Wondering where to stay for the best pools in Hawaii? We’re here to help!
Remember the days when a hotel pool was just… well… a hotel pool? It was usually kidney-shaped with maybe a diving board but nothing else. After all, who went to a hotel for the pool anyway?!
Boy, how times have changed! Nowadays, tourists are drawn to certain hotels for the pools alone! And we residents love booking a staycation at hotels with amazing pools.
Here are two of the best pools in Hawaii (plus some honorable mentions) and why we love them!
The 2 Best Pools in Hawaii
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (Kailua-Kona, Big Island)
Swim with the fish at the Four Seasons, where the ocean pool is built within the coast’s lava rock. The 1.8-million-gallon aquarium pool, called King’s Pond, is home to more than 4,000 tropical fish. The resort even offers snorkel gear and fish ID cards, so you can get to know the resident sea life.
Grand Wailea Resort (Wailea, Maui)
At the Grand Wailea Resort, you can spend the day in this 2,000-foot-long, 25,700-total-square-foot, 770,000-gallon pool that consists of nine pools on six different levels. The pools are connected by a river that carries swimmers along whitewater rapids and gentle currents.
Wailea Canyon includes four jungle pools, four intertwining slides, a whitewater rapids slide, a Tarzan pool with rope swing, a sand beach, six waterfalls, caves, three Jacuzzis, an infant pool, the world’s first water elevator, the Lava slide, Ana Puka slide, and a swim-up bar.
Honorable Mentions: Other Hawaii Hotels with Amazing Pools
Hilton Waikoloa Village (Waikoloa, Big Island)
One of the many reasons I love swimming at the Hilton Waikoloa Village is simply the variety. This has been one of the best pools in Hawaii for a long time! During a week-long stay, you can spend a couple of days at each of the resort’s three pools and never get bored. The resort features the:
- Kona Pool – The largest pool, featuring a 175-foot waterslide, a waterfall, the Kona Pool Bar, and the Orchid Marketplace.
- Kohala River Pool – Perfect for families! With four interconnected pools, waterslides, cabana rentals, and a Pool Bar serving refreshments, this pool is a great one-stop location.
- Ocean Tower Pool – An adults-only pool offering a peaceful, secluded retreat for swimming and relaxation.
Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa (Poipu, Kauai)
Some of my fondest memories include stays at the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa – it’s long been one of the best Hawaii pools for my family. I can still picture my 65-year-old father swooshing down the water slides along with my husband.
These enchanting “river pools” wind through waterfalls and grottos into pools perfect for swimming and playing a game of water volleyball. Kids of all ages will love the 150-foot slide that lands you with a refreshing splash into the crystal clear waters.
Sunlit decks woven throughout the river-like pools offer spectacular places to take in the beautiful Hawaiian scenery.
Turtle Bay Resort (Kahuku, Oahu)
Turtle Bay Resort has a spectacular pool. The kiddie pool is home to a waterfall and a waterslide — open to and fun for all ages! Both resort pools operate using saline, which is composed of natural saltwater rather than chemically based chlorine. Saltwater pools are much easier on the eyes than chlorine.
Should You Choose a Hotel Based on Which Has the Best Pools?
If you have young kids or just don’t want to spend all day at the beach, choosing a hotel with a great pool could be the perfect plan for your Hawaii vacation.
We’ve spent more than one vacation indulging at the resort pool for the entire trip. And, why not? These pools in Hawaii are destinations in their own right, not to mention refreshing, entertaining, and cool!
Contact Hawaii Aloha Travel to book a vacation that’s worth it for the pool alone!
