
Royal Hawaiian
Historic grand resort with genuine character. Pink stucco arches, coconut grove gardens, beach cabanas, and a hushed elegance that feels nothing like the glass towers surrounding it. Think 1920s Hollywood glamour meets genuine Hawaiian hospitality.
Book Azure for the 5:30pm seating on Wednesday through Sunday to catch the Waikiki sunset from your beachfront table
Why It Matters
One of the oldest surviving resort hotels in Hawaii, open since February 1, 1927. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin called it 'the first resort hostelry in America' at its opening. A member of Historic Hotels Worldwide. The property occupies land where King Kamehameha I once lived, and Queen Kaahumanu's Summer Palace previously stood in what is now the Coconut Grove.
Built in 1927 as a $4 million project for Matson Navigation Company passengers, The Royal Hawaiian is the most iconic hotel on Waikiki Beach — a six-story Spanish-Moorish palace painted in its signature pink, sitting directly on the sand with Diamond Head in the window. It spans 528 rooms across two buildings: the original Historic Wing, which still carries the vaulted ceilings and 1920s glamour of its opening night, and the Mailani Tower, added in 1969, where every room has a private balcony and an unobstructed ocean view. The Navy commandeered the whole property during World War II; Shirley Temple visited in 1935; the original Waikiki Mai Tai was created here by Trader Vic in 1953. History isn't just wallpaper here — it's the whole point.
Where You'll Stay
14 room types available
The Property
Eat & Drink
5 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Pool fitness class offered five days a week at 8:30am in the Helumoa Pool. Reservations required.
Create a fresh flower lei in this popular hands-on activity held on the resort grounds.
Hands-on workshop to create a floral hairpiece using orchids, ferns, and seasonal Hawaiian blooms, held in the resort's tropical garden.
Learn basic hand and foot movements with Hawaiian music in an open-air garden setting.
Learn to weave a bracelet from hala tree leaves with a master weaver. An ancient Hawaiian craft once central to daily life.
Local kupuna (elders) share stories and experiences about Hawaiian culture, the ocean, native preservation, and the history of The Royal Hawaiian. Reservations required.
A guided walking tour of the hotel covering its history, architecture, and stories — including why the building is pink. Runs Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 1pm, starting at the Royal Hawaiian Bakery. Reservations required.
15-minute on-land demonstration of SUP fundamentals at the Royal Hawaiian Beach and Pool desk. Offered daily.
Daily yoga sessions on the resort grounds. Towels provided. Reservations required.
Guided yoga nidra (yogic sleep) session — done lying down for deep relaxation and stress relief.
Pink-umbrella private cabanas directly on Waikiki Beach. Shaded comfort with attentive service, refreshing beverages, and curated amenities. Resort credit (from select packages) can be applied.
Begin the day with Hawaiian chants and hula at sunrise on the beach, followed by the traditional ocean purification ritual — casting flowers and leaves into the sea.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
BUILD YOUR THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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