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The Kahala Hotel & Resort
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52 reviews for The Kahala Hotel & Resort
Love this place! It's not in Waikiki, so there aren't as many tourists around... and how many hotels have their own dolphins?!
The renovated rooms are spacious. Beds are super comfy and the air conditioning is QUIET. Bathrooms have wide spa-tubs and a bunch of products for use.
The lobby is super nice too. Definitely one of the best, if not, THE best hotel on Oahu.
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Went to a wedding here... Beautiful location to get married
Resort is better than most in Waikiki
Pricey Location
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I absolutely love this hotel, even though it could use some improvement. My main draw is the dolphins, which is why I always stay in the dolphin lanai rooms.
Not to mention that one of my favorite restaurants is there. I love Hoku's, I recommend the seafood platter, sometimes it's not on the menu. It's huge, so it's best shared with friends and family. Also, make sure you try the restaurant that allows you to sit outside by the ocean. I forgot the name, but we went in the evening, and there was a long waiting list at the time, but it was amazing.
I don't stay here as much, but I still do every once in a while. I now favor renting homes verses hotels.
This review is for the Veranda at the Kahala Hotel & Resort only.
I love going to the veranda for their afternoon tea service which starts at 2pm. I love the cute baby blue and white china (reminds me of alice in the wonderland), the high ceiling and open air seating area, the freshness of the decor, ambiance, service, tea, nibblits, everything!!
Boys, take your gf/wife/mom here... she'll love it :)
Awesome views, my sister had her wedding here and I was blown away with the amenities of this resort.
'Aha'aina male like no other......Kipa hou mai Hawaii
No worries,no menehune here.
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Great resort.. very relaxing. The staff were excellent. We were sad to leave.
I really wanted to give the Kahala five stars. In many respects, they are definitely a 5 star hotel: impeccable service, great food, beautiful decor, and secluded yet accessible location. However, the details are what makes a 5 star hotel, and here's where I think they fell short:
-When we stayed there, the Kahala had recently gone through a massive renovation, and it definitely shows. The rooms have brand new furniture, paint, and even custom-designed Frette linens. The bed was heavenly, and the design was beautiful, but they skimped on the things that were much too obvious -- like the toilet. Our toilet was old (think 10-15 years), with visible chips on the seat, and a sad, yellowing shade. They also did not replace the fixtures in the shower or the bathtub, which I think made the otherwise renovated bathroom look incomplete. They didn't replace some of the old cabinetry in the closets (which are located inside the giant bathrooms), which again, took away from the beauty of the renovations.
-The pool / beach amenities: when I think of 5-star resorts in Hawaii, I think of places like the Four Seasons Maui, where cabanas are free and plentiful, and the pool staff are attentive and available. At the Kahala, there was a fee to rent not only the cabanas but even the umbrellas if you wanted to use them on the beach. They did not have wait staff that regularly circled the pool and beach areas, so if you wanted something, you had to go get it yourself from the bar. Other nice-to-have freebies such as cold towels, or snacks were definitely not available either. All water equipment required rental fees, and their free resort activities were not available on weekends.
That said, I think the Kahala is still a fantastic hotel, and I would definitely stay there again if I was staying in Oahu. The amazingly comfortable bed and linens alone, are enough of a reason to return!
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This review is for the beach area at the Kahala Resort. Being that I'm a grad student my pockets do not run deep, so staying at the hotel is way too expensive for me; however, all the beaches in Hawaii are open to the public, so you can head on over here and hang out at their "private" like beach anytime you want, and get validated valet parking :-)
My BF, son, and I came here many times during our week and 1/2 stay in Hawaii. This beach is up there with the lagoons at Ko'Olina. Nice and small, with shaded beach chairs. My son had a blast and never wanted to leave the water. They also have the Discovery Dolphin thing there, so there's a big man made lagoon where a couple of dolphins live. They were so cute, and it was great to get to see them up close.
Maybe one day, when I no longer live on a fellowship that provides wages barely above the poverty line, I'll get the chance to stay here ;-) In the meantime, we'll definitely hang out here again the next time we're in Hawaii.
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Best hotel in Honolulu!!
The lagoon with the dolphins is soo
beautiful!! And the beach is awesome!!
Definately stay here if u like peace and quiet
without a lot of loud tourist around.
The magic of the Kahala is a 5 star hotel on a beautiful beach within minutes of the hustle and bustle of Waikiki...all without the crowds. Excellent in every way.
The staff was very friendly. The whole environment at this hotel is wonderful. we stayed in the dolpin lanai suite it was nice but would of been better if they had a flat screen tv. The only thing I didn't like about the hotel was the small pool area. I would think a 5 star hotel would have an amazing pool but they have there own beach. The breakfast buffet is well organized at plumeria and the food is awesome. I recommend this place because the service is good.
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Ok, Dolphin Quest is absolutely amazing and is worth every pretty penny you spend on it! Swimming with the dolphins is truly indescribable, I would recommend this to everyone. Not only are they incredibly aware of the animal's welfare and happiness, but they teach you all about the care for these animals. Each swim is unique as they do not force the dolphins to perform any tricks, or do any stunts they don't want to do. If you love animals and life time experiences, I would highly recommend this especially over Sea Life Park! Plus the entire grounds at the hotel is absolutely beautiful!
The Kahala Hotel and Resort is a must visit. Atmosphere, the dolphins, the restaurants are all great. If you want pampering. Place to go.
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I had a lovely time here.
We stayed for our wedding.
We had a wonderful wedding.
Great breakfast. Great room. Great beach. Great location.
I'd go back for sure if someone's paying for me...lol
Dear: Management
,,I just have a couple of things to say.
1. I had a reservation to get my nails painted in the morning of the wedding. And It was canceled. I had to paint my nails myself. (well,,,I saved some money I guess.) I didn't freak out but I think the hotel need a better system to prevent such happenings. And a better apology than just "I'm sorry". What if I was a really freak out kinda bride,,,it could have been a crazy situation.
2. I forgot my accessories in the room(for sure they were there) and called the hotel about it. They told me that it was never found. I'm pretty sure that they are in the house keeping's pocket. I explained that the cash value of those items are not high at all. BUT, one was my dead grandmother's wedding ring, another was a chirstmas gift from my husband-a silver ring-it was so cute..., then another was earrings that my friend made for me to wear on my wedding day. The three most valuable jewelry pieces I had,,,that I kept separated from other items in the black little square tin,,,,were lost. How stupid of me to have left them there.
But at least I'm not a thief.
I always wanted to tell this story but took me long, u know,,,to be cool about it.
It was very unfortunate.
It was perfect except for those two things.
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right now there is a kamaaina special going on! $199 a room, free parking, and free breakfast for 2. soooo worth it!
The service here is awesome, the cater to all your needs! We were even gifted with a bottle of champagne for our anniversary!
The room was huge and the bathroom as well! loved the bed! i really felt like we were on a island getaway! great bathroom goodies, shaver, loofah, etc.
Honestly, I would come again...maybe we will, the special is extended until march!
Come for a special night away...it is very romantic!
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Best resort in Hawaii, hands down, if you got the bankroll. Close second is the Halekulani and Ihilani. Primary reason is location, on Kahala Beach, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and Waikiki...relaxing and secluded. Doesnt look like much from the outside, but service and amenities are top notch....
I agree 100% with Cathy Y.'s review. My family and I have been staying here since it was still the Kahala Hilton and I gotta say what's changed the most is the service... it's actually rather disappointing.
Yes, it is still an absolutely beautiful hotel in prime location, although it does cost an arm and a leg to stay there. Either way, they often make you wait for hours before you can check-in, ignore requests you made online before check-in, and I am so disappointed that they changed all (okay, most) of the staff at the Plumeria Beach House - our favorite buffet restaurant for breakfast & dinner. They used to have many locals and older people forever but when management changed, they magically all disappeared. Whether they quit because they were unhappy or were fired - I am not happy with this :( But I suppose that doesn't really concern first timers.
The dolphin lagoon is great, even if you don't want to spend a ridiculous sum of money to swim with them. The beach cabanas are a dream come true and Tokyo-Tokyo has bomb ass food. All-in-all if you got the dough, I say you spend it here at the Kahala. Best hotel on Oahu hands down.
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a simply beautiful place.
it's chic enough for a wedding but it's also very kid friendly.
the pool and beach are almost next to each other.
there are different fish in the little ponds which were complete with a gorgeous waterfall...there are pics and descriptives to figure out the fish species. i'm torn about the dolphins though...animals in captivity make me sad. they are kid and crowd pleasers but it didn't feel right.
the staircase with the orchid wall used to be filled when it was under the mandarin establishment but it's still nice.
my cousin and i ate by the beach. they were understaffed so there was a bit of a wait despite quite a few free tables. but a free sample of blue cotton candy made it worth it. i'm just a big kid after all!
they are known for yummy pina coladas so i had to order one!
add in the lobster salad and i was happy as a clam.
despite being frazzled from being understaffed, the service always remained professional.
i would definitely come back.
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This is the place to stay on Oahu.
The service is spectacular. The concierge was incredible. They sent us to some great restaurants and were able to get us amazing tables at said great restaurants.
The resort is beautiful. The private beach (well, beaches in Hawaii are public, but its not near anything, so 99% of the people are hotel guests.) was so relaxing.
The hotel restaurants were excellent as was room service.
Did I mention the views from the rooms?
Stay here. 'Nuff said.
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Let me first start by saying, we have been coming to this hotel since it was first the Kahala Mandarin. And it has really changed alot. First of all, I would say the property is still a beautiful property with an ideal location... The beach is nice. not very crowded and very clean. Our newly remodeled room was spacious but I miss terribly the old colonial hawaiian style decorating of the rooms. It's been replaced with more modern furniture and a plasma screen tv. However, the sheets are heavenly--frette linens from italy-- and the beds are very, very comfortable!!!!
Service is inconsistent. Upon check in, we were told our rooms would be ready in 1/2 hour. We managed to kill some time and when 1/2 hour came and went, we called the front desk to check on it and they said it would be another hour! we finally got our room and the carpeting was wet (It had just been shampooed) Concierge service is mediocre as well. I had to ask four times for babysitting to be set up and i had asked for a printed itinerary of what I had already book. The woman at concierge said she would print it out and have it delivered to my room. It was never delivered. Another time, we asked for reservations to play golf and they proceeded to tell us to call the golf pro shop ourselves. On the otherhand, Valet who upon hearing we were going to the swap meet supplied us with cold bottled water, umbrellas and directions.
Today, we went to the pool and it was really dirty. Someone had spilled a drink in the pool and there was a lot of debris in the pool. I think that under the Mandarin, the pool would always be sparkling.
Perhaps if i had not been a guest for so long when the hotel was the Kahala Mandarin, I would really appreciate this hotel. However, I believe the service and quality has deteriorated greatly and it was such a disappointment. I think I will probably not stay here again because for the price of the room, I'd expect much more.
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5 Stars for the only 5 Star hotel on Oahu.
We had our wedding ceremony & reception here and the service, attention to detail, and ambiance was exceptional.
Everyone greeted us by name, our catering manager Charles Keegan & Jaime Ing were such a great team to work with, the food was fabulous and our room was plush and extravagant.
When my fiance checked in on our wedding day he received a complimentary massage! How great is that! I just wish I had been there to get one too! Ha!
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Outrageously Gorgeous! This is probably THE most luxurious hotel on Oahu. I say probably because I haven't stayed in too many places on island but I have stayed in comparable (oceanfront) hotel rooms at the Outrigger, W Hotel, Hilton, Moana, etc...
You definitely feel the 5-star luxury in the private location of the hotel, surroundings, private/exclusiveness, amazing bed linens, spacious suites, delicious food, and top-notch service.
If I had the means, I would stay here every visit to Oahu.
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In my opinion this is THE most gorgeous property in the whole of Oahu. With ocean view rooms running around the $600/night rate, you'd know that you'd be staying IN the room most of the time instead of soaking up the Waikiki sun.
One of the features of this place is their swimming with dolphins program. For a price you or your children can take part in spending about 2 hours with dolphins close up.
Restaurants are also absolutely top notch!!!
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This was the final stop of our vacation on Oahu, after visiting the aquarium on the way here and seeing all sorts of exotic skeleton like sea life.
Didn't stay the night here but the reason why we came was for a perhaps not so well known but highly raved afternoon tea service! This was held in the lounge area and the pineapple scones were warm, inviting, and very tasty. The tea was so good we bought a small bag home as a souvenir. I can't for the life of me remember the tea we had but it was a unique offering and not so ho hum run of the mill tea bag.
Best of all at the back of the lounge was the balcony area overlooking the dolphin pool! While petting the dolphin here is expensive, afternoon tea + watching the dolpihns is a much cheaper alternative. The only setback is you need to pay for the valet parking, even to spend an hour to hour and a half here but it is worth it.
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The Kahala is, in a word, magical. Their Catering and Conferences Department is a dream to work with, they are intuitive, experienced, competent, cordial, and always professional. The staff are exceptional. Our mountain view suite, refurbished in their new "Kahala chic" style, was a peaceful oasis. The venue offers all of the aesthetics of a beachfront property, while set apart from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki.
The Kahala helps create beautiful memories, and you will leave feeling refreshed and inspired.
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An awesome spot, but it's a loooot of mula so go for something special. My dad recommended this place to me along with Halekulani as the best choice for honeymoon. We picked this hotel because they have DOLPHINS and I read online that you can pay to hang out with the dolphins.
It turns out you never get to RIDE the dolphins like you see on t.v., but you basiclally get to feed them and pet them on their head in teh water for something ridiculous like $80. I wasn't about to pay up to touch a dolphin. Who gives...they probably feel like rubber with lubricant.
Nywho, presidents, governors, and celebrities have stayed here, and maybe that goes to show why this place knows to always treat their customers with the upmost respect. They have no idea who they might be dealing with, and what word might get out. Ya know?
I'm a nobody (a commoner so-to-speak) but I was treated like I was some high-profile client. They address me by my name. They know who I am. When I parked my rental car, I get out and they address me by my name.
I let them know before hand that this was a honeymoon so they gave us the highest floor and provided us with a free bottle of champagne. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!
Oh, and their restaurants are amazing.
Con: Possibly that this hotel is about 15 minute drive from the Waikiki strip. We had a rental car, so for us, it was so nice to just escape to this hotel at night time. If your'e not planning on renting a car, you might want to go with Halekulani for an equally amazing experience.
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Excellent hotel near everything in Honolulu but not in the middle of everything. Going to the beach on the north shore - get a spiffy clean towel from the valet before you leave. Need your room cleaned at a certain hour - let them know when you check in and they'll clean your room when you want it cleaned not at 8am when they feel like it. Something cool by the poolside - smoothies and popsicles (if not a vodka martini) are yummy. Perhaps a swim with a large mammal - head to the dolphin lagoon. Get hard over parquet floors - this is truly your place. And those crazy ass chandeliers in the lobby are total 50's retro kitsch.
The rooms are all being renovated and we stayed in one of the new ones recently. Totally tropical and totally beautiful. This is a beautiful old lady who has just gotten a new Pam Anderson boob job and she is looking HOT!
So run, do not walk to The Kahala...
My only suggestion - get a kiddy pool. The pubescent 13 year old checking my wife's rack out kind of weirded me out.
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Many people still call this hotel the Kahala Mandarin Oriental. Even more "out of it" people still call this hotel the Kahala Hilton. Well, it's neither.
I got married here at the Kahala Hotel and Resort last November. All my guests loved this place (I think. haha.) The location is excellent. It is away from the hustle and bustle in Waikiki, so there aren't like a million people walking through the hotel.
My ceremony was in the Diamond Head Gazebo, outisde, right on the beach. If you look at the Gazebo straight on, you will see a small island in the backgound. It's so cute. I also loved the "aisle" we walked on. It is a windy sand aisle. Also very cute.
The catering managers are the best. They work hard and they work till late. I would occasionally get calls at 10PM! They work till late and make sure your day is perfect!
I got a standard garden view room (I live in Hawaii so I don't NEED an ocean view room) and it was great! The bathroom was nice and big, the bed was comfortable, and was very clean.
Even if you don't have a chance to stay here, it is worth visiting just to walk around. Oh yeah, there are many dolphins here too!
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Beautiful and elegant classy hotel. The hotel has great service, the Sunday brunch buffets at Hoku & Plumeria House are both wonderful.
It is a nice hotel that's tucked away in a residential area...which can be great if you want to be away from the Wakiki action.
However, for a non-local, I felt that it was sorta hard to find in the evening. Also, once we were back in the hotel, there's nowhere to go and nothing to do without needing to have the car again.
Halekulani may get all the hype, and it's a wonderful hotel, but it's literally dwarfed by the concrete jungle of Waikiki.
The Kahala, through all of it's incarnations remains the classiest place to stay on Oahu. The public spaces are well appointed with lots of floral arrangements and open air rooms. The hotel features a lagoon with dolphins, a large beach front, and a pool. Rooms are well decorated and comfortable. Bathrooms are huge. Restaurant food is good but expensive.
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My friend's wedding was held at the Kahala (previously called the Kahala Mandarin Oriental). It was an absolutely beautiful location for a wedding outdoors overlooking diamond head and the serene ocean view.
An added bonus is the backyard bridge that overlooks the dolphins swimming below you! They are so cute when they flip over and swim on their backs.
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This is a great hotel! If you have the means, I highly recommend it. It used to be owned by the Mandarin Oriental group until recently, so I'm not sure if anything has really changed since then. But the restaurants are excellent (see Hoku's) as are the accomodations and service. I even ran into P Diddy a number of times during of of my stays. His bodyguard must have suspicious since I kept running into him at the gym, in the elevator, etc. hahaha.
Oh, they also have the Dolphin Quest service on site! They have their own dolphins and you can participate in one of their programs where you get to swim with the dolphins!
Amendment: The Kahala was recently purchased by another consortium of Japanese investors and is no longer managed by the Mandarin Oriental hotel group. During my recent visit, I did notice some differences; a change in the amenities, some general maintenance issues, etc. It's still a great hotel...I guess change is inevitable.
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I didn't stay the night at the Kahala but i did go there to attend a wedding for one of my good friends and it was absolutely gorgeous! It's a hotel away from the tourist-y Waikiki and it gives a much more isolated atmosphere. In fact, many celebrities have been known to stay at this beautiful resort that offered less of a public setting.
I would absolutely recommend this place for a wedding and from what I hear from the wedding guests that spent the night there, it definitely is a must- stay- at hotel.
The wedding was held outside, a background of refreshing Hawaiian waters and a beautiful blue sky (when it's not raining of course). The hotel is also a host to two magnificent dolphins that you can watch as you walk the grounds.
If you ever get a chance, stay at the Kahala. It's breathtaking!
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This is a truly beautiful and elegant hotel, situated on a lovely and secluded private beach...nice change of pace from the crowds of Waikiki! The service was excellent and personal- we had champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries awaiting us on the day of our 1st anniversary! The pool was very nice and the private beach even nicer! The Sunday Brunch at Hoku was the best brunch I've ever had- the freshest fish and sushi, along with brunch staples. Yes, it is an expensive stay, but it lives up to it's luxurious reputation! Perfect for a romantic and relaxing vacation!
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Love this place. Tagged along with my wife on a couple of business trips and this place is incredible. The staff are all friendly and very helpful. The breakfast buffet is by far the best I've had. Combine that with the spectacular view and it makes for a great start to the day. I've eaten at Hoku's as well and the restaurant was very good. I'm not much of a fine dining eater so I enjoyed the buffet more than the fine dining.
I actually like it that the resort is a short drive from Waikiki, because you can get away from the bustle, but are close enough to everything in Honolulu.
I've been back a few times, even staying there on our own dime for vacation because it was THAT good.
We have a little daughter, but I wouldn't recommend the Dolphin quest because I just don't think the cost is worth it. There's enough at the hotel and a short drive from the hotel that you can find so many other things that are fun to do.
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Formerly known as the Kahala Mandarin, this hotel features great restaurants like Hoku's, as well as their own dolphin ponds! I like having tea here - they have a special blend that was a favorite of Queen Emma's (the rose tea).
The only reason I'm giving this place four stars is because I've been involved in so many weddings here at their gazebos, and let me tell you it's under-rated. They all seem the same. The wedding coordinator that I see a lot at this hotel can be really crabby. Maybe only to "the help"? Getting married here might seem cool at one of their 2 gazebos, but it's hard to hear anything, and if it starts to rain/sprinkle (likely), it kind of sucks. Receptions seem to go over well here (they are inside).
The valets here are super-cool, helpful, and nice.
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I stayed over one night and the room was sooooo nice. The hotel is away from the city. Hoku restaurant was excellent . Plumeria buffet was OK. You really have to goto the spa. It is amazing. I tried other spas, but no other spa can compare to how great this one is. The individual spa rooms are beautiful and it also includes your own shower/tub. Simply amazing.
This is a lovely hotel and the grounds and surrounding area is just beautiful. If you want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of Waikki so that you can relax and truly have a peaceful vacation - this may just be the place for you.
The rooms are lovely, and the hotel itself has an "open" design that creates a truly elegant, island feel. I'm not so sure I like the restaurants here, but the hotel and the spa are great. I also love the dolphin ponds and you are able to book dolphin experience packages which is great for kids and adults (who doesn't find dolphins absolutely amazing?)
Ah, and the beach at night is very romantic. Go for a walk under the stars and make out a little on the beach - but keep it PG rated - this is a family resort!
My favorite brunch buffet.
Excellent food, stunning presentation...and it's all you can eat!
Seafood raw and cooked, fruit, breakfast fare, breads, meats, and desserts ranging from European pasty to Hawaiian and Asian offerings .
Situated in a ground level restaurant that spills out onto a lawn adjacent to the sea...they air condition the inside and have a vertical wall of cold air separating the un-separated indoor dining area form the outdoor dining area.
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I had my wedding here and it was such an amazing experience. It is a beautiful hotel and the grounds are breathtaking! My wedding coordinator was Charles and he was superb! He is very attentive to your requests and is very honest about a lot of things and will give you his best opinion based on your budget. I had a lot of picky eaters at the wedding but no one complained about the food as it was delicious.
If you ever hold a function or wedding, I would recommend the Kahlua Pig. It's a whole roasted pig and it's so good!
The pastry chef is also amazing there. I wanted to have a cake not too sweet and rich and they made it exactly like I wanted. It was like those cakes from Japan. Very moist, not too sweet and light.
If I got married, I would do it again in Kahala. Everything about this place is amazing.
