Halekulani, originally a private beachfront estate, has been accommodating discriminating travelers to Waikiki Beach since 1917. This Waikiki hotel's tradition of gracious hospitality prevails today in the same beachfront setting, an oasis of luxury, impeccable service and fine cuisine which is world renowned. Recognized for its excellence in service, Halekulani is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, and Okura Hotels & Resorts.

Oahu is an exceptional place. There is enough to see and do here to keep you busy for a lifetime, and yet, when the activities become overwhelming, it's always comforting to know that you can always return to Halekulani, an oasis of tranquility and a cut above other Honolulu hotels.

The original Halekulani began in 1907 as a residential hotel owned by Robert Lewers. It consisted of a beachfront home and five bungalows.

In 1917, Clifford and Juliet Kimball purchased the hotel, gradually expanded it, and established it as a stylish Waikiki resort for wealthy vacationers. In the late 1920s, they tore down the old Lewers home and replaced it with a plantation mansion-styled Main Building.
     The Main Building, originally completed in 1932, has a distinctive style characterized by a high pitched hip-roof, designed to catch the cooling trade winds. This feature soon came to be known informally as the Dickey roof, after C.W. Dickey, the architect.

Following the Kimballs' passing, the Norton Clapp family of Seattle bought Halekulani with its Main Building and 37 one- and two-story bungalows located on five acres. Rising property taxes made the low rise hotel operation economically unfeasible and the hotel was sold to Mitsui Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. in 1981. The new owners formed the Halekulani Corporation to rebuild and modernize the hotel, while retaining its spirit of island hospitality.

In 1984, Halekulani re-opened as an oasis of Waikiki resort luxury with 456 rooms. The refurbished Main Building, which was tastefully preserved and upgraded, serves as the hotel's primary dining and gathering spot. The Living Room's skylight over the fireplace provides a warm glow on the original eucalyptus floors, lending to the residential feeling guests enjoy when staying at the "House Befitting Heaven."

Today, Halekulani has remained faithful to the spirit of the former Halekulani, preserving the charm of the property while maintaining and enhancing its level of comfort. During the past 18 years, Halekulani's reputation as an oasis of tranquility in Waikiki has brought this unique Waikiki resort property to its current status as one of the nation's—and the world's—top luxury resorts.