Notable Guests and Tenants
As soon as The Royal Hawaiian opened, a non-stop flood of tourists from the mainland United States poured through its doors. It served as the Pacific home to the world's most influential statesmen and early Hollywood stars.
Its first official registered guest was Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, who would have been queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii had the monarchy survived. Duke Kahanamoku, the legendary Olympic swimmer and popularizer of the sport of surfing, frequented the Royal Hawaiian Hotel restaurants and private beachfront. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel became a favorite stomping ground for Kahanamoku's famed group, dubbed the "Waikiki Beach Boys".
Prior to the 2010 renovation, a framed replica of a Guest Registration Card bearing the signature of then - President Franklin D. Roosevelt was displayed in a main hallway corridor of the main hotel. The card was dated during the Great Depression.
During World War II, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel became home to many returning sailors off long war patrols. In 1952, the hotel lobby was captured in the John Wayne film Big Jim McLain. In 1961, the hotel appeared in scenes of the movie Gidget Goes Hawaiian. In 1977, the hotel was featured in the Charlie's Angels episode Angels in Paradise. In 1986, the hotel was featured in the "Magnum on Ice" episode of Murder She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury and guest starring Tom Selleck. More recently, the hotel was featured in several scenes of P.T. Anderson's 2002 film Punch-Drunk Love. And in 2002, the hotel was featured in "The Kyles Go To Hawaii" in a 2 hour long My Wife and Kids episode.
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