There are plenty of scenic spots where you can stay in Hawaii. The choices have been limited for Hilton Honors members who wanted to use their points at a property with true upscale amenities on Kaua'i. That is changing significantly this fall.

The first Curio Collection property to open in the state of Hawai'i is Hale Hōkūala Kaua'i, which is set to open October 1, 2026. It's already on the books, and with Kaua'i's demand never waning and the all-new property's freshness, it's certainly a consideration to make now, not closer to that opening date.

The actual appearance of the Property

The 210-room resort is ideally located within the Hōkūala Resort community near Lihue Airport, which allows for a close proximity to the airport yet offers guests a convenient location from which to access Kaua'i's best corners. Princeville, Poipu, Waimea Canyon and Wailua Falls are all reasonably easy to get to from the property, so that it would be a good place to explore the island from rather than just a lovely place to stay.

The ambiance of the setting is truly spectacular. The hotel faces out towards both the Pacific Ocean and Haʻupu Mountain, and the design approach is one that incorporates it, as opposed to dominating it. Amenities planned for the site include a signature restaurant overlooking a tropical lagoon, a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course (the Ocean Course at Hōkūala), a fitness center and indoor and outdoor event spaces. The outdoor area is about 10,000 square feet, making it a big property for destination weddings and more.

There is a nice quiet beach at Kalapaki, which is fairly accessible for anyone and in walking distance. Kalapaki Beach is a calm, swimmable stretch of shoreline, which is one of the more approachable beaches on the island for families and casual swimmers.

For this reason, the Curio Collection brand is important here

It's the idea of being different that is the first principle and basis of Curio Collection by Hilton. Curio properties are designed to be as local as possible in their design, atmosphere and experience, and are not intended, like more standardized properties, to be portable to other markets. That makes sense for a place as local as Kaua'i.

The name of the hotel itself is a testament to that. Meaningfully translated in Hawaiian, "Hale Hōkūala" while its developers described the development as an attempt to “build a hotel that is deeply connected to its environment and community.” That is a desire that can only be fulfilled by the actual experience, but with a dedicated property, a prestigious brand and such an unusual location, there are reasonable expectations that this will be a different experience than a traditional resort.

Booking With Hilton Honors Points

Hale Hōkūala Kaua'i is a full participant in Hilton Honors, and it is possible to earn and redeem points for all eligible rate categories. As with many modern Hilton hotels, award-based pricing is based on existing cash rates and demand, and will adjust nightly according to the demand.

It's important to know what to expect before booking.

• Points pricing: Rooms can be reserved at about 95,000 points per night at a variety of dates, including during the popular December holiday season.
• Elevated cash rates: Around $700 per night at opening up to $750 per night around Christmas and New Year
• Transfer partnerships: Hilton Honors points can be transferred from American Express Membership Rewards, which is fairly easy to do so with existing points.
• Hilton Honors Amex cards: (Hilton Surpass and Aspire cards) automatically qualify you for elite status and free night certificates which can help defray the expenses of your Hawaii trip.

The per-point value is about 0.5 cents, which is in the range of normal Hilton dynamic pricing at 0.5 cents per point at 95,000 points and a $479 cash rate. The more interesting times in which points redemptions can make more sense is during periods of peak demand when cash rates may spike significantly but points pricing may not always keep pace. With cash rates close to $750 in the December holiday window, it is the time that makes it worthwhile to run a points comparison.

Put Your Points Balance in to shape

Thanks to this, if you're looking at potentially traveling to Kaua'i this fall or winter, but you're not planning your trip till September, you should think about points now. However, Hilton Honors can be earned in several different ways, such as co-branded credit card spending, transfers from Amex Membership Rewards, dining programs, rideshare partnerships, and, naturally, staying with the Hilton portfolio.

The Aspire Card is especially interesting for travelers who have yet to get a co-branded Hilton card, as it includes several benefits for Hawaii travel, such as the free night certificate each year for stays at premium properties, automatic Diamond status, and an airline incidental credit that can help defray travel expenses. The Surpass Card is an easier card to get into and automatically gets you Gold status, and offers decent daily earning rates for members who don't want to pay the higher annual fee of the Aspire.

A Gap that Needed Filling

Kaua'i has always been a destination for those who love the dramatic cliffs of the Napali Coast, the quiet beaches of the North Shore, and a relaxed vibe. Those locations are reflected in the accommodations on the island and while the upscale Hilton has been there, it has not been the same as it is in Maui or Oahu.

Hale Hōkūala is a book that will fill a much-needed void. For an island where Hilton Honors points could not be earned or redeemed in a property that didn't align with the brand, a Curio Collection property adds value. October 1 is a big day for existing Hilton guests who've been waiting for an excuse to finally visit Kaua'i, and for existing Kauai visitors who are looking for a points redemption opportunity for the first time.

The Bottom Line

The first Curio Collection hotel in Hawai'i, Hale Hōkūala Kaua'i, near Lihue Airport will be open on October 1, 2026, and will feature 210 rooms, an oceanview setting, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, signature dining and Kalapaki Beach access. From about 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night, there are a variety of dates to choose from at cash rates that begin at $479 and increase dramatically during the holiday season. 

This is a property to reserve sooner rather than later for Hilton Honors members looking for a points earning place to stay on Kaua'i, particularly during the peak winter travel month when the point value is up and to the right as cash prices rise.