

11

"When you want Honolulu minus the crowds, this is the go-to: a blissfully quiet beach, friendly, personal service, and four high-end restaurants delivering some of the island’s best cooking. Activities abound—scuba, surfing, and stand-up paddle lessons are standard—and a family of dolphins lives in an on-site lagoon under the care of trainers and marine biologists. Opened a little over a half-century ago in an upscale neighborhood on the far side of Diamond Head, its opulence and audacious location quickly made it the place to stay, hosting entertainers, heads of state, and every American president since Lyndon Johnson." - Michael He