The Ilikai
Hotel facts and statistics
Location	Honolulu, Hawai'i
Coordinates	21°17′04″N 157°50′18″W / 21.28444°N 157.83833°W / 21.28444; -157.83833Coordinates: 21°17′04″N 157°50′18″W / 21.28444°N 157.83833°W / 21.28444; -157.83833
Opening date	29 February 1964
Architect	John Graham, Jr.
No. of rooms	343 Hotel 80 Time share 586 Condominium
No. of floors	20
Website	http://www.ilikaihotel.com/index.html

The Ilikai is a landmark oceanfront high rise hotel and condominium at the western end of Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawai'i. When it opened in 1964, the Ilikai was the first luxury high rise hotel in Hawai'i.^[1]

The Ilikai is also well known, outside of Honolulu travelers and residents, for appearing prominently in the opening credits of the long running 1970's TV series Hawaii Five-O. The show's star, Jack Lord, is standing on the Ilikai penthouse balcony when a helicopter dramatically rises up behind him.

[edit] History

The Ilikai was the idea of Chin Ho, a self made millionaire. The building was designed by John Graham, Jr., who also designed the Seattle Space Needle. The original building features three wings radiating from a central point in a "Y" shape. Another unique architectural feature is the external glass elevator, which runs express to the top floor. A shorter single wing building was added later, across the open air lobby and pool.

In 1974 Chin Ho sold the property to hotel chain Marriott International.^[1] In 2000, the property was renamed Ilikai Waikiki Hotel and reflagged to Marriott's Renaissance line.^[2]

In 2006, the hotel portion was purchased by Brian Anderson and Anekona Development Group.^[3] In 2009, the hotel, which was facing foreclosure, was acquired by New York-based iStar Financial. They own the 203 units that make up the hotel portion of the Ilikai. Honolulu-based Aqua Hotels & Resorts is currently running the property.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Ilikai Hotel - History". http://www.ilikaihotel.com/about/history.html. Retrieved 2009-02-07. 
2. ^ "The Ilikai/Hotel Nikko Waikiki Reglagged as Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki". http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PressReleases2000_1st/Feb00_IlikaiReflagged.html. Retrieved 2009-02-07. 
3. ^ "Anekona Development Group, Owner of the W Honolulu Hotel, Acquires the Former Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel". http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2006_3rd/Jul06_Ilikai.html. Retrieved 2009-02-07. 

[edit] External links

• WaikikiOceanfrontRentals.com Condo Rentals in the Ilikai