Hilton Hawaiian Village Review

We have stayed at this hotel numerous times for nearly 20 years, and we continue to choose it for its unbeatable location right on Waikiki Beach. It's conveniently close to a variety of excellent restaurants and offers easy access to the scenic Waikiki Beachwalk, perfect for leisurely strolls. While you'll find a few points in our review that could be considered drawbacks, please note that these are shared with full honesty, reflecting our genuine experience rather than complaints.

Disclaimer: We are part of the Hilton Hotels affiliate program, however, our reviews are completely independent, and we do not receive any fees, commissions, or compensation from Hilton.

Hilton Hawaiian Village is located between Ala Moana and Waikiki and takes approximately 30 minutes from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport by auto. Since Honolulu traffic can be very dense & intimidating, we would recommend that you pre-plan your route and have someone monitor your progress through use of a mapping system. If you have never driven here before, the final required turns are not obvious and can be easily missed.

If you prefer not to rent a vehicle, there is an Airport Shuttle Service that you could utilize. In addition, there is taxi and Uber services available.

Google Maps shows that the Airport is only 7.4 miles from the Resort, but the available routes can be very busy, we've had better luck taking local streets rather than using the H-1 freeway. The last turns from Kahanamoku Street to Duke's Lagoon Drive are easy to miss, you want to stay alert at that point.

Here is a Google Map link for driving directions from the Airport to the Resort.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a large property that covers 22 acres and stretches along the famous Waikiki Beach. The resort is organized into multiple sections, each offering different types of accommodations and amenities for guests. The resort is divided into several distinct towers:

Yes there are other towers, however they are part of the Hilton Grand Vacations program.

Image Credit: Map image is the property of the Hawaii.Gov Website

The resort has 6 pools, including an adults-only pool and several family-friendly options. The resort also has a private lagoon and beachfront area, ideal for water sports.

• Super Pool: This large, iconic pool spans over 10,000 square feet, making it one of the resort's main attractions. It’s centrally located near the Rainbow Tower and provides stunning views of Waikiki Beach. Its spacious design accommodates many guests comfortably, offering a more traditional resort pool experience with plenty of loungers around for sunbathing.
• Paradise Pool: Known as the most family-friendly pool, this aquatic playground has 5,000 square feet of multi-level pools, lava rock formations, and a tropical setting overlooking the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. It features four waterslides, including a 77-foot slide, and several waterfalls, offering an adventurous experience for kids and adults alike.
• Tapa Pool: The Tapa Pool provides a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere and is often considered ideal for those wanting a less crowded pool environment. It has a classic design with ample seating, offering a peaceful retreat in a lush, tropical setting.
• Keiki Pool: esigned specifically for younger guests, this shallow pool is located near the Paradise Pool, allowing children to safely splash and play in a designated area while parents relax nearby.
• Kalia Tower Pool: This smaller, rooftop pool provides a serene space with views of Waikiki. It’s an excellent choice for guests looking for a more secluded and less busy pool area.
• Ali’i Tower Pool: This pool is only accessible to those guests who are staying at the Ali’i Tower.

The Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is a man-made water feature designed to mimic the natural Hawaiian environment. Located on the resort's expansive grounds, it offers a peaceful retreat just steps away from the hustle and bustle of the beach and resort amenities.

The Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is a good location to enjoy Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Kayaking and Pedal Boats, Snorkeling, Swimming and Floating Relaxation, Picnicking and Family Gatherings as well as a good place to watch the Friday evening Fireworks Show.

The lagoon area at the Hilton Hawaiian Village is an excellent choice for guests looking for water activities in a more controlled environment than the open ocean, making it ideal for families, beginners, and those wanting a relaxing day by the water.

NOTE: Hawaii state law mandates public access to beaches and shoreline areas, so this extends to the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon as well, allowing anyone to visit and use the area freely. However, amenities such as lounge chairs or equipment rentals may be available only to resort guests or for a fee.

Image Credit: The second image is the property of Travis.Thurston via Wikimedia Commons using a CC BY-SA 3.0 Creative Commons license.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort offers an array of beach services designed to enhance your beach experience. The resort provides the following:

The Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks show is a popular, weekly event held on Friday nights, illuminating the skies over Waikiki Beach with vibrant colors. The display takes place at the resort’s beachfront, making it visible from various spots on the property as well as nearby areas along the Waikiki shoreline. Guests and locals alike gather to enjoy the show, which often serves as a festive start to the weekend.

The fireworks are typically launched from the lagoon area, casting reflections on the water and creating a spectacular scene against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Starting around 7:45 p.m. in winter (8:00 p.m. in summer), the show lasts about five minutes, featuring colorful bursts and exciting sequences.

Image Credit: Image is the property of Daniel Ramirez via Wikimedia Commons using a CC BY 2.0 Creative Commons License.

This is a very popular show, and people tend to grab the good viewing locations early. If you want a good viewing spot, you will have to arrive early!

Valet parking is currrently $82.72 per day and self-parking is currently $72.25 per day. There is a large parking (six floors) building adjacent to the hotel equipped with elevators. These elevators will bring you to the shopping center and you then will have to walk to the hotel area. We needed a rental car, as we planned to do quite a bit of Oahu day trips & exploration, but every evening it was a roll of the dice as to where we would wind up finding a parking spot in the garage.

The six-story parking garage at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is commonly referred to as the "Village Parking" structure. This multi-level garage is located near the Grand Waikikian tower and is accessible to all resort guests. It is conveniently situated within walking distance of other major resort towers, offering easy access to the property’s facilities.

The garage entry access is tied to guest room keys for added convenience. For vehicle size considerations, the height limit in the garage is 6 feet 6 inches.

Here is a Google Map link to other public parking areas near the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

For our most recent trip to Oahu, Hilton upgraded our room to a standard suite on the 23rd floor of the hotel where our balcony faced Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head in the distance. The room was good sized and comfortable. Each balcony had a small side table and two chairs.

At that height and at that time of year we were there, using the A/C was not necessary. The standard suites in the Rainbow Tower offer approximately 625 square feet of space. These suites are well-appointed with a spacious layout that includes a seating area, making them a comfortable choice for families or groups seeking extra room.

Take a look at that image, that is the view from our balcony looking towards Diamond Head with Waikiki Beach spread out below us. What a beautiful view to wake up to each morning!

For more currrent information, please refer to the Hilton Hawaiian Village Website. You will find room images, complete descriptions of amenities, etc.

There were long lines of people waiting to register, luggage everywhere, people wandering through roped-off areas. The hotel staff were working as quickly as possible, but it still took time to register that many people. Considering that we did not arrive at the hotel until after 10pm local time, we had thought that registration would be easier.

While waiting in the registration line, we noticed a dedicated desk for Hilton Honors members—of which we are a part—so we quickly switched to that line and enjoyed a much faster check-in process. It may have been our fault, as we were jet lagged to the point where we were not as observant as usual - but being able to go to a shorter line was awesome!

The hotel also has an innovative elevator security system: guests are provided with a unique code that grants access to specific floors. This code is entered at the elevator panel, and the control system then selects the optimal elevator car for your destination. The elevator control system works very well when there isn't a crowd waiting to ride, but when there is a large crowd waiting to ride, it becomes difficult to reach the correct elevator in time.

You have to give the Hotel Staff credit, a lot of the people in line were jet lagged, cranky and in a hurry to get registered and into their rooms. Yet the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort staff were consistently friendly, informative and quick to answer any question they were asked.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort features multiple check-in locations, with a unique setup depending on the tower where guests are staying. The Ali’i Tower offers a private check-in area specifically for its guests, providing an enhanced and faster check-in experience that bypasses the main lobby lines. The other towers do not have dedicated check-in areas, they utilize the main lobby.

Image Credit: Image is the property of Hilton Hotels from their website.

There is a Straub Medical Center "Doctors On Call" facility in the Rainbow Bazaar on the second floor (808) 973-5250.

Straub Medical Center’s “Doctors on Call” clinic provides convenient, non-emergency medical care tailored for tourists and locals. This facility offers general medical services, such as physical exams, X-rays for minor injuries, flu shots, and basic treatments for lacerations and sprains. However, it is not equipped to handle emergencies, which should be directed to a full hospital.

The clinic operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is closed on weekends. It’s designed for walk-in patients, though they encourage appointments, especially for lab work. The clinic accepts insurance and has received mixed reviews, with positive feedback on efficient service and compassionate care but some concerns over pricing and administrative issues.

For more information, please refer to their website.

ATM machines are conveniently located at several spots throughout the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. Guests can find ATMs in major areas of the property, including in the lobby areas of the Rainbow Bazaar and in the main lobbies of various hotel towers such as the Ali‘i and Rainbow Towers. Additionally, the ATMs are often close to the shops and restaurants around the resort, providing easy access for guests who may need cash while exploring or dining on the property​

There are more than 80 shops throughout the resort. Click here to view a list of what shops are currently available. This page contains a map and a list of shops organized by category.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village shops are spread out over the grounds and situated in 8 areas, mostly associated with the different towers. Here you will find the ABC Store which has a good selection of wines and spirits. You should be aware that prices are going to be higher in Hawaii than what you are used to at home - everything has to be shipped into the Hawaiian Islands.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village shops are where you will find various fast food eateries, as well as a number of restaurants and other shops. Click here for a complete list of the shops.

There are a number of small eateries and fast food shops in this mall, we've eaten at several of them during various trips to Oahu and had good food each time. These eateries are far less expensive than some of the larger restaurants.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort in Waikiki offers convenient and scenic bike and walking paths both on and near the property. The resort itself is connected by pathways that wind through lush gardens, around the lagoon, and along the beach, providing beautiful routes for guests to explore the expansive grounds by foot.

All of the resort walkways are paved, and there are bicycle rentals available at the Waikiki Beach Activities stand. Due to the frequently pedestrian crowding on the resort walkways, it may not be safe for you to ride a bicycle in a crowd, the hotel suggests that you dismount and walk your bicycle until the crowd decreases in size. Pay attention to the designated bike paths where they are marked - but this is a great way to enjoy the Waikiki area!

Outside the resort, Waikiki has several bike and pedestrian-friendly paths. The Ala Moana Beach Park, located just west of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, is accessible via walking and biking paths along Ala Moana Boulevard. This route provides direct access to the beach park’s walkways and the nearby Ala Moana shopping district.

For bicycle riding enthusiasts, Hele On Waikiki offers guided e-bike tours that travel through notable spots in Waikiki, such as Diamond Head and Manoa Falls, allowing visitors to explore the area in a more expansive way. They also allow you to choose your route and ride at your own pace, guided by their detailed maps and recommendations.

As a further example, the bicycle distance between the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort and the Duke's Waikiki Restaurant on the beach (via Kalākaua Avenue), is 1.0 miles. Yes you could utilize the Fort DeRussy Boardwalk from the resort, but it ends at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort where you would have to travel on Honolulu sidewalks to get to Kalākaua Avenue.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort offers a Towel Card Program for convenient access to pool and beach towels. Each guest receives a towel card upon check-in, which can be exchanged at designated towel stands for a towel. When returning a towel, guests can either swap it for a fresh one or reclaim their towel card. The stands operate at various locations, including the Super Pool, Tapa Pool, Lagoon, and beach. If towel cards aren’t returned at checkout, a $20 fee per missing card applies​

This is an interesting method and it tends to ensure that you do not lose your towels - hang on to your towel card!

The Resort has a wide selection of dining options, totaling over a dozen restaurants that cater to various tastes and preferences;

Here are five popular restaurants within a two block walking distance of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort:

The Ala Moana Center is located 7/10 of a mile from the Hilton Hawaiian Village, approximately a 20 minute walk along Ala Moana Boulevard. The mall has two food courts and 160 restaurants, including the Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant where we enjoyed dim sum - and it was fantastic. This is a very popular restaurant and when we were there, they only allowed reservations at their entrance.

The Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant is renowned for its authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum and extensive Chinese menu. Known for using fresh, quality ingredients, the restaurant features classic Chinese dishes, making it a go-to spot for those craving traditional Cantonese flavors. Their dim sum options, like shrimp dumplings, siu mai, and taro dumplings, are popular choices, prepared by chefs with deep experience in Hong Kong’s culinary scene. Additionally, Jade Dynasty offers a spacious, elegantly decorated dining area, complete with private rooms available for events and family gatherings.

The Ala Moana Center is Hawaii's largest shopping mall and the world's largest open-air shopping center. It also has over 350 stores, including four major department stores and many luxury boutiques.

Mall parking is underneath the mall complex, it is very large and it is currently free.

If you enjoy Chinese food as much as we do, then you will want to have a meal at the Jade Dynasty restaurant! Take a look at the Google Reviews for this restaurant

OK this is not really a "restaurant", Hilton calls it an "outdoor casual cafe" that serves up a variety of quick bites including burgers, hot dogs, salads, sandwiches, and local bowls. Open daily from 11 am – 5 pm.

We ate here several times, as it provides you with a great view of the pool area as well as Waikiki Beach. Standard fast food fare, but it was good, but a bit pricey ($18 BBQ plate, $12 pulled pork sandwich, $12 salads, etc).

Most tables have umbrellas - but you might have to be nimble to grab one as this cafe is popular. There is a bar here, but we only had their fruit smoothies.

Here is a link to their current menu.

Image Credit: Image is the property of Bill S. via the Yelp Website.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village charges a daily resort fee of $50 plus tax. This fee covers a variety of amenities, such as Wi-Fi access, PlayStation 3 with unlimited movies and games, Hawaiian cultural activities, and discounts at the resort’s spa, dining, and shops. It also includes admission to Waikiki Aquarium and exclusive discounts on beach equipment rentals.

The resort fee is typically waived if you booked the room using Hilton Honors points. Based upon a member's status level there may be daily credits that would apply. While most Hilton properties adhere to this policy, always double-check the specific details of the hotel you are booking to confirm.

The Waikiki Starlight Luau at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort is an immersive cultural experience set within the resort’s lush grounds. Held on the Great Lawn (located in between the Rainbow Tower & the Lagoon Tower), the luau combines traditional Hawaiian music, dance, and storytelling with a modern twist. Guests are welcomed with leis and entertained by Hawaiian musicians before the main show, which features hula, Samoan fire knife dances, and other Polynesian performances that celebrate Hawaiian and South Pacific cultures.

The luau includes a buffet-style dinner, showcasing a variety of Hawaiian and Pacific Rim dishes, such as kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, lomi lomi salmon, poke, and other local favorites, along with tropical cocktails and desserts. The event typically begins in the evening, allowing guests to enjoy the sunset and then the performance under the stars. This weekly event is popular, so advance reservations are recommended for the best seating and view of the stage.

The show typically requires 2.5 hours and includes; Photo opportunity, cocktail reception, live music, interactive activities like a tattoo station and games. Conch blowing competition, hula lesson.

Anyone visiting Hawaii for the first time should endeavor to experience at least one luau, they are fun, educational and they will be a great photo opportunity. We have been once and enjoyed it.

Yes they will be serving Poi at the luau - it is a significant part of Hawaiian culture and has been a staple food for centuries. It's rich in nutrients, particularly vitamins A and C, fiber, and calcium. It doesn't have much flavor, but you have to try it!

You can make online reservations at the Hilton Luau Website. You should be aware that both luau shows are outside, but they may move inside without notice due to inclement weather.

Here is a link to a Google Search Results list for "reviews of the Hilton Hawaiian Village". There are a large number of reviews available, but the quality of the information varies quite a bit.

Here is a link to the Google Reviews for the Hilton Hawaiian Village - note that there are 23,296 reviews and the rating is 4.2 on a 5 point scale. Our point here is that this is perhaps the most reliable source of reviews online.