Hawaii’s just a quick skip from L.A., and the hot island sand and turquoise surf are crawling with celebrities in need of a quick escape. We’ve compiled a list of the hotels where they’ve recently been seen splashing, sunning, and filming. If you want to channel your favorite celebs — and maybe see one, too — here are our recommendations for the best places to stay in Hawaii.
1
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
Honolulu, Oahu
The Kahala boasts a long hall of fame (well, it's a wall really), and has played host to everyone from Bill Clinton to Michael Jackson to Snoop Dogg. Liz Taylor and Richard Burton hid out from the paparazzi in a cabana here after getting married (for the first time) in 1964. More recently, Tiger Woods checked in while playing in a nearby golf tourney, one staff member told us. If that isn't enough, People magazine reports that heart-throb actor Shia LaBeouf has recently graced the hotel's sand.
2
Turtle Bay Resort
Kahuku, Oahu
This hotel is no stranger to the camera. Lauren Conrad, Lo Bosworth, and the rest of The Hills gang recently vegged out here while filming an episode of their reality show, and Jason Segal and Mila Kunis filmed Forgetting Sarah Marshall on the premises. Hit TV-show Lost has frequently filmed here as well, which means Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, and the rest of the bunch have been hanging around quite a bit over the past few years. Sean Penn had a controversial vacation at the hotel with his family in 2007, and baggy-pants rapper MC Hammer more recently renewed his wedding vows at Turtle Bay (which then aired on his reality TV show, Hammertime).
3
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Wailea, Maui
We found this hotel to be the most luxurious in Hawaii, so it's not surprising that it's a popular celebrity haunt. Oprah, John Stamos, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pamela Anderson, and Tommy Lee have all reportedly been guests, as were Britney Spears and K-Fed back when they were a couple. More recently, Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt were spotted at the Four Seasons in March 2009.
4
Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui
Wailea, Maui
Lindsay Lohan was seen hanging poolside at the Wailea Marriott in the spring of 2009, post Samantha-Ronson-breakup. People magazine caught the actress making a valiant effort trying to catch some waves (keyword: trying).
5
Grand Wailea
Wailea, Maui
Jon and Kate Gosselin of Jon & Kate Plus 8 renewed their wedding vows on the air at Grand Wailea with all eight kids in tow in 2008, before splitting the following year. We bet those kids enjoyed the nine pools - lazy river, waterslide, rope swing, and all!
6
JW Marriott Ihilani Resort And Spa At Ko Olina
When we visited the JW Marriott Ihilani, a staff member told us that hotel heiress Paris Hilton recently graced the property with a stay (to which we say: wrong family, Paris). And hit TV show Lost has occasionally filmed at the hotel, which means Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, and Emilie de Ravin were floating around the premises.
