Aulani vs. Hilton Hawaiian Village with kids
Written October 2026
Aulani is Disney's version of Hawaii (Mickey wears an aloha shirt), with a lazy river and a lagoon full of fish to snorkel with. Hilton Hawaiian Village has five pools, a lagoon beach and the whole Waikiki strip next door.
We'd pick Aulani for a week with kids under eight and no plan to go anywhere, since it's about forty minutes from Waikiki and the resort has plenty to fill the days. Hilton Hawaiian Village suits a family that wants Oahu on the doorstep.
Aulani for the resort week
Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa
Ko Olina
Disney's Hawaii resort is built around a volcano, with a lazy river and waterslides for the days between beach trips. There's a snorkeling lagoon of fish and a free kids' club. Characters turn up at breakfast and by the pool without the park crowds, and the villas have kitchens for a longer stay.
The Ko Olina lagoons outside are man-made, sheltered and shallow, calm enough for toddlers to swim. Ko Olina itself is a resort strip on the west side, with a few restaurants and a shopping center.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
- Waterslide
- Yes
- Kids' club
- Yes
Hilton Hawaiian Village for Waikiki
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Waikiki, west end
The hotel is a village of towers on a wide, calm stretch of Waikiki beach, with five pools and slides beside the sand and a shallow keiki pool. Paddleboards and small kids go in the Duke Kahanamoku lagoon, there are penguins in the garden and fireworks on Fridays, and some towers have kitchenettes.
The zoo, the aquarium and Diamond Head are a bus or a walk, Pearl Harbor is a short drive, and there are restaurants in every direction for dinner. A first trip to Oahu fits well here, and so does a family that wants the ocean beach.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
More in Honolulu
The best family hotels in WaikikiPhoto credits
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa: Anthony Quintano (CC BY 2.0) · Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort: Li Yang ly0ns (CC0)