The Kahala Hotel & Resort

Location. The seaside Kahala Hotel & Resort occupies a secluded crescent along Oahu's pristine coastline in Honolulu, Hawaii. The hotel provides complimentary transportation within five-and-one-half miles to destinations such as Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head and Ala Moana Shopping Center.

Hotel Features. The Seaside Grill serves meals under nine specially constructed cabanas, each seating up to seven guests. White-linen tablecloths and hand-blown glass tableware add to the romantic ambience. Pacific Rim and regional Hawaiian cuisine is prepared at Hoku's, with menu items including Pancetta Crusted Onaga and Salt Crusted Rack of Wisconsin Lamb. A foot ritual welcomes guests to The Spa Suites at The Kahala, which hosts pampering treatments such as the Hawaiian Essence Envelopment. Chi Spa employs the use of Hawaiian Rainforest and Balinese products. A fitness facility boasts saunas and steam rooms, personal trainers, aquatic exercises and yoga classes. Children age five to 12 may participate in the resort's Keiki Club, which features half-day and full-day Hawaiian cultural, crafts and outdoor-activities sessions.

Guestrooms. This 10-story resort's 343 guestrooms contain fabric-swathed canopy beds, rattan chaise longues, teak floors, hand-woven Tibetan carpets, mahogany furnishings and neutral accents in white, cream and tan. Beds are draped beneath 550-thread count Frette linens. Furnished balconies or Juliet-style balconies with wrought-iron railings and sliding glass doors provide ocean or mountain views. Bathrooms contain red marble and mahogany vanities, deep bathtubs, Floris toiletries, chenille bathrobes and makeup mirrors. Rooms include coffeemakers and minibars. In-room safes are provided. Accommodations feature CD and VCRs/DVD players, and 40-inch, flat-screen televisions. High-speed Internet access is available for a fee.

Expert Tip. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, a favorite hotel attraction, populate the 26,000-square-foot saltwater lagoon located in the middle of the resort. Under professional supervision, hotel guests are invited to swim and interact with these highly intelligent creatures for a fee.