Ko Olina has long been known for its resorts, including the Disney Aulani, which opened in 2011. The master community boasts three natural and four artificial lagoons with white sand beaches, four resorts, a golf course, shopping centers, and a residential community. When its first resort opened in 1993, it seemed like an odd location 17 miles from Waikiki on West Oahu.
The opening of the Disney property marked a dramatic shift. The addition of the Four Seasons almost a decade ago, initially the Ihilani Resort & Spa, further cemented the area as a high-end destination, drawing visitors who craved a luxury resort-focused Hawaii vacation away from Waikiki.
Here comes Atlantis’ $2 billion resort.
Ko Olina is poised for another significant transformation with a new $2 billion Atlantis Resort on the horizon. Atlantis, known for its iconic resorts in the Bahamas and Dubai, will bring 500 rooms and 500 condos to Ko Olina. The project’s proposed retail spaces, aquariums, and expansive pools are expected to attract a mix of families and luxury travelers, further boosting the area’s global appeal.
Ko Olina and the Leeward coast beaches, once primarily visited by residents and local families, have also seen a surge in popularity among visitors. The area’s fast-expanding dining and shopping options add to its allure, making it increasingly possible for travelers to skip Waikiki altogether. We didn’t think this change would happen, but it has.
The concept of an Atlantis resort at Ko Olina isn’t new.
In 2016, China Oceanwide announced plans to develop a luxury Atlantis property on Oahu’s west side in partnership with Kerzner International. However, the project was abandoned in 2024 as the developer faced liquidation issues. The land, once planned for this ambitious project, was later acquired by New Age Ko Olina in early 2025, reigniting hopes for an iconic Atlantis resort in Hawaii.
Challenges to Ko Olina’s growth.
While Ko Olina’s evolution offers an undeniable fresh appeal to legacy Waikiki, it also highlights significant challenges. The area remains isolated from the rest of Oahu, and the less-than-iconic drive along the H-1 freeway is notorious for traffic bottlenecks, especially during peak hours. Visitors staying in Ko Olina may avoid trips to Waikiki or Honolulu altogether due to the inconvenience.
The Honolulu rail project envisioned as a solution for traffic begins and ends in nearby Kapolei. However, its utility for tourists remains questionable. The lack of a direct rail connection to Ko Olina and the area’s reliance on private vehicles continue to leave its infrastructure strained. These factors could limit its appeal to visitors who value easy access to Oahu’s major attractions.
Another potential issue is sustainability. As tourism development accelerates, questions about preserving the natural beauty of the West Oahu beaches come to the forefront. Overcrowding and overuse could threaten the qualities that make the area special, echoing concerns already facing Waikiki.
Ko Olina vs. Waikiki: A new kind of tourism.
Waikiki has long been synonymous with Hawaii tourism. Its high-energy environment, iconic beaches, and well-regarded and endless dining and shopping options make it the go-to destination for first-time visitors. In contrast, Ko Olina offers a curated, resort-focused experience. Travelers staying in Ko Olina can enjoy the idyllic lagoons, nearby beaches, high-end accommodations, and, for now, a quieter pace—perfect for those seeking Hawaiian beach relaxation over Waikiki’s urban vibrancy.
This distinction raises an important question: Will Ko Olina draw tourists away from Waikiki, or will its appeal be to an entirely different market? Families and luxury travelers may find Ko Olina’s self-contained environment preferable, while those seeking access to Oahu’s diversity and nightlife will likely remain loyal to Waikiki.
Ko Olina’s history includes royalty.
This was a sacred space used by both Hawaiian chiefs and Hawaiian royalty. They came to relax and bathe in the waters and coves and used this area for fishing and religious ceremonies. In the late 1800s, James Campbell purchased 41,000 acres, including Ko Olina, and used it for sugar cane production. Then, in the 1930s, his daughter, Alice Kamokilaikawai Campbell, moved here to a place she called Lanikuhonua, which means “where heaven meets earth.” Lanikuhonua is now a cultural center that hosts hula events, weddings, and more.
What this means for Oahu’s future.
Ko Olina’s rapid development reflects larger trends in Hawaii tourism: the push toward high-end accommodations and more self-contained resort experiences. This shift could redefine how Hawaii positions itself in the global travel market. Yet, this also underscores the need for sustainable planning to address infrastructure challenges and ensure that the area’s natural beauty and the well-being of its residents aren’t compromised.
For West Oahu residents, the influx of visitors to Ko Olina raises concerns about yet more traffic, accessibility to west-side beaches, and the long-term impact on the surrounding community. Balancing development with local needs will be key to the area’s success.
As Atlantis joins Ko Olina’s luxury resort portfolio, it’s clear that a once-quiet west-side escape that was somewhat of an adventure is evolving into a destination experience that could, in its own way, rival iconic Waikiki. The question is whether it can achieve this while maintaining its unique identity and addressing the challenges of such rapid growth.
What are your thoughts on Ko Olina’s evolution? Share your perspective in the comments below.
Lead Photo Credit – Beat of Hawaii at Lanikuhonual, Ko Olina.
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I’ll believe it when I see it. It’s been one mirage after another.
Atlantis…..questions arise about full landfill,water shortage, more hideous traffic jams…and why anyone thinks this is a good idea.
I live off Exit 2 on the H1. Traffic is bad during peak hours. Adding thousands of people to the flow of traffic, plus all the new housing off Exit 3, is going to make the drive to/from work amazingly more painful. And with only one of the two Ko’olina entrances open, traffic to get off for Ko’olina is bad enough, this will exacerbate things.
They either need connect Wainae with the H2 via a tunnel of some sorts or make the H1 larger. Neither of these things will happen. And the train has little to nothing to alleviate traffic so I surmise it will not help with increased Ko’olina traffic unless they run the train to Ko’olina.
I’m sorry “West Side Beaches”?? I remember in the 1990s having locals ask “why would you go out there, it’s nothing but rocks”. Now the developer has turned that rocky coast into beautiful sand covered “lagoons” and now they worry about “accessibility to west-side beaches”
We’re homeowners at the Beach Villas at Ko Olina. Our very uncrowded lagoon (lagoon two, Honu Lagoon), will unfortunately be filled up with a lot more people in 5-years.
Currently, our lagoon is much less crowded than the lagoon that fronts the Disney Aulani (lagoon one) and the Marriott (lagoon three).
The lots on both side of us are undeveloped. Work on the Atlantis should have already been completed. Now when construction starts, the plan is that they will be building simultaneously on both sides of us. The other side will be a high end hotel such as the Waldorf or Ritz Carlton. The owners also own the Waldorf (previously the Mandarin Oriental) in Las Begas along with another high end hotel in California.
One the rail station opens at the HNL airport, it will be an inexpensive Uber ride from Kapolei to Ko Olina. Much less so than the cost of an Uber ride from the airport to Ko Olina currently. Of course, most people rent a vehicle to explore the Island.
Atlantis will be the end of Ko Olina. Overcrowding on the beaches and the facilities will forever destroy the peace of the resort. Not to mention the already unbearable westbound traffic jams during the peak hours. Ko Olina, especially once fully built, will need a different road access from the current one. Will Atlantis owner or the Ko Olina resort owner help with that? Highly unlikely.
As for the project itself, it’s an atrocity and exercise in poor taste, completely out of place and nothing even close to the spirit of Hawai’i. Its design is one is the ugliest to ever happen on any island in the state. The new owner should’ve started from scratch and redesigned the whole ugly monster, but it would’ve cost too much and take much longer. The design rules should’ve been outlined by the owner of the resort, but they don’t care, so any developer can do pretty much whatever they want. As always, money talks.
I’ve always stayed at Aulani with my family and absolutely Love the tranquility of Koolina. I’m not a fan of Waikiki its too crowded and feel its not relaxing in my personal opinion, so I would hate for Koolina to turn into another Waikiki.