| A century ago, Queen Lili'uokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch, inherited the lands at Hamohamo, the area in which the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort now stands, from her grandfather, 'Aikanaka. The land on which the Hotel is directly built was once the Ku'ekaunahi stream, which ran through the Queen's property. There were two summer homes on Lili'uokalani's property, one called Kealohilani and the other Paoakalani (literally translated as "heavenly fragrance"). Here she retreated to relax and informally entertain family, friends, and on occasion, visiting royalty. She also spent much of her time composing her songs and translating Hawaiian stories into English, surrounded by lily ponds and elaborate gardens, and when the trade winds blew, the fragrance of the topical flowers was carried throughout the estate. |
