Ah Friday. Such a perfect day of the week. In Hawaii they call it Aloha Friday.
And if you vacation at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort it also marks the day with fireworks over the beach. Basically the absolutely best way to kick off the weekend!
For those pondering a vacation in Hawaii, I highly recommend checking out the Hilton.
I think it is one of the best places to stay on the island of Oahu.
First, it truly is a resort. The property is 22 acres. It has everything from a Louis Vuitton store, to its own beach with a lagoon. You can have an amazing vacation without leaving the grounds.
The resort is set up like a small village facing towards the ocean.
It has a mix of room options for guests including towers with standard hotel rooms and towers with suites. The suites are primarily part of the Hilton Grand Vacations Club owners, so you basically have to be part of the Hilton timeshare program. Sometimes the suites are available on a limited basis as a room option on the Hilton website, but they are pricey.
My husband and I have been owners at the Grand Waikikian tower for years, so this is where we stay when we go to Oahu. The rooms are spacious and luxurious, with up to three bedrooms, a common living area, kitchen, washer/dryer, balcony, and often a big sunken tub in the master bedroom.
Side Note: I know timeshares aren’t for everyone, but if you are thinking about buying into one, I highly recommend Hilton Grand Vacations Club’s program. I’ll do another post later this month about the ins and outs of the Hilton timeshare program, but we think it has the most flexibility and the best resort collection.
In addition to beautiful rooms, the resort has five amazing pools, each one with their own personality.
The Paradise Pool features a couple of waterslides, which are a big hit for all ages. It also has two hot tubs for those of us that prefer to sit in the water rather than slide into it (umm, that would be me!).
There is also the 10,000 square foot Super Pool. It’s great for families, and there are also tons of lounge chairs for relaxing poolside and a very convenient snack bar.
And of course there are plenty of places to eat!
The resort features more than 20 restaurants, cafés, bars and grills. Some highlights- when we first get to the resort, we hit up the Honolulu Cookie Company for our supply of cookies for our room.
These cookies are seriously the best. They also make great gifts for friends and family at home.
Our favorite restaurant on the resort is Benihana. It’s such a great experience because it’s part dinner and part show, thanks to the talented chiefs that cook at your table.
And then, my daily treat on vacation, ice cream from Lappert’s Hawaii.
It’s seriously my favorite ice cream in the world. With flavors like Caramel Cashew Turtle Cluster to Kauai Pie, how could you not go every day?? And they have sizes ranging from a mini-scoop to full-on sundaes, though I prefer the waffle bowl with two scoops.
The amenities at the resort are also top of the line. Designer stores are sprinkled throughout the property. But there are also quick stop shops like the ABC Store, great for all those little things you forgot to pack!
The resort is also home to the Mandara Spa. Because who doesn’t want a massage when they are vacationing in paradise, right??
Beyond facials and massages, they also have a full hair salon for everything from a color touch up to a styling for a special evening.
And as they say, location is everything. And this is one of the best parts of the Hilton property.
For those familiar with Waikiki Beach, you know that it can be really busy. It’s filled all hours of the day with shoppers, beachgoers, and vacationers.
The Hilton Hawaiian Village is steps away from it all. It’s only about a half mile walk from the heart of Waikiki.
This makes it very easy to access the center of Waikiki whenever you want, but also far enough away that relaxing at the resort makes the action of Waikiki seem an island away. My husband and I walked into the shopping areas of Waikiki from our hotel every single day, and even all the way up to Diamond Head on one day.
You can also easily walk to Kewalo Basin and Ala Wai Boat Harbors (where many excursions leave from), the Ala Moana Center (where there is a range of stores from Gucci to Lululemon to Foodland Farms), and downtown Honolulu, all with in about 15 to 30 minutes of the hotel property.
And as I mentioned, any resort that kicks off the weekend with an amazing show featuring Hawaiian dancers and fireworks is my kind of place.
As you can tell, I can’t recommend the Hilton Hawaiian Village enough!
