The Royal Hawaiian

When The Royal Hawaiian opened in 1927 to serve Matson liner passengers, its rose-pink Spanish-Moorish towers stood almost alone on Waikiki Beach; today they anchor one of the world's most developed shorelines, and the contrast only sharpens the hotel's romance. The Pink Palace remains Waikiki's defining silhouette, its coconut grove — a remnant of a royal garden that once belonged to Hawaiian monarchs — providing a genuinely historic heart amid the high-rises.

Accommodation splits between the atmospheric 1927 building, with its high ceilings, pink-and-koa detailing and garden outlooks, and the later Mailani Tower, where oceanfront balconies and a dedicated lounge deliver the contemporary comforts. The hotel's slice of sand comes with its signature pink umbrellas, and the Mai Tai Bar — which claims a formative role in that cocktail's Waikiki fame — faces Diamond Head across the water for the islands' best-placed sunset drink.

Dining leans into the setting, from beachfront grills to the Monday-night luau on the ocean lawn, and the shopping and surf schools of Waikiki begin at the door. This is a resort within a resort city: expect urban density, honeymooners and family energy in equal measure. For the full Hawaiian golden-age fantasy, no other address on Oahu comes close.