The Kahala Hotel & Resort with Kids: What to Know

This post about the Kahala Hotel & Resort on Oahu was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung, was sponsored by Curacity, 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 I’ve visited Hawaii more than 40 times, so I’m able to figure out whether or not a resort is worth it. I wanted to talk about The Kahala Hotel & Resort on Oahu because I think it’s a super under-rated option families haven’t considered.

Is The Kahala Hotel & Resort a good family resort in Hawaii?

The Kahala Hotel & Resort is a great pick for families with kids of all ages who want a calmer, quieter resort than something in Waikiki.

While I haven’t personally stayed there, I did visit one morning while my husband and older son (and extended family) did Dolphin Quest and was really impressed with the chill vibe. That’s why I recommend it to consultation clients who are looking for a peaceful area.

Location	5000 Kahala Ave, Honolulu, on the beach in the residential Kahala neighborhood
Drive to Waikiki	About 10 to 15 minutes
Honolulu airport	About 13 miles, or 30 to 40 minutes by car
Check-in and check-out	3 pm and noon
Resort fee	None
Parking	$60 per day, valet or self-parking
Shuttle	Free to Waikiki, Ala Moana, and Kahala Mall
Pools	Main pool plus a kids’ pool that’s 18 inches deep
Kids’ club	None. Babysitting is available through the concierge with a 4-hour minimum.
Dolphin Quest	On site. The Family Swim is $1,800 for up to 6 people.
Cultural classes	Storytelling Fridays at 9:30 am, lei making Fridays and Sundays at 10 am, hula Mondays at 9 am
Cribs	Free on request
Rollaway bed	$120 per day, limit one per room
Connecting rooms	Available, with a one-time $300 fee to guarantee them
Restaurants	Alan Wong’s, Arancino, Plumeria Beach House, Seaside Grill, The Veranda, Kaffe Kahala
In-room dining	Yes

The Kahala, Waikiki, or Aulani?

In my consults, I always ask families what they are envisioning for their perfect Oahu family vacation. If they have kids who get overstimulated or they don’t want to be in a city, The Kahala Hotel & Resort is a top pick. It’s in a residential neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle of town. Waikiki is about a 10-15 minute drive away.

If they don’t want to rent a car but they want lots of restaurants, shops, and nightlife, then Waikiki is a great option.

If they want to be away from Waikiki but still want kid activities (and/or they are Disney fans), Disney Aulani is a no brainer.

	The Kahala Hotel & Resort	Waikiki hotels	Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Setting	Quiet residential neighborhood, 10 to 15 minutes from Waikiki	The busy, walkable heart of Honolulu	Ko Olina on Oahu’s west side, away from Waikiki
Kids’ club	None. Babysitting with a 4-hour minimum.	Varies by hotel	Aunty’s Beach House, a supervised club for ages 4 to 12 with most activities included
Kids’ activities	Hawaiian storytelling, lei making, hula, children’s art workshops, and Dolphin Quest	Varies by hotel, with tons of restaurants, shops, and nightlife nearby	Tons of kid-focused activities and entertainment
Best for	Kids who get overstimulated and families who don’t want a city experience	Families who don’t want to rent a car and want everything within walking distance	Families who want to be away from Waikiki but still want nonstop kid programming, and Disney fans

Do you need a car at The Kahala?

Personally, I’d rent one simply because I love the freedom of having a rental car. Plus, it’s really easy to get on and off the freeway here (instead of fighting Waikiki traffic). Parking is $60/day for valet or self-parking (as of October 2026).

However, there’s also a free shuttle to Waikiki, Ala Moana Center, and Kahala Mall. This is a super awesome option for families who don’t need/want a car.

Is Dolphin Quest at The Kahala worth it?

So, honestly, I’m a bit conflicted about animal tourism. My 8 year old son and husband did it at The Kahala in 2021 because my mother-in-law told us it was her wish to swim with dolphins with her grandkids.

My son loved it but I think a big part was just doing an activity with his older cousins. My husband felt like they did a pretty good job of treating the animals well and it seemed respectful.

At that time, my 5 year old son was too young for the program they did. So, we just went to Waimanalo to visit Sea Life Park instead.

I just looked it up and the Family Swim is $1,800 for up to 6 people. That’s for 45 minutes (30 in the water) and it’s for all ages. They also have a Mini Dolphin Moments for ages 0 to 4 with a paying adult (from $195). And the Kids’ Aquatic Adventure is for ages 5 to 9 (from $310). The prices are as of October 2026.

They also offer a 15 minute Dolphin Quest talk on Mondays at 1:30pm, so that would be a good opportunity to get the vibe before you book.

What kids’ programs and cultural activities does The Kahala offer?

The one that I’m most excited about is the free storytelling activity. I’ve only seen that at Disney Aulani before, so it’s so awesome that The Kahala has it! It’s Storytelling by the Tutus (that means grandparent) every Friday at 9:30am.

Lei making and hula lessons are at most Oahu resorts, but I’m still glad that it’s offered at The Kahala. Lei making is Fridays and Sundays at 10am. Hula is Mondays at 9am. These are complimentary. There’s also live music Tuesday through Saturday, 6 to 9 pm, so that’s another cool feature.

I also want to talk about the pool. The kids’ pool is 18 inches deep and is open from 8am-5:30pm. They also have snorkels, fins, bodyboards, kayaks and paddle boards to rent.

Does The Kahala have a kids’ club or supervised children’s program?

No, there is not a kids’ club at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. If you need a kids’ club or nonstop kid programming, you’ll want to look at Disney Aulani.

But you can book a babysitter through the concierge (4-hour minimum) because The Kahala Hotel & Resort partners with Aloha Sitters.

Where would you eat at The Kahala with kids?

So the hype lately is the return of Alan Wong’s (it used to be in another location). I’ve been dying to eat here so I’d definitely make a reservation for our family (but I’d bring screens for my kids because sit-down dinners aren’t their thing).

Alan Wong’s serves dinner Tuesday-Saturday from 5pm-9pm and you have to have a reservation. Kids 12 years old and younger are exempt from the dress code (but look up the dress code before you go).

For all families, I’d recommend the Seaside Grill for poolside lunches. They just do lunch and cocktails. And Plumeria Beach House will probably be your go-to since they serve all three meals.

What should you do on day one at The Kahala?

So, I’ve been planning Hawaii trips for years and years and I’ve learned to never make plans for your arrival day. In the past couple of years, our flight to Hawaii is almost always delayed so save yourself the stress and don’t book anything, not even a dinner reservation.

Instead, plan on doing a casual dinner on the property. Check in is at 3pm so if you have energy, you can drop your bags and enjoy the pool. I’d plan on Plumeria Beach House for dinner that night.

Who should book The Kahala, and who should skip it?

Families who want a quiet resort will love The Kahala Hotel & Resort. It’s also great for traveling to Hawaii with grandparents because of the on-site restaurants and cool cultural activities.

If you’re looking to walk everywhere or you need a kids’ club, this isn’t the right hotel for you.

FAQ

Does The Kahala Hotel & Resort have a resort fee?

No, the Kahala Hotel & Resort does not have a resort fee. But parking is $60 per day for valet or self-parking. You can compare that to the average Waikiki resort charging a $50+ resort fee on top of parking fees.

How far is The Kahala Hotel & Resort from Waikiki and the airport?

The Kahala Hotel & Resort is about 10-15 minutes from Waikiki by car. The Honolulu Airport is 13 miles away, which is about a 30-40 minute drive. There is a free shuttle from The Kahala Hotel & Resort to Waikiki, Ala Moana Center, and the Kahala Mall.

Do you have to stay at The Kahala to do Dolphin Quest?

Nope! We didn’t stay at The Kahala and we still participated. Dolphin Quest program guests even get a free 4-hour parking validation. There’s also a public viewing area so if just some members of your family participate, you can still watch.

Does The Kahala Hotel & Resort have a kids’ pool?

Yes there is a kids’ pool at The Kahala Hotel & Resort and it’s 18 inches deep. Their main pool runs about 3 to 4.5 feet deep. This is really helpful because we’ve stayed at some resorts on Oahu where we needed life jackets because the pool was too deep for our kids when they were little.

They also have pool and beach rentals available from 8am-5:30pm.

Was Lilo & Stitch filmed at The Kahala Hotel & Resort?

You bet it was! In the 2025 live-action Lilo & Stitch movie, The Kahala Hotel & Resort doubled as the fictional Hoʻomaluhia Resort and Spa. I watched the movie with my kids and they totally spotted it when Jumba and Pleakley stay there. And they thought it was funny when Lilo sneaks into the hot tub.

If you do book The Kahala Hotel & Resort, this would be a good movie to download for the plane ride over or as a movie night at the hotel!

If you’re still feeling a bit overwhelmed with your options of places to stay on Oahu with kids, you might want to book a Hawaii travel consultation with me. I do 1:1 Zoom calls for 60 or 90 minutes and we create a customized plan for your trip.