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. 

Family-Friendly Hawaii Resorts

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort was a favorite place to stay for Elvis Presley. According to an article in Travel Weekly, it is also a good place to stay if one has children in tow.

I have never personally stayed there, but I did wander around the resort's outside area and bought some ice cream at their ice cream stand. 

Travel Weekly has posted a list of the best resorts in Hawaii for families.

They begin it with: 

Considering that Hawaii visitors will be spending the majority of time outside of their hotel rooms, it's not always necessary to find a resort that caters to children and teens, or even has amenities they might appreciate. But there are some Hawaii resorts that do, and the kids love them for it.

Here's my short list of hotels where I've personally stayed with kids and that I would recommend for any families traveling to Hawaii. 

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.​​​​​​​​

In Search Of Elvis’s Hawaii

Above, Elvis Presley often stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel at Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since today is Elvis Presley's 88th birthday, the following is appropriate to mark the occasion.

TravelAwaits has posted an article on sites in Hawaii associated with the King of Rock 'n Roll.

They begin it with:

Elvis Presley was born in Mississippi and lived in Tennessee, but for many fans, this musical legend is known as “the last Hawaiian king.” 

As Jerry Hopkins, author of Elvis In Hawai’i, states: “Elvis Presley, son of a sharecropper from Mississippi, whose Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, is the second-most visited home in the United States (behind the White House), may be the single personality most closely identified with Hawaii, excepting those who were born and raised here.”

Presley visited several times for personal vacations, but he’s best remembered for his professional appearances. He filmed three movies in Hawaii: Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), and Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966). He also made history with several concerts. They included a benefit for the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor and the 1973 Aloha From Hawaii show, the first concert by a solo artist broadcast around the world.

Elvis’s legacy and spirit are alive and well on the island of Oahu, and music lovers can easily put together their own Elvis-themed tour. I experienced it for myself this Christmas when my husband and I put together an Elvis-focused trip for my mother, a huge Elvis fan. Based on our experiences, here’s what you shouldn’t miss.

Speaking of the Aloha From Hawaii concert, this month marks 50 years since the concert took place.

To read more, go here.

New Honolulu 3% Hotel Tax

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village at Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If there's one thing we can count on in life and that is when Democrats are in control of the government entities, they will raise and create taxes. Then, they turn those places into sh*tholes. Hawaii is a Democrat-dominated state.

The city of Honolulu may get more expensive for travelers as it will levy a 3% surcharge on hotel accommodations.

USA Today reported:

HONOLULU — Honolulu has become the latest Hawaii county to adopt its own hotel tax after Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed legislation adding a 3% surcharge to the state’s levy on short-term rentals.

Officials estimate the new tax, paid for by guests staying at accommodations such as hotels and Airbnbs, could generate about $86 million a year for Oahu, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

The surcharge will be imposed on top of the state’s 10.25% tax on gross rental proceeds from hotels, vacation rentals, timeshares and other transient accommodations. 

To read more, go here. 

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.

"Godzilla vs. Kong" Filming In Oahu, Hawaii

Above, the battleship USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor is a location to be featured in Godzilla vs. Kong. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those of you who saw the 2014 Godzilla by Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros., you are aware that Godzilla came ashore at Waikiki Beach and proceeded to trash the Hilton Hawaiian Village before heading into Honolulu and do battle with Muto at the Honolulu Airport.

Well, Godzilla is coming back to Hawaii in Godzilla vs. Kong and filming has already started.

According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment continue to film the sequel to their monster movies throughout Hawaii this week through at least December. 

Production crews began filming “Godzilla vs. Kong”on Oahu Monday, and have already worked at various sites, including the USS Missouri, Manoa Falls and downtown Honolulu. They have also set up camp at Lanai Lookout along Kalanianaole Highway, and the parking lot remains closed until Nov. 21, according to the state Department of Transportation. 

“We’re using the jungle, using the city, obviously using the streets,” said film unit publicist Deborah Simmrin. “It has kind of a vast landscape. Everything’s going well. We love being here.”

To read more, go here.

2 Hilton Hawaii Flagship Properties Merge Sales Teams

Above, Dolphin Quest at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two years ago, I wandered around one of Elvis Presley's favorite Hawaii hotels in Waikiki, the Hilton Hawaiian Village and spent some time at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island.

Now it has been announced that the two Hiltons are merging their sales teams.

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort's Rainbow Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to Pacific Business News:

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is merging its sales team with that of the Hilton Waikoloa Village in order to streamline the booking process for group and meetings, conventions and incentives trips. 

Hilton’s Area Director of Sales and Marketing John Hawley will oversee the newly formed sales team. 

The merger is intended to give travel planners a “one stop shop” to compare the options of the two villages, which represent the brand’s most popular MCI spots in Hawaii.

To read more, go here. 

Travel At 60: Hawaii, Elvis Style

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Elvis gave a fundraising benefit concert in Pearl
Harbor’s Bloch Arena on March 25, 1961 for the USS Arizona Memorial. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the documentary Elvis Presley: The Searcher due to premiere tomorrow night on HBO, Elvis awareness is running a bit high these days.

As such, Travel At 60 has an article on vacationing in "Hawaii, Elvis Style".

It starts out with:

On November 9, 1957 Elvis Presley arrived in Hawaii for the first of what would turn out to be many occasions. 

The previous day he’d telegrammed the local Honolulu Star newspaper, saying: “I know that I will enjoy your islands, I like to surf and swim. Have read about Hawaiian hospitality and am eagerly looking forward to same.” 

He was clearly very happy with what he found, as he returned to Hawaii again and again – for movies (Blue Hawaii in 1961, Girls Girls Girls in 1962 and Paradise, Hawaiian Style in 1965), for concerts (including the first-ever concert to a worldwide audience) and for personal holidays. 

During those trips Elvis visited a number of locations that are today considered iconic Hawaiian landmarks – so follow in his footsteps and let the King be your guide on a tour of one of Hawaii’s most beautiful islands. Aloha from Oahu!

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Rainbow Tower. Elvis Presley
once booked the entire top floor of the Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

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:

Elvis Presley's Last Hawaii Vacation Chronicled

Above, a hilltop view of Honolulu and Diamond Head. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Elvis Presley expert Jeff Schrembs has put together a collection of articles on Elvis Presley's last Hawaii vacation on his blog. The vacation took place in March 1977.

Schrembs includes articles (and interview texts) from different people including Jerry Hopkins, Ed Parker, Larry Geller, Ginger Alden and others.

He begins with:

Elvis was exhausted, in declining health, and needed/wanted a vacation. 

In usual Elvis fashion he would not commit to where he wanted to vacation at but tell everyone to "be prepared" and give the departure dates and times. He thought it was a nice surprise for everyone. 

Preparation began in earnest about the middle of February.  

After months of false hints, Elvis finally announced that Hawaii was the chosen location.   

Members of the group were dispatched in advance to the islands, making arrangements to accommodate a party of approximately 38 people. Like everything involving Elvis planning, preparation, and coordination was essential...and demanded.

The departure date of 3rd March was set.

To read more, go here. 

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.

​Godzilla vs. Hawaii: The cost of replacing paradise

Above, the destruction in Waikiki by Godzilla.

Godzilla first appeared in 1954 and other giant monsters followed in the ensuing years. During all that time, I don't recall anyone bothering to do some "numbers crunching" on what their attacks on Tokyo, Yokohama, Fukuoka and other places would cost the local (and national) economies as well as the costs involved to repair and rebuild them.

Finally, someone has.

Pacific Business News took a look at what it would cost the Hawaiian economy should Godzilla's and M.U.T.O.'s attacks on Waikiki and the Honolulu International Airport were real. The resulting numbers are astounding.

They begin their article with:

In real life, the filming in Hawaii of key scenes for the latest Godzilla remake pumped some money into the local economy last year. But anyone who has seen the film knows that parts of Oahu — SPOILER ALERT! — get thoroughly trashed by a fight between Godzilla and a skyscraper-size parasite called a MUTO. 

The carnage is impressive and rendered so realistically that we wondered how much it would cost to fix the damages if this Hollywood fantasy actually happened. Crunching some numbers quickly reminds one how essential Waikiki and air travel are to our economy.

 To read the article, go here.

Honolulu's Hilton Hawaiian Village Destroyed...By Godzilla

Above, the big Godzilla poster at Warner Bros. in Burbank. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Destinations Travel Magazine's website has reported that the Hilton Hawaiian Village and its famous Rainbow Towers have been destroyed. By Godzilla!

They wrote:

Planning on taking a trip to Hawaii? 

Then, be aware, Hilton Hawaiian Village and its famous Rainbow Towers have been destroyed... by Godzilla!

OK; Fear not! it only happens in the movie! 

In the upcoming Summer blockbuster, Godzilla, that opens on Friday, most of the 35-story tower, including the famous rainbow mosaic created in 1968 by artist Millard Sheets, is reduced to rubble! The movie's cinematography offers a fleeting but memorable image of a Waikiki never seen before.

To read more, go here.