No. Hawaii does not have all-inclusive resorts for families. As of October 2026, there isn’t a family resort on any island where one price covers your room, all your meals, and your drinks.
This post about whether or not there are all-inclusive resorts in Hawaii was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
I’m a Hawaii travel consultant for families and host of the Hawaii Travel Made Easy podcast, and first-timers ask me this all the time. It’s usually not about the unlimited drinks. People want to click the easy button and not have to plan, and you can get pretty close to that in Hawaii.
If you’re still deciding between Hawaii and an all-inclusive somewhere else, this episode covers how your kids’ ages, the flight, passports, and 2026 costs figure into that choice.
Does Hawaii have all-inclusive resorts for families?
Hawaii has zero all-inclusive resorts for families. You pay for your hotel, and then you pay for every meal, every snack, and every drink. Most resorts also charge a nightly resort fee and parking, and lodging taxes total about 19% in 2026.
One thing has gotten better. Since May 2025, a federal rule makes hotels and booking sites include mandatory fees, like the resort fee, in the price they advertise. So the resort fee shouldn’t surprise you anymore. The food bill still can.
When a client asks me for an all-inclusive, I tell them Hawaii doesn’t have them. If that’s the priority, we chat about Mexico or the Caribbean instead. My family has done all-inclusives there, so I know what they’re picturing.
You’ll see two hotels on a lot of “Hawaii all-inclusive” lists, and neither one is an all-inclusive for families.
Hana-Maui Resort used to be Travaasa Hana, which had an all-inclusive option. As of October 2026, its offers page shows a sale rate with daily breakfast and that’s it.
Sensei LanaÊ»i, a Four Seasons wellness resort, does have an optional meal plan. It’s also adults-only.
What do families really want when they ask for an all-inclusive?
Usually they just want a resort that’s easy with kids. That means lots of resort activities and plenty of on-site restaurants, so nobody has to plan every meal.
They usually ask about kids clubs too. A lot of those went away after the pandemic, so I keep a list of the Hawaii resorts that still have kids clubs.
I had one client tell me how much fun her kids had at an all-inclusive in Mexico. They were 3 and 5, and she hadn’t traveled anywhere but an all-inclusive with them before. She wanted to replicate that vacation in Hawaii.
We ended up going with the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. There are tons of on-site restaurants (Hilton says more than 18 restaurants and cafes, as of October 2026), a great pool and beach area, and almost every tour that offers transportation picks up there.
They had a great time, because it was pretty easy and things were convenient. Afterward she told me it was a lot easier than she expected. It wasn’t all-inclusive, though. They paid for every meal, plus the resort fee and parking, and I list those costs in my Hilton Hawaiian Village review.
Figuring out which resort will feel that easy for your family is the hard part. It’s one of the things I help with in a Hawaii travel consultation. You tell me your kids’ ages, your budget, and what “easy” means to you, and we narrow down the island and the hotel.
What comes closest to an all-inclusive in Hawaii?
The closest thing to an all-inclusive in Hawaii is the Norwegian Pride of America cruise. At a hotel, you can only get pieces of it: breakfast, a resort credit, a club lounge, or a package with extras.
| Option | What it covers | What you still pay for | Best for | Example (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii cruise | Cabin, main dining rooms and buffet, getting between four islands | Alcohol, soda, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, daily service charges | Seeing several islands without flights | Norwegian Pride of America, 7 days round trip from Honolulu |
| Rate with breakfast | Breakfast, sometimes for only two people | Lunch, dinner, drinks | Families who eat a big breakfast | Hilton Waikoloa Village “Breakfast Included” rate; Fairmont Orchid breakfast package (buffet for two) |
| Resort credit | A set dollar amount per stay for dining or the spa | Everything past the credit | Families already planning to eat on property | Hilton Waikoloa Village offer with a $150 credit per stay |
| Club lounge | Usually a light breakfast, snacks, drinks, and evening appetizers | Real lunches and dinners | Older kids and teens | Fairmont Gold at the Fairmont Orchid |
| Hotel with free breakfast | Breakfast for everyone in the room, plus an evening reception | Lunch, dinner, the resort charge, valet parking | Waikiki families who want breakfast handled | Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk |
| Warehouse club package | Extras like a resort credit, waived resort fee, breakfast, or a shop card | Most of your meals | Families who are flexible on the hotel | Costco Travel Hawaii packages |
These offers change constantly. One Costco package for Hilton Waikoloa Village had a book-by date of September 28, 2026, and it’s already gone (we snagged one!). So check the hotel’s own offers page before you book, and look at who the breakfast covers. “Breakfast for two” doesn’t feed a family of four.
We’ve used Costco Travel packages a few times in Hawaii, plus the Caribbean and Mexico, and it’s usually a pretty good deal. Our Big Island trip in April 2027 is a week at Hilton Waikoloa Village that we booked through Costco Travel. It comes with a resort credit and a Costco shop card.
Is the Pride of America cruise a good option for families?
Yes, I’d definitely recommend it for families. You get to island hop without dealing with airports, packing and unpacking, or switching hotels multiple times.
I haven’t sailed it myself yet. It’s high on my list, and I’m hoping to go next year. What I know comes from the many cruise clients I’ve worked with.
They’re mostly using the ship for breakfast and dinner. During the day they’re out exploring the island, and they get lunch there.
People have also told me it’s an older, no-frills ship, so it’s really just for eating and sleeping. The main draw is getting off the ship.
The basics, as of October 2026: it sails 7 days round trip from Honolulu and stops at Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai, with two overnight stops and no sea days, according to Norwegian. Meals in the main dining rooms and buffet are part of the fare. Alcohol, soda, specialty restaurants, and shore excursions are extra.
There’s one thing to watch in 2026. Hawaii passed a new tax on cruise fares that was supposed to start January 1, 2026. A federal appeals court put it on hold, and it was still on hold as of September 2026. If it does take effect, Norwegian has warned it could add $250 to $500 or more per person. Ask about it before you put down a deposit.
Guest writer Jeana Kinne wrote about what a Norwegian Hawaii cruise is like here on the blog.
Do resort credits actually save you money?
A resort credit only saves you money if it actually gets applied, and both of mine went wrong on my last trip.
In February 2026, my oldest and I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki and the Hyatt Regency Maui. I booked both on Hyatt points. The credits were part of content creator packages with the hotels, so they’re not something you’d get automatically with a booking.
In Waikiki, we were supposed to get a dining credit. There was a reservation mix-up, and we didn’t get to use it.
On Maui, we had a credit for the poolside bar. The charges ended up on our bill anyway, and I had to get them removed at checkout.
So ask at check-in exactly how your credit works and where you can use it. Then look over your bill before you check out.
I’ll have a dining credit again at the Outrigger Kauai in November. That’s another points stay, and the credit is part of a content partnership too.
Is Aulani all-inclusive?
No, Disney Aulani is not all-inclusive. Disney’s own planDisney site says “Aulani is not an all-inclusive Resort.” Rooms run about $750 to $850 a night before taxes, and you pay for your meals on top of that.
I don’t think any Disney resort is all-inclusive. If there’s a way to charge you for something, Disney’s going to do it.
What you do get with your stay is the pool area, the cultural activities, and Aunty’s Beach House, which is the free kids club.
We’ve stayed twice, when my boys were 5 and 7 and again when they were 8 and 10. For one stay, we rented Disney Vacation Club points through David’s Vacation Club Rentals. For the other, we booked direct and got 30% off because it was fall.
We ate across the street at Monkeypod Kitchen, and we grabbed food at Island Country Markets. Otherwise, we ate on property. I go through the rest in what to know before booking Aulani.
How much does food cost at a Hawaii resort?
Poolside entrees were $28 each at my last resort stay, before tax and tip. That was at Umalu, the poolside restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Maui, in February 2026. The poke nachos were $28 and the burger was $28, and we added a virgin lava flow and a virgin piña colada.
The mocktails are a splurge I’m happy to make. My kids LOVE it when we rent a poolside cabana and get them mocktails. They swim, then eat snacks while chilling in the cabana, and they’d tell you a pool cabana is worth it.
Breakfast adds up even faster. A resort breakfast for a family of four usually runs $80 to $120, and not planning for it is one of the resort mistakes I see families make.
For a whole week, a family of four should plan on $1,200 to $2,000 or more for food. My Hawaii family trip cost post has the full breakdown, and you can plug in your own numbers with my free Hawaii family budget planner.
Is a hotel breakfast buffet or club lounge worth it with kids?
Our family has never had a hotel buffet be worth it. My kids don’t eat a lot in the morning, and the food is usually meh compared to all the amazing food in Hawaii.
Personally, I think getting off property for breakfast is 100% worth it, even if it’s just a cute coffee shop. In Waikiki, we liked Sunrise Shack for acai bowls and coffee. Hotel food is usually mediocre, and this way your money goes to a resident-owned business.
A club lounge is different, and it depends on your kids’ ages. It makes a ton of sense with older kids and teens. There are tons of snacks and drinks, and teens will hang out in there on their phones and eat and drink the whole time, so you get your money’s worth.
With little kids, you’ll probably only pop in a few times to grab snacks and drinks. They don’t want to be in a club lounge very long.
I’d also skip trusting the “all-inclusive” label on a booking site or a vacation package. In Hawaii it usually means a rate with breakfast, or a bundle of flights, hotel, and a rental car. Read what’s included before you pay.
What should families book instead of an all-inclusive?
Book a resort with lots of on-site restaurants and activities, and then decide how you’ll handle food. Which resort depends on your family.
If your kids loved a Mexico all-inclusive and you want that same ease, I’d look at a big resort like the Hilton Hawaiian Village. You can eat, swim, and get picked up for tours without ever needing a car.
Some kids would happily stay at the pool all week. For that family, pick one resort and stay put. That’s our plan for Hilton Waikoloa Village in April 2027, because my kids love resort vacations and don’t like moving around.
For Disney and a free kids club, book Aulani and budget for food separately.
To see several islands with most of your meals handled, take the Pride of America.
A condo with a kitchen is a great option if you’re legitimately going to cook a majority of your meals, or if someone in your family has food allergies. Just make sure it’s a legal vacation rental. I’d book it through VRBO or Booking.com, and I get into the trade-offs in Hawaii hotel or condo.
Otherwise, I’d book a hotel. Then grab drinks, snacks, and easy breakfast and lunch items at the grocery store, and keep them in your hotel’s minifridge or kitchenette.
Once you’ve picked your island, my Hawaii travel guides have the hotels and the full itinerary for each one.
Should you go to Mexico or the Caribbean instead?
If having everything included is your top priority, yes. I do suggest Mexico or the Caribbean to clients, especially East Coast families who are already used to those trips.
My family has done all-inclusives in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, and Cabo, and we’re headed back to Cancun this Christmas.
They’re different vacations. Mexico is great for tons and tons of activities, like pool parties, trivia games, and obstacle courses. Hawaii is great for cultural experiences, a slower pace of life, and yummy food. I compare the two in Is Hawaii with kids worth it?
FAQ
Does Hawaii have all-inclusive resorts for families?
No. As of October 2026, Hawaii has no all-inclusive resorts for families. Resorts charge separately for rooms, meals, drinks, and most activities. The closest options are the Norwegian Pride of America cruise, hotel rates that include breakfast, resort credits, and club lounges.
Is Aulani all-inclusive?
No. Disney says Aulani is not an all-inclusive resort. Your stay includes the pools, cultural activities, and the Aunty’s Beach House kids club. Meals are extra.
Is the Hilton Hawaiian Village all-inclusive?
No. The Hilton Hawaiian Village charges separately for food, plus a resort fee and parking. It does have more than 18 restaurants and cafes on site, which is why I suggested it to a client who wanted the ease of an all-inclusive on Oahu.
What is the closest thing to an all-inclusive in Hawaii?
The Norwegian Pride of America cruise is the closest. It sails 7 days round trip from Honolulu, and the fare includes your cabin and meals in the main dining rooms and buffet. Alcohol, specialty restaurants, and shore excursions cost extra.
Is a hotel breakfast package worth it in Hawaii?
It depends on how your family eats. It has never been worth it for mine, because my kids don’t eat a lot in the morning. Before you book one, check whether it covers everyone in the room or only two people.
Should we go to Mexico instead of Hawaii if we want an all-inclusive?
If having everything included matters most, yes. Mexico and the Caribbean have real all-inclusives, and Hawaii doesn’t. Pick Hawaii for cultural experiences, a slower pace, and the food.
Want help picking where to stay?
Hawaii doesn’t have all-inclusive resorts. Most families who ask me for one really want an easy trip, though, and you can book that here. If you’d like help choosing, a consultation with me is a one-on-one video call. It’s $149 for 60 minutes or $199 for 90 minutes. I’m not a travel agent, so you book everything yourself. We just figure out what fits your family first.
 | About the author: Marcie Cheung is a Hawaii travel consultant for families who has visited Hawaii more than 40 times. She is the founder of Hawaii Travel with Kids and host of the Hawaii Travel Made Easy podcast. She offers one-on-one Hawaii trip planning consultations and itinerary reviews for families, couples, and honeymooners. |