Project Spotlight:  Hilton Hawaiian Village’s History Wall was unveiled in 2016, in celebration of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort’s 55th anniversary.

The Exhibit is a wonder to behold. One can literally lose oneself in the past perusing the panels and taking in all the details. One things’s for sure, after spending time learning the history, Waikiki, and Hawaii, will never look the same.

What is it?

A timeline of pivotal moments in the history of this Waikīkī resort.

Starting with the priority of “place,” the wall describes the site’s origin, Kalia fishing village, and its cultural roots. The wall then chronicles the people who helped shape tourism, music and entertainment in Hawai‘i and also shares the story of developer Henry Kaiser and the distinctive features of the Village that he envisioned.  The Hilton Hawaiian Village comes alive with stories about the influential people – such as Kaiser, Alfred Apaka, and Elvis Presley – who helped make the hotel the destination it is today.

How was it created?

This new History Wall replaced a smaller-scale version that once stood in the Tapa Tower. The wall was expanded from seven panels to 80 feet of 16 museum-quality acrylic panels. Two years of extensive research went into creating the History Wall which spans Waikiki’s history from 1891 to 2015.

The wall is a great way for visitors to reminisce about the past and learn about the property’s cultural significance in Hawaii’s history. The layout and photos are comprehensive, capturing what the area looked like before the 1900s to displaying fun items such as Elvis Presley’s song list written on hotel stationery. The timeline at the bottom of the display makes the hotel’s history relevant to its global visitors by including world events.

According to the Hilton News, “Hilton’s own regional director of marketing in Hawaii, Lora Gallagher, oversaw the project, including research, copy-writing and creative direction.  She led a team of contractors in Hawaii and the mainland through its conceptual design and construction.”

Why It Matters

“It is astounding to see the years of research come to life in this beautiful work of art,’ said Lora Gallagher in the Hilton News. ‘We hope that History Wall visitors will learn something new about the unique history of our property as well as gain an enriched appreciation for the many people who have made Hawai’i such a special destination.”

For visitors unfamiliar with the history of Hawaiian hospitality, a visit to the History Wall provides context to the site of their stay. The exhibit ensures that the legacy of the Hilton Hawaiian Village is preserved for generations to come.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village’s History Wall Exhibit will receive an Achievements in Interpretive Media award at the 2017  Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony & Celebration on May 19. Also honored will be project contributors Creative Signs & Graphics, Jet Graphics, Mozaic, Pacific Asia Design Group and Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations, Inc.

 

Spotlight content and photography by Leigh Hokama.

After a 20-year career in the science/medical field of the federal government, Leigh is currently enjoying time off from working to explore the island of Oahu and focus on personal growth. A new hobby, photography, has unexpectedly enriched her life by increasing her awareness of the small wonders that surround us everyday.  She also enjoys tasting different and unusual foods, playing with her nieces, and knitting.

        

Source Material 

Genegabus, J. (2016, March 29).  Hilton Hawaiian Village Unveils New History Wall [Video].  In The Mix, Honolulu Star Advertiser Blog.  Retrieved from: http://inthemix.staradvertiserblogs.com/2016/03/29/hilton-hawaiian-village-history-wall/

Hilton News (2016, May 20). Hilton Hawaiian Village Debuts Its History Wall.  Retrieved from: http://news.hilton.com/index.cfm/news/hilton-hawaiian-village-debuts-its-history-wall?tl=ar