Are you looking for a tropical family vacation destination? Hawaii has something unique to offer on each of its islands, from snorkeling with colorful reef fish and walking along the caldera of an ancient volcano to relaxing on the beach and enjoying local cuisine. Whether you prefer to stay in the city or a quite remote area, Hawaii offers something for everyone.
It’s no surprise that when it comes to planning a vacation, it’s important to consider your budget and find affordable accommodations. One way to keep your Hawaii vacation within budget is by using hotel rewards points to cover the cost. If you’re planning to use reward points for your Hawaii vacation, Hyatt and Hilton are both excellent options. Let’s explore some of our favorite properties they offer on each island to help you make an informed decision.
What to pack for Hawaii?
To help you prepare for your journey to St. Kitts and Nevis, we’ve put together a comprehensive family packing list that covers everything you’ll need to make the most of time on the islands.
Maui
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Location of Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is an oceanfront property in Lahaina, on the western side of Maui. It takes approximately a 1-hour to get there from the Kahului International Airport. Conveniently, the resort is located near Whalers Village, Front Street, and Lahaina Harbor.
Booking Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is a Category 7 Hyatt hotel that can be booked using Hyatt Points. Since Hyatt introduced the Points Calendar (found on the Hyatt website), each night might be worth a different amount of points. Hyatt Regency Maui is 30,000 Hyatt Points per night on a Standard Night, 25,000 Hyatt Points on off-peak, and 35,000 Hyatt Points on peak nights. You can read more about booking Hyatt Hotels here.
The best way to earn Hyatt points is to transfer them from Chase, while Chase Ultimate Rewards are transferred to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.
Here are some of our favorite credit cards to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards transferrable to Hyatt.
Chase World of Hyatt
The Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card gives you an automatic Discoverist status with Hyatt, which has some valuable benefits such as a 2 pm late checkout and a bottle of water daily. Right now, you can earn up to 65,000 Hyatt points sign-up bonus when you open this card!
REWARDS RATE
1x-4x
BONUS VALUE
$1,300
SIGN-UP BONUS
65,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$95
Chase Sapphire Preferred
You can earn a signup bonus of 75,000 Ultimate Rewards Points when you signup for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card and spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership. This bonus alone is worth at least $1,500 in travel rewards when transferred to travel partners such as Hyatt!
REWARDS RATE
1x-5x
BONUS VALUE
$1,500
SIGN-UP BONUS
75,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$95
Hotel Activities at Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa spans 40 acres and offers plenty of activities to enjoy for everyone. You can take a dip in one of the six resort’s pools, including a 150-foot tube water slide and a half-acre pool with a playground for kids.
If you prefer the beach, there’s a beautiful stretch of sand just steps away. You can also book a snorkeling or scuba diving excursion or try paddle-boarding or kayaking. For a more relaxing experience, head to the resort’s spa for a massage or facial, and don’t skip checking out all ten on-site restaurants!
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Big Island
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Big Island
Location of Hilton Waikoloa Village
Hilton Waikoloa Village is an oceanfront property located in the western part of the Big Island (the Kona side of an island). It is about 1-hour drive from Two Step Beach and 30 minutes from the airport.
Booking Hilton Waikoloa Village
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort can be booked with Hilton Honors Points, and the Standard Room is worth 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night. The great news is that when you book a Standard Room reward stay, every 5th night is free, so to make the most value out of your points – book at least five consecutive nights!
You can earn Hilton Honors Points by opening one of the cobranded credit cards or transferring Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton, which especially makes sense when Amex is running a transfer bonus.
American Express Hilton Honors Aspire
Right now, it’s an incredible opportunity to earn a signup bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors Points and get an automatic Diamond status with Hilton when you signup for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card!
REWARDS RATE
3x-14x
BONUS VALUE
$1,500
SIGN-UP BONUS
150,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$550
American Express Business Platinum
Unleash the ultimate rewards experience with the American Express Business Platinum card! Get 120,000 Membership Rewards Points by spending $15,000 on purchases in your first three months as a new cardmember. Redeem your points for a world of travel and lifestyle opportunities – the possibilities are endless!
REWARDS RATE
1x-5x
BONUS VALUE
$1,900
SIGN-UP BONUS
120,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$695
Hotel Activities at Hilton Waikoloa Village
Hilton Waikoloa Village is a vast 62-acre resort situated by the ocean, featuring three swimming pools, including a 175-foot waterslide, a rope bridge, hot tubs, and a sandy beach pool for children. However, the most breathtaking aspect of this resort is undoubtedly the Saltwater Lagoon. This four-acre lagoon is connected to the ocean and is home to various sea turtles swimming freely in and out of the lagoon. It is ideal for families to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and paddling.
Additionally, at Hilton Waikoloa Village, you have various dining choices, ranging from a quick coffee at the coffee shop or a poolside lunch to a fancy dinner with stunning sunset views at the restaurant.
You can read the full Hilton Waikoloa Village, Big Island hotel review here.
You can read about kid-friendly things to do on Big Island here.
Kauai
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Location of Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is located in Poipu, on the southern side of the island of Kauai. This hotel is only about 25 minutes drive from the Lihue Airport. Moreover, Grand Hyatt Kauai is only 5 minutes away from the famous Poipu Beach, named one of the best beaches in the U.S.
Booking Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is a Category 7 Hyatt Hotel that can be booked using Hyatt Points. Since Hyatt introduced the Points Calendar (found on the Hyatt website), each night might be worth a different amount of points. Hyatt Regency Maui is 30,000 Hyatt Points per night on a Standard Night, 25,000 Hyatt Points on off-peak, and 35,000 Hyatt Points on peak nights.
The best way to earn Hyatt points is to transfer them from Chase, while Chase Ultimate Rewards are transferred to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.
Here are some of our favorite credit cards to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards transferrable to Hyatt.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
You can earn a signup bonus of 75,000 Ultimate Rewards Points when you signup for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card and spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership. This bonus alone is worth at least $1,500 in travel rewards when transferred to travel partners such as Hyatt!
REWARDS RATE
1x-5x
BONUS VALUE
$1,500
SIGN-UP BONUS
75,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$95
Chase World of Hyatt
The Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card gives you an automatic Discoverist status with Hyatt, which has some valuable benefits such as a 2 pm late checkout and a bottle of water daily. Right now, you can earn up to 65,000 Hyatt points sign-up bonus when you open this card!
REWARDS RATE
1x-4x
BONUS VALUE
$1,300
SIGN-UP BONUS
65,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$95
Hotel Activities at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
If you’re seeking a hotel for a day of poolside relaxation, you’re in luck! Grand Hyatt Kauai boasts an expansive property with multi-level pools. The 1.5-acre saltwater lagoon, with a sandy shore and shallow waters, is perfect for little ones. Additionally, the hotel features a lazy river pool, which mimics a river in shape and even has a gentle current. Kids particularly enjoy the 150-foot-long water slide. The best part? Grand Hyatt Kauai’s pool is open 24 hours!
Of course, no family vacation is complete without delicious food. The hotel offers various dining options, from casual poolside fare to fine dining over a koi fish pond. Imagine enjoying your meal while watching golden koi swim and leap out of the water!
You can read the full Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa hotel review here.
You can read about kid-friendly things to do in Kauai here.
Oahu
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Location of Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is in Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. It is located directly on the world-famous Waikiki Beach, and it takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the resort from the airport. This is a perfect option if you want to experience both a beach vacation and city life. You can enjoy shopping and dining in the city within walking distance from the hotel.
Booking Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort can be booked with Hilton Honors Points, and the Standard Room is worth 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night. The great news is that when you book a Standard Room reward stay, every 5th night is free, so to make the most value out of your points – book at least five consecutive nights!
You can earn Hilton Honors Points by opening one of the cobranded credit cards or transferring Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton, which especially makes sense when Amex is running a transfer bonus.
American Express Hilton Honors Aspire
Right now, it’s an incredible opportunity to earn a signup bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors Points and get an automatic Diamond status with Hilton when you signup for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card!
REWARDS RATE
3x-14x
BONUS VALUE
$1,500
SIGN-UP BONUS
150,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$550
American Express Business Platinum
Unleash the ultimate rewards experience with the American Express Business Platinum card! Get 120,000 Membership Rewards Points by spending $15,000 on purchases in your first three months as a new cardmember. Redeem your points for a world of travel and lifestyle opportunities – the possibilities are endless!
REWARDS RATE
1x-5x
BONUS VALUE
$1,900
SIGN-UP BONUS
120,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$695
Hotel Activities at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is situated on the widest section of Waikiki Beach, providing direct access to the beach without needing to walk through the city. The beach itself is sandy and perfect for the little ones.
The property spans 22 acres and offers a paradise-like experience with its various pools, waterslides, and even a saltwater lagoon! Additionally, you can enjoy a diverse selection of dining from over 18 restaurants and cafes all over the property.
You can read the full Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort hotel review here.
Bottom Line
With so many island options and hotel rewards programs to consider, planning a Hawaiian family vacation might feel overwhelming. The good news is that whether you prefer action-packed adventures or relaxing beach days, Hyatt and Hilton offer excellent family-friendly properties on each island. Maui, Big Island, Kauai, and Oahu all have spacious resorts with pools, dining, and activities to delight kids of all ages. By strategically booking with points, you can experience a once-in-a-lifetime Hawaiian getaway without breaking the bank. Whichever island and hotel you choose, you’re sure to make memories that will last a lifetime.
