Hawaii is a dream duty station for so many families – what’s not to love about white sandy beaches dotted with palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze. A tropical climate year-round can almost make you forget you’re living in one of the highest cost-of-living scenarios the military allows.
When it seems like everything on the island costs more than you’re able to spend, it’s time to take the family on a tour of the (free and impressive) historical corridor in the basement of The Royal Hawaiian hotel in Waikiki Beach. Dubbed “The Pink Palace of the Pacific” thanks to the hotel’s rosy hue, The Royal Hawaiian has been a favorite among celebrities and dignitaries – including Shirley Temple and Franklin Roosevelt – since it opened its doors February 1, 1927.
Situated on 15 acres of beachfront property, the opulent hotel was promoted around the world as a must-see destination and an elaborate black-tie opening ceremony featured more than 1,200 guests who were entertained by the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.
In the historical corridor, you’ll find original artifacts from the hotel’s opening, as well as plenty of vintage photos that serve as a timeline of the historic resort’s history – which includes the time the U.S. Navy rented out the property for servicemembers.
Following the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor – in which the Japanese planes flew alongside Waikiki Beach passing The Royal Hawaiian on their way to the US fleet berthed at Pearl Harbor – the Navy Recreation and Morale Office began leasing The Royal Hawaiian. For $17,000 per month, the Navy had full access to the beachfront resort, which turned guests away in favor of transforming the hotel into a rest-and-relaxation center for Navy personnel, which consisted mostly of submariners. What began as a staff of nearly 300 was cut to around 12 staff members, who helped maintain the property’s gardens throughout the war.
“The resort’s exterior was not substantially changed, except for the unsightly barbed wire fence stretching along the entire beach perimeter; the interior however, was altered considerably,” Stan Cohen wrote in his 1986 book, The Pink Palace of the Pacific The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort.
Inside, the Navy turned a beauty salon into a dispensary and what was once a bar became a soda fountain.
“The tennis court became a basketball court and a baseball diamond was laid out on the ground,” Cohen wrote.
While servicemembers could not afford the luxurious amenities offered at the property in peacetimes, they had the resort at their disposal for two week respite periods for the duration of World War II following the Pearl Harbor attacks.
“The resort became a place for submariners to unwind after spending many months on war patrols all over the Pacific. Three men were assigned to a room (which to them was still a far cry from the tight quarters of a submarine), and their stays averaged on 10 days,” Cohen wrote. “Officers paid $1 a day and the enlisted men could stay for just 25 cents. The rowdy crowd would sometimes let off too much steam, resulting in occasional knife cuts in the floors and doors with cigarette burns in the furniture.”
In October 1945, the Navy relinquished The Royal Hawaiian back to Matson Navigation Co. after more than three years of use by military members.
“It took over a year, 600 construction workers, and over $2 million of Matson’s money to restore The Royal Hawaiian to its former glory,” Cohen wrote.
On February 1, 1947 – exactly 20 years to the day from its grand opening – The Royal Hawaiian reopened its doors to civilian guests. Today, the iconic pink hotel, now owned by Marriott, is still considered one of the top luxury resorts on the island and welcomes guests from all over the world – including military members and their families at a discounted, government rate.