We just returned from two weeks in Hawaii.
I'm a gold member with 39 nights last year. I made the reservations in October of 2002. This stay was from Jan 5 to Jan 11. I paid for a two-night stay last January at the HWV
Both rooms were in the Ocean tower. One had lounge access one did not.
Even though I was the only HHonors member, we were provided with 24 breakfast coupons, and 12 free bottled water coupons. I rarely ever use the lounge other than to get a cup of coffee and a pastry in the AM and as we could upgrade to a full buffet breakfast for $6.95 we never even made it to the lounge. Actually we could not even verify that they had one. There was also welcome back amenity for us. It was a fruit plate consisting of 1 pear, 1 orange, 1 red apple, 1 green apple, and a bunch of grapes.
There was no real difference in the two rooms other than the view. I let my wife pick the room she wanted and she preferred the one without. She did notice that the shampoo provided was from the Spa in the other room though. She did end up paying $10.50 for an 8-oz bottle of it. I did not know this until the day we were leaving or I would have tried to get the room stocked with this as well. The wife now says that they also had "icky" robes in the other room.
I can not see how one could get a better view than that from the Ocean Tower. View of the Bay, Lagoon, and as the name implies, the Ocean. The sunsets if you happen to be in your room are spectacular. Try for a room in the xx60's to xx80's. I would try for the low 60's to low 70's, as waking up to see the whales from your bed is a great start to the day.
As far as activities, there are no hammocks on the Lagoon Tower side of the resort. A vacation for me just does not seem complete with out one. There are about five hammocks on the Ocean Tower side of the resort. The Seaside putting course is also at the Ocean Tower
The Kohala Spa, Red Sail Sports, Tennis Courts, Dolphin Quest, And Lagoon Tower Shops are all at or near the Lagoon Tower.
There are pools with waterslides connected by rivers for the kids on the Ocean Tower side. Use the stairs by the laundry facility to get there, it's shorter from most of the Ocean Tower.
As mentioned before, the adult's only pool is at the Ocean Tower. Basic pool (not square), little wind, plenty of sun, and it gets HOT there. I don't sunbathe, but my wife and best friend's wife do and it was too hot for me. I tried to keep them company once and could not stand the heat for long. No forms to sign for towels and I know my wife brought one back to the room twice and left them overnight. If you want your favorite rum filled drink at this pool, you'll have to get it yourself though.
Next to the Lagoon Tower there is a Huge pool with a waterfall. It also has a sandy bottom wadding pool for the real young ones.
There is a southward-facing beach on the lagoon. It is your standard resort beach just on a lagoon. The lagoon itself is saltwater with open access to the bay. I believe that it's also spring fed as there was plenty of cold water mixing with relatively warm water. There are plenty of fish in the lagoon for you who snorkel. Green sea turtles also call the lagoon/bay home. If you snorkel in the bay, watch the rocks and surge.
I take my own scuba gear on vacation but I did notice that there was rental gear available. They rent by the half-hour, hour, daily or weekly. I can only remember the daily rate at $21 a day and $31 a week. I'd go buy a cheap snorkel package and give them away before I left before I'd ever pay that price.
May I also recommend Huggo's in Kona for Dinner. Make reservations early to get there before sunset.