Prince Waikiki

The infinity pool is beautiful, and the harbor looks lovely at night. The hotel is also in a handy spot for shopping, convenience stores, and Kewalo Basin Harbor, where many excursions depart. It isn’t beachfront, but there are beach entrances just a few steps away on both sides. Our two-bedroom suite worked well for two couples or two small families. Staff were accommodating, everything was clean, and it had a five-star feel. Microwaves are available if you ask.

The view from the room was the best part, with a clear look at the ocean and the surrounding area. The room itself was nice, and valet was quick and very pleasant. The restaurant on the third floor was just okay and felt overpriced. Still, I had a good experience overall.

The views are lovely, and I’d give most of the staff five stars, the restaurant four, and the bar two. Breakfast at the buffet was good enough to earn an extra star, but I have a hard time believing all those five-star reviews. There’s barely any storage to unpack, and there’s nowhere in the lobby to charge a phone. Advertising texts keep arriving, and the TV has intrusive ads. The facilities have plenty of problems too: one elevator was out of service, and water was filling the elevators. There were mildew spots in the shower, a leaking tub faucet, and a shower that swung between scalding and cold because its pressure balancing valve didn’t seem to work. The coffee maker was broken, the cup lids didn’t fit, and the lobby coffee kiosk didn’t show food prices. The bar staff could use an attitude adjustment. The toilet seat sizing may be uncomfortable for an average American man. At these prices, I can’t recommend staying here. Some guests may be less inclined to speak up when they feel disrespected, but that’s only my guess.

The pool turned out to be a great place to watch the Hilton’s Friday night fireworks, and the Japanese bidet with a heated seat was a fun surprise. Traveling with our children this time, I was glad to see other babies around and never felt like our kids weren’t welcome. The hotel also acknowledged my birthday, which meant a lot. We’d stayed at Prince Waikiki once before, in the Ala Moana tower, and my husband liked it enough to want to return. That room was nice but nothing special. For our stay at the end of October 2025, I booked a water view room in the Diamond Head tower instead. The harbor and horizon looked beautiful, and the decor felt fresh, as if the rooms had been updated. The location works well for us. It’s on the quiet edge of Waikiki rather than right on the beach, and being close to Ala Moana shopping center is useful. The Hilton Hawaiian Villages and the sandy beach are a short walk away. Public transit is easy to catch, which matters when parking a car in Waikiki costs so much. A special thanks to Eric at reception, if I have his name right. We arrived frazzled with both little ones screaming, and I’d forgotten to add my husband to the reservation. Eric handled us with great politeness despite our bad attitudes. A true professional.