Royal Hawaiian Hotel—99 Years Old.
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa published on February 3, 1927.
The Pink Palace opened on February 1, 1927. It was built to accommodate the influx of world travelers.
Image: Royal Hawaiian Hotel; Waikīkī, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, ca. 1935. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 241167
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org
Image: “Ma ke kukuluia ana ae o ka Royal Hawaiian Hotel…” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, January 3, 1927, p. 6
With the building of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the single beautiful hotel here in Hawaiʻi, tiny Hawaiʻi is raised to be on par with some of the famous lands of this world, prepared to welcome distinguished guests coming to see the sights of the Paradise of the Pacific. Along with the sugar industry and the pineapple industry, the two businesses that made this territory famous for its wealthy and highly progressive state; this new hotel will also make it more famous for increasing Hawaiʻi being seen by those who did not have an opportunity to come to tour our land before.
Image: Royal Hawaiian Hotel under construction; Waikīkī, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaii, ca. 1927. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 241168
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org
Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Uluwehiwehi ʻoe i kaʻu ʻike lā,
E ka Royal Hawaiian Hotel,
A he nani lā, ke hulali nei,
A he nani maoli nō.
Ka moena weleweka moe kāua lā,
He pakika, he paheʻe maikaʻi nei,
A he nani lā, ke hulali nei,
A he nani maoli nō.
Ka paia māpala ʻōmaʻomaʻo lā,
He pipiʻo mau ē ke ānuenue,
A he nani lā, ke hulali nei,
A he nani maoli nō.
ʻO ka hone a ke kai i ka puʻe one lā,
Me ke ʻala līpoa e moani nei,
A he nani lā, ke hulali nei,
A he nani maoli no.
ʻO ka holu nape a ka lau o ka niu lā,
I ke kulukulu aumoe,
A he nani lā, ke hulali nei,
A he nani maoli nō.
Ka Hōkūloa nō kou alakaʻi lā,
ʻO ka mana Kahikolu kou home ia,
A he nani lā, ke hulali nei,
A he nani maoli nō.
E ō, e ka Royal Hawaiian Hotel,
ʻO kou inoa hanohano ia lā,
A he nani lā, ke hulali nei,
A he nani maoli nō.
Composed by Mrs. Mary Robins, December 12, 1927.
See: Bishop Museum Archives, MS DOC 231
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
