's plentiful restaurants and shops are within walking distance. Pooch lovers will appreciate that canine guests under 20 pounds are as welcome here as their owners.

Set on a sheltered beach just a ten-minute drive from Waikiki, this 338-room resort was a Mandarin Oriental until 2006. With the new ownership came a much-needed room renovation. Now, Art Deco–style furnishings and silky gold- and cream-colored fabrics have replaced the '60s decor. You really never need to leave the property: There are five on-site restaurants (though only one, Hoku's, which serves Hawaiian-Asian-European fusion cuisine, is truly noteworthy); the Chi fitness center, with a variety of classes and a phalanx of very eager personal trainers; plenty of pampering in the ten private Spa Suites; and every kind of water sport imaginable on the 800-foot beach. Kids are catered to with special Keiki Club activities, like reef walking, hula dancing, and, unfortunately, a "Dolphin Encounter," where they can swim in a pool with the live animals. The dolphins appear to be healthy, and the program promotes environmental awareness, but it's odd to have what feels like a circus attraction in the center of an otherwise glamorous resort.

This 529-room landmark spent the past couple of decades chugging along on the fumes of nostalgia. When the iconic property opened in 1927, it became a retreat for film stars, presidents, and the early jet-set. Now, after a much-needed $50 million restoration, the so-called Pink Palace has reclaimed its past glory. Although not every problem can be resolved—it's still incongruously wedged between a sprawling Sheraton resort and the depressing Royal Hawaiian shopping pavilion—the facade has been refinished, and the impeccable interiors are an inspired blend of textiles, artwork, and woodwork that pay tribute to the hotel's heritage while remaining fresh and contemporary. Indeed, the renovation's greatest triumph may be its restraint; while the rooms (and particularly the bathrooms) may be small, they're also boldly outfitted with Art Deco-inspired metallic wallpapers and color-blocked curtains.

Ideally located on a five-mile stretch of a secluded North Shore bay, this luxurious 880-acre property has a high hip factor. In addition to being the occasional location for episodes of Lost, the property was the main set of the Fox TV show North Shore in 2004 and 2005. L.A. production crews still haunt the place, trying to catch film footage of local surfers in action (there's a good break just offshore). Each of the 443 rooms and private cottages has an ocean view and minimalist decor in soothing tones of sand and pale green. On-site amenities include the restaurant, Ola, a golf course, a surf school, tennis courts, and the posh Spa Luana, where guests can indulge in pineapple pedicures and macadamia-nut body scrubs. Labor disputes that made Turtle Bay the focus of negative press were finally resolved in July 2006—although the resort is once again in the hot seat over plans for a major expansion.

Halekulani's little-sister property, this 297-room tower isn't beachfront—although you can quickly reach the sand via footpath—and has no grounds to speak of. What it does have is terrific bang for your buck. The rooms, with their minimalist dark-wood-and-white-fabric decor, are comfortable; the deluxe ocean-vista rooms have balconies with stunning views over the Halekulani to the sea. There's a heated rooftop pool, a fitness center, and access to the Halekulani's spa. The Parc is also home to the much-hyped Nobu Waikiki, an extension of chef Nobu Matsuhisa's sushi empire.