As noted by Derek Paiva over at Hawaii Magazine's blog (it's worth the daily read), Travel & Leisure put 16 Hawaii properties among its 500 World's Best. There are, of course, no surprises here with the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island taking top Hawaii honors and the number 9 slot globally.

Here's the Hawaii list in order of their placement. It's something of a de facto "Best of" list for the islands. No small hotels or B&Bs are on there, so this is really the "Big Hotel Best List". Some of the surprises here to me are the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (great location, really mediocre hotel), and the Princeville Resort (ditto).

1. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Big Island
2. Halekulani, Oahu
3. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailiea, Maui
4. Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koele, Lanai
5. Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay, Lanai
6. Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
7. Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Big Island
8. Hotel Hana-Maui & Honua Spa, Maui
9. Kahala Hotel & Resort, Oahu
10. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Kauai
11. Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, Maui
12. Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui
13. Royal Hawaiian, Oahu
14. Fairmont Orchid, Big Island
15. Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Big Island
16. Princeville Resort, Kauai

—Alex, 01/12/08