The Royal Hawaiian Hotel opened on February 1, 1927. At a cost of $4 million dollars, it was the largest construction project in the Pacific at that time.
The architects were the New York based premier hotel designers, Warren & Wetmore, who were known for their other hotels, including NYC’s Ritz-Carlton, Biltmore, Belmont, Vanderbilt and Chatham hotels.
Today, the Royal Hawaiian remains a landmark of the famous Waikiki beach.
The land beneath the Royal Hawaiian is owned by Kamehameha Schools, a trust founded by Bernice Pauahi Bishop, heir to the Kamehameha dynasty, to support a school for the children of Hawaii.
The hotel itself is owned by Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts which leases the land from Kamehameha Schools. Starwood manages and it’s official name is now “The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort.”