The Kahala's website lists 11 different types of rooms and five types of suites. No matter which way you go, rest assured your room will be impressive -- $30 million of the $52 milion the hotel spent on renovations went into the rooms. Mine, a Mountain Lanai Room, was one of the more modest they have, yet it looks like this -- 550 square feet of functionality and class. The rooms are low-frills for a 5-pearl hotel: amenities are pretty much limited to ceiling fans, a CD of Hawaiian slack-guitar music, and Harney & Sons tea and 10-percent Kona blend coffee (restocked nightly). But the rooms' decor and little touches (bathrobes, slippers) make up for it.
Nice pool, nice gym, nice everything -- but the clear highlight is Dolphin Quest
As you'd expect, the Kahala boasts an impressive array of amenities, both in quantity and quality. Its trademark feature, though, is what really makes the Kahala unique. The hotel's 26,000-square-footlagoon is home to six Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and for a (bracingly steep) price, you can interact with them firsthand through the hotel's Dolphin Quest program.
"Adult Dolphin Encounter" package allows you to wade into the lagoon and get up close and personal with the animals for a half-hour. For more about the various programs and rates, click here.
Smaller pool than at most mega resorts, but it's well maintained and includes a kids' pool and aJacuzzi
A fantastic place for kids, if you can spare the cash
With Dolphin Quest and a comprehensive kids' club, the Kahala is an ideal option for families.
Dolphin Quest (see Features, above) has packages that involve children, including the "Kids' Aquatic Adventure" and the "Dolphin Duo".
The Keiki ("kids" in Hawaiian) Club, for children five to 12, offers a different program each day of the week; activities include pillow-making, bamboo pole-fishing, and treasure hunts.
Rollaway beds (for a nightly fee) and cribs are both available, and fit in any size room
Fresh off a $52 million renovation, the Kahala looks brand new, and given the quality of the maintenance, it's likely to look that way for a long time. For instance, the balconies' floors andhardwood floors, trouble spots for most hotels, were barefoot clean. The only blemish I found: some remnants of seagull dive-bombings on the balcony of my room -- but that's been a problem on every balcony I've seen.
Three superb but pricey restaurants on-site; you'll need to drive 10 to 15 minutes away, to Waikiki, for anything else.
The upsides and downsides of dining at the Kahala are pretty clear. The good news is that you'll eat well at any one of the hotel's five excellent sit-down restaurants. The bad news is that they're all pricey, and unlike at the luxury hotels in Waikiki (the Moana Surfrider, the Halekulani, and the Royal Hawaiian), dozens of other cheaper options do not await you at your doorstep -- Waikiki is 10 to 15 minutes by car.
To give you a taste (heh heh) of what you can expect to pay, at the more expensive restaurant,Hoku's, named after one of the Kahala's dolphins, I ordered the salt-crusted Colorado rack of lamb, carved tableside, with ratatouille and an absurdly tasty slice of bacon cornbread. To start the meal, a shrimp ceviche amuse-bouche; to end it, banana-creme-filled chocolate lollipop petits fours. Total damage, including tax, tip, and a glass of wine: about $80.
Hoku's -- regarded as one of the finest restaurants on the island -- serves innovative Asian fusion. Reservations recommended.
New to the hotel in June 2012, Arancino offers Italian-Japanese fusion. A wood-burning stove serves up pizza while chefs prepare traditional Italian dishes like lasagna and homemade pasta. For an interesting twist, there is also a sushi bar and some Japanese dishes on the menu.
The Plumeria Beach House serves up a mean breakfast (buffet or a la carte), and check out theview if you dine al fresco.
For lunch, it's the aptly named Seaside Grill, where the food is as good as the setting.
The restaurants all serve 100-percent Kona peaberry coffee, rare for an eat-in establishment inHawaii. It's worth mentioning, though, that even the 10-percent Kona blend they provided in my roomwas delicious.
Room service is available 24 hours, from the hotel's main kitchen. Check out the spread I ordered my first night there. It tasted as good as it looks.
Gorgeous beachfront weddings at one of Hawaii's most romantic hotels -- it's costly, but well worth it, especially when compared to Hawaii's much larger luxury hotels
Wedding Size: Up to 300 people; up to six weddings held daily
Extra Fees: If you hire your own photographer, there's a steep fee. For an officiant, the Kahala charges for a one-hour service.
Wedding Packages: The most basic, Say "I Do" package includes a beach ceremony (on the beach, not under the gazebo), a minister and all the marriage paperwork, a lei for the bride and groom, a photographer for the ceremony, and a champagne toast for up to 10 guests; alternative packages also cover a 40 person wedding at the gazebo, a live duet for the ceremony, fresh orchids, a prewedding signature cocktail, two hours of photography and one hour of videography. The Kahala provides a wedding manager to help handle on the on-site arrangements, but for any other needs they are partnered with local wedding coordinators who can provide more elaborate services.
Ceremony Locations: The Diamond Head Gazebo (up to 150 people) or the Koko Head (up to 300)
Reception Locations: In addition to its ballrooms and meeting rooms, the hotel has five major reception spaces, both indoor and outdoor, such as the Waterfall Garden which seats 20 to the Kahala o Ke Kai reception area with a tent which seats 100. Outdoor receptions can be in view of other resorts guests, however, so if you want a more private space you'll have to book the Maile or Waialae ballrooms.
Photographers and Videographers: The Kahala has its own list of partnered, independent photographers whose packages range from one hour to multiple shooters all day long. If you want to fly in your own special talent, you'll first need to gain approval from the hotel and then pay a steep fee (at most other hotels, there's no extra fee). Likewise, the hotel can find a number of videographers, but if you bring your own camera man there's no extra fee.
Music: As the hotel books its entertainment through an independent agent, they can find you just about any type of music -- though, as with photographers, the rates can be steep. You can set up your own music arrangements, so long as the musicians first make arrangements with the hotel and there may be an extra fee.
Food: Each four-course dinner menu is designed to meet the guests' needs, and the hotel offers plated, stations, and butlers -- prices vary per person, depending on menu selections. The Kahala also offers specialized vegetarian, breakfast, and more affordable "keiki menus" for kids ages three to nine. (Kosher menus, however, are not available.)
Cocktail Hour: Hors d'oeuvres charged per person; select wedding packages also include glasses of the Kahala's specialty cocktail.
Cakes: The Kahala's in-house pastry chef can make designer cakes -- whatever flavor, decoration, or color you want, they can make it happen. Costs range depending on type of cake and decorations.
Flowers and Decorations: Most flower arrangements are included in the standard wedding packages, though the costs vary for each additional request, such as table centerpieces or bridesmaids' bouquets. Prices, however, can be steep. As for the general decorations, the Kahala doesn't go with a one-size-fits-all approach to romantic ambience -- decorations are custom designed to suit the guests' tastes. Naturally, there's a steep price for this kind of personalization.
Spa Treatments: Full menu of services, including hair and makeup
Honeymoon Suite: Unlike most Hawaiian resorts, the Kahala has a number of specialty suites that better suit a honeymooning couple -- the Kahala Beach Suite, for example, is located on a more secluded area of the resort near the Dolphin Lagoon and has a wraparound terrace that opens directly onto the sand. Plus, it's worth noting that if you book a suite, you also get a number of free perks, such as a beach cabana reservation, pressing on arrival, photocopying, and round-trip airport transportation.Source from http://www.oyster.com
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