Waikiki is home to the majority of Oʻahu’s hotels and resorts. There are countless great options to call home during your Hawaiian getaway, but if it’s a quieter escape you seek, make a beeline for The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay.
The only resort on Oahu’s North Shore, a stay here feels a world away from bustling Waikiki.
Although the resort is less than 40 miles from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), make the drive on the often slow-moving, two-lane highway and you’ll likely agree the term remote is accurate. And don’t be surprised if you want to return again and again.
Staying on Oahu’s North Shore
Set on nearly 1,300 acres, nearly all of Turtle Bay’s 462 accommodations feature ocean views. Lodging options range from traditional hotel rooms, to luxe beach bungalows, and a small number of villas with up to four bedrooms.
I stayed in an Ocean View King room on the fourth floor of the West Wing. Overlooking the pool area and the breathtaking surf the North Shore is known for, the view is what most guests will remember long after they’ve packed up and returned home. Along with a king bed and sofa bed, there was a compact circular table with seating for two.
A massive photo mural of a breaking wave covered the wall above the bed, while a floral themed mural brightened the doorless closet. The bathroom is broken into two areas. One single-sink vanity is in a public space; a second is located in the water closet along with a walk-in show.
Along with a small refrigerator the room featured a Lavazza coffee machine. Basic electric tea kettles are available by request.
Recently off of a multi-million dollar property-wide renovation, the room felt fresh and new, but the redesign was completed before the resort was sold and rebranded in July 2024, as The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay. So, if you’re loyal to the brand, the rooms may not feel as sophisticated as you are accustomed to at properties like The Ritz-Carlton, Portland or The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. Don’t let it dissuade you from getting a stay on the calendar, it’s just something Ritz-Carlton fans should know in advance.
Public Spaces and Facilities
The main pool deck features three heated pools, two hot tubs, and a pair of small water slides for kids. Beach lovers will appreciate the multiple stretches of secluded sand and spots to swim in the surf or simply watch surfers make their sport look easy.
Active guests have plenty of options to keep them happily moving. In addition to 12 miles of hiking trails, there’s a golf course, as well as tennis and pickleball courts. Snorkeling tours, surfing lessons, stargazing and horseback rides (three dozen horses call the property home) are offered on or near resort grounds.
Turtle Bay is the only Ritz-Carlton property in the world with a working farm. There is a fee, but guided tours are offered for guests curious about locally grown crops. The Kuilima Farm Stand is also a great spot to pick up locally produced souvenirs including honey, jams, spices, and baking mixes.
Dining Options
When dining at the resort’s onsite restaurants, keep an eye out for menu items highlighting Kuilima Farm’s bounty. The Hawaiian Nicoise Salad at Alaia, featuring seared ahi atop Kuilima greens, tomato, cucumber radish, green beans, hard boiled egg, and a lemon vinaigrette, was delightful.
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Steps off the sand, the Beach House By Roy Yamaguchi offers what’s described as Euro-Asian cuisine, stellar with stellar ocean views. Lunch is delightfully casual with sharable options including Teri Beef Sliders, (shredded short rib, house slaw, spicy aioli) a Kalua Pork Sandwich, (crispy onions, housemade slaw, pineapple sweet & sour) and Hurricane Fries. (green onions, furikake, kabayaki, firecracker aioli)
Lobby café Ho‘olana serves assorted coffee drinks and juices, and an assortment of grab-and-go options including baked goods, breakfast burritos and acai bowls. There are also a trio of other onsite eateries I didn’t get to; Lei Lei’s Bar & Grill serves three meals a day overlooking the resort’s golf courses, while Sunset and Off the Lip are bars that serve a variety of bites.
Accessible Lodging Options
The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay offers 16 ADA compliant rooms spread across a variety of room categories. Rooms are adapted for guests with mobility disabilities, however assistive listening devices are available on request. Specifics on resort areas and features can be found here.
Good to Know
Turtle Bay is located approximately 14 miles north of Hale‘iwa Town, a laid-back community with a cluster of restaurants, shops, and beaches. Waimea Bay, a spot well-known for high surf during winter months, is about an 8-mile drive.
Rates at The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay, start at $779 in low season and $1299 in high season. There is also a $52 daily resort fee; a lei greeting for two guests, daily wellness classes for two, and daily use of a pickleball court for two, are among some of the options included at the time of my stay.
Check rates online for Turtle Bay at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
