we stayed family of four last week, located int he rainbow tower on the 31st floor it was modern and clean, bathroom small but would stay again without hesitation. only thing next time i would have a room facing diamond head rather than the lagoon and marina. only downer was starbucks at the hilton dont have free wifi so we had to go elsewhere and food/drinks expensive though that wasnt a problem ihop across the road perfect for breakfast and plenty of other places less than 10 min walk to main street of waikiki

We spent 4 nights at the HHV with our two kids, both under 12. We had a Rainbow Tower Junior Suite with a Diamond Head view. Room was nice in size and the pullout sofabed with the sectional couch allowed for the four of us to sleep comfortably.

What we liked:
The location. Close enough to walk to the shopping areas of Waikiki, but far enough away to at least be a bit apart from the traffic, even if in an obviously developed area.
Multiple food options nearby. The "village" part of the resort offers multiple dining options, though the resort proper offers limited casual options.
The lagoon area was a safe option for our kids to learn to wakeboard. Our two kids really wanted to learn to wakeboard and the controlled environment of the lagoon made that easy to do.
Pool area offers different options, though pool area with slides is a bit small. We were there off-season for school vacations and the pool area with the slides was still packed. Slides were fun for the kids, but I can see this area being a bit less fun at spring break for winter holidays if crowded.
Shopping. If you're looking to shop, plenty of options at the hotel and nearby.

Didn't Like:
Really, really expensive for some things. On our first night we ordered room service with three kids meal options. Cost was about $80 total. We ate once at the breakfast buffet. At a price close of $25 per adult and $15 per child, it can really add up. We opted to walk to other options the other days, including a coffee shop just across from the resort. Three of us had breakfast at the cost of one adult at the HHV.

We have mixed feelings about Oahu. It's still Hawaii and the urban environment offers some options that aren't possible on the other islands. For business reasons, we spent four days in Waikiki this time, though I think a couple of days at the start of a longer trip are more than enough to get a little variety.

If heading Waikiki, I think the HHV is as good a spot as any with kids. If just my wife and I, we'd probably opt for something else. But, this is a good choice, if you understand it is expensive and it is a resort with at least 6 massive towers. By comparison, we stayed at the Royal Hawaiian last year which shares facilities with the Sheraton. The Sheraton is the other large, family friendly property on the beach. Of the two, we think the HHV is just a bit nicer and more tropical, even if manufactured tropical.

First off let me clarify that I am a Hilton Diamond status member having had very good experiences with the Hilton brands. Unfortunately this place as a "resort" is a FAIL. I had acquired over a weeks worth of free nights through a recent HHonors promotion, and chose to use 5 of them after a conference on Maui at the Hyatt. The desk staff appear to be poorly trained, there was no recognition of the Diamond status. If there was an Executive Floor Lounge....it was never offered to me at check-in. At the time of check-in I was allotted 1 (YES 1!) towel card to enjoy the pool or beach with. This was complete nonsense for a resort property...to think that at nearly $250/night I could not secure two towels to use because the property is more concerned about its towels than customer satisfaction. In fact when I went to get my towels I was specifically told that I could not have more than one towel per card. I believe this guys name was Daniel and he looked more like the opening act for 50 cent than a Hilton employee with his D&G ghetto hat (tilted of course to appear cool) and his hoodie. There was a non professional air to the place. I saw employees wearing at least 7 different jackets and twice as many hats. Uniformity was lax at best. The average age at the resort was easily in the mid to late fifties, and it was obvious at the evening hours....bars and restaurants shut down at 1030pm...yes at 1030pm there was NOTHING to do at this property. That brings up the other detractor....location. If you want to be in the heart of Waikiki....this is definitely not the location. A cab ride into downtown Waikiki will run you about 8$. The walk to the same area will run you about 20 minutes to be anywhere near restaurants and shopping. Call times to the desk and operator were HORRENDOUS. I have never come across a resort facility where I was put on hold nearly every time I called down to the front desk. Wait times on the phone were UNACCEPTABLE! At one point I was attempting to secure an additional night as my flight had cancelled. After, determining that the following days flight was secure I called backed down to the front desk only to be put on hold for 12 minutes. When they finally responded I informed them that while I was on hold I had spoke with the Hyatt Regency in Waikiki directly (they answered on the first ring btw) and confirmed a reservation with them while being on hold and that I was choosing to check out. One last remark, sadly I have found that many times a stay can be determined by the type of shaving cream a property provides in this case the Hilton did not let me down. Pics are below. Overall, if youre 55, need only one towel at the pool, dont wish to leave the property, eat dinner at 4 and are in bed by 9pm this is definitely the place for you.

Since I last reviewed this property nearly eight years ago, not much has really changed:
Despite being Diamond, we received the EXACT room category we booked (this, even with the new Diamond initiatives about upgrading to suites, etc.), which was a nice enough room - but clearly, there had been some maintenance issues with the room (It LOOKS like a child had scrawled on the wall with crayon or finger paint, and then it was just scrubbed off without repainting) that were not dealt with properly.
The check-in staff in the Ali'i Tower lobby were (just as before) professional, but not overly friendly.
The "VIP Lounge" continental breakfast, is as "continental" as you'll find anywhere. A few breads, cereals and fruit - as well as juice and coffee. Compare that to the Hilton London Metropole where they offer meat, lox/bagels, yogurt, several different kinds of coffee - night and day.
So, to sum up my "average" grade - here's how I imagine you'll see this hotel:
If you are a very occasional leisure traveler, you'll love it. It has all the amenities that a mega-resort should have, the grounds are clean and appealing, you will pay for EVERYTHING ($30 to valet park), there are stores and restaurants galore on the grounds, the beach and activities are nearby.
If you are a frequent visitor to Hawaii, this hotel will be somewhat less appealing since it is far removed from the center of Waikiki, and the restaurants and nightlife that is associated with the area, and NOT on the actual grounds of the hotel.
If you are a frequent traveler to many places (Diamond member), you will probably be annoyed as I was by the lack of interest shown in making the Diamond recognition a priority.
Lest anyone think I am a snob - ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE - read my reviews, I love Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inns, as long as they offer service with a smile (the operative word being service). I do not want to deal with automatons who are burned out by the (literally) thousands of guests who pass before them daily. I want to be greeted by friendly staff who want to go the extra mile.
This Valentine's Weekend getaway with my wife was made pleasant by her presence, not by anything that the Hilton did.
Final grade C- (I can't really call it a 'D' because there was no obvious LACK of attention either; only indifference).