Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

My husband and I had the privilege to stay in the Kalia Tower at the Hawaiian Hilton Village during the month of August. We truly enjoyed watching the sunrise every morning. Drinking our coffee and having different meals on the balcony that had the most beautiful Mountain View. The adult pool was a special surprise too. I have to say that we had the most wonderful, friendly, and attentive room attendant named Luz R. Her friendly smile brought joy in my heart whenever I saw her. Luz was incredibly kind and you can tell she takes pride in what she does. We have stayed in an array of hotels and truly belive that the people are the heart of each place we stay. Luz made our stay at the Hawaiian Hilton Village even more memorable than it already was. My husband and I hope that when we return, we get to see Luz R. again! She is truly amazing and made our trip extra special, we wont forget her. Read less

We spent over $300 for a day-use room and cabana, expecting “luxury” and service at Hilton Hawaiian Village. Instead, we got chaos, rudeness, false advertising, and a resort that clearly does not care about its guests. The “Best Luau” Joke (Night Before): The disappointment actually started the night before with their so-called “Waikiki Starlight Luau.” Signs everywhere claim it’s the best, so we paid extra for VIP seating, which promised the “front two rows.” That was a lie. The tables don’t run parallel to the stage—they run perpendicular—so our expensive VIP seats were basically in line with people who paid less than half of what we did. The food? Bland, cafeteria-quality at best. Then came the “souvenir photo.” VIP was supposed to include one, but what they don’t tell you is that it only includes taking the photo—nothing to bring home. If you want the actual photo, that’s an extra $65 for a single rushed picture the photographer (a woman) snapped before we were even ready. And after hitting us with that surprise charge, she still expected a tip. I about lost my mind. When we went online to view “our photos,” we found 20+ shots of the photographers messing around, one bad picture of us, and then another 25–30 photos of them continuing to goof off. This is what they pass off as “VIP.” What a scam. Check-In Chaos (Day Pass): The next day was no better. Our limited “day use” began with standing in line behind 14 people checking out. No separate line, no urgency, no acknowledgment that our hours were already ticking away. By the time we got our passes, we had already lost over an hour. When I asked where our room was, the front desk associate literally told me to “look at the map” and “you’ll figure it out.” No room number. No directions. Nothing but arrogance. Cabana Rip-Off: We paid another $150 for a cabana at the Paradise Pool. For that, we got two half-folded towels shoved in our hands and a vague finger point to “where our bed was.” No escort, no welcome, no service whatsoever. Minutes later, kids were splashing water directly into our cabana, soaking our belongings while staff ignored it. When we stepped away to fix the missing room issue, staff gave our cabana to strangers because we “weren’t there by noon.” Paid in full, but still taken away. Room Disaster: After all that, we were told we didn’t even have a room. Multiple calls, endless holds, walking back and forth across the resort—only to learn the front desk never checked us in properly. Two hours wasted. No urgency, no ownership, no apology. The Truth About This Resort: Why pay Hilton prices for “luxury and service” when neither is provided? The employees don’t act like service matters, and management clearly doesn’t care if it does. Their paychecks may be important to them, but their guests certainly are not. Guests are treated like dollar signs, which is clearly the only reason the resort exists. If it wasn’t for the “sucked in” mentality (can’t cancel, can’t get a refund), this place wouldn’t make a dime. It is hands down the biggest tourist trap on the entire island. Bottom Line: This was supposed to be a celebration of our wedding anniversary. Instead, it was stressful, insulting, and a complete waste of money. Hilton Hawaiian Village runs like a theme park without the fun—chaotic, overcrowded, and with employees who don’t care whether you have a good experience or not. Warning to future guests: Don’t fall for the branding, the signs, or the Hilton name. It’s all smoke and mirrors. This was not just disappointing—it was the worst resort experience we have ever had. Save yourself the time, the stress, and the disappointment. Go anywhere else. Read less

This was the only hotel of our trip we wouldn’t recommend. While the location is convenient, many of the policies and fees felt focused on revenue rather than guest experience. For example, early check-in was $150 (even with our room available), self-parking is $69/day ($89 valet), beach chairs $27 each, and late check-out $50/hr. Even towels require a card system or a fee if misplaced. With kids, these charges added stress we hadn’t anticipated. Our room was serviceable but dated, with worn furniture, a non-working fridge, and rust at the base of the tub. Staff interactions varied, but overall didn’t feel as warm as elsewhere. For comparison, we also stayed at Hyatt Place, which was more affordable, felt cleaner, and included thoughtful touches like free beach chairs and toys. When valet was delayed, they even waived the fee. The difference in hospitality was striking. Read less