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Which is the best Hilton hotel in Hawaii for a family vacation or a honeymoon? Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Vs. Grand Wailea Maui A Waldorf Astoria Resort Vs. Hilton Waikoloa Village Vs. Embassy Suites by Hilton.
If you fly into Honolulu (HNL), you will probably head straight to the resort of Waikiki for your stay in Hawaii but don’t miss out on the other islands as there are some fantastic Hilton Honors hotels in Maui, Kauai, and Big Island too.
Book your next Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, LXR Hotel & Resorts, or Conrad stay via our luxury travel concierge, and we can secure you free loyalty-style benefits (on top of your own status and membership benefits), room upgrades and perks, for no extra cost.
Typically, our free Hilton Impresario client benefits include:
- Double Hilton Honors Points
- Complimentary breakfast for two
- $100 USD hotel credit per stay, or local currency equivalent
- Next category upgrade (subject to availability)
- Complimentary welcome gift
1. Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
This is the best Hilton Honors hotel in Hawaii, but it does come at a price. While it’s not the best value in terms of points, the Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, on Maui is pretty special. This property’s Hilton Honors point price is 95,000 Hilton points per night for a standard room.
This hotel has a water elevator, nine pools on six levels, a waterslide, waterfalls, and a beachfront location in the high-end resort of Wailea. It is also just up the boardwalk from the Four Seasons Maui, which is one of the best Four Seasons in Hawaii.
Located on 40 acres of tropical landscape on the white sand of Wailea Beach, the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, A Waldorf Astoria Resort boasts 5 restaurants, a spa, a water park, and 3 golf courses. Guest rooms and suites feature free Wi-Fi. The Shops at Wailea are 5 minutes’ walk away. Kahului International Airport is 35 minute drive away.
The Wailea Canyon water park within the hotel’s grounds is a dream come true for the kids and the young at heart. It has 9 outdoor swimming pools connected by a lazy river with the infamous water elevator, water slides, waterfalls, caves, a children’s pool, a sand beach, and a swim-up bar. A separate adults-only pool and sun terrace are also offered, along with a children’s activity program, which includes lei making, crafts, and video games in a separate activity center.
Humuhumunukunukuapua’a is another highlight. This Polynesian thatch roof restaurant is set over a romantic oceanfront lagoon and serves Hawaiian-influenced fish and meat entrees. Bistro Molokini offers California and Island fare in a relaxing, open-air ambiance with ocean views. Café Kula provides Hawaiian food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A sumptuous daily breakfast buffet and Champagne Brunch with panoramic Pacific Ocean views are featured in the Grand Dining Room. Guests can also dine at the Grand Luau of Honua’ula.
While the rooms aren’t quite as outstanding as the rest of the resort, the Grand Wailea Maui A Waldorf Astoria Resort has, without a doubt, the best pool complex on the Hawaiian Islands.
2. Ho’olei Villas at Grand Wailea
For the high rollers among us, and also linked to the Hilton group is Ho’olei Villas at Grand Wailea. Discover a blissful, breezy retreat on Maui’s southern shore at Ho’olei at Grand Wailea. The neighbor of Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, this private enclave blends residence living and resort amenities for the ultimate ‘home away from home.’
The perfect choice for large families or groups, our residential-style villas have an expansive living space, a gourmet kitchen for stylish dining, and a private pool for Ho’olei Villa guest usage only. These opulent two- and three-bedroom villas start at 3,200 ft² and provide a tranquil retreat on the elevated mountainside, offering stunning tropical and ocean views from private lanais.
Starting at $2,000+ USD per night, you will need to have a family to make the best use of these villas, but it’s hard to imagine a nicer place to spend your vacation than here.
3. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is an enormous Hilton hotel set out in big high rise blocks, close to the Ala Moana shopping mall. Set among a tropical landscape covering 22 acres, the hotel boasts Waikiki’s widest patch of sandy beach as well as Waikiki’s only saltwater lagoon and real-life penguins wandering around the grounds. You can book the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort for 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
The nice thing about this hotel, beyond being located on the shores of the beach, is that many of its dining and drinking venues spill out onto the beach. This makes this resort ideal for a sunset cocktail. But manage your expectations. This resort is high-rise and big and on the edge of a city, so it is busy and urban, which may be a surprise if you are expecting a remote escape.
On the bright side, any hotel in Waikiki is convenient for all the attractions, and the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is only a 10-minute drive from Pearl Harbor and 25 minutes from Honolulu International Airport (HNL). Ala Moana, the largest shopping mall in Hawaii, is just a five-minute drive away, or you can walk there or take one of the open-air Trolleys if you prefer.
The resort has a Mandara Spa, five swimming pools, and over 20 restaurants and bars. Rainbow Tower rooms and suites have stunning views, and the entire hotel is set across five towers. Each spacious room features views of the resort, Honolulu coastline, or the Pacific Ocean. Select a suite for extra space and amenities, or choose a room at the exclusive oceanfront Ali’i Tower, offering private check-in and enhanced services.
It is worth mentioning that we think a paid upgrade to the Ali’i Tower is worth it. This tower has its own separate check-in area and a private pool with a hot tub. It also gives you a bracelet that you can use to skip the line at just about any restaurant on the property. Hilton Honors Diamonds often get decent upgrades here, too.
4. Hilton Waikoloa Village, Big Island
Hilton Waikoloa Village stands out for its beautiful and massive gardens. This hotel is so large that they provide an air-conditioned monorail train that runs from one end to the other end of the resort every 10 minutes or so. It takes 10-15 minutes to ride the full distance, as it stops maybe five times and waits for a minute or two for loading and unloading. Take the little boats around the gardens at night and enjoy the lights in the gardens. There’s an artificial lagoon pool at this resort rather than a beach at this Hilton, which may disadvantage families.
5. Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach
Another Hilton option in Waikiki is the Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach where you can book a one-bedroom suite with a pull-out bed for 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night. As with all Embassy Suites, you get free cooked-to-order breakfast and access to complimentary drinks, snacks, and weekly entertainment at the evening poolside reception.
6. Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay
Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay is your best Hilton option in Kauai. Request a room that opens straight onto the pool (each also comes with its own private patio), and you will experience the bliss of stepping out of your bed and into the pool on a warm morning.
This Hilton is adjacent to Lydgate Beach Park and within walking distance of Wailua Bay. Opaekaa Falls, Sleeping Giant Trail Head, and Fern Grotto are a five-minute drive away. The hotel is within 15 minutes of Wailua Falls, Kapaa Town, and Lihue Airport. Perks include an all-day restaurant, two pools, a poolside bar, and rooms with balconies and ocean views.
7.Hilton Waikiki Beach
Ideally located in the heart of Waikiki, Hilton Waikiki Beach is just one block from the ocean. With Leahi (Diamond Head) as a stunning backdrop, this contemporary Waikiki hotel offers a true Hawaiian paradise. Find rooms and suites with gorgeous views of the surroundings, resort-style amenities, and delicious dining options available anytime. Of course, it’s not on the beach, but this is considered in the pricing of its rooms.
8. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alana, Waikiki Beach
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alana, Waikiki Beach is located on the edge of Waikiki, within a mile of Waikiki Beach, Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, and the Ala Moana Center. Waikiki Aquarium, Royal Hawaiian Center. Downtown Honolulu is three miles away, and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is 15 minutes away.
On arrival, enjoy a pool with decking, ocean views, and a DoubleTree cookie. Sadly, this hotel is not on the beach. You will need to walk to the golden sands of Waikiki Beach.
9. Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo DoubleTree, Big Island
For just 50,000 Hilton points per night, you can stay at the rebranded Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo DoubleTree, a really nice modern hotel, in a room with a view of Hilo Bay. Why stay here? To see the Volcanoes National Park, you are just 30 miles away. Since Hilton waives resort fees on award stays, if you book this stay on Hilton Honors points, even parking is free because it is usually included in that fee at the Grand Naniloa.
We love this hotel because it has a 9-hole golf course on-site, is oceanfront with lovely lawns, and has a pool that leads down to the rocky bay.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Oahu Kapolei
Probably the cheapest Hilton hotel in Hawaii is Embassy Suites by Hilton Oahu Kapolei in West Oahu. Find them a mile from Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii and 20 minutes from Pearl Harbor. They offer a free shuttle to White Plains Beach and other beaches in the area.
Alternatively, soak up the sun by the outdoor pool, complete with a waterfall and whirlpool. They have two restaurants and serve a complimentary reception and free cooked-to-order breakfast daily. At under $200 USD per night, it’s hard to beat the price of this Hilton hotel.
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