The Kahala Hotel & Resort

In January 1964, the Kahala opened its doors on prime beachfront next to the famous Waialae Country Club private golf course. The rest is history, with five decades worth of illustrious guests, from royalty to heads of state and Hollywood stars. So join us as we stroll down memory lane. Inspired by the great homes of the Hawaiian monarchy, with its elegant and grand residential feel, the hotel was originally designed by architects Edward Killingsworth, Jules Brady, and Waugh Smith of Long Beach, California.

Then known as the Kahala Hilton, the resort cost $12 million to build and was the first major resort to have air-conditioning in all rooms. The resort capitalized on its relatively removed location in a few months, thanks to its entrée to the Hollywood community. Not long after the resort’s opening, the management of NBC booked every room for its annual affiliates meeting and brought in a bevy of Hollywood stars.

Recognizing its potential as a celebrity hideaway, an advertising campaign targeted film and television luminaries. Word quickly spread this elegant and exclusive resort, and the Kahala was soon placed on the map to discriminate against world travelers. By 1967, it achieved a remarkable 90 percent occupancy rate and sealed its reputation as a watering hole for the extremely wealthy and hugely famous. Throughout the years, The Kahala has hosted 20th-century icons such as John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Jack Lemmon, musical legends such as The Who, The Rolling Stones, and Stevie Wonder, dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth, Emperor Akihito, and Empress Michiko of Japan and modern-day A-listers such as Angelina Jolie, Nicolas Cage, Sean Penn, Drew Barrymore, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Below names just a few of our famous guests.