What to expect: Located in the secluded Ko Olina Resort, JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa is painted all-white to showcase extensive tropical gardens and landscaping. A 15-story atrium lobby with marble floors introduces the resort's gracious tranquility, enhanced by Hawaiian music and artwork. Broad steps lead from the lobby down to three linked saltwater ponds bordered by gardens and threaded by walkways.

Amenity highlights: The 35,000-square-foot Ihilani Spa includes an outdoor lap pool, steam baths, saunas, Roman pools, and relaxation lanais. The spa's health club offers wellness classes and personal training. On-site dining options include a fine-dining venue with oceanfront terrace, a Japanese restaurant adjoining a peaceful Japanese garden, and a casual poolside grill.

Insider tip: With the Reef and Ray Adventure program (surcharge), adults and children can feed and interact with the sharks, Hawaiian reef fish, sting rays, and other marine life in the resort's ponds. However, there is no charge to watch the professionals feed the fish each day at 7:30 AM (time subject to change).

What to expect: The hotel’s open-air lobby is tiled with marble and overlooks a clean, sandy beach and turquoise lagoon. The hotel is decorated in Mediterranean style, with a curved, marble stairway descending to a garden terrace with arched bridges over splashing streams. Leisure travelers relax under shady umbrellas at the pools, enjoy a romantic sunset drink by the ocean, or take cruises from a nearby marina.

Amenity highlights: Situated on 28 acres and part of the 642-acre Ko Olina Resort and Marina, this hotel opened in 2003. The hotel has two large freeform pools surrounded by a slate tile patio, as well as a poolside restaurant. Guests work out in a marble and cherry wood fitness center, or swim in a sheltered ocean lagoon. One mile away, a championship 18-hole golf course is part of the large resort property.

Insider tip: On the outer edges of the sandy beach of Naia Lagoon ("naia" means dolphin in the Hawaiian language) fronting the hotel are two grassy knolls. They are the perfect, romantic setting for viewing Hawaii’s spectacular sunsets.