Three Hawaii hotels and two restaurants have earned AAA Five Diamond awards, while 20 hotels and eight restaurants have earned AAA Four Diamond distinctions.
The ratings are AAA’s highest awards for select hotels and restaurants across North America. About 124 hotels and 59 restaurants were awarded five diamonds, while 1,548 hotels and 729 restaurants received the Four Diamond Rating.
Hawaii’s Five Diamond lodging winners, and the year they began earning the consecutive rating, include Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (which has been awarded five diamonds every year since 1991) and The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (1996), on Maui, and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu (1998) on Hawaii island.
Hawaii’s only Five Diamond restaurant winners are on Oahu: La Mer (1990) and Chef Mavro (2008).
One hotel and two restaurants, which were awarded four diamonds last year, did not make the list this year. They are the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, Sarento’s on the Beach and The Banyan Tree on Maui. The Banyan Tree has closed.
Ulu Ocean Grill, which was on the list last year as Pahu i’a at Four Seasons Hualalai, changed its name and was awarded four diamonds this year under the new name.
4-DIAMOND HOTELS
In parentheses is the year the hotel was first awarded four diamonds; all hotels have been on the list every year since first being awarded four diamonds.
HAWAII ISLAND
The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii (1991)
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows (1999)
KAUAI
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (1991)
The St. Regis Princeville Resort (2010)
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas (2012)
LANAI
Four Seasons Resort Lana’i at Manele Bay (2007)
Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele (2008)
MAUI
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa (1995)
Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort (1999)
The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui (2002)
Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (2008)
The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas (2010)
Travaasa Hotel Hana (2011)
Honua Kai Resort & Spa (2012)
OAHU
JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina (2000)
Halekulani (2001)
The Kahala Hotel & Resort (2006)
The Modern Honolulu (2010)
Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk (2010)
Aulani — A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii (2012)
4-DIAMOND RESTAURANTS
In parentheses is the year the restaurant was first awarded four diamonds; all restaurants have been on the list every year since first being awarded four diamonds.
HAWAII ISLAND
Ulu Ocean Grill (2000)
Brown’s Beach House (2011)
LANAI
The Dining Room (2008)
MAUI
Spago (2010)
OAHU
Bali Steak & Seafood (1989)
Orchids (1995)
Azul (1996)
Hoku’s (2002)
