Travel Date: April 2026
In April 2026, my mom and I headed to Oahu for a girls' trip and spent 10 days at The Grand Islander, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Waikiki.
This was one of my Hilton Grand Vacations Signature trips, which was part of the package I received when I purchased my HGV ownership. The original trip was seven days, but I used additional points to extend our stay to 10.
That turned out to be one of the smartest decisions I made.
Traveling all the way from New York to Hawaii is a long day of flying, and the combination of travel and jet lag completely wiped us out. We essentially lost an entire day just recovering in our room, drinking electrolytes and trying to convince our bodies that we hadn't completely lost our minds.
Had we stayed only seven days, I think it would have felt much too short.
Where Is The Grand Islander?
The Grand Islander is one of the towers located within Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, a huge 22-acre resort complex along Waikiki Beach.
The Grand Islander itself isn't directly on the beachfront, but don't let that scare you away. The beach is only steps away. The tower sits within the resort village, so you're surrounded by restaurants, shops, pools and resort amenities, with Duke Kahanamoku Beach just a short walk away.
Location was definitely one of the hotel's strengths.
Our Room at The Grand Islander
Our room was spacious, modern and very clean.
The décor felt updated rather than dated, the beds were comfortable, and we slept incredibly well. One of my favorite things was being able to open things up and enjoy the Hawaiian air rather than feeling sealed inside a hotel room.
The Grand Islander's suites are designed more like small apartments than standard hotel rooms. Depending on the unit, accommodations can include a full kitchen, living and dining areas, washer and dryer, and a private lanai.
For a 10-day trip, having that extra space makes a huge difference.
The elevators, however...
Bring your patience.
We frequently waited what felt like forever for the elevators, and that became frustrating over the course of a longer stay.
It sounds like a small complaint until you've been standing there waiting...and waiting...and you're just trying to get downstairs.
Getting Around Waikiki
This is one area where I wish we had received much better information when we arrived.
There are transportation options that can take you farther into Waikiki and toward shopping, restaurants and markets where prices may be more reasonable than inside the resort area.
We didn't learn about the bus/trolley option until TWO DAYS before we left.
Had we known about it when we arrived, we absolutely would have looked into a pass for our entire stay.
For context, an April 2026 HiBus timetable actually listed Hilton Hawaiian Village (Grand Islander 1F) as a stop, with service approximately every 25 minutes on its Ala Moana route.
That would have been extremely useful information to receive at check-in.
Should You Rent a Car?
We rented a car when we needed one rather than keeping one for the entire trip.
And I would seriously consider doing the same.
Parking at The Grand Islander is expensive. Hilton currently lists self-parking at $69 per day and valet parking at $89 per day.
At $69 per night, parking alone for a 10-night trip would be:
$690.
Before you've bought gas or rented the actual car.
Unless you know you're going to use a car every single day, I'd compare the cost of renting one only on your exploration days versus keeping it for your entire vacation.
Let's Talk About the Cost of Hawaii
I knew Hawaii was expensive.
I don't think I fully appreciated how expensive it would feel until we were there.
Food, restaurants, transportation, resort purchases—it adds up incredibly fast, particularly if you spend most of your time inside the "Hawaiian Village."
I have an entire separate story about what I paid for ONE PANCAKE inside the Village because that deserves its own moment. 😂
👉 Read: What I Paid for a Pancake in Hawaii
My biggest money-saving advice would be to get outside the resort bubble sometimes. Find grocery stores and markets, explore restaurants farther away from the beachfront resorts, and learn your transportation options at the beginning of your trip rather than two days before you leave like we did.
My Biggest Disappointment: The Service
This is where my review becomes much less positive.
I was disappointed by the customer service we experienced.
And I want to be clear: I'm not saying anyone was openly rude to us. It was more that we rarely encountered anyone who seemed particularly interested in helping us.
When I asked questions about navigating the area or things we should do, I often felt like I was bothering someone.
The concierge desk was particularly disappointing. On multiple occasions, the staff seemed more interested in their phones or otherwise occupied than in helping us understand the area.
For a destination where visitors are spending this much money—and particularly at a property that specifically advertises concierge services—I expected considerably more guidance. Hilton itself describes The Grand Islander's concierge services as helping guests explore Waikiki, shopping, dining and local attractions.
Had someone simply explained the transportation options to us when we arrived, it would have changed how we navigated much of our vacation.
The Exception: Our Circle Island Tour
One person absolutely deserves recognition.
We took a Circle Island Tour, and our bus driver was outstanding.
She was friendly, informative, helpful and genuinely seemed excited to show us her island. She was easily one of the nicest people we encountered during the trip.
We were also fortunate to spend time with George, a friend of a friend from home, who took us to lunch and showed us around. Having someone local take the time to share the island with us was one of the highlights of our visit.
Hawaii vs. Alaska — A Very Different Experience
This part surprised me.
I recently returned from Alaska, and the difference in how the two destinations felt to me was enormous.
Obviously, these are completely different places, and my experiences are just that—my experiences. Someone else may visit Waikiki tomorrow and encounter wonderful service everywhere they go.
But in Alaska, I repeatedly encountered people who seemed genuinely happy that we were visiting. People offered directions. They shared stories. They wanted to tell us about their towns and their state.
I left Alaska feeling good about the money I had spent there.
I left Hawaii feeling like I had spent an extraordinary amount of money and had been charged for practically everything along the way.
That was disappointing.
Hawaii itself is breathtakingly beautiful. There is absolutely no question about that.
But for me, the overall experience didn't match what the trip ultimately cost.
Would I Stay at The Grand Islander Again?
Possibly—but I would approach the trip differently.
The actual accommodations were very good. Our room was spacious, clean, comfortable and modern. We slept wonderfully. The location within Hilton Hawaiian Village was convenient, and having Waikiki Beach only steps away is a huge benefit.
Hilton Hawaiian Village also offers a tremendous number of amenities—including multiple pools, a five-acre saltwater lagoon, beach access, activities, restaurants and shopping. Though a beach chair will cost you!
But I would arrive next time already knowing:
where to buy groceries, how the transportation system works, where to eat outside the resort, which days I actually need a rental car, and exactly what additional fees to expect.
I wouldn't rely on the resort to help me figure those things out once I arrived.
My Rating: 7/10
What I loved: the room, cleanliness, comfortable beds, modern accommodations, location and proximity to the beach.
What brought the score down: slow elevators, extremely high costs, expensive parking, the feeling of being charged extra at every turn, and—most importantly—the lack of genuinely helpful service we experienced.
Would I tell someone not to stay at The Grand Islander?
No.
I'd tell them to stay there prepared.
Because the hotel itself was quite nice.
It's everything surrounding the stay that I wish someone had explained to me before we arrived.
And for the love of your vacation budget, find out how much the pancake costs before you order it. 😂
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