Hilton Hawaiian Village- yes it really is a village
My Vacation Lady revisited the Hilton Hawaiian Village in December of 2011. The last time we were there was back in 1990 and boy have things changed. We thought it was great back then and it is even bigger and better now. With almost 3000 rooms, 90 shops, 20 restaurants and lounges and 6 pools, it can be bigger than some towns.
About a mile from the main strip of Waikiki hotels, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a self contained resort. Some guests may stay there the entire time and never venture outside of the resort and visit the rest of Waikiki and Oahu, which we think is a mistake, but, hey, it’s not our vacation.
When you leave the lobby, you can see the beautiful fountains, waterfalls, and animals that the HHV is well known for. It’s situated on 22 acres, which is huge for Waikiki. The koi pond is over flowing with koi, the penguins and turtles are adorable and the pools are amazing. The largest is their super pool- don’t be surprised when you are told that you must show a wristband to get in. With the best pools in the Waikiki area, people not staying on property will want to use some of the amenities.
The lagoon pool, resembles a beach with its sand bottom and the sand around it and it is a great and calm spot to try stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling and more. When we were there to visit in early December, a very slow time of year for Hawaii, both the super pool and the lagoon pool were busy. While the Hilton’s beach is very nice, it seemed as if the pools and lagoon pool were busier. While many of the other hotels along Waikiki beach include beach chairs in their guest’s resort fees, they are for rent at the Hilton, as are beach umbrellas. The HHV does not charge any resort fees.
Rooms- so many to choose from. With 6 towers and their vacation club building, you have many options to choose from. The Ali’i tower is the concierge tower so expect a bit more in services and amenities. It also has its own pool. That tower and the Rainbow tower are the closest to the beach. The Kalia Tower is the building furthest from the beach and biggest pools but it as the spa and its own pool. The Tapas Tower has is 35 stories tall but if you are looking for a quiet pool, this one might be for you.
The rooms we viewed were nice- similar to a Hilton anywhere in the world. There are more rooms with 2 double beds than king beds since this hotel is a favorite for conventions, as well as Asian families, who tend to prefer 2 beds to the 1 king. The resort view rooms are likely to look right into the balcony of another tower’s rooms so if you want something more pleasant, don’t book anything lower than a partial ocean view room.
This is a great place for families. Camp Penguin is open for up to 40 campers per day (ages 5-12). The $90 per day full day admission includes trips and lunch. The camp has a bright and fun area indoors but when we visited, the kids were on a trip and the playroom was empty.
Friday night at the Hilton is fireworks night and those fireworks can be seen along Waikiki Beach. They also have a private catamaran offering breakfast, lunch and sunset sailings.
While this resort is not right in the heart of Waikiki, it still is close enough for the shopping and nightlife of Waikiki but with a completely resort feel.
While My Vacation Lady does send a good number of honeymooners to the Hilton Hawaiian Village, if you are looking for a romantic and quiet honeymoon resort, this may not be the best choice in Oahu. If you want a property t that you might not even leave the resort grounds then the Hilton Hawaiian Village might be a good option.
