Hotels in Diamond Head Side

Staying in Diamond Head Side

The Diamond Head side of Waikiki — the east end of the strip closest to the crater itself — is the quieter, less-touristed pocket of the Waikiki hotel zone. The properties here are smaller and more boutique-feeling than the Kalakaua-Avenue mega-resorts, and they front Kapiolani Park (Honolulu's central park) and Sans Souci Beach, the local-favorite stretch of sand that doesn't get the crowds of central Waikiki.

Queen Kapiolani sits opposite Kapiolani Park with Diamond Head looming directly behind it — a recently-renovated mid-century building with a great rooftop pool deck and unobstructed crater views from many rooms. The Kaimana Beach Hotel (formerly the New Otani) is essentially the only hotel on Sans Souci Beach, which means an actual local-beach experience in a city where most stretches of sand are walls of resorts.

This is the right zone for travelers who've done Waikiki before and want to do it more slowly. The Diamond Head hike trailhead is a 15-minute walk; Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium are right in the park; central Waikiki is a 10-minute walk down the beach when you want the energy.

— Our Travel Editor