Hilton Waikoloa Village

“Luxury traveler review”

For context, we stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village for the final two nights of our Big Island trip after spending seven nights in a private oceanfront villa that rented for about $3,000 per night. I noticed room rates at the Hilton were closer to the $300-per-night range during our stay, so we e… more

For context, we stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village for the final two nights of our Big Island trip after spending seven nights in a private oceanfront villa that rented for about $3,000 per night. I noticed room rates at the Hilton were closer to the $300-per-night range during our stay, so we experienced two very different types of Hawaii vacations back-to-back. I mention that only because I think it’s helpful context for this review, not as a comparison of which is “better.” We have a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old. I also have a soft spot for this property. I first came here in 1992 as a 12-year-old, and it was one of the best family vacations of my childhood. Coming back more than 30 years later with my own kids was pretty special. If you’re traveling with young children, this resort is incredibly hard to beat. It isn’t just a hotel—it’s an attraction. The monorail, dolphins, lagoons, fish, turtles, manta rays, and wildlife make simply walking around the property an adventure. Our 4-year-old couldn’t wait to explore every day, and even our 1-year-old was fascinated by everything. This place was clearly designed with families in mind. We stayed in the renovated Ocean Tower, and our room was clean, modern, and comfortable. The grounds are beautiful, with huge grassy areas where the kids could run around while we watched the sunset over the ocean. One pleasant surprise was that kids eat free, which helped offset some of the food prices. The restaurants are definitely on the expensive side for what you get, but we ended up eating at Nui Italian both nights because it was genuinely very good. The pizzas were excellent, the outdoor setting was beautiful, and it was an easy, relaxing dinner with young kids. There were, however, a few things that kept this from feeling like the premium resort it could be. The boats weren’t operating during our stay, which was disappointing because they’re such an iconic part of the property. Pool service was minimal, towel service is now self-serve through machines, and overall it felt like the resort was operating with a leaner staff than it probably once did. It’s also apparent that many people visit the property for the day, whether through day passes or other access. That’s understandable, but it does take away from the feeling of staying at a destination resort. A note to management: I honestly think you’re sitting on something incredibly special, and I don’t think you’re fully embracing it. Stop trying to be a luxury resort that happens to welcome families. Become the family resort in Hawaii. This property was once called the “Disneyland of Hawaii,” and that identity still fits. Lean into it. Imagine a licensed Paw Patrol partnership where the monorail becomes the Adventure Bay Express. Add a world-class kids’ club, daily scavenger hunts, junior marine biologist experiences, evening turtle and manta programs, themed family events, and interactive activities throughout the resort. If Paw Patrol isn’t the right fit, create your own memorable cast of characters centered around the turtles, manta rays, and Hawaiian wildlife. The infrastructure is already here—it just needs a bigger story. I’d even consider reducing the number of standard rooms over time in favor of more family suites and using that investment to elevate staffing and service. I’d gladly pay $1,500 a night for a polished version of this resort that fully commits to being the ultimate family destination instead of trying to appeal to everyone. Despite my suggestions, we had a fantastic stay. Watching my kids experience the same sense of wonder I felt here as a child was something I’ll never forget. If you’re traveling as a couple looking for a quiet luxury escape, there are better options on the Big Island. But if you have children between 2 and 12, I genuinely believe this is one of the most magical places in Hawaii—and with a little more vision, it could become one of the best family resorts anywhere.

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“Might be right for you -- or might not”

The good news is Hilton Waikoloa Village is 62 acres of things to do. The bad news is the 62 acres is a lot of sprawl so count on a lot of walking. We booked the Hilton for a three-generation family trip, and our party of nine ranged from ages 73 to 1. We had a wonderful time and our young grandson… more

The good news is Hilton Waikoloa Village is 62 acres of things to do. The bad news is the 62 acres is a lot of sprawl so count on a lot of walking. We booked the Hilton for a three-generation family trip, and our party of nine ranged from ages 73 to 1. We had a wonderful time and our young grandsons LOVED the pools and waterslides. But if i didn't have youngsters in the group, I'd find another place. We stayed in the Makai Tower, which is the leftmost of the three buildings (when looking at a resort map). It is the most convenient to amenities, and Kelly from the hotel staff was very helpful in moving our reservations from the Palace Tower before the trip. Indeed, Makai was a fine location for us. The rooms were "meh" and showed their age. But they were OK for our purposes. The Palace Tower rooms have recently been renovated, so if modern amenities are high on your list, stay in that building. But it's a long way to some of the better pools, the lagoon, etc. , from Palace. A word about transportation. The property had two trams that ran from one end to the other. But one of them has been out of service after an accident months ago. No staffer we talked with had any idea when it might operate again. If you're going anytime soon, figure there will be only one tram. A round trip is 20-ish minutes. The boats they used to use for transportation are out of service for good. The property has a plethora of dining options. We only used the coffee stand and the Lagoon Grill, which was pretty good for lunch. (Do try a Dole Whip.) We used restaurants in the Kings Shops for dinners, and those shopping and dining areas were very convenient. The lagoon is a nicely protected area to enjoy salt water. The actual beach is rocky and not a place to swim. The Hilton does not encourage guests to go to the rocky beach but a few people made their way down every day. Kayaking in the lagoon was a great way to see fish and turtles. There is a wonderful ocean beach nearby, known as A-Bay, with lots of free public parking. (I won't spell the whole word.) If you are considering Hilton Waikoloa for your stay on the Big Island, think about what you are looking for. It might be just what you need, or you might find it disappointing.

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“NEEDS AN UPDATE/ Air Conditioning is Way lacking everywhere!!”

Experience at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. We stayed at the MAKAI attached to the main lobby building. We were here about 15 years ago. The grounds were beautiful, and the view we had from our room looking out to the dolphin pond and ocean was refreshing. All is the same except worn down, older. Th… more

Experience at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. We stayed at the MAKAI attached to the main lobby building. We were here about 15 years ago. The grounds were beautiful, and the view we had from our room looking out to the dolphin pond and ocean was refreshing. All is the same except worn down, older. The elevators and floors are a little odd to figure out. Most restaurants in MAKAI have no air conditioning. No air conditioning in elevators or working in trams or in any of the restrooms in tower buildings as well. Maybe because it was built in 1988. It takes about 15 minutes to travel from the parking lot up the cobblestone to the lobby. If you stay in any other building besides the MAKAI, be ready to walk. The tram wait is about 15 minutes, and it fills up quick! The boats have been discontinued. The pools and lagoon are great for families and watching the dolphins in their tiny lagoon area. There is so much to do. It’s a giant resort with many steps and bridges. Be ready to do a lot of walking. Food at the Kona was just okay, but far too expensive. Go to Queens Marketplace down the street for food. There’s a market that has everything, and Tommy Bahamas Marlin Bar is perfect! We had a beautiful room and a beautiful view, but our air in our room was not working well, and although our room was maybe a little updated, our bathroom was old, and the bathroom reeked of urine, and the shower with old black tile was uneven, so you were standing in 2–3 inches of shower water during your shower. It only drained when the water was turned off. No more rooms are available to change to. So the best part was the view. The lagoon and/ or pool restaurants have brief hours before they are closed, and one of the pool slides was broken while we were there. The best part was the staff, very friendly and professional.

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“just okay”

I didn’t particularly love or hate this hotel. The location is wonderful, and the staff is generally helpful and kind. I found the parking to be expensive at $48/night with valet at $55/night. There is no “beach” on this property, and instead they have a lagoon filled with fish and wildlife. It i… more

I didn’t particularly love or hate this hotel. The location is wonderful, and the staff is generally helpful and kind. I found the parking to be expensive at $48/night with valet at $55/night. There is no “beach” on this property, and instead they have a lagoon filled with fish and wildlife. It is beautiful, however, it smells awful and towards the end of the lagoon is filled with trash. The rooms are dirty, and the property is just not well maintained. Just little details here and there tend to add up. The beds gave us the worst back and neck pain in the morning, and the dresser drawers in our room were jammed. I’d recommend the Marriot down the street!

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