Which historic hotel was the first hotel on Waikiki Beach?

If you guessed the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa (1901) you guessed correctly! Often known as “The first lady of Waikiki,” the hotel has remained a premier destination since it first opened March 11, 1901. Wealthy Honolulu landowner, Walter Chamberlain Peacock, incorporated the Moana Hotel Company in 1896 in an effort to establish a luxury hotel in a deserted area of Waikiki. Designed by architect Oliver G. Traphagen and built by The Lucas Brothers contractors, The Moana Hotel originally featured 75 guestrooms that included amenities that were regarded as the ultimate luxury at the time, including telephones, private baths, a billiard room, parlor, library, salon, and the first electric-powered elevator in the Territory. The opening of the hotel marked the beginning of tourism in Waikiki.

In the 1920s, Waikiki experienced a new age of urbanization and previously rural areas were divided into suburbs. By 1927, Waikiki was slowly developing into a vacation destination with the building of Waikiki Natatorium War and the Honolulu Zoo. With Waikiki becoming a growing tourist attraction, The Moana became the choice accommodations for visitors. The height of the Waikiki's appeal was in 1934 when Harry Owens and his band became icons of popular Hawaiian music and launched the world-acclaimed radio show, Hawaii Calls. Broadcast from the courtyard of The Moana, the show created new starts and attracted luminaries to the hotel.

Learn more about the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa and book your next stay.