Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort doesn’t use the ‘village’ description lightly when it comes to property names. With six towers; a conference centre; shopping areas, bars and restaurants; plenty of green spaces and three pools – not to mention its own lagoon, Hilton Hawaiian Village really is its own self-contained enclave within the popular confines of Waikiki Beach. With so much on offer and the only beachfront resort in Waikiki, it’s the ideal base for a family holiday in Honolulu.
The stunning Rainbow Tower at sunset. (Image: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort)
The hotel
From the minute you arrive at the alfresco Main Lobby, it already feels like a holiday. Wandering the expansive grounds (almost nine hectares in total) to our room, a short walk away in Tapa Tower, we pass the Village Green, lots of tropical foliage and pool areas on our way. The towers are indeed towering in the hotel complex, however the buildings are spread out enough that you can traverse the area easily while also having quick access to the onsite facilities and amenities.
The map will be your constant companion for the first day as you navigate from the pool to your room and locate ATM locations and dining options around the village, but by the second day we figured out the lay of the land to quickly get from the hotel room to Kalia Road, or how to find a shortcut to the beach.
A Double Ocean View Room in the Tapa Tower. (Image: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort)
The room
With 2,680 rooms available, there's no shortage of accommodation options across Hilton Hawaiian Village. While the Tapa Tower where we stayed is older than the oft-photographed Rainbow Tower, our Ocean View Room was a generous size with a lofty outlook over the Tapa Pool and across to the Pacific Ocean. Two double beds meant our family of three (two adults and a child) had ample room, and a lanai (balcony) to check out the views. A 37-inch flatscreen TV (plus PlayStation 3) and fridge complete the accommodation package.
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The Paradise Pool is the place to be. (Image: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort)
The amenities
There’s no shortage of things to do at Hilton Hawaiian Village, but with a small child in tow and at the end of our Hawaii holiday, most of our time was spent at the pool. Our pick is the Paradise Pool, which is one of the best hotel water parks we experienced in Oahu. Here, there’s a shallow spot for the little ones, tube slides on the upper tier and a landscaped space with lava rock formations and waterfalls to enjoy.
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon allows guests to go swimming or snorkelling in the sheltered area, or you can hit the beach for the full Waikiki experience and learn to surf, SUP boarding or even sailing and kayaking.
When it comes time to eat, there’s a variety of onsite eateries (18 restaurants and lounges in total) from New York-style delis and Japanese cuisine to takeaway coffee and pizza. There’s a few ABC Store locations in some of the towers if you prefer an eat-and-go approach or want to take some meals back to your room. For a taste of Hawaii, don’t miss the açai bowl at Tropics Bar & Grill for breakfast. There's also over 90 onsite shops and services at your disposal.
Kids splash out at the Camp Penguin kids club. (Image: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort)
The activities
Hilton Hawaiian Village hosts its own Waikiki Starlight Luau where you can feast on local fare and experience cultural traditions such as hula dancing and conch shell blowing most nights of the week. There’s also a kid-friendly movie night and fitness classes on the Village Green. Hilton also has its own kids club, Camp Penguin, with dedicated activities and excursions for children aged five to 12 years for an extra fee.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
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