Not just any pink. Screaming PINK pink. Flamingos will be jealous of a hotel this pink. Pink Lady went back to Japan because they weren’t as pink as this pink hotel. Better yet, it’s right on the beach so you can’t miss how pink it is next to the beige of the beach and the green of the mountains.

It’s the Pink Palace of the Pacific—The Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach. It’s the Liberace boa pink hotel along the beach in Waikiki. You can’t miss it. Look around. If you see pink, it must be the Royal Hawaiian.

I have nothing against pink. PINK, maybe. But not pink pink.

Official propaganda states the obvious—the Sheraton folks call it The Pink Palace of the Pacific—right on the web site. It’s as if they’re not embarrassed or anything.

Quote: “It was the age of opulence, when high society behaved as if life were a permanent holiday, and counted among civilization’s most necessary luxuries a month-long sojourn at The Royal Hawaiian. The Pink Palace of the Pacific. More than a hotel, a legend. Opened in 1927, it brought fame to Waikiki Beach and Honolulu - and its lure is just as powerful today, with its soaring turrets, hushed Coconut Grove, and service that anticipates every need, wish and whim.”

“For a relaxing family vacation, a storybook wedding or honeymoon, or a truly regal business meeting, The Royal Hawaiian is the ideal choice. “

Opulence. Did you catch that? High society. Permanent holiday. Something with this much color on a beach where there’s not much color in the concrete is certainly opulent.

I suppose we can give some latitude to the grandmother of all hotels in Hawaii. The first registered guest back in 1927 when the hotel opened was Hawaiian Princess Kawananakoa. There was a black tie gala celebration for 1,200 guests and dignitaries. The hotel had a dance band concert—$10 a plate.

Luxurious resort living was the name of the game back in the 1920s. The $4-million Royal Hawaiian was built on Queen Kaahumanu’s summer palace. That was back in the days when barely 20,000 visitors came to Hawaii in a year. Hawaii gets that many every couple of days now.

Life has changed for the Pink Palace. You can’t even find it unless you’re on the beach or know where to look behind the shopping center.

There’s air conditioning now (instead of dark skinned Hawaiian native girls standing over your shoulder keeping you cool a breeze from large palm tree branches—sure; that’d cool folks down) to escape the heat. Color TV’s in each room. Refrigerators, too. Nothing like that existed back in 1927.

Except the pink.

For more history and details about the life and luxury of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, click over to the.
Royal Hawaiian web site.

Want to know the best places to eat in Hawaii? Click over to Ono Dining for totally biased reviews on Hawai's best (and not so best) restaurants.