Halekulani - Honolulu, Hawaii - A ``Heavenly'' Luxury Hotel on Waikiki Beach

The history of the Halekulani stretches back to 1907, when Robert Lewers opened the Hau Tree residential hotel on this Waikiki Beach property. In the beginning it was just a beachfront house and five bungalows, but in 1917 the grounds were expanded to five acres, more bungalows were added, and the hotel was given its current name, which means "House Befitting Heaven.''

In 1930, the old Lewers home was replaced with a plantation-style main building. Then in 1984, four low-density wings were added in place of the bungalows, along with lush gardens and open courtyards, to create the intimate 453-room resort seen here today. None of the buildings rises higher than 17 stories, making the Halekulani something of a hidden gem among the towering structures that line the ocean shore on either side.

Indeed, the hotel's mission to provide a luxurious holiday experience, as defined in its three guiding principles: Wellness, Connoisseur, and Masterworks. Everywhere within the resort, emphasis is placed on soothing each guest's mind, body and spirit through the introduction of fine cuisine and fine arts, amid the natural beauty that is Waikiki.

All guest rooms are fully air-conditioned, featuring wall-to-wall carpeting, a separate

sitting area with a love seat and chair, a coffee table, business desk, large personal terrace and either twin or king-sized beds. Standard room sizes range from 519 to 720 square feet, and the majority offer views of the Pacific.

Among the dozens of elegant suites available here are three special Premier Suites overlooking Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach. The one-bedroom Vera Wang Suite, created by the famous designer herself, exudes stylish sophistication with 2,135 square feet of interior space, plus a 642-square-foot oceanside lanai. The Orchid Suite has a distinctly European flair, while the Royal Suite, which is the largest at 4,066 square feet, emphasizes traditional Hawaiian elegance. It has two bedrooms, a dining room, dressing area, 2.5 bathrooms, full kitchen facilities, a large wraparound lanai and its own personal butler service.

A special treat for guests at the Halekulani is access to the hotel's luxury car collection. The fleet includes a Maserati GranTurismo, a custom-designed Bentley Continental GTC, a Lotus Elise, and a Lotus Exige S. Vehicles may be rented for the day or are included for the free use of those staying in any of the Premier Suites.

Other guest facilities on the premises are a 46'x82' heated pool and an award-winning spa, along with a fitness room, a business center, 8,200 square feet of meeting space, and a hospitality suite. There is also an in-house laundry and dry cleaning facility, a print shop, bakery, florist and the teak-paneled Halekulani Ballroom, which can accommodate receptions for up to 500 persons.

For dining, guests can choose from three restaurants. "La Mer'' has earned a Five Diamond rating from the AAA for its neoclassic French cuisine, romantic ocean views and excellent service, open 6pm to 10pm daily. "Orchids'' is an open-air restaurant with the finest in contemporary seafood. And "House Without A Key,'' once featured in a 1925 Charlie Chan mystery, serves informal breakfasts, lunches, cocktails, appetizers and entertainment under a century-old Kiawe tree, including nightly Hawaiian music and hula dancing.

From 7:30pm to midnight, Lewers Lounge offers one of Honolulu's best cocktail programs, plus live light jazz and contemporary music nightly. And each afternoon, from 3pm to 5pm, the Veranda invites guests to an elegant afternoon tea overlooking the courtyard. Of course, in-room dining is available, too, 24 hours a day.

The Halekulani is located at 2199 Kalia Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815..