Hilton Waikoloa Village Review

Looking for honest an Hilton Waikoloa Village review?  Here's a complete guide to this amazing mega-resort on the Big Island of Hawaii!  Does it live up to the hype?  Find out here in a complete review, plus all the favorite bucket-list experiences you can do there!

Planning a trip to The Big Island?  Also read my 20 Best Things to Do on the Big Island, Best Restaurants on the Big Island of Hawaii, and my Top 20 Favorite Moments from the Big Island. Plus my  Hawaii Travel Page.

Hilton Waikoloa Village Review

Planning a trip to Hawaii and looking for an honest Hilton Waikoloa Village Review? Today I'm sharing my unbiased, unsponsored review of this mega-resort on The Big Island of Hawaii.  I've stayed at the resort twice now, once with kids and once without, sharing what we have honestly loved and not liked about this resort.  This includes real-life, unfilted photos of the resort, food, beach, and more to help you decide if you want to stay here on your trip.

This 1,241-room resort is located on 62 acres on the sunny Kohala Coast of Hawai'i's Big Island.  The resort is about a 30-minute drive from the Kona International Airport.  This part of the island has generally dry, sunny, and warm weather year-round.  They have a wide array of amenities.

This huge resort is so large that it takes 15-20 minutes to walk across.  They even have transportation for the resort in the form of a tram and ferry.  The resort was built in the 80s and is often called the Disney of Hawaii, due to its size and amenities.  There are several towers, including the Makai Tower, Palace Tower, and Ocean Tower. There are several restaurants on site and the Kohala Spa.

The biggest draw to this resort is the massive pools, slides, lazy river, and ocean-fed man-made 4-acre lagoon that has everything from a waterfall, tropical fish, to green sea turtles.   The lagoon has a man-made beach, which is great for kids to play on.  The resort even has its own dolphin pool with dolphins, trainers, and opportunities to swim with the dolphins.

The Hilton Waikoloa Village might not be authentic Hawaii, but it's sure to be fun, especially with kids.  I've spent two weeks at this resort over the years, and here are some of the things we have liked and not liked.

If you decide to book, check out this link with the best rates!

Hilton Waikoloa Village Review - Pros and Cons

I'll start with my honest Hilton Waikoloa Village Review, including the pros and cons.   We overall love it, but there are some specific pros and cons to look out for.

 

Pros

• The Hilton Waikoloa Village lagoon is amazing and worth a trip to this resort.  The 4-acre lagoon is simply a saltwater oasis to explore.  It's great for kids because it's protected from waves, but you can still see fish and turtles.
• The pools are also fun, and the kids loved the slides.
• The grounds are perfectly manicured and are filled with gorgeous tropical flowers.
• It's huge, and there is so much space and things to explore that you can make a vacation out of staying at this resort.
• They have direct gorgeous sunsets over the open water of the Pacific Ocean.
• The kid-friendly activities are really fun!  We enjoyed lei making, bracelet making, and fish feeding.
• You can spend the day watching the dolphins and even have lunch with them.
• The kids loved the tram and ferry.
• Even though it's a huge resort, and we visited in peak travel time, it didn't feel overcrowded.
• The standard rooms are large, and we didn't feel too cramped, even spending a week in one room.
• The rates to stay here feel reasonable for the location and amenities.
• You can book with Hilton Honors points, have an award stay, and earn Hilton points.  Hilton status can often get you a room upgrade, too.

 

Cons

• The Hilton Waikoloa Village resort is massive.  If you have mobility issues, you might have trouble.  It's a long walk from the parking lot to your room, even with the transportation.
• For the size of the resort, they don't have a lot of restaurants and dining options on site, and they are very expensive.
• The coast along this resort is very rocky, and there is no real beach.  There is a beach along the lagoon, but it's not the same if you are a beach lover.
• The resort feels a bit dated and could use a refresh, especially the breakfast restaurant and interior hallways.
• The guest rooms are ok, but could use a refresh.
• They have a big convention center.
• Due to its size, you kind of get lost in the crowd and don't get personal service as guests.
• They have very expensive parking fees, even for self-parking in the parking lot, on top of the already high resort fee, causing nearly $100 extra a day in fees.

Hilton Waikoloa Village Review FAQ

Does Hilton Waikoloa Village have a swimmable beach?

No, it doesn't.  The resort is along a rocky coastline with no sandy beach.  The resort has a manmade beach and a swimmable ocean-fed lagoon, but not an actual beach.  Here's what the coastline looks like.  There are swimmable, sandy beaches within a 10-minute drive.

Is Hilton Waikoloa all-inclusive?

No, it is a resort where you pay for the room and food separately.  Every once in a while, they will offer a special deal where you can get an all-inclusive rate with breakfast and dinner included, but it is a lot more expensive.

 

What is the resort charge at the Hilton Waikaloa resort?

The resort charge at the Hilton Waikoloa resort is a hefty $45 per night.  Unfortunately, this is pretty standard for big resorts in Hawaii.  Here includes 20% off rentals at the lagoon, daily fitness and yoga classes, hula, lei making, and ukulele lessons, kids activities, wi-fi & internet, calls, and movie and game rentals.  We actually did a lot of the included activities at the resort, and it made it a bit more.

Hilton Waikoloa Village Honest Review Share on X

 

Hilton Waikoloa Village Highlights

Hilton Waikoloa Saltwater Lagoon

The Hilton Waikoloa Village is home to a tropical four-acre saltwater lagoon and white sand beach on the property, which is so lovely.  It is fed by the ocean, but is the perfect protected oasis for water sports and swimming!  The ocean water and all the critters in it flow freely in and out.  The water is calm and protected, and it is the perfect place for kids to learn to snorkel.

They rent all sorts of water toys here, including stand-up paddle boards, aqua bikes, kayaks, and paddle boats.  We did them all and had so much fun.  The kids could not get enough of it.

Honu (rare green sea turtles) are found in the lagoon, and it's even fun spotting them from the shore.

Pools and Slides

If a regular pool is more your speed, there are three other pools featuring water slides, hot tubs, and waterfalls.  There was the huge main pool, Kona pool, which is the largest pool on the Big Island.  It has a 175 slide, tons of space, and a sandy beach area for small kids.  It also has the Kona pool bar.

There is also the Kohala Pool, near the Ocean Tower, that has smaller kids' slides and a slow-moving lazy river  area connecting them.

There is also an adults-only pool near the Ocean Tower.

Swimming with the Dolphins at Dolphin Quest

The Hilton Waikoloa Village has its own tropical dolphin lagoon.  The animals are cared for by marine mammal experts and are part of an educational program called Dolphin Quest.  The program helps educate about dolphins and the environmental concerns surrounding the ocean.

There are many dolphin swim programs, but the one I did started off with getting familiar with the animals... including some big splashing!

Best kiss of my life!  I had a blast interacting and learning more about these amazing animals.  They are so friendly and really craved the attention.  It was one of the highlights of the entire trip.

I was so grateful that when we came back for our second trip, we were able to have our twin boys do the kids' version of the dolphin encounter.  They also loved it and are still talking about it.

Kohola Spa

Another bucket list experience for this Hilton Waikoloa Resort review!  The world-class Kohola Spa offers its relaxing massages ocean-side!

The Hubs and I had a couple of ocean-view sunset massages that were magical!   You really can't beat this experience for relaxation and getting into the Hawaii zone.

 

Riding the Monorail & Ferry

One of the coolest things for kids is that they have their own monorail and ferry.

It's also pretty fun to explore by riding the monorail or boats.  It almost feels like you are at a theme park within a hotel!  I do feel like this is one spot where the resort was aging, though, and they could stand to update this.

Sunsets

The sunsets at the Hilton Waikaloa Village are epic. I like to enjoy the free show from a different spot on the Hilton Waikoloa Village property every night.  It is always different and always brings a little magic to the evening.  This striped sunset was one of my favorites during my stay.

 

Kid's Activities

Another reason for this positive Hilton Waikaloa Village review is the fun kids and cultural activities.  We did as many of them as we could, and the kids loved feeding the fish in this pond daily.  We also made bracelets and did a ukulele lesson, all of which were

 

Hilton Waikoloa Village Reviews for Restaurants

There are a handful of restaurants and lounges at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.  I was actually surprised there were not more options, especially considering the size of the resort.  They were all priced very high, but they did have good food.

Sunset Dinner at KPC

Hilton Waikoloa Village has many dining opportunities on the property, but Kamuela Provision Company, or KPC, is the best.  I had sunset dinner reservations on their outside deck, sitting just off a cliff of lava rock with ocean views.  Here I am on our first trip.

And here's our family on the return trip.   The restaurant might not seem kid-friendly, but we found it to be great for the kids and adults.

The views and ambiance will take your breath away!  It was so relaxing to watch the sunset and then hear the waves crash on the rocks through the evening.

And the food speaks for itself!

And here's the main meal.  For more on my dinner at KPC, here is my full review!

 

Lagoon Grill - Lunch with a Dolphin View

The Lagoon Grill is another reason for this positive Hilton Waikoloa Resort review. I'm obsessed with dolphins and loved eating lunch with this view!

And with a tuna burger like this at the Lagoon Grill, you can't beat this experience at the Hilton Waikoloa Village!  Do you see that gorgeous side salad, too?  Normally, "pool food" is less than impressive, but not at this resort.

We also love their fish tacos.

Breakfast Buffet at Water's Edge

The breakfast buffet at the Hilton Waikaloa Village is good.  I had everything from freshly-made omelets, bagels, and pancakes.  It's pricey, but kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult, which helps.  Sometimes you can get free breakfast with your room or Hilton status.

This is my favorite plate, which has papaya and steel-cut oatmeal topped with almonds and dried fruit.  I dream about that papaya now.  It was that good!

Other Hilton Waikoloa Village Restaurants

• Nui Italian - The Italian restaurant serving expensive pizza and pasta for dinner.
• Legends of Hawaii Luau - The on-site luau at the Hilton features rich history, live music, a drummer, and dancing.  Has a complete, authentic Hawaiian meal.
• Orchid Marketplace - A quick service restaurant near the Kona Pool with snacks, sandwiches, ice cream, pizza, and salads.
• Kona Tap Room - A fun spot with Kona Brewing on Tap
• Waikoloa Coffee Company - A quick coffee shop breakfast spot for espresso-style coffee, acai bowls, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries.

 

There are also lots of delicious restaurants nearby to eat at. Make sure to check out my Big Island Restaurant Guide to learn about my favorites.

 

 

Hilton Waikoloa Village Review

I'll wrap up this Hilton Waikoloa Village review by saying that overall, we really loved this resort.  It was fun to visit as a couple, but epic when bringing kids.  The kids just loved the lagoon and dolphins, and still talk about snorkeling with turtles and swimming with dolphins.  We all miss this view, the sunsets, slides, and the food.

If you are visiting the Big Island with kids and don't mind a big resort, you will love this.   I didn't even get to the golf, mini golf, luau, tennis courts, shopping, and the collection of Polynesian art there.  I have never done so many amazing things in one place before.

I feel like Hilton could give this well-loved resort a bit of an update, especially in the rooms and common areas.  However, we had so much fun here that it didn't stop our experience from being positive.  We really did love this resort and would absolutely recommend it to friends.  If you want to book the resort, check out these rates for it through Expedia.

If you happen to be planning a trip to the Big Island, start with my 20 Best Things to Do on the Big Island, Best Restaurants on the Big Island of Hawaii, and my Top 20 Favorite Moments from the Big Island. Plus my  Hawaii Travel Page.

Travel Guides for Hawaii:

• 20 Best Things to Do in Big Island, Hawaii
• Best Big Island Hawaii Restaurants
• Top 20 Favorite Moments - The Big Island
• Hiton Waikoloa Village Resort Guide
• Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park
• Top 20 Favorite Moments Kauai
• Top 20 Favorite Moments - North Shore Kauai
• Kauai Na Pali Coast Hike
• Best Kauai Food
• Top 12 Things You Can't Miss in Kauai
• 10 Ways to Stay and Explore Wailea on a Budget
• Haleakalā Volcano Sunrise

 

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