Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina: Review
What started as a last-minute trip turned into a great stay at Four Seasons, offering excellent value with an oceanfront room and a quick, easy flight. While it wasn’t one of our top favorites, the consistent Four Seasons service made for a relaxing and enjoyable getaway. Despite trying new luxury hotels, we often return to Four Seasons for their exceptional service, delicious food with consistently great vegetarian and vegan options for me, and concierge’s who make “virtually anything” possible. We always feel completely pampered.
Our original plan was to kick off summer at Four Seasons Hualalai, but due to some travel complications with our service dog, we decided to postpone and explore a different island. With easy and fast direct flights from the West Coast to any Hawaiian island, we chose Oahu, which we had been curious about but always hesitated due to its reputation for being more populated and touristy. However, FS Oahu at Ko Olina ended up surprising us with its relaxation and charm.
We flew from LAX to HNL on Hawaiian Airlines in their new Leihōkū suites aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. These suites are far superior to other first-class options from LAX to Hawaii, as most don’t offer lie-flat beds. Hawaiian’s first class features lie-flat seats with suites, making it my top choice for West Coast to Hawaii flights, short of flying private. The planes are not only upgraded but also carry the Hawaiian spirit throughout the journey.
The 25-minute drive from the airport to the hotel was pleasant, though not as grand as the scenic routes to Maui or Hualalai. The building is more traditional and compact, unlike the expansive resort layouts in Maui and Hualalai. Upon arrival, the valet experience felt rushed; we received leis and lemonade tea but were quickly ushered to check-in. This was fine, but I prefer Maui’s more leisurely welcome, where you can relax with your drink and enjoy the open-air atmosphere before checking in.
Room:
We stayed in the Oceanfront Junior Suite, and the view was absolutely stunning! We were welcomed with an exotic fruit platter and champagne on ice, and the room was spotless and well-maintained. One standout feature of this hotel is how much easier it is to secure an oceanfront room compared to Four Seasons Maui price-wise. At Maui, oceanfront rooms require significant upgrades and a much higher price, and many rooms are set back or partially blocked. At Four Seasons Oahu, however, most rooms are much closer to the ocean, offering better views with far less effort due to the resort's compact layout.
On our first night, we headed to Monkeypod across the street for cocktails and great food—a must-visit for us whenever we're in Hawaii. The resort offers a house car service, and they were happy to drive us to the nearby shops and restaurants, including Disney Aulani, where we picked up a rental car for a day of exploring Oahu the next day.
Activities:
The resort offered complimentary snorkel gear and paddle boards right on the beach, which was a nice perk compared to other hotels that charge for these amenities. We appreciated the man-made lagoon and rocks, which kept the waters calm and perfect for enjoying these activities. However, while paddle boards were complimentary, many activities and fitness classes came with an additional fee, unlike at some other resorts.
For reference: Some of the paid options include canoe sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkel sails, sunset cruises, and catamaran sail tours, all of which can be easily arranged with concierge for your stay.
Off-property, we rented a car from Enterprise at Disney Aulani next door. The Four Seasons staff happily drove us there, and we easily secured a sedan for a day of exploring local spots on the island.
Restaurants on Property:
La Hiki: The resort’s main open-air restaurant by the Ohana pool, where we enjoyed their classic breakfast buffet. The offerings changed daily, which kept it fresh. A nice touch: each morning, they brought a complimentary amuse-bouche, like chocolate chia pudding or mini pancakes. You can also order à la carte, but we opted for the buffet for variety.
Mina’s Fish House: This beachfront seafood restaurant offers a unique “fish sommelier” experience, where they guide you through the fresh catches of the day and different preparation options. Every table here has a perfect view, and dining at sunset, with the lanterns and ocean breeze, was magical.
Noe: A romantic Italian spot under lantern-lit trees, reminiscent of Capri. The setting and atmosphere, along with the house-made pastas, made for a cozy and delicious dinner.
Waterman Bar: A casual poolside sports bar with classic bar food and TVs for catching up on games. It also felt like a local hangout spot, as we noticed groups of locals enjoying their evenings here.
Hokulea: A convenient coffee and snack bar in the lobby, perfect for grabbing a drink or snack before heading out. We loved the vanilla lattes, fresh salads, sandwiches, and even plant-based snacks. It’s a great stop before or after activities, and became a go-to stop everyday.
Manalo Lounge: Despite being labeled a lounge, this was one of our favorite dining spots. Located beachfront with tables facing the ocean, it’s perfect for watching the sunset with a drink and delicious food. The Yakitori Trio with Sticky Sesame Filet, Crispy Gochujang Chicken, and Yuzu Grilled Ali’i Mushroom was a standout. He loved it so much that he wished we had dined here on our first night instead of the last, just so he could enjoy it again.
In-Room Dining: We only ordered late-night dessert cookies and ice cream. It was nothing special but surprisingly affordable for room service ice cream and cookies. (Unlike the Baccarat Hotel in NY, where a late-night cookie and milk feels like a gourmet investment at $75!)
Pool Food & Dr. Mai Tai’s Swim-Up Bar: We indulged in truffle fries every day by the pool—large portions with a great truffle aioli that held us over until dinner. The adult pool has a swim-up bar, but due to renovation restrictions with the city, they couldn't install a full pool bar. Instead, they improvised with a “swim-up bar cart.” While the drinks were classic cocktails and nothing extraordinary, the service was exceptional each day. The staff at the pool were constantly checking in, referring to us as "family," and making sure we had everything we needed.
Pools:
Ohana Pool: Located in the main hotel area, this is your basic family pool. It feels a bit confined, surrounded by the hotel and amenities, but it's conveniently situated next to Waterman Bar and La Hiki for breakfast and lunch.
Adult Infinity Pool: Our go-to spot each day, offering a kid-free, serene atmosphere. It’s much larger and quieter than the Maui location, where the adult pool can feel crowded and competitive for prime oceanfront chairs. (We do enjoy the fun vibe at Maui and Hualalai, but this pool's quieter atmosphere can be a nice change if you prefer a more peaceful experience. That said, Hualalai also offers its own "quiet pool," in addition to a separate adult pool, giving you options for both lively and calm settings.) Here, every chair has an ocean view, and the vibe is much more relaxed. The only downside was the occasional wedding or event being set up on the lawn, which sometimes obstructed the perfect view.
Keiki Pool: A smaller pool overlooking the lagoon with a jacuzzi, more geared towards kids with a mock sand beach area. When it was quiet, we enjoyed relaxing under the cabana loungers with smoothies and the beautiful view.
Spa Pool: Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to check this one out.
Some of the things we liked at FS Oahu:
Coffee shop on site. Alongside the usual lattes and teas, they offered yogurt parfaits, breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and even great vegetarian options like tofu wraps. By noon, they switched to fresh lunch items, making it a versatile stop before heading out or to enjoy on the patio overlooking the beach.
The adult pool was quiet, spacious, and always had available seating. Unlike Maui’s lively atmosphere with a true swim-up bar, FS Oahu’s mock swim-up bar keeps the vibe more serene.
The variety of dining options on-site were great. Whether it was Mina's Fish House with its "fish sommelier" or the Italian fare at Noe, each restaurant offered quality food with stunning ocean views.
Just steps away from the hotel, the beach shack at Disney Aulani offered fun treats like Dole Whips, adding a playful touch to the beachfront experience and they are delicious and vegan!
Complimentary paddle boards and snorkel gear: The calm, man-made lagoon made these free activities extra enjoyable, as you could paddle or snorkel without worrying about strong waves.
The breakfast buffet at La Hiki was always changing, with fresh and varied options.
The housekeeping at FS Oahu really stood out with thoughtful touches—cords neatly wrapped, sunglasses cleaned and placed on a custom FS Oahu cloth. Little details like these make a big difference in the overall experience.
Here are a few things you might want to keep in mind if considering FS Oahu:
The clientele felt a bit different here, as it seems to be a local hotspot, especially at the bar where locals like to party.
Sharing the cove with Disney Aulani could feel overwhelming if you’re kid-free and looking to relax. There are a lot of children and activity from Disney's side, but FS does a good job of keeping their side quieter and more separated. If you’re traveling with kids, this could actually be a bonus with plenty of playmates around.
FS Oahu has a more compact, traditional hotel feel, which suited our short stay, but if you're after a sprawling resort experience, a different resort might be a better fit.
Tips:
Mosquito Alert: I got bit several times, especially in the evening at the beachfront restaurants. If you’re wearing open clothing, be sure to use bug spray before dinner.
Easy Car Rentals: Download the Enterprise or rental car apps—there’s a convenient rental location right next door at Aulani for day trips. Pick-up and drop-off are super easy.
Keep Your Room Door Closed: Whatever you do, don’t leave your room door open during a nap with the lights on. We made this mistake and woke up to about 50 flying bugs flying around in our room from the nearby trees and plants—not the best pre-dinner experience! Fortunately, it only happened once and seems to be a night-time issue.
Complimentary Services:
Traditional lei greeting
Photo Ambassador
Car Service throughout
Twice-daily housekeeping
Reef-friendly sunscreen stations throughout the pool areas
Daily passed snacks & refreshments by the pool
Pursuit Postscript: This is a great option for a quick, easy trip if you're nearby or have a direct flight. I'd recommend this hotel more for a long weekend rather than a full week of relaxation at a larger resort. Four nights felt perfect: one day exploring the island, and the other three spent enjoying the resort, relaxing, and dining on property. For a more grand, resort-style experience, I'd suggest other Hawaiian islands or properties. The service and dining at the property were excellent, but you can feel its roots as a former JW Marriott, which gives it a more traditional hotel vibe rather than the expansive, open feel of other Four Seasons resorts. That said, it’s a solid choice for families, thanks to the complimentary snorkel and paddle gear, proximity to Disney Aulani (perfect for character breakfasts or dinners), family-friendly pool areas, and service.
(If you’re considering island hopping, I also reviewed Four Seasons Maui, which I think is a perfect ending point before after Oahu for the longer portion of your trip.
