The Kahala Hotel and Resort

The Kahala Hotel and Resort puts you on the oceanfront in Honolulu, with the practical comforts of a full resort rather than a simple beach hotel. You can wake to a choice of sea or mountain views, return to air conditioning after time in the sun, and keep the evening on site with several restaurants, spa facilities and live music on selected nights.

English is the language used for the hotel's website. The resort suits couples looking for an easy base with plenty within reach, but it also works for families: connecting rooms, family rooms, a children's club, babysitting and children's facilities are available.

You are in Honolulu, at 5000 Kahala Avenue, on the south-east side of Oahu rather than in Kailua. The resort has direct access to Kahala Beach, roughly 200 feet away, with sun loungers and parasols ready for the hours when you are not underwater. Gentle waves make the beach suitable for all ages, which is useful when the group contains both keen swimmers and people who prefer their water with fewer surprises.

Honolulu Zoo is about 3.7 miles away, Diamond Head is roughly 2 miles away, and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is around 5 miles away. Shangri La is about 1.7 miles from the resort, while Kaimuki, Waikiki Aquarium and the KCC Farmer's Market are among the outings the resort can arrange or suggest. Honolulu International Airport is about 12 miles away by road.

The room choice is mainly about what you want to see when you draw the curtains. Mountain View keeps the focus inland, while Lagoon View and Ocean View put the water into the daily routine; Ocean Front and Beach Front Balcony go further if the view is part of why you are coming to Hawaii. Some balcony categories use two double beds, making them more practical for a small group than a room built around one super-king bed.

For couples, the standard rooms already give you room to spread out after a long day, with a seating area, desk, refrigerator, coffee machine and kettle. The larger suites make more sense when you want a proper separation between sleeping and living space, or when several people are travelling together. The biggest suite accommodates up to six people and has two bathrooms, which is the sort of detail that stops a holiday turning into a queue outside one shower.

Air conditioning is available throughout the accommodation. Bathrooms include a bath or shower, and most of the elegant rooms have robes, slippers, a deep-soaking bath and a separate shower. A flat-screen television, cable channels, Wi-Fi, a wardrobe and an alarm clock cover the less glamorous but useful parts of the night, while daily housekeeping keeps the room from acquiring the familiar post-dive look of a kit explosion.

Breakfast is included in the accommodation formula and comes in continental, American or buffet style. Plumeria Beach House covers breakfast, lunch and dinner in an open-air beach setting, with island-inspired cooking that keeps the oceanfront location in the frame rather than treating it as wallpaper. Room service is also available when your appetite is large but your enthusiasm for changing clothes is not.

There are five named restaurant options. The Veranda serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in an open-air setting, with afternoon tea and cocktails, plus live music from local musicians from Thursday to Saturday between 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm. Arancino is the Italian option for dinner and has been voted Hawaii's Best Italian Restaurant; Alan Wong's also serves dinner, while Hoku's covers breakfast, lunch and dinner and hosts a Sunday brunch from 9.00 am to 1.30 pm.

Seaside Grill keeps things casual by the pool and beach, useful when a formal meal is the last thing your post-dive legs are requesting. The resort also offers a coffee house, a bar, themed dinner nights and happy hour. Special-diet menus are available on request.

The outdoor pool gives you an easy alternative to the beach, with loungers and umbrellas for the serious business of doing very little. The fitness centre includes fitness classes and yoga classes, and the saunas provide a straightforward way to warm up and unwind without having to organise an excursion. A personal trainer is also available.

The Kahala Spa has ten private treatment rooms, massages, beauty services and an open-air relaxation area. Treatments include facials, body treatments, scrubs and wraps, while the menu also covers couples, full-body, back, neck, head, hand and foot massages. There is a steam room, a hot tub, a foot bath and spa packages, so you can make the recovery programme as short or as elaborate as your legs require.

For a more active afternoon, you can hire a bicycle, go cycling, take part in local culture classes or use the on-site water-sports facilities. Snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and tennis equipment are available, with charges applying to some activities. The resort can also point you towards Diamond Head, Honolulu Zoo, Shangri La, Kaimuki, the Waikiki Aquarium and the KCC Farmer's Market.

Check-in starts at 3.00 pm and check-out is by noon. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the minimum check-in age is 18. Cash is not accepted. A 24-hour front desk, concierge, tour desk, luggage storage and express check-in and check-out keep the practical side of the stay reasonably contained.

Private parking is available on site, including valet parking. An airport shuttle is available, and the resort also provides a free shuttle to Ala Moana Shopping Centre. Car hire can be arranged on site, which is useful for reaching places such as Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head or Manoa Falls, while Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

Pets are allowed on request, with pet bowls and a pet basket available. Children of any age are welcome; cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to the accommodation selected and availability. The resort also offers accessible facilities, lifts and upper-floor access by elevator.