AAA Four- and Five-Diamond Award Winning Hotels, Resorts & Restaurants in Hawaii

The AAA (American Automobile Association) has announced their Four and Five-Diamond Award winning hotels and restaurants for 2008. Three Hawaii hotels and resorts have earned the prestigious five-diamond award, as well as one restaurant. Eleven hotels and eleven restaurants received Four Diamond ratings.

Five-Diamond Award Winners

In the five-diamond category honored were the following:

• Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu for the 10th year
• Four Seasons Resort, Maui at Wailea for the 17th year.
• The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua for the 12th year
• La Mer (in the Halekulani Hotel), Honolulu for the 18th year

Four Diamond Award Winners

The hotels and resorts honored in the four diamond category are:

Big Island of Hawaii

• Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows
• The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii

Kauai

• The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa

Lanai

• The Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay

Maui

• The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
• The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa
• The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
• The Hotel Hana Maui

Oahu

• The Halekulani in Waikiki
• The Kahala Hotel & Resort
• The JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina on Oahu

Restaurants honored with the four-diamond award are:

Big Island of Hawaii

• The Grill at the Fairmont Orchid
• Hualalai Grille by Alan Wong at the Four Seasons Hualalai Hotel
• Pahuia at the Four Seasons Hualalai Hotel

Maui

• The Banyan Tree at the Ritz Carlton
• Sarento's on the Beach

Oahu

• Azul at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina
• Bali By The Sea at the Hilton Hawaiian Village
• Chef Mavro
• Hoku's at The Kahala Hotel and Resort
• Orchids at the Halekulani
• Tokyo Tokyo Restaurant

I have had the privilege of staying at a number of the fine hotels and resorts honored by the AAA as well as at the majority of the restaurants also honored. It is hard to argue with any of the choices made by the AAA. All represent the finest in accommodations and/or dining options in Hawaii.

Of the hotels and resorts honored I can personally recommend the Grand Hyatt Kauai, the Grand Wailea Resort and Hotel Hana Maui and the Hyatt Regency on Maui as well as the Kahala Hotel and Resort and JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa at Ko Olina on Oahu.

In the dining category my personal favorites are Azul at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina, Bali By The Sea at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Chef Mavro.

You can be sure that whichever of these fine hotels, resorts and restaurants you select, you will not be disappointed. Since these are the most honored, however, advance reservations are essential, especially at any of the restaurants.