TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

I stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village with my family for our kids' spring break in April 2026. Yes, as other reviews have stated, the resort is huge. However, despite being a large family resort, it's not horrible to walk from one place to the next. If you walk around the perimeter from one building to the next, yes it can take some time and can be tiring, but there are also a lot of pathways that cut across the resort that shorten the time it takes to get from one end to the other considerably. You can easily walk from the Makai Tower, where we stayed, to the Ocean Tower on the other side of the resort in a few minutes just by taking the pathways that crisscross across the resort. The Makai Tower is closest to the main pool area and the Dolphin Quest experience. The pools are on the cooler side, but are still great to swim in. Other reviews complain about the pools being "freezing cold". Not true. They are just fine and are a great place to spend the day if you don't feel like leaving the resort. They even have "Shaka Cone" which I recommend for ice cream lovers. You also do not need to hurry up early in the morning to reserve some chairs to sit by the pool. They have plenty of places to sit. You can even swim at night if you want. We did the Dolphin Encounter and although, pricey, it's great to be able to be up close and personal with the dolphins and their trainers. The trainers truly love those dolphins and the dolphins are happy and well taken care of. They let them swim in the open lagoon everyday, so they are even free to leave if they want, but they choose to stay. You can tell they are happy and love people. Just like dogs. So to the people complaining about dolphins being "kept in an enclosure", maybe you should go educate yourself. When I read reviews of people saying their children were "traumatized" by seeing the dolphins and couldn't even walk by the enclosure, I can't laugh hard enough. Some people just want drama in their lives all the time. Get over yourselves. Parking at the resort is also very convenient if your staying in the Makai Tower too. There are good restaurants and the buffet breakfast is expansive and a good value. Even though sometimes service there can be a little slow or can make you feel like your forgotten sometimes. No place is perfect. The staff is very friendly too. The rooms are clean and comfortable. We never had to wait in any lines for anything. This place is no worse than any other 4 star big resort in Hawaii we've been to, and we've stayed at a few. This is not the best place for couples. More of a family type resort. But we got a real good value here for the price we paid.

Don't let the Hilton name set your expectations too high - or even at all. The resort tram system is essentially non-functional - we maybe saw it running four times the entire trip, and other guests were visibly frustrated waiting for it too. I felt so bad for the moms with kids and the older folks. The boats never ran once. Plan on a lot of walking, because parking is nowhere near the tower and neither is anything else. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a half mile to the lobby from the Palace Tower . Not exaggerating. By day five I didn't even feel like making the trek to dinner so we skipped and went to bed early, glad we were leaving in the morning - and that is not how you want to end a Hawaii vacation. Food was disappointing at several of the Village Restaurants, overpriced even by Hawaii standards, and staff was just okay. The location is remote and they charge to take the shuttle to the nearby shopping. Our room was a decent size but noticeably dated, and during our five-day stay we spotted a baby roach and ants. The pools throughout the property were dirty, towel dispensers broken, and ice and vending machines were a long walk away. You are paying premium prices for an experience that doesn't come close to delivering. Nothing close to the Hilton standard we're used to. We won't be back.

Beautiful location. Rooms are clean, well-appointed, and quite large. The property is sprawling--choose the Makai tower if you want to be closer to the pool. The pool area is lovely with a great view and the sunsets are beautiful. There is also a lovely little lagoon. I am not a fan of captive dolphins in a small swimming space, but some people may like that option for kids. The only negative that stops me from giving it a 5 is the on-site food. There is barely any (apart from a very expensive restaurant) and the coffee shop only runs from 6-10 am. The grocery stores in the shopping centers nearby offer a wide variety of prepared food options. You can store food in the fridge in the room, and there are microwaves ond water-filling stations on every floor (though not obvious, so you have to ask staff).

Our room was excellent.. but our experience was mixed. for example, getting to our room in the Ocean Tower was tedious. The Ocean Tower is a Hilton timeshare, different operation from the Hilton Hotels. No place to eat or drink at the Tower. Everything involved walking or taking the very slow Tram or catching the Courtesy Van. When we dropped our car off with the Valet on Checkin - it took us 1 hour to get to our room! Might have been faster if we knew or had gotten some useful advice. Another time walking back from breakfast, we measured the walk at 1 mile. We did not take the most direct route but we did not but we did not wander. One problem related to our room; the bed was strange and we both thought after 7 days sleeping on it we were not feeling great. Moved to Hilo hotel and our backs got better. Thinking the beds are new, not sure what they bought. Finally - staff. They were all nice but it seemed like nobody knew anything but a very limited knowledge of their function. Most of the time could not answer any questions about the resort. Bottom line; would look for another resort if we go back. Or maybe stay in one of the Hilton Hotels rather than the Ocean Tower.

The grounds are immaculate and the pools Are beautiful. We have been coming for the past 6 years and have found that each year the rooms are in bad need of updating and this time the cleanliness was definitely not there and was so disappointing. We had to ask for our bathroom to be cleaned and had to ask twice for coffee and cups.and our room Wasn’t cleaned daily till 4 pm Which was inconvenient as by that time we were done at pool and ready to be showered and changed for dinner. This Was just Not what we have been accustomed to with this hotel. The staff at the pool was Exceptionall and always friendly. It’s worth coming for the grounds but if you are looking for a nice room you unfortunately will not find here.