Hi, I am attending a conference at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu next May. I live in Australia so don't know a great deal about Hawaii. I will be required to spend most of the days at the conference. For the holiday part of my trip, I will probably go to Kaui or Maui. What I would like help with is where to stay during the conference. I would prefer to be near water/beach with a nice view, within walking distance to the conference center and with easy access to sites for my partner to occupy herself during the day. Names of hotels that have been suggested so far include the Ala Moana Hotel and the Westin Hawaii Prince.
Thankyou in advance for your replies

The 2 hotels you named are NOT on the beach.
Good choice would be Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Well, those 2 hotels are very near to the beach. You have to consider that the Convention Center is not near the beach, anyway. Those 2 are very close to the convention center, then very close to shopping & the beach. you can also work out at the YMCA near there.

I think the Prince would be a great place for you and your partner. Every room has an ocean view, the rooms are nice, and the hotel is conveniently located near beaches (although not directly on the beach), Ala Moana Mall, Waikiki, and the convention center. The Prince is a lot nicer than the Ala Moana Hotel too. You could save the beachfront hotel for the "vacation" part of your trip to Maui or Kauai.

Both Hotels are near each other and near the convention center. Ala Moana Hotel is attached to Ala Moana Center and across from the convention center. The prince is a behind the boat harbor. Ala Moana Beach park is across from both. Both are nice hotels, a little more business feeling, than resort, but very convenient to transportation, shopping, and the beach.