Family Fun And VIP Perks In The Heart Of Hilton Hawaiian Village

Last summer, our family spent a couple of nights at Grand Waikikian, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club on our way to the Big Island of Hawaii. We chose the resort for its proximity to the Honolulu downtown shopping district, as well as the Honolulu airport. When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the hotel was part of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, a mega-resort.

The village hosts five separate hotel towers, which share amenities across approximately 22 acres. There are multiple pools, a private lagoon and beachfront access. Staying on the property gives you access to on-site restaurants, shopping, entertainment and Friday night fireworks!

Upon check-in, we received an HGV Rewards Card that provides discounts to many of the food and shopping venues located in the village. Some of our favorites were the Goofy Café & Dine for breakfast (try the Moco Loco or the Acai Bowl, you will not be disappointed) and Fresco Italian Restaurant. With a 10% bonus discount, the meals were even better.

We often plan a full day at any resort we stay in to enjoy its amenities. Our kids loved the freedom to choose which pool or beach to hang out at, while Jason and I loved being able to rent a cabana and enjoy a day in the shade next to a pool. We reserved a cabana at the Tapa Pool, which included a 12x12 covered cabana, two chairs and two tables, as well as complimentary towels and water. This allowed us to have a central meeting point for the entire group, which was great because Grandma Sharon loves to shop. She spent most of the day perusing the resort's many shopping options. Throughout the day, our group rotated from the cabana to the pools, to shopping and then to the hotel room. Everyone got to spend their day of relaxation exactly how they wanted.

A popular hard-seltzer brand organized an afternoon pool party at the Tapa Pool. The atmosphere shifted from quiet relaxation to a more upbeat pool-party vibe. As soon as the party started, pool floats appeared out of nowhere, and we were gifted with all the swag we would ever need. The central bar right next to the hotel pool hosted a DJ and offered specials on buckets of White Claws. By the end of the day, we had made some new friends and brought home a few pool towels, sunglasses and reusable totes as fun mementos.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is close to the main shopping area of Honolulu, as well as to Waikiki Beach. We got to spend time on the white sand beach and walk through the open-air shopping market. On the last night of our stay, we were treated to the Friday night fireworks outside the lagoon, which was the perfect ending to our time on Oahu. It was clear from the crowd that gathered to watch the show that Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is a popular destination for Hilton fans traveling to Oahu. We ended the night listening to the bustling sounds of the city from our hotel before the next morning when we headed off to the Big Island of Hawaii! 

Read “Is Hilton Grand Vacations Worth It?” to discover how a Hilton Grand Vacations membership provides access to a world of fun, excitement and memories that last a lifetime.