The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is one of the most iconic destinations in Hawaii, known for its stunning architecture and luxurious amenities. However, many may be surprised to learn that the original Royal Hawaiian Hotel was not located in the bustling neighborhood of Waikīkī.
In 1865, as steamship arrivals surged in Honolulu, a committee was formed to address the urgent need for high-quality accommodations for esteemed visitors. Although interest in creating a top-tier hotel was widespread, no concrete plans materialized for several years.
A renewed discussion in King Kamehameha V’s cabinet in Spring 1870 sparked some hope, when the monarch expressed the potential for government support in constructing a world-class hotel. This idea slowly gained traction, leading to the Legislative Assembly’s approval, and construction began in May 1871 on Richards Street, nestled between Beretania and Hotel Streets.
On February 29, 1872, the newly named Hawaiian Hotel hosted its grand opening, celebrated with a subscription ball that charged guests $5 for entry. Guests were welcomed into a grand structure featuring forty elegantly appointed rooms, complete with gas lighting and water directly supplied to each room.
Among the hotel’s modern amenities were bathrooms offering both cold and warm water, as well as dedicated water closets available on every floor, although the bridal chamber was outfitted with its own private bath and water closet.
The hotel quickly evolved into a central social hub, hosting various gatherings and events, including the inaugural Commemoration of Kamehameha I Celebration that took place just months after its opening.
From its inception, the hotel also garnered a reputation for ghostly sightings. In 1877, as the hotel closed for gas system repairs, local newspapers reported encounters with a ghost wandering the premises, including the verandas.
Over the years, the hotel would undergo a name change to become the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. While some speculate that this name was chosen to evoke a sense of royal prestige, official mention of the new name first appeared in local newspapers in 1880.
In 1897, the original hotel was sold to a private investor, who expanded the property by opening a seaside annex in Waikīkī in 1898, located on what was once Helumoa—a historic coconut grove. It was here that the new Royal Hawaiian Hotel, famously referred to as the “Pink Palace,” was established in 1928.
Following its original occupancy, the first hotel transitioned in 1917 into a YMCA to provide accommodations for military personnel during World War I. However, due to disrepair and issues with termites, the original building was demolished in 1926. Two years later, its legacy continued in a new form as the Armed Services YMCA.
Today, the site of the original Royal Hawaiian Hotel is designated as the No. 1 Capitol District Building, housing the Capitol Modern and various state offices. Remarkably, even after such significant changes, tales of hauntings persist from those who work within.
In 2019, I had the opportunity to share ghost stories with staff members working in the Capitol District Building. The experience was both entertaining and enlightening, as some employees shared their own eerie experiences linked to the hotel’s past.
Late-night workers report hearing inexplicable footsteps echoing through empty hallways, often accompanied by an unnerving feeling of being watched. At times, lights flicker or turn off only to inexplicably switch back on, raising the hairs on the back of their necks.
One of the most common stories shared is that of a ghostly woman seen drifting through the halls. Descriptions portray her as wearing a long dress, typically spotted out of the corner of one’s eye—only to vanish upon looking directly at her.
Witnesses often describe the apparition as appearing lost, as though she is searching for something or someone. Longtime employees have noted unsettling temperature drops and a pervasive sense of sadness in certain areas of the building.
While the true identity of this mysterious figure remains elusive, the haunting stories continue to circulate quietly among colleagues. The building’s transformations over the years do little to suppress its ghostly past, and whispers of the original Royal Hawaiian Hotel endure even in its new life as a state office building.
image source from：alohastatedaily
