The Royal Hawaiian
She is known by many as the "Pink Palace of the Pacific." And she stands on 15 acres of prime beach frontage of Waikiki.
Seeking to increase tourism, this Spanish-Moorish style hotel, with it's coral pink exterior, opened her doors, for the first time, February 1, 1927......only to close them again twenty years later after Pearl harbor was attacked. At which time, The U.S. Navy took over the hotel and used it as a rest and recreation center for enlisted sailors. After the war, the hotel was returned back to her owners and once again her doors opened to tourists.
With the Royal Hawaiian, a new standard of vacationing was launched. Luxury steamers brought the wealthiest and celebrities alike to the shores of Oahu. The Royal Hawaiian attracted an elite group of visitors; the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts, Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin and Natalie Wood, just to name a few.
Last summer (2008), The Royal Hawaiian closed her doors for a major renovation to the tune of $85 million. Although her official grand reopening wasn't till March 7, 2009, she hosted the Aloha Inaugural Ball on January 20th. And according to Starwoods (who manages her) "The Royal Hawaiian will reclaim its rightful place as the icon of luxury and refinement in Hawai‘i for over 80 years."
It will be a while before I can try out one of their new rooms; my calender is pretty full for this summer. But I can tell you from first hand experience, she is so worth the flight.
She is a beautiful hotel
that must be experienced.
And, if you are lucky
and you should stay during a celebrated holiday,
you might be given
a special souvenir
such as a pink palace tin of cookies.
I now use my Royal Hawaiian tin to hold tea bags.
Thank you for stopping by my little blue nest.
If you would care to see more pink, head on over to
Beverly's blog, How Sweet the Sound
where she is hosting
Have a most beautiful day....
