Hilton Hawaiian Village Review – What to Know Before You Stay

Overview of Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Quick Facts About the Resort

The Hilton Hawaiian Village is a massive resort right on the widest stretch of Waikiki Beach.  There is a manmade saltwater lagoon right in front of the property.  They also host Friday night fireworks every single week with a fireworks show visible to all from Waikiki Beach or even hotel room balconies if you are lucky.  The resort has gone through continuous expansion over the years, with even more on the way.  They even have approval to add yet another tower, with potential construction starting in 2026. This Hilton Hawaiian Village review is based on my experience staying here for one full week.

Who is Hilton Hawaiian Village Best For?

The first time I stayed here was way back in 2006.  Back then, there were 3 towers: the Ali’i Tower, the Tapa Tower, and the Kalia Tower.  I was with my family, all adults, and we had a great time.  It was our first time in Hawaii, and we were amazed by the penguins on the property, the Friday night fireworks, and the shopping and dining right at the resort.

That said, this resort has changed quite a bit since then.  In my opinion, they have expanded at the expense of their guests’ experience.  There is now an additional 3 towers: the Rainbow Tower, Diamond Head Tower, and the Lagoon Tower.  There is also the Grand Waikikian, which is available for Hilton Grand Vacations members.  I would no longer recommend staying here for families of adults or couples. I would only recommend this resort for families with children, and even at that, it is quite a crowded, chaotic place.  If you or anyone in your family experiences sensory overload, this may not be the place for you.     

Location: Where Hilton Hawaiian Village is in Waikiki

The Hilton Hawaiian Village is on a nice stretch of Waikiki Beach.  The Hilton is within walking distance of the Ala Moana Regional Park. On the other end of Waikiki Beach is the Honolulu Zoo.  It is right next door to the Hale Koa Hotel.  It is a bit of a walk down to Kalakaua Avenue, where there are many shops and restaurants.  There is a paved walkway that stretches along Waikiki Beach, but there are routinely detours leading to the street as parts of Waikiki Beach can get quite narrow.    

First Impressions & Check-In Experience

Arrival & Lobby

The resort has its own roads, and you can be dropped off by airport transportation right outside the lobby area.  It is always a bustling place there with people coming and going, so there may be a long line to get checked in.  The lobby is open-air but sheltered from the rain.  

Check-In Process & Wait Times

The resort has a check-in and out policy that is probably due to its substantial size.  They only do check-outs before 12:30 pm.  Then they allow for pre-registration from 12:30 pm onwards.  Check-in time is not until 4 pm, but you may receive your room earlier if it is available.  Their registration times are as follows:

12:30 pm – Diamond and Gold Hilton Honors Members and Digital Check-In Guests;

1 pm – Silver and Base Hilton Honors members;

1:30 pm – Non-Hilton Honors Members

They also have an app you can download in order to receive a digital key.  

Resort Fees & What’s Included

Resort fees are $55 (plus tax) per room per night.  The resort fee covers Wifi in your room and throughout the resort.  The resort fee also includes fitness classes, which are held outdoors.  There are also movie nights once per week on Wednesdays, as well as cultural activities.  There are also discounts offered on other add-on services such as photography, beach rentals, and spa purchases.    

Towers at Hilton Hawaiian Village (Which One Is Best?)

Rainbow Tower

The Rainbow Tower is the one I stayed in back in 2006.  We had a view of the Friday night fireworks right from our balcony.  The rainbow tower is also newly renovated.  The rainbow tower offers both rooms and suites.  

Ali‘i Tower

The Ali’i Tower is billed as a boutique experience.  It has its own lobby and check-in experience and a pool and sundeck only for visitors staying at this tower.  There is also a private fitness center and cocktail bar.  The Ali’i Tower offers both rooms and suites.   

Tapa Tower

The Tapa Tower is set back from the beach and in the middle of the resort.  Staying at the Tapa Tower offers easy access to the Tapa Pool and Bar, spa, and luau.  The Tapa Tower offers both rooms and suites. 

Diamond Head Tower

The Diamond Head Tower is by the roadside entrance to the resort.  It is also near the Tapa Pool, shops, and business center.  The Diamond Head Tower offers both rooms and suites.    

Kalia Tower

The Kalia Tower is near the resort entrance and furthest away from the beach.  It is also where the spa, fitness center, and an adults-only pool are located.  In the lobby area, there are also some small shops as well as a Starbucks.  From the second floor, you can connect to the Mid-Pacific Conference Center.  The Kalia Tower offers rooms only.    

Lagoon Tower

The Lagoon Tower is where I stayed on my most recent visit.  It is offered to Hilton Grand Vacations club members.  We had a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite with a fully equipped kitchen.  These rooms have not been updated recently, but they were convenient for a group.  We had a balcony with an outside table with views of the marina in Waikiki.  The Lagoon Tower has studios, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom suites which have either kitchenettes or full kitchens.  

Beach, Pools & Lagoon

Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon

The Hilton Lagoon is a saltwater lagoon right in front of the property.  This 5-acre saltwater lagoon features a water circulation system.  Guests can swim, paddleboard, kayak, and ride an aquacycle on the lagoon.  There is a rental stand right next to the lagoon and instructors available for lessons.  

Waikiki Beach Access

Waikiki Beach is right next to the Hilton, specifically Duke Kahanamoku Beach.  It is one of the nicest areas of Waikiki Beach, as there is quite a bit of sand and plenty of space to set up a beach chair or towel.  The sand here can get rocky, so the last time we visited, I ended up buying some water shoes at the ABC Store nearby.    

Pools & Waterslides

There are 4 pools here in total (not including the Ali’i Pool, which is only available to those guests).  In my opinion, there are not enough pools here considering the extensive expansion and the sheer number of guests that are staying here at any one time.  

The Super Pool is the huge pool located right on the beachfront.  There is a small keiki pool for children right next to the super pool as well.  I went into this pool once with my husband, and it was sheer chaos.  Kids are swimming, kicking, splashing into us the entire time.  It was kind of comical because there was no space for us to just have a little area to ourselves without a kid swimming underwater in goggles, crashing into us.  

The Paradise Pool is another pool that has a waterslide, so it’s a huge attraction.  This is a smaller pool, and we thought it would be more relaxing, but again, the addition of the waterfall has made this pool very crowded during the day as well.  

I was disappointed with the Tapa Pool as well.  Way back in 2006, this was a nice, relaxing pool with a bar next to it.  I thought it might have been adults only, but maybe it was just because the Hilton Hawaiian Village was not as big a resort at that point.  We tried to go to the Tapa Pool as well, but it was also overrun with children, and there is now a sprinkler on one end, so it seemed to be the place to be for very small children as well.

The Kalia Adult Pool was tolerable.  It is pretty isolated on the 4th floor of the Kalia Tower.  It is the only spot we could find chairs one day, but it did get crowded later, probably when other adults realized how chaotic the rest of the resort was. 

It also felt like an afterthought for the adult guests.  It was next to the gym and spa, but adults like us would have preferred drink service or some snacks.  We were so far removed from the rest of the resort, though.  This is why I had previously thought the Tapa Pool with the bar was adults only.  

Chairs, Umbrellas & Rentals

We found it nearly impossible to find chairs at any of the pools except for the adult pool.  We were not down there reserving seats at 6 am but generally tried to use the pools before or after excursions.  The good news is that it was much easier to get chairs and umbrellas on the beach.  The rental cart is right by the lagoon. 

Dining & Drinks at Hilton Hawaiian Village

Restaurants Overview

There are 18 different restaurants and bars at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  Since we were staying in a suite, we generally only ventured out for lunch or dinner.  Reservations are a good idea, as we waited quite a long time to be seated for dinner when we didn’t have a reservation.  Of course, you can always walk around Waikiki and dine out at any number of restaurants as well.  Also, remember that on Friday night, everyone is watching the fireworks and either dining right before or after the show, so keep that in mind.  It can be quite crowded in the area.  

Tropics Bar & Grill

Tropics Bar & Grill is a casual place that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Think salads, burgers, sandwiches, and things of that nature.  You can also order takeout for the beach or your room.  The food here is decent.  It reminds me of pub-type food.  There is lanai seating as well, which is nice.  

Lappert’s Hawaii

This is basically a must-visit place because it is all you can smell while walking down the street.  It is gourmet ice cream with plenty of flavor options, sorbet, shakes, and smoothies.  We went here after dinner.  The ice cream was amazing!

Fresco Italian

Fresco Italian is a nice Italian Restaurant located up a set of stairs at the Rainbow Bazaar.  It gets crowded, and there will be a long wait here without reservations.  We ate some delicious bruschetta, pasta, and risotto here and had a nice bottle of wine.  I would dine here again.  

Aoki Teppanyaki

This Japanese restaurant is also located in the Rainbow Bazaar, but on the ground level.  We ate here for lunch.  This used to be a sushi/Japanese restaurant before, but is now a type of restaurant where food is prepared at tableside grills.  They also have an à la carte menu available. 

Round Table Pizza

Round Table Pizza is a typical pizza place.  They have online ordering, which is convenient because sometimes you do not want to eat out.  They have good thin-crust pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers.  

Chee Hoo Patisserie

Chee Hoo Patisserie is located in the main lobby.  We only got coffee here, but it was excellent.  The staff here was extremely friendly as well!

Aloha Bowls and Tea

You can’t visit Hawaii without having an acai bowl!  Aloha Bowls and Tea is a window-takeout place by the Tapa Pool.  You can get an acai bowl made to order along with poke bowls, smoothies, and drinks.  

Other Restaurants at the Hilton Hawaiian Village

There are, of course, quite a few more restaurants at the Hilton Waikiki.  We did not try them all, but I specifically highlighted ones that I experienced firsthand.  There is also a NY-style deli, seafood restaurant, and the Bali Oceanfront, to name a few.  My top recommendation is to figure out where you want to go and make reservations for dinner.  Breakfast and lunch are much easier to find, grab-and-go places, or eat in your room. 

Bars & Lounges

The Tapa Bar, located by the Tapa Pool, has live entertainment at night.  They also have some pub food like smash burgers, salads, and chicken wings.  We had some good Mai Tais here!  

The Hau Tree Bar is by the super pool and has daytime food like sandwiches and starters.  They also have a bar here with tropical drinks, beer, and wine.  

Food Quality & Prices

Prices might be surprising, but I think they are on par for Waikiki.  Things are more expensive there.  You are also paying for the convenience of dining near where you are staying.  The food and service are good.  Like everything else, it can get crowded, and there can be long wait times.   

Is Dining Worth It On-Site?

Dining on site is definitely worth it if you are staying here.  I probably wouldn’t venture down the beach from another hotel to come here since there are plenty of options in Waikiki.  We did feel the need to eat every meal here.  We went down to Waikiki for a special dinner at House Without a Key (highly recommended!)  We also dined way at the other end of Waikiki Beach a few times.  There are plenty of places to go to if you don’t mind walking.  

Activities, Entertainment & Amenities

Daily Resort Activities

There is a calendar on the Hilton website that lists events for each month.  There is generally yoga a few mornings a week.  There are also plenty of cultural activities like lei making, hula lessons, and kids’ crafts.  There are outdoor workout classes that vary.  On Wednesday nights, there is an outdoor movie night at sundown.  

Hilton Hawaiian Village Fireworks

The Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks are quite nice.  I was expecting something simpler, but it is a real fireworks show every single Friday night!  You don’t have to be a guest of the Hilton because everyone gathers on the beach on Friday nights.  There are people selling glow sticks and setting up chairs and taking in the show.  It is a fun event!  The fireworks show starts at 7:45 pm right on Waikiki Beach.  

Shopping

There are some nice shops at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  There are plenty of shops for gifts, clothing, and jewelry.  We got some nice printed pants at KaiAloha Supply.  There is also an Olukai store, which has quality sandals with arch support.  There are plenty of designer shops here as well, but the best place for designers is probably further down Kalakaua Avenue.

Location & Getting Around Waikiki

Distance to Main Waikiki Strip

It is probably about a mile walk from the Hilton to the main Waikiki Strip.  It is a 10-15 minute walk through Fort Derussy Beach Park.  Walking to the Duke Kahanamoku Statue can take 25 minutes.  The walk to the Waikiki Aquarium is about 2 miles and a 40-minute walk.   

Walkability

Generally, walking is easier than driving in Waikiki.  I have never felt the need to have a car here unless I was leaving the Waikiki area for a day trip.  The Hilton Hawaiian Village is also 20 minutes (1 mile) from the Ala Moana Center, which offers more shopping and dining.  It is fun to walk around Waikiki at night with all the tiki torches lit up along the street.  

Parking & Transportation Options

Parking is extremely expensive in Waikiki.  Parking at the Hilton Hawaiian Village is going to set you back approximately $73 USD per day for self-parking and $93 per day for valet.  It is more cost-effective to rent a car for one day to do any touring around the island and then return it when you are back in Waikiki.  Doing that multiple days is cheaper than paying for parking for a week and only using the car a few times.  

Another option is Turo.  There are quite a few cars that are available next door at the Hale Koa Hotel parking garage, or can be delivered there.  This is only a short 5-minute walk from the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  

Lastly, there is an Enterprise Rental Car desk at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, so rental options are available that way.

Having a car in Waikiki is not necessary, so it is best to plan your activities and excursions ahead of time.  That way, you can have a rental car on the days when you want to explore other parts of the island.  

Pros & Cons of Hilton Hawaiian Village

Pros

One of the pros of the Hilton is the location.  Many of us are coming from the mainland on long flights from the West Coast of the United States or Canada.  Staying at the Hilton, even for a couple of nights, can be convenient as a starting point to your Hawaiian vacation.

Another pro of the Hilton is the convenience of having so many things right inside the resort.  You can go to the beach or pool, shop, and dine right at this location.  I would argue that this is a con as well, though, because it is not “real” Hawaii, and you limit your exposure to all the culture and local businesses when you stay at a huge resort.  

Cons

A huge con for me was the busyness of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  As I mentioned before, the Hilton has expanded at the expense of their guests.  When I went, it was crowded everywhere, hard to find seating at any of the pools, and there were long waits for restaurants.  I think this is more of a con for couples and adults, because it seemed like the kids in all of the pools were having a great time. 

If the Hilton wanted to cater more to adults, it would revamp the adults-only pool and perhaps add a bar and some food options there.  I found the experience at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island of Hawaii much better.  It was a big resort with plenty of kids, but it felt much more relaxing to stay, swim, and dine.  

Is Hilton Hawaiian Village Worth It?

Who is Hilton Hawaiian Village Best For?

I think it is clear from my experience that the Hilton Hawaiian Village is worth it for families with children.  There were a large number of children in the pools every day, and this is clearly a draw for family vacations.  They didn’t seem to mind the crowdedness of the resort and were probably up and at the pools early, before it filled up.  

I think the Hilton Hawaiian Village could also be an option for those who are staying in Waikiki for a few days only before going to another part of the island or flying to another Hawaiian Island.  It is a convenient place to stay in Waikiki and relatively close to the airport.  

First-time visitors to Hawaii may also enjoy staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  It is an experience with the Friday night fireworks and cultural activities.  I think a first-time visitor may enjoy it more than I did.

Who Should Stay Elsewhere

Couples and adult families should stay elsewhere.  If you do not have kids, it is not fun to try to swim in one of the pools and have splashing and kicking into you while you are trying to enjoy your Mai Tai.  The adult pool is small and lacks amenities that adults want to have on their vacations.  It is clearly not a priority for the Hilton to enhance the experience for this demographic. 

Final Verdict

Would I Stay at Hilton Hawaiian Village Again?

This Hilton Hawaiian Village review is based upon my experience as an adult vacationing without children. I would stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village again, only for a short stay as a launching pad to another part of Hawaii.  I would much rather stay at another hotel in the future that has a more relaxing experience for couples and adults. Also, if you are looking for more information on what to do in Oahu, check out this post!