Hilton Hawaiian Village Review

Disclaimer: This review reflects our personal experiences and opinions based on our stays at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Experiences may vary based on individual preferences, time of visit, and specific circumstances. We have not received any compensation or special considerations from the establishment for this review. All details and impressions are accurate to the best of our knowledge, but for current rates, availability, and policies, please refer to the hotel’s official website or contact them directly.

• Location:

  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.

• Parking:

  Parking is expensive; valet parking is currrently $82.72 per day and self-parking is currently $72.25 per day. There is a large parking 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.

• Check-in & Lobby:

  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 standing in the registration line, we noticed that there was a desk reserved for Hilton Honors members, which we belong to, so we jumped over to that location and our check was much faster. They have an interesting elevator security system, where you are given a code to enter at each elevator, and your code identifies what floor you are allowed to go to and the elevator control system then selects the optimal elevator for you to ride.

  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.

• Smoking Policy:

  Smoking is only allowed in one designated smoking area.

• Wi-Fi:

  Free standard in-room and lobby WiFi. The internet speeds were adequate for normal browsing, but you really would not want to use these networks for heavy file movement to & fro.

• Our Rainbow Tower Hotel Room:

  For our most recent trip to Oahu, Hilton upgraded our room to a 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 junior 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.

• Room Amenities:

  Amenities in the rooms include an in-room safe for your valuables, a small refrigerator, and an AM/FM clock radio with an MP3 connection. Suites offer extra space and come with exclusive amenities. At the hotel, you will have over 20 cafes, restaurants, and lounges for your dining needs.

• Medical Services:

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

• ATM Machines:

  There were ATM machines available in various locations throughout the resort.

• Shopping:

  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.

• Getting around the Resort:

  The Hilton Hawaiian Village is a 22-acre oceanfront property with shops, restaurants, and a beach. You can walk around the resort to explore the hotel towers, shops, restaurants, and more.

  All of the property 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.

• Resort Pools:

  There are six pools at Hilton Hawaiian Village, scattered about the property. Take a look at this resort map to locate their pool locations.

  We utilized the Lagoon Pool several times, but honestly we tend to explore & day trip during the day that by the time we got back to the hotel, it was time to kick-back and relax.

• Resort Towel Cards:

  The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort towel card system requires you to exchange towel cards received at check in for beach towels. When you return your towels, you get new towel cards back. This is an interesting method and it tends to ensure that you do not lose your towels!

• Hawaiian Village Restaurants:

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

   Bali Oceanfront: An upscale restaurant offering ocean views and a menu of Hawaiian-inspired cuisine.

   Tropics Bar & Grill: Located on the beach, this restaurant serves local and American dishes with a focus on fresh ingredients.

   Rainbow Lanai: Known for its breakfast buffet with a mix of local and international options.

   Hau Tree Cantina: Serves Mexican food in a laid-back outdoor setting near the pool.

   Paradise Lounge: Ideal for cocktails with a relaxing atmosphere.

   Fresco Italian Restaurant: Italian cuisine with Hawaiian influences.

   Benihana: Famous for its teppanyaki-style cooking and Japanese cuisine.

   Round Table Pizza: Offers a casual option for pizza lovers.

   Lanikai Juice: Healthy smoothies, fresh juices, and acai bowls.

   Starbucks: Convenient for coffee and light snacks. We had breakfast here several times, it gets crowded quickly in the mornings.

   Tapa Bar: Drinks and appetizers in a Hawaiian-themed setting.

   CJ’s New York Style Delicatessen: Offers sandwiches, bagels, and New York-style dishes.

   Waikiki Starlight Luau: A dinner show with traditional Hawaiian food and entertainment.

• Restaurants near Hawaiian Village:

  Within two blocks of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, you'll find some popular dining options with a range of cuisines and settings, here are the top ten;

   Pesca Waikiki Beach: Located atop the Ilikai Hotel, offering a seafood-centric menu and panoramic views.

   Tropical Tribe: A small spot known for fresh açaí bowls and smoothies.

   Goofy Cafe & Dine: Serving Hawaiian-inspired dishes with locally sourced ingredients.

   Morimoto Asia Waikiki: A high-end Asian fusion restaurant by Chef Masaharu Morimoto, located in the Alohilani Resort.

   Chart House Waikiki: A seafood and steakhouse with live music and marina views.

   The Grove Restaurant & Bar: Casual dining with ocean views, featuring American-Hawaiian fusion cuisine.

   Red Lobster: An American seafood chain, popular for comfort seafood dishes.

   Harbor Pub & Pizza: Laid-back tavern with pizza, beers, and marina views.

   Tropics Ale House: Hawaiian gastropub with craft beers and tropical cocktails.

   Aloha Kitchen: Known for its breakfast and brunch, featuring Japanese-Hawaiian dishes.

• Ala Moana Mall Restaurants:

  The Ala Moana Mall 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 a number of 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.

  Mall parking is underneath the mall complex and is very large.

• Lagoon Grill:

  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.

• Resort Fees:

  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.

  The Resort Fee, when combined with the Parking Garage daily charge, results in a hefty additional cost for a hotel guest.

• Amenities:

  Their list of amenities is very large, you should take a look at this Hilton page where you can find the complete list of amenities, maps and other useful information.

• Other Reviews:

  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.