Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

In choosing our resort, several factors were key. We wanted a family-friendly resort with lots of activities for everyone, a gorgeous stretch of beach, and convenience to shopping/dining/entertainment. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort ticked every box.

Located in the heart of Waikiki Beach, Hilton Hawaiian Village sits on 22 historic beachfront acres. The grounds are lush and beautifully landscaped with numerous fish ponds and is home to Waikiki’s only saltwater lagoon. It is stunning any time of day and night.

See my TikTok here.

There are several towers on property. We chose the Rainbow Tower to be closest to the ocean and stayed in an Ocean Front Double Guest Room. Like many high-rise hotels in popular destinations, space is at a premium. The room itself was standard and clean. But it offered incredible views of Diamond Head Crater and Waikiki Beach, and the balcony was the perfect spot for watching the sun rise.

Our resort fee included an in-room PlayStation, game and movie rentals, and various discounts. This was a nice bonus.

One of my favorite features on property is the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s History Wall in the Tapa Tower, which tells the story of Waikiki. From its fishing village roots to Elvis Presley fame and beond, the panels are captivating. Sadly, I only now realize I don’t have any photos (I left my phone in the room whenever we were at the beach or pool), but you can enjoy these ones from Historic Hawaii.

There are a variety of dining options on property, including a Dairy Queen ice cream shop. But our collective favorite dining experience of the entire trip was at Tropics Bar and Grill at the resort. The beachside ambiance was perfect and the Prime Rib was to die for!

There are food trucks that park at the lagoon by the public beach access point. The garlic shrimp is popular, but I thought it was just OK. However, the shaved ice is on point! Just ask the tween.

Many excursions can be booked in advance, but there are a few that can be booked right on the beach at the resort, including the Turtle Snorkel and Atlantis Submarine Tour. Remember to ask for your resort discount!

There is a bazaar at the front of the resort with shopping and dining options galore. The DH woke up early one morning to shoot this clip. He’s so sweet! 🙂

Now that the kids are older, we were able to sneak away to the village for a romantic dinner and evening stroll. And we didn’t once have to worry if chicken tenders and cheeseburgers were on the menu. Ha!

Finally, I have to comment on the service. It was impeccable. We were able to communicate with the front desk via text and all of our needs were attended to quickly. Whatever staff we encountered expressed thanks for visiting and seemed genuinely happy for everyone to be there. I’ll add that we were very respectful of protocols and were probably beaming from ear to ear from a mile away. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is a property I recommend and sell, and will continue to do so.

Some things to note:

• Travel days are long. At the time of this post, masks are still required on airplanes except when actively eating and drinking. And airlines have a zero-tolerance policy. This is something you’ll have to factor into your decision-making process.
• COVID Protocols are very strict in Hawai’i and proof of vaccination is required everywhere. I would not recommend unvaccinated clients travel at this time.
• The check-in process at the resort was incredibly long. Even in the Hilton Honors line the process took about 45 minutes. Travel protocols to Hawai’i are strict and everything is done via apps. Not having the proper documentation easily accessible slows things down for everyone. That said, once your vaccination record is verified, you have the option of wearing an armband which is your pre-screening anywhere on property. This was very convenient.
• Everyone wants to be at the Super Pool at the Rainbow Tower and the Paradise Pool with the water slide. Both can get very crowded. We found that the Ali’i Tower pool and adult-only pool would often have available lounge seats and was much more quiet.
• A Hawaiian vacation is an investment. If you go, you want to take advantage of every opportunity you can, which includes excursions. This is not a destination to stay parked at your resort. I can help you fine tune your choices based on your interests.

Update 3/26/2022: there are no COVID-related requirements for arriving domestic passengers. Travelers arriving in Hawaii directly from international airports must still comply with U.S. federal requirements.

My friends, take the trip. Everything that’s holding you back will always hold you back if you let it. While you’re young and able, take the trip. Though protocols are sometimes stressful and traveling nowadays requires a lot of flexibility, take the trip. I promise you won’t regret it.

I’m always happy to answer any questions so please ask away!

How we spent one week on O’ahu / Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort