Hilton Hawaiian Village Tower Completes Renovation

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tower in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel at Waikiki Beach was one of Elvis Presley's favorite places to stay while in the islands. 

I got to see it back in 2016 while at the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. I also visited it and bought an ice cream sundae at their ice cream parlor.

Travel Weekly reports that the Hilton Hawaiian Hotel Rainbow Tower's renovation has been completed:

One of Waikiki's most iconic landmarks, the Rainbow Tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Oahu has completed its renovation. The tower's rooms have been refreshed with design touches rooted in Hawaii.

To read more, go here. 

Elvis Slept Here: Inside the Luxurious Waikiki Resort

Above, the Hilton Waikiki Village from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Expect a flood of Elvis Presley articles in the media as EPIC: Elvis Presley In Concert is opening this week in theaters.

One is from USA Today about the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel at Waikiki Beach. I visited the hotel in 2016 while vacationing down the beach from it at the Sheraton Waikiki.

The article begins with:

Elvis loved quite a few things: luxury cars, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and Hawaii. The King of Rock and Roll spent nearly 20 years of his life visiting Hawaii, and more specifically, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, an iconic resort that’s still open today — and brimming with fellow Elvis fans who want a glimpse into the King’s past.

The resort has an elite roster of famous fans who’ve roamed its halls, from Barack Obama to Ronald Reagan to Michael Jackson. But Elvis is regarded as the superstar who put this hotel on the map, having filmed “Blue Hawaii” on its property in 1961 and returning frequently over the course of two decades.

As you can imagine, the hotel has embraced the iconic connection. Visitors can explore the resort’s timeline wall, which features photos of Presley during his stays, information about the star, and memorabilia from his various visits.

To read more, go here. 

Waikiki May Soon Look Nothing Like You Remember

Above, Waikiki Beach near the Sheraton Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2016, I went on a vacation trip to Hawaii. The first part of it was at the Sheraton Waikiki on Oahu.

Much of the time on the beach was spent at the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon near the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel, a favorite haunt of Elvis Presley.

It seems that Waikiki Beach has been eroding away and the powers-that-be are taking steps to restoring it. In looking over my photos of Waikiki, there's not much sand there.

According to Beat of Hawaii:

Waikiki Beach is quietly slipping away—and with it, a century of shoreline illusions. Engineered more than a hundred years ago and maintained ever since with imported sand and coastal structures, Hawaii’s most famous beach is now retreating faster than ever before. In some places, the sand is already gone. In others, walkways are simply crumbling underfoot.

Now, state lawmakers are being asked for $5 million to kickstart final plans for the latest $60 million beach rescue effort. But experts warn: if the funding stalls, so does Waikiki’s future.

To read more, go here. 

Elvis Presley and the Ala Wai Heliport

A little rock 'n roll history trivia for you since this year marks 50 years since the Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii broadcast.

In January 1973, Elvis Presley was in Hawaii for his Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii satellite concert broadcast that was seen by over one billion people worldwide. 

A part of that broadcast was footage of his arrival at Waikiki by helicopter at the Ala Wai Heliport. The Ala Wai Heliport is no longer there.

From Hawaii.gov:

The Ala Wai Heliport was a State-operated heliport facility located makai [out to the ocean or seaward] of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon and adjacent to the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor.  The heliport consisted of a parking pad, a take off and landing pad, and perimeter fencing.  No overnight parking was permitted; transient parking was limited to 15 minutes for loading and unloading of passengers. No fuel facilities or fueling was permitted at the heliport.

Above, the heliport was located behind the trees.

During our 2016 trip to Hawaii, we were at the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. As we sat on the beach at the lagoon, behind us were trees and on the other side of them was where the Ala Wai Heliport used to be. It was closed on May 24, 1990. 

Above the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the Duke
Kahanamoku Lagoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Prior to our trip, I wondered where the heliport was located. With a little sleuthing, I found out where it was once located. I took a walk there, but there were no traces of the former heliport. It is now just a big parking lot.

Two Dukes

Above, the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon and the Hilton Hawaiian
 Village in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At Waikiki Beach on the Hawaiian island of Oahu is a lagoon next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. It is a man-made lagoon named for Duke Kahanamoku. Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian competition swimmer who popularized the sport of surfing.

In May 2016, we swam in the lagoon while in Oahu.

Duke Kahanamoku was a friend to another "Duke" until his death in 1968: John Wayne.

From the official John Wayne Facebook page:

Above, John "Duke" Wayne and Duke Kahanamoku in a scene from Wake of the Red Witch (1948). ​​​​​​​​

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian competition swimmer who introduced a powerful style of swimming, winning five medals (three gold) over three Olympic Games. He then became a surfing ambassador to the world, popularizing that sport. A Native Hawaiian, he was born to a minor noble family less than three years before the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.​​​​​​​​

​​​Did you know? While living in Newport Beach, California on June 14, 1925, Duke Kahanamoku rescued eight men from a fishing vessel that capsized in heavy surf while attempting to enter the city’s harbor. Using his surfboard, he was able to make quick trips back and forth to shore to increase the number of sailors rescued. Newport’s police chief at the time called Duke’s efforts “the most superhuman surfboard rescue act the world has ever seen.” Thus was born the tradition of lifeguards having rescue surfboards at the ready.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​Duke and Duke both lived in Newport Beach, CA, were members of the famed Outrigger Canoe Club in Honolulu, HI, and starred in Wake of the Red Witch. They remained friends throughout their lives.​​​​​​​​

20 Things To Do In Waikiki

Above, Diamond Head from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that people can go to Hawaii again, if one needs to plan out what things to do in the Waikiki/Honolulu vicinity, all they have to do is to read an article posted by Travel2Next.

They posted a list of 20 things to do in Waikiki.

It starts with:

Waikiki is a stunning city to the south of Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu. Forming part of the greater Honolulu metro area, Waikiki is where people come to have a great time in Hawaii, with some of the state’s best restaurants, shops and beaches. You’ll most definitely find many exciting things to do in Waikiki, its beach and vibrant streets.

Waikiki’s beaches are world-famous, and the city is a natural wonderland. As the former seat of power of the once mighty Hawaiian monarchy, Waikiki is a cultural and historical beacon of Oahu. From the famous Diamond Head Crater, which looks over Waikiki, to the sprawling Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki has so much to see, do and experience that makes coming back to Waikiki again and again fun every time.

To see what are the 20 things to do, go here. 

Hawaii Sees Drop In Visitors After Governor's Request

Above, a view of Diamond Head from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like people were listening when the governor asked that they don't travel to Hawaii at the present time due to the surge in coronavirus cases.

According to Hawaii News Now:

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii is seeing a drop in tourists two weeks after Gov. David Ige asked visitors not to travel to the islands amid a COVID surge, according to state data.

Safe Travels data shows Hawaii saw roughly 380,000 visitors in the two-week period leading up to Aug. 23, when the governor made the announcement.

Following the request, the state has seen around 252,000. While this does not include full numbers from people flying into Hawaii on Monday, it’s unlikely the state will see as many visitors as it did earlier this month.

To read more, go here. 

What You Need To Know About Travel To Hawaii

Above, Diamond Head from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, it appears that COVID-19 cases are spiking up again and states, primarily ones run by Democrats, are implementing lockdowns and other measures again. What did you expect? They're control freaks!

Hawaii is open to visitors again and Fodor's Travel has an article on essential things one needs to know about traveling there.

They begin with:

In October, Hawaii began its pre-travel testing program, allowing visitors from the mainland U.S. to bypass the 14-day quarantine after testing negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of traveling to the islands. Starting November 6, the program will also extend to visitors coming to the islands from Japan.

You may be eager to jet off to Hawaii for a tropical getaway, but there are a few things you need to know before you pack that beach bag.

As with all things related to COVID-19, the details change quickly. At the time of writing, all of Hawaii’s islands allow visitors from the mainland with the exception of Lanai, which is limiting non-essential travel due to a new cluster of COVID-19 cases.

To read more, go here.

Aloha! 

Hawaii Governor Extends Travel Quarantine To June 30

Above, the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon and the Hilton Hawaiian Village at Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest news out of Hawaii is not good for people who are planning to vacation there and who plan on having a Hawaiian wedding. I have friends whose daughter is planning a July wedding in Hawaii. The latest is cutting it awfully close.

The Maui News reported:

Gov. David Ige has extended the state’s 14-day travel quarantine through June 30, though he added that more businesses, such as gyms, theaters and churches, could begin reopening next month. 

Ige signed his 8th supplemental emergency proclamation Monday, extending the quarantine for both out-of-state and interisland arrivals. At a news conference, he outlined a reopening and recovery plan for the state, which he said is now entering the “act with care” phase. 

Activities that may resume under the new phase include indoor gatherings, such as places of worship and indoor exercise facilities, along with museums and theaters. Businesses, however, must open with physical distancing and safe practices in place.

Restaurants, which have been allowed to offer takeout until now, may also open for dine-in options, though larger venues and bars and clubs cannot reopen yet, according to the state’s plan.

To read more, go here.

What To Do In Rainy Honolulu?

Above, a view of Diamond Head from Waikiki's Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In May 2016, I took a vacation trip to Hawaii to celebrate my ex's birthday. The trip turned out to be a disaster on a different level (despite enjoying many things there), but we did manage to have good fortune when it came to the weather. We had sunny skies with only a few clouds on occasion. The only time we had rain was at the airport in Maui as we waited for our flight back to Los Angeles, so the weather was a non-issue.

Many people have traveled to Hawaii to enjoy the beaches and get a tropical tan but ended up being rained on.

Travel + Leisure has some suggestions on what to do in Honolulu if it becomes rainy.

They begin with:

You’ve traveled to Honolulu dreaming of sunny days on the beach. But when you get there, it’s raining. What to do? 

Luckily, there are fabulous indoor activities in Honolulu. Here are a few of them.

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii Medical Marijuana Users Lose 2nd Amendment Rights

Above, Diamond Head from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hawaii may be a tropical paradise for some, but it has a state government that is a constitutional hell for others. 

Here is the kind of thing that happens when you have a one-party dictatorship of liberal Democrats ruling a state. California is another example.

Did you know that when laws allowing use of  recreational and medical marijuana were passed, the sneaky bastards in the Hawaiian legislature included a provision that if one uses medical marijuana they use their Second Amendment rights? Yes, it is unfortunately true!

See the letter below (courtesy of GOP congressional candidate Mark Reed):

This is blatantly unconstitutional! What's next? Users of mouthwash containing alcohol will be stripped of their Second Amendment rights, too?

Elvis, Godzilla and the Hilton Hawaiian Village

Besides being Elvis Presley's preferred Waikiki hotel, the Hilton Hawaiian Village was also featured in the Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures 2014 feature, Godzilla. So one can say that the hotel attracted kings: the King of Rock 'N Roll and the King of the Monsters.

Here's a screen shot from Godzilla showing the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Rainbow Tower the next day after the first meeting of Godzilla and M.U.T.O.:

Here is the crowd waiting for Elvis Presley's arrival in 1973 for his "Aloha From Hawaii" special with the Rainbow Tower in the background and the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at left:

Here's the raw video of Elvis Presley's arrival:



Here's a shot of the Rainbow Tower behind the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon that I took last May:

RealBrock Daily Telegram Picks Up Elvis and Hilton Hawaiian Village Post

My little blog post yesterday on Elvis Presley and the Hilton Hawaiian Village caught the attention of RealBrock Daily Telegram online newspaper.

This is the first time ever hearing about this particular online newspaper, but I am grateful that they felt the post merited coverage.

To view the RealBrock Daily Telegram, go here.

Elvis and The Hilton Hawaiian Village

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village with its "Rainbow Tower" in the
 background from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On our first full day in Honolulu, Hawaii last May, our party spent part of the time at the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, which is right next to the famous Hilton Hawaiian Village.

We spent an hour or so at the lagoon before two of our party went parasailing. While they went parasailing, the young son of one of them and I wandered over to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It is a beautiful facility with rocks all around the pools. We stopped at the Hilton's ice cream shop and treated ourselves to some ice cream.

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in the background
(at left), a large crowd waits for Elvis Presley's helicopter to arrive in January 1973. 

I was watching the 40th Anniversary Edition DVD of Elvis Presley's 1973 Aloha From Hawaii concert special. (That concert was seen via satellite live and later on tape-delayed broadcast by people around the world. It is estimated that 1.5 billion people watched that concert in total.) The Hilton Hawaiian Village and the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon can be seen in the background during his arrival by helicopter. The hotel and lagoon looked pretty much the same as they did in 1973 when we visited there last May. According to one of the extras in the DVD, Elvis Presley stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village several times.

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Rainbow Tower and the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon.

According to Elvisinfonet.com:

First stop was the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Elvis stayed here on many occasions, the first being in 1957 when he was in Oahu to perform two concerts at the Honolulu Stadium. 

Back then the Hilton was the tallest building in Waikiki and Elvis and his entourage hired out the entire top floor. The "Rainbow Tower" where Elvis stayed in the late 60’s/early 70’s, can be seen in the helicopter arrival footage (video below) from Aloha from Hawaii.

Elvis also stayed at the Hilton while filming Blue Hawaii in 1961.

On November 20, 1972, Elvis held the second of two press conferences at the Hilton Hawaii Village on his upcoming January 14, 1973 Aloha From Hawaii concert.

Suggested reading: Aloha Elvis by Jerry Hopkins, Bess Press, 2007. The book details Elvis Presley's Hawaii visits from the 1950s to 1970s.

Hawaii Arrivals Set New Record

Above, Diamond Head from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hawaii saw the best month ever in tourist arrivals in July.

According to the Star-Advertiser:

Hawaii tourism celebrated its best month ever for visitor arrivals in July, and those that came spent a little more than last year’s counterparts, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority . 

Some 835,417 visitors came to Hawaii in July 2016 — a 2.1 percent increase from July 2015. At the same time, visitor spending increased 1.5 percent year-over-year to $1.4 billion.

To read more, go here.

Hangin' In Honolulu

Above, Diamond Head and surfers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first full day in Hawaii had us at the Sheraton Waikiki. The clouds from the previous day were gone, along with some of the humidity. We had great views of Diamond Head and many surfers out in the early morning.

We began with breakfast in the hotel at Kai Market restaurant's buffet.

Tonight, I am to meet up with my cousin Vince Vaquer, who lives near Pearl Harbor. It has been decades since we've seen each other. I am looking forward to seeing him.

While Vince and I meet up, the girls in our party will be having their "girl's night out" of shopping.

Here's some pictures:

Above, the Sheraton Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, some of our party parasailed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the breakfast buffet at Kai Market in the Sheraton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, ready for the beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, heading to breakfast and then the beach.

Above, at the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.