Travel / Resorts / Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort Spa on Oahu

In late 2005, my father and I took a trip to the Hawaiian island of Ohau, choosing to stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village directly onWaikiki Beach.  My parents had stayed there during a vacation in teh 1970's, and I was anxious to see the resort.  Naturally, things had changed greatly in the 30 years since my dad had been there, as the resort now boaste several towers and numerous shops and restaurants.  After checking in, we discovered the shower to be broken and were moved to a Deluxe Partial Ocean View Room in Tapa Tower.  The room was large and clean, and the view was too die for!  My one recommendation for anyone going to Hawaii is to book an Ocean View room - it's worth it!

The Hilton has enough to keep you occupied for your entire trip - lots of little shops selling designer goods, as well as numerous restaurants on site.  The prices for food were shocking to us - $3 for one banana!  However, the convenience of eating at the resort balanced out the cost.   

The Hilton has it's own bus depot, and from there you can catch transportation to all of the sites on Oahu - the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Atlantis Dinner Cruise, and the trolley ride to Hilo Hattie were our favorite outings.  Plus the location on Waikiki Beach is the best thing of all - the water is clear and beautiful.

The major downside to the Hilton Hawaiian Village was the service, which was never friendly.  In our entire time there, we only encountered two staff members who even smiled at us.  Definitely not the "Aloha Spirit" I'd heard about.  Oahu is a bustlng island and very touristy.  It's not the the place to go for a relaxing Hawaiian holiday; but if you like the fast-paced lifestyle, you'l love it!

Update on March 29, 2008 16:08

http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com