— Waikīkī Historic Trail —

Chief Ma?likūkāhi, who reigned over the island of Oahu in the mid-1400s, resided in Waikīkī and used it as his seat of government. He was greatly loved by his subjects who enjoyed unprecedented peace and prosperity. Ali?i (royalty) from all points came to Waikīkī to enjoy surfing, sporting games, hula, and other entertainment. The maka?āinana (common people) living in Kālia gladly supplied their chiefs with the fruits of their labor. The sharing of food was an integral part of Hawaiian culture. Lavishbanquets featured poi and thefreshest seafood from some ofthe most productive fishponds inall of the Hawaiian islands. Theocean teemed with crab, lobster,shrimp, octopus, limu (seaweed)and other delicacies easilyharvested. The fishponds, as wellas the harvest from the ocean,came under the stewardship ofthe chiefs. Their actions werealways dictated by the knowledge that greediness or waste displeased the gods. John Papa I?i, a member of the royal court, told of a huge harvest from Moehonua's fishpond in Kālia given as tribute to Kīna?u, a son of King Kamehameha I. The king, instead of being pleased, was dismayed because of the waste of so many fish. According to 19th century historian Samuel Kamakau, it was thought that fishponds were protected by mo?o, lizard-like deities whose bodies were 12 to 30 feet long. Proper reverence andrespect for the mo?o, as well as diligent maintenance of the ponds, made the fish fat and plentiful. Those who shirked their responsibilities were punished. Kālia's largest ponds wereKa?ihikapu and Pāweo. Hawaiian fishponds were engineering marvels. their design unique in the entire world.

In the early 1920s, quaint clusters of cottages known as Cressaty's Court and Hummel's Court offered simple lodging in Kālia. In 1926, the Heen Investment Company purchased these properties along with the Pierpoint Hotel and built the gracious Niumalu (sheltering palms) Hotel on the grounds where you now stand. This resort featured a distinctly Hawaiian style ofarchitecture combined with modern comforts. Today, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa continues the richheritage of Kālia and perpetuates the tradition of ho'okipa (hospitality) exemplified by Chief Ma?ilikūkahi.

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Kaha ha ʻlo me nā Makani
Rainbow Mural
Kuroda Field
Fort DeRussy
Kālia Bay
Duke Kahanamoku
Rainbow Tower & Hilton Lagoon
K?lia Fishponds
King David Kalākaua
"Brothers in Valor" Memorial

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