Grand Waikikian Penthouse
Our unit was beautiful...but definitely showing its age. The HVAC system had a vibration issue that we fixed by shoving one of the handouts between the vent and the wall, the jets of both Jacuzzis would run for a very short time then just stop and make noise, and in general the furniture had a fair number of dings and dents.
The views from our 'Ala Moana' side unit were actually quite nice and in some ways I liked it better than the 'Diamond Head' view from the lounge. The problem with the 'Diamond Head' view is that there isn't one...the Ali'i tower sits squarely opposite GW and there is something offputting about staring straight at another tower. But while we liked the Marina/city view from inside our unit, the balconies were basically unusable because of the noise coming up from the HVAC equipment on the slightly shorter buildings opposite on Kalia St.
The continental breakfast at the lounge was great w/coffee, tea, juice, and hot/cold water, pineapple, papaya, and other fruits along with bagels, coconut muffins, and other pastries. But the evening 'happy hour' was best avoided with just a few meh small bites (only one hot) and only Budweiser and mediocre red and white wines on offer.
Check in is at the Penthouse lounge...which I'm sure was a lot nicer when HHV/HGVC still did valet parking at Lagoon/GW's porte cochere. Now it just means you and your stuff have to ride the elevator almost all the way to the top of GW before riding it all the way back down to move your car.
Lastly, Hilton Village continued its downward slide with the closure of our favorite restaurant left standing, Hatsuhana. Not that it's HGV's fault but it absence meant that we ended up never eating 'on property' for the first time ever. Which leads us to...
Hokulani 1BR Premium (and 1BR Plus Double Beds)
Our unit was quite nice w/comfortable bed, sofa (bed), etc. The bathroom was also luxurious with a Toto toilet, two sinks with ample countertops, walk in shower, and soaking tub. There was a nice view of Fort DeRussy Beach Park to the southeast though there was a blank concrete wall directly to the east. The balcony is Juliette...which was OK since the HVAC below meant you couldn't stay on the balcony anyway. The 1BR Plus Double was on the other side of Hokulani on a lower floor and didn't have much of a view.
On the 16th floor is a rooftop pool, bar, and lounging area. The roofdeck was really quite nice with lots of loungers, chairs, and umbrellas. That said, the pool is small and shallow and the hot tub is also small. We went up a couple of times to enjoy the outdoors and it was never crowded. Waikiki beach is basically a two block walk away.
Parking is valet only with great service (our car was always instantly available) and was a welcome change from Lagoon/GW where your onsite options are self park in the nasty main HHV garage or wait for the overwhelmed valet service at the main hotel entrance. It was also cheaper than either option at GW.
Lastly, the big advantage of Hokulani over HHV is that you really are right in the heart of Waikiki. It's next to the Royal Hawaiian shopping center with many, many great restaurants, bars and shops a short walk away. The big disadvantage is that it isn't oceanfront and the pool while pleasantly quiet is really just for a quick dip to cool down.
All that said...this was an interesting experiment made possible by HGVC's Winter 2026 discounts. I had always wanted to try the GW Penthouse units and Hokulani was something different. I can't imagine ever swapping our Oceanfront Lagoon unit with its amazing view and quiet balcony for GW or Hokulani again.
Our unit was beautiful...but definitely showing its age. The HVAC system had a vibration issue that we fixed by shoving one of the handouts between the vent and the wall, the jets of both Jacuzzis would run for a very short time then just stop and make noise, and in general the furniture had a fair number of dings and dents.
The views from our 'Ala Moana' side unit were actually quite nice and in some ways I liked it better than the 'Diamond Head' view from the lounge. The problem with the 'Diamond Head' view is that there isn't one...the Ali'i tower sits squarely opposite GW and there is something offputting about staring straight at another tower. But while we liked the Marina/city view from inside our unit, the balconies were basically unusable because of the noise coming up from the HVAC equipment on the slightly shorter buildings opposite on Kalia St.
The continental breakfast at the lounge was great w/coffee, tea, juice, and hot/cold water, pineapple, papaya, and other fruits along with bagels, coconut muffins, and other pastries. But the evening 'happy hour' was best avoided with just a few meh small bites (only one hot) and only Budweiser and mediocre red and white wines on offer.
Check in is at the Penthouse lounge...which I'm sure was a lot nicer when HHV/HGVC still did valet parking at Lagoon/GW's porte cochere. Now it just means you and your stuff have to ride the elevator almost all the way to the top of GW before riding it all the way back down to move your car.
Lastly, Hilton Village continued its downward slide with the closure of our favorite restaurant left standing, Hatsuhana. Not that it's HGV's fault but it absence meant that we ended up never eating 'on property' for the first time ever. Which leads us to...
Hokulani 1BR Premium (and 1BR Plus Double Beds)
Our unit was quite nice w/comfortable bed, sofa (bed), etc. The bathroom was also luxurious with a Toto toilet, two sinks with ample countertops, walk in shower, and soaking tub. There was a nice view of Fort DeRussy Beach Park to the southeast though there was a blank concrete wall directly to the east. The balcony is Juliette...which was OK since the HVAC below meant you couldn't stay on the balcony anyway. The 1BR Plus Double was on the other side of Hokulani on a lower floor and didn't have much of a view.
On the 16th floor is a rooftop pool, bar, and lounging area. The roofdeck was really quite nice with lots of loungers, chairs, and umbrellas. That said, the pool is small and shallow and the hot tub is also small. We went up a couple of times to enjoy the outdoors and it was never crowded. Waikiki beach is basically a two block walk away.
Parking is valet only with great service (our car was always instantly available) and was a welcome change from Lagoon/GW where your onsite options are self park in the nasty main HHV garage or wait for the overwhelmed valet service at the main hotel entrance. It was also cheaper than either option at GW.
Lastly, the big advantage of Hokulani over HHV is that you really are right in the heart of Waikiki. It's next to the Royal Hawaiian shopping center with many, many great restaurants, bars and shops a short walk away. The big disadvantage is that it isn't oceanfront and the pool while pleasantly quiet is really just for a quick dip to cool down.
All that said...this was an interesting experiment made possible by HGVC's Winter 2026 discounts. I had always wanted to try the GW Penthouse units and Hokulani was something different. I can't imagine ever swapping our Oceanfront Lagoon unit with its amazing view and quiet balcony for GW or Hokulani again.
