History and Culture Celebrated at The Royal Hawaiian

A “Boat Day” Welcome¬¬ – Before the advent of air travel across the Pacific, the only means of reaching Hawaii was a five day sea voyage from other destinations.  The arrival of these luxury ships was a grand event at The Royal Hawaiian.  Hotel staff would board the ships off the Diamond Head coastline to welcome arriving visitors.  By the time the ships reached port, everyone was on a first name basis.  Upon disembarking, guests were greeted with music by The Royal Hawaiian Band, hula dancers and leis by the armful.  This special day, which lasted well into the 1960’s, became affectionately known as "Boat Day."  The spirit of “Boat Day,” personified in welcoming travelers with leis, music and the hula, continues to this day.

The Royal Hawaiian Enlisted for Service During World War II – The Royal Hawaiian was called up for patriotic service soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.  The U.S. Navy Recreation and Morale Office leased The Royal Hawaiian exclusively, transforming the hotel into a major rest and relaxation center for Navy personnel.  The average stay at the hotel was ten days.  Officers paid $1 a day, and enlisted men could stay for $0.25.  The hotel's exterior was not substantially altered except for the barbed wire, which stretched the length of Waikiki Beach. When the war ended in 1945, the U.S. Navy returned the hotel to its owners.  The Royal Hawaiian re-opened to the public in February 1947 after a $2-million renovation.

A Playground for The Rich and Famous – After visiting The Royal Hawaiian while on a global tour, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks wrote in their syndicated travel column that Honolulu "was the most beautiful place in the world."  Since that time, The Royal has played host to numerous celebrities, financiers, politicians, heads of state, and other notables.  Curly-topped Shirley Temple created a stir by strumming the ukulele on Waikiki Beach when she visited The Royal in the 1930s (incidentally, the “Shirley Temple” cocktail was created at the hotel).  President Franklin Roosevelt found the charm of The Royal hard to resist when he visited Hawaii in 1934.  Other famous names on the hotel register included the Rockefellers, Fords, DuPonts, Clark Gable, Henry J. Kaiser, and the Shah of Iran.  The Royal even managed to survive "Beatlemania" and a lobby full of eager teenage fans when John, Paul, George, and Ringo visited in the 1960s.  Recent guests include:  Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, Michael Caine, Rosanna Arquette, Patty Duke, Adam Sandler, Sarah Ferguson, Bai Ling, Roger Ebert, Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, and many others.

The “Pink Palace of the Pacific” in Present Day

Relaxation and Rejuvenation at The Royal Hawaiian – The Abhasa Waikiki Spa enhances the natural healing properties of Hawaii’s environment, providing the ultimate in beauty and rejuvenation.  The luxury resort spa occupies a 7,000 square-foot space in the right wing of the hotel.  Abhasa Waikiki Spa features natural, organic treatments to relax and heal the body, mind and spirit.  From thalassotherapy with seaweed and aromatherapy to shiatsu and body wraps, Abhasa pampers guests with traditional Hawaiian, Japanese, Swedish, and other forms of treatments from around the world.  Abhasa’s special treatments include: Anti-Stress Color Light Therapy, Body Cocoons, Cold Laser-Anti-Aging Treatment, Facial Treatments, Balneotherapy, Body Massages, Body Scrubs, Body Treatments, and Ayurvedic Treatments.

Royal Architecture –The Royal Hawaiian was conceived as a luxury hotel for wealthy travelers.  The renowned New York architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore was hired to design the hotel and draft plans.  The hotel was the largest building project in the Pacific area during that time.  The six-story, 525-room structure was fashioned in a Spanish-Moorish style, popular during the period and influenced by screen star Rudolph Valentino.  The hotel also retained overtones of the California mission style with cupolas, or bell towers. 

Take The Royal Hawaiian Tour – A walking tour of the hotel is offered every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2 p.m.  The hotel’s rich and colorful history comes alive for visitors with narratives from the Waikiki Community Center’s volunteer tour guides.

Self-Guided Walking Garden Tour – The colorful history of The Royal Hawaiian is rivaled only by its varied and exotic flora and fauna.  Set on 12 acres of tropical paradise, The Royal Hawaiian garden boasts more than 50 varieties of trees, plants and flowers that can be viewed by taking a self-guided garden walking tour.  A pamphlet outlining The Royal Hawaiian Self-Guided Walking Tour can be picked up in the main lobby at the concierge desk.

Starwood’s Flavors of Island Music at The Royal Hawaiian - Music and entertainment were vital elements of the visitor experience at the opulent Royal Hawaiian Hotel during the early 1930s.  Today, the hotel continues the tradition with Starwood Hawaii’s Flavors of Island Music, a campaign that highlights the entertainers and sounds of the Hawaiian Islands. 

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