Reading the reviews is making my head split. I think we've eliminated HHV, and Halekulani. Our goals are great hotel room views, beachfront hotel preferred, easy access to good grub ( not the fine dining crowd). One couple likes the Hyatt, but it's looking to be about the most expensive option.
Any recommendations?
I"m getting mixed messages that price is at least as much of a priority as view and location. As you're probably learning, the "privilege" of living on the beach and being able to look at the beach comes at a very high cost. Not sure that it's worth the money... especially because you're probably going to be spending most of your time outside the hotel room, and almost certainly doing things in the room that don't involve gazing out of the windows.
Hyatt is drop-dead gorgeous but you're paying a lot of money for the décor and the resort lifestyle.
If any of the four of you have a military ID card then you should try the Hale Koa.
Trombone Al has done great at the ResortQuest Waikiki Circle:
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/waikiki-trip-report-tips-26659.html
I can vouch that their desk staff are really nice (far nicer than most Waikiki hotel staff, including the Hale Koa), that the ocean views (if you must have them) are great, and that the place is as centrally located in Waikiki as it's possible to get. You won't get 12-foot ceilings or impressive lobbies or even valet parking, but you'll get some of the best value in town. You do have to walk across four lanes of traffic to get to the beach, but the hotel has a locking surfboard rack for your rental.
Any hotel within two blocks of Kalakaua will have access to more good grub than you can handle. And if you're spending your time on the beach then you won't be eating your hotel's food, so I wouldn't choose a hotel based on whether or not it has food service.
It's been a few years since we last hung out together, but Laurence had a nice Waikiki hotel right next to the beach. You might want to PM him too.
At the risk of preaching to the choir, have you read this thread?
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f47/faq-archive-e-komo-mai-hawaii-30671.html