Hilton Hawaiian Village, the largest resort in Waikiki, which Beat of Hawaii recently visited and wrote about extensively, is again facing pushback as it plans to expand its already sprawling footprint. The proposed 36-story Ala Moana Boulevard Tower, set to add 515 more rooms to the resort, is now sparking heated debate among visitors and residents.
While Hilton touts the expansion as a necessary step to modernize its largest resort and the largest hotel in Hawaii to meet growing demand, opponents argue that it will exacerbate already challenging congestion and strained infrastructure, further eroding Waikiki’s iconic skyline.
Expansion plans and their vision for Waikiki.
The new tower is set to rise on a half-acre parcel occupied by the shuttered Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and other retail spaces directly adjacent to the current hotel. Hilton aims to introduce a new lobby, retail stores, an additional pool, and walkways connecting it to the existing towers. According to Hilton, new guest rooms have not been added for nearly a quarter century. The company is positioning the project as an opportunity to reinvigorate the location near the western entrance to Waikiki.
Despite Hilton’s outspoken optimism, the project still faces significant hurdles, including obtaining a Waikiki Special District permit and undergoing additional public review processes. The Hilton Hawaiian Village management claims the development will generate about 500 full-time jobs and contribute an estimated $22 million annually in Hawaii state taxes.
Community concerns and resistance.
At a recent public hearing, Waikiki residents expressed mounting frustration over the planned expansion. Concerns about increased traffic, pedestrian safety, and the changing character of the neighborhood were widely voiced. Some suggested that Hilton should focus on improving its existing facilities rather than attempting to expand further. After our recent stay, we feel there is merit to these concerns.
The pushback echoes past controversies surrounding Hilton Hawaiian Village. The resort was previously the site of a highly publicized labor strike that drew criticism from workers and guests alike. Complaints ranged from staffing shortages to declining service standards, leaving many questioning whether Hilton is prepared to manage an even larger footprint than what is now has.
“Based on our own recent experiences at the property, we would concur that Hilton needs to step up management prior to undertaking further massive development.” — BOH
Visitor experience and Hilton’s current reputation.
Recent guest experiences at Hilton Hawaiian Village, as reported on voluminous comments on BOH and elsewhere, have run from mixed, at best, to quite negative. In a recent review on Beat of Hawaii, the resort was described as having notable strengths, such as its location and amenities, but also a wide range of significant shortcomings that need to be addressed timely.
Visitors frequently cite long wait times, maintenance issues, and an overcrowded feel, raising doubts about whether adding more rooms will improve or further strain the resort’s ability to deliver a high-quality experience.
What’s next for Hilton’s expansion plans?
After considering public input and regulatory requirements, the Honolulu City Council will ultimately decide whether to approve the project. Construction could begin as early as mid-2026 if the necessary permits are granted. However, the project’s future remains uncertain, with ongoing resistance from residents and continued scrutiny over Hilton’s operations.
The expansion raises new and important questions for travelers planning a stay at Hilton Hawaiian Village. Will the resort’s offerings improve with new developments, or will existing issues worsen? As the debate continues, one thing is clear—Waikiki’s skyline and visitor experience are at a crossroads.
What are your thoughts about expanding the Hilton Hawaii Village?
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Waikiki needs more hotels rooms about as much as we all need to get syphilis. A disease which is destructive on so many levels , it can and does leave a permanent ‘scar’ not just on the psyche, but on everything it touches. When my family moved here in 1959, Waikiki was a soft sweet little place filled with love and aloha. We lived on Liliuokalani Ave and walked to Kuhio beach every afternoon after-school. The hideous Foster Tower was the only building taller than @10 stories. At the time many people thought it was a blight on the town. Shortly thereafter the sweet quaint green latticework St Augustine Church was replaced by the incredibly vulgar pointy spires of the
‘new’.place of worship. Frankly, the only thing worshipped thereafter in that ‘church’ was the new mortgage.
Surely, month by month, year by year, Waikiki went from a sleepy beach community to a a whorehouse. As it is now,
Hilton desecrates old Waikiki. To build yet another doesn’t bear consideration.
Too lose the Island and replace it with a foray.. sad..my first time to the islands after my discharge from the Military in 1967..was unbelievable Beautiful..islands are starting to look like parking lot..it’s always the money..Sad
everything at the Hilton is an overcrowded feel.
Having visited Hawaii probably 40 times or so over 50 yrs I have observed
a gradual decline of its charm. It will always have the weather but many
of the other things eg I don’t go to Hanauma Bay anymore it’s just too much trouble. Waikiki is getting more crowded and the beach is more
eroded. 18 dollars for a mai tai is ridiculous when it costs 2 dollars to make.
The homeless have taken over many public space which makes them unsafe because you don’t know crazy some individual is. The Hilton is already overcrowded with people and traffic. I can’t believe they are planning this in view of sea level predictions in another 50 yrs. Aloha
Negative for Hilton expansion. Already a very congested and overwhelming aspect of Waikiki. Tweak the existing infrastructure.
I’ve been traveling to Honolulu for decades. I was stunned when Hilton built that last tower on the footprint of that small paved area on the mauka side And now another tower on a half acre?! I stayed a week with a friend last year at the village and I told myself I would never go back. There’s many residential condos In that area. It must be torture for them. The airlines are expensive the rooms are expensive the food is way expensive this is my last year to visit Hawaii.
As it pertains to that part of Oahu “The horses are out of the Barn” by that Waikiki is what it is a tourist attraction never to return to its past.
If they were smart they’d treat that part of Hawaii like a giant amusement park.
Coney Island Aloha by the Pacific…
I’m copyrighting that S&#*
Hilton Hawaiian Village cannot handle the towers they already have. The room rates are outrageous and the property is unkept.
As a timeshare owner I have seen the decline over the years.
It no longer feels like a resort. The luxury is no longer there.
The greed just does not stop at Hilton. They should not be permitted to expand. They should remodel the Diamond Head tower and utilize the many empty spaces already there.
We love Hilton Hawaiian Village and only stay in the Rainbow Tower looking at Diamond Head. However, i’m greatful to BOH for letting us know about the construction video! We had no idea. The price you pay and airline flights are expensive and I would have been so angry if that was us! We will hold off a year, maybe 2 depending on how or if they are going to add another tower on the property. Also we only fly Hawaiian airlines to Hawaii, only time we ever fly first class. And with the uncertainty of Hawaiian & Alaskan, we will wait and see the outcome of those flights. No Hawaii this year saddens us, but we can wait!
I’ve been coming to O’ahu since 1967. I watched over the years as Hilton Hawaiian Village became a huge resort (PS I loved the Kobe Steakhouse). O’ahu doesn’t need it to become larger. The guest remarks are usually less than positive. Hilton needs to improve its customer satisfaction before it does any new enlargement anywhere on the Island.
We visit the HHV twice a year as we own a timeshare in the Kalia Tower, which is right next to the space where the new tower is proposed to be built. We enjoy the HHV and its amenities, but certainly can agree that existing towers, both time shares and hotel, should be well maintained and upgraded. My concern is the crowding, which at times can be extreme. The parking is also an issue, and parking fees at the HHV are astronomical and have no sign of stopping. We are concerned that the new tower will block ocean views which we enjoy, and exacerbate the crowding during peak travel seasons, making the experience less enjoyable.
Does your HOA Board have an official position yet? I vacation in Honolulu often as a Hilton timeshare member, although do not own a deed at this location.
We asked about the new tower at an owner’s update and were told it would be a “boutique hotel” with no additional information. We asked about it at an owners meeting last year when it was announced, and there was a model of the tower at that time. We specifically asked about the number of floors in the tower, but they assured us it would not impede the view-not so sure about that now. Since HGVC is a separate entity from Hilton Hotels it’s unlikely that the HOA would have much influence. It’s concerning because Hilton is also opening a Club property three blocks from the beach. I believe that one is to open next year. Seems like over saturation of their market to me.
Honolulu is already over crowded. On a recent cruise it was described to us as “New York with a beach”. Not a calm relaxing place to vacation.
Three couples @ our table and we all agreed—no more vacationing in Honolulu.
Regarding the Hilton expansion, it should be noted that there are no plans to increase on-site parking. Yet Hilton guests are known to rent cars in large numbers upon arrival. Already, parking lots at nearby hotels are often overrun with rental vehicles and on-street parking anywhere near the Hilton property is virtually nonexistent. The Hilton property has become a fortress of massive concrete towers over the past half century. All you see is a wall of concrete, glass, and steel.