Our Ultimate Guide to Hotels in Hawaii Using Points
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Hawaii is closer than you think when you pay for your hotel with points. Below, we break down how to get the best value at some of the islands’ best hotels across three programs, Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton, from budget-friendly stays to splurge-worthy resorts.
Each program works a little differently, so we’ll walk you through how each one prices award nights and point you to our favorite Hawaii properties in each.
For more information about each of these loyalty programs, be sure to check out our blog post, Loyalty Programs and Transfer Partners.
Note: At the time of writing, the hotel categories and points required were accurate. Changes occur and dynamic pricing can happen based on popular dates. Be sure to check your own dates and confirm rates for you.
Hyatt
Please note: This information below is accurate at the time of publication however Hyatt introduced a revamped World of Hyatt award chart in May 2026, keeping its 8 categories but adding five pricing tiers within each one. This change brings more variable pricing, meaning award nights will fluctuate more widely depending on demand. You can learn more about these changes here.
You guessed it: We’re starting off with one of our favorite hotel rewards programs, Hyatt. Not only are there several ways to earn Hyatt points, but they have a generous award chart that gives you the ability to maximize the value of your points.
And, when you stay at a Hyatt hotel on points, you don’t have to worry about paying those pesky resort fees. So, you can literally come away with a $0 charge when booking a Hyatt hotel with points.
How to Earn Hyatt Points
Chase Ultimate Rewards® Cards: Transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt (keep in mind, not all Chase cards earn Ultimate Rewards, and the transfer ratio now depends on which card you hold, more on that just below).
If you’re looking for a card, it’s no secret that our favorite Chase cards for travel rewards are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or one of the Chase Ink Business cards. All Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card cardmembers transfer to World of Hyatt at 4:3 (4 Chase points become 3 Hyatt points). This applies only to Hyatt; all other partners stay 1:1. One important exception: the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ keep the full 1:1 Hyatt ratio. If you have either card, you can move your Chase points over to it and still transfer to Hyatt at 1:1. And even at 4:3, Hyatt is still often a solid deal: a 25,000-point Hyatt night costs about 33,400 Chase points, which can beat cash rates of $500 or more.
Hyatt Credit Cards: The World of Hyatt Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card are great options for earning points directly to your Hyatt account.
Both cards come with solid perks like free night awards and bonus points, making them a good choice for anyone looking to earn points while enjoying travel benefits.
Hyatt Award Chart
Hyatt’s award chart is based on a few factors, but it’s pretty straightforward once you break it down.
First, every Hyatt hotel is assigned a category from 1 to 8. The higher the category, the more points a night costs.
Second, the room type matters. You can book standard rooms, club rooms, standard suites, and premium suites with points, and each step up costs more.
Third, within each category Hyatt prices award nights across five tiers that flex with demand. From cheapest to most expensive, they are lowest, low, moderate, upper, and top:
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The lowest and low tiers need the fewest points. These show up on quieter, low-demand dates.
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Moderate is the middle of the range, about what you’d expect on an average date.
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The upper and top tiers cost the most points and appear during busy periods like holidays or special events. At the top tier, a premium suite at a Category 8 hotel can run as high as 110,000 points per night.
In Hawaii, standard rooms start at about 12,000 points per night on lowest-tier dates. A premium suite at a Category 8 resort on a top-tier date could be as high as 110,000 points per night.
Always double-check your travel dates and room type to get an accurate idea of how many points you’ll need.
Our Favorite Hyatt Hotels in Hawaii
Here are a few of our top Hyatt picks in Hawaii, listed with their standard-room point range.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Category 8 / 35,000 – 75,000 points per night (standard room rate)
A beautiful beachfront property in Kauai, perfect for relaxation and upscale amenities.
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
Category 8 / 35,000 – 75,000 points per night (standard room rate)
A chic, boutique resort in Wailea offering excellent service and a more intimate atmosphere.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Category 6 / 20,000 – 40,000 points per night (standard room rate)
Located on Ka’anapali Beach, this resort offers everything from pools to cultural activities to adorable animal residents and a nightly luau.
Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach
Category 4 / 12,000 – 25,000 points per night (standard room rate)
This spot is a great value in a prime location near many of Waikiki’s top attractions.
Marriott
Marriott may not offer the best point value, but with its large footprint and a wide range of properties, it’s still a solid choice. Plus, when you book with points, you’ll get the 5th night free, making it a great option for longer stays.
How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy® Points
Chase Co-Branded Marriott Cards: Chase has 3 personal Marriott credit cards: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card. While all are terrific cards, the application rules are complicated, so check CardGenie® inside the free Travel Freely app, which shows only the Marriott cards you’re actually eligible for based on the cards you already have.
American Express Co-branded Marriott Cards: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card are all great options to accumulate a decent amount of Marriott points.
Travel Freely has an easy-to-understand Marriott credit card eligibility chart in our Marriott Bonvoy Complete Guide post.
Marriott Award Chart
Marriott no longer uses a fixed award chart. Instead, points for a free night vary by brand, location, room type, and time of year, ranging from 5,000 to 100,000+ points.
This makes it harder to know exactly how many points you’ll need, since prices can change with demand. On the plus side, traveling during off-peak times can save points, and the 5th night free perk still makes longer stays worthwhile.
Our Favorite Marriott Hotels in Hawaii
Moana Surfrider Westin
55,000+ points/night
Located on Waikiki Beach, this historic hotel offers oceanfront views, a serene pool, and an award-winning spa. Despite its central location, the 600 feet of beachfront provide a peaceful atmosphere.
AC Hotel by Marriott Maui Wailea
65,000+ points per night
A more straightforward, modern option, this clean and comfortable hotel in Wailea is perfect. It offers a more minimalist vibe with easy access to local beaches and attractions.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
90,000+ points per night
The Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua offers luxury and breathtaking views. With its world-class service, pristine beaches, and upscale amenities, it’s the perfect place for a splurge-worthy stay.
Hilton
Similar to Hyatt, Hilton doesn’t charge resort fees when booking with points. You can also earn the 5th night free on all-points award stays once you have Silver status or higher, which every Hilton Honors American Express card includes complimentary (Terms apply. Enrollment required).
How to Earn Hilton Points
American Express Hilton Co-branded Cards: American Express offers 3 personal and 1 business cards that earn points directly to your Hilton Honors account. Some of our favorite American Express Hilton cards are the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
What’s extra helpful is that American Express lets you hold all of these cards at the same time, and each one has its own welcome bonus, so you can build a big stash of Hilton points by adding them over time.
Hilton Award Chart
Hilton has a huge range of properties, so finding a hotel that fits your trip is usually easy. Their Points Explorer tool lets you see how many points a hotel might cost, so you can plan your stay with confidence.
Our Favorite Hilton Hotels in Hawaii
Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach
50,000 – 60,000+ points per night
Located just 2 blocks from the beach in Honolulu, this hotel is centrally located and within walking distance to both the beach and city center.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
60,000 – 70,000+ points per night
Also located in Honolulu, this hotel spans 22 acres of beachfront in Waikiki, perfect for those looking to soak up the sun. With 5 swimming pools and a world-class spa, there’s plenty for guests to enjoy.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
70,000+ points per night
Located on the Kohala Coast, this massive resort spans over 62 acres and offers activities for both families and adults. From pools to cultural experiences, and even marine life in the lagoon, there’s something for everyone. Points required can vary widely, so try to book when rates are lower.
Summary
A trip to Hawaii is closer than you think, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Using points for your hotel stay can unlock incredible experiences, from beachfront resorts to boutique escapes. Each loyalty program works a little differently, so the right card(s) for you depend on the hotels and adventures you want to enjoy.
For a deeper dive into hotel programs and the best cards to help you get there, check out our guide on the Best Hotel Rewards Cards.
