Originally published in Travel & Style

Hotel Review: Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina

A dreamy destination on the island’s sunny west coast will have you booking a flight to Hawaii, stat.

The Vibe: You’ll feel like you’re in a dream the moment you arrive at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu. Everything from the architecture to the views is nothing short of breathtaking. The five-star experience draws in guests in search of a beach-side paradise with amenities galore. You’ll be amongst honeymooning couples, families with small children and destination wedding-goers taking it all in.

The Facts: Opening its doors in the summer of 2016, this new luxury addition to Oahu has already drawn in celebrities like Jessica Alba and Chiara Ferragni, as well as Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn (who were shooting a movie there!). Located on the island’s sunny west coast, it’s only about a 30-minute drive from the Honolulu International Airport, making it extremely convenient to get to and also an easy outing if you want to explore Waikiki.

There are 370 rooms and suites, all of which are extremely spacious (on average about 640 square feet), and decorated in an authentic Hawaiian style. Many also have stunning views of the turquoise waters of the Pacific and the white sandy beach cove.

Being a resort means you really don’t have a reason to leave the property — and trust us you probably won’t want to leave. There are tons of amenities, including a family and adult pool, a tennis centre with five courts, an extensive fitness facility, an 18-hole golf course, a four-level 35,000 square-foot spa, four restaurants and a lounge.

If you’re looking for more their extremely helpful staff can make it happen — whether it’s taking the outrigger canoe onto the ocean, having a private candlelit dinner for two, arranging a surf lesson or even a helicopter ride — your wish is their command.

The Experience: We were in a bit of a blur upon arriving (that’s what 12 hours of travel will do to you), but were warmly greeted by the front desk reception who welcomed us with a traditional lei and refreshing fruit drink. One of our favourite details in the front foyer was the incredible florals — upon arrival it was a stunning arrangement designed to look like a peacock, done in shades of pink, purple and white.

After a tour of the property (there are a lot of grounds to cover!), we made our way to the Fish House restaurant where they have a daily happy hour from 3-5pm with all drinks 50% off. The cocktail to get is the Pineapple Elixir. It’s a fruity combination of vodka, champagne and pineapple pomegranate and it’s served in a very Insta-friendly rose gold pineapple tumbler. At $24 the half-price happy hour is the time to get it.

Pre-dinner and post-cocktails, it was time to check out our room and get ready for dinner. Booked into an Oceanfront Room, there was a spacious balcony with a view of both the nearby Waianae Range and the Pacific. With two double-beds, a desk and two huge closets, it was probably one of the biggest hotel rooms we’ve stayed in. Not to mention the bathroom, with a large walk-in shower, tub and two sinks across from each other (no sharing necessary!).

For dinner we opted for Noe — the resort’s Italian restaurant. The outdoor seating is the perfect location to soak in the ocean breezes and starry skies. It’s certainly romantic, so definitely make a note if you’re planning on celebrating a special occasion. The menu is southern Italian, with highlights being the fresh seafood and homemade pastas. Our favourites included the Whipped Ricotta and Tagliatelle mushroom pasta. We also must mention the wine menu, which boasts a large selection of Italian wines by the bottle.

The next day we kept it simple for breakfast, grabbing a to-go bite at Hokulea. Delicious pastries, chia seed pudding, breakfast egg sandwiches and a full coffee bar were available and allowed us less time in a restaurant and more on the beach!

For those on an adult-only vacation, we highly recommend spending at least a few hours at the adult pool area. There’s a gorgeous infinity pool where you can relax and then have a cocktail or snack delivered right to your lounge chair. Prefer the ocean? It’s only steps away from the pool, and because it’s a cove, the water is calm and warm. We suggest borrowing a stand-up paddle board and squeezing in an effortless workout.

Another highlight of the resort is their impressive spa. The menu of treatments available range from healing Hawaiian therapies to your classic massage treatments and facials. We had the opportunity to experience the Hanohano Lomilomi massage ($195 USD/ 50 minutes), but not just anywhere. The resort offers outdoor treatment rooms, which allow you to take in the fresh Hawaiian air while getting rubbed down.

We also got to experience a new special treatment offered at the resort — lashes by Kristin Wood. Ideal for brides, but also perfect if you’re looking for a dramatic look with long-lasting results. We’re not going to lie, this treatment takes a long time (about 3 hours for a full set) and keep in mind you need to keep your lashes dry for 24 hours after the treatment, so book accordingly! Kristin is extremely talented, taking her time to make sure your lashes are perfect. After you can say goodbye to mascara, eyelash curlers and smudges. Prices start at $200 for initial sets.

Room to Book: Although you won’t be spending tons of time in your room, we recommend splurging on a Prime Oceanfront Room. The sunsets are stunning and it’s worth it to sit on the balcony enjoying the view with a bottle of bubbly.

Good to Know: If you aren’t planning on leaving the resort we suggest arranging transportation to and from the airport, otherwise you’ll be charged $40 USD/night for overnight valet (no self parking).

Where to Find:
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
92-1001 Olani Street
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
1 (844) 387-0308 / fourseasons.com/oahu