The Hale Koa Hotel, Waikiki

The Hale Koa Hotel

2055 Kalia Road

Honolulu, Hawaii 96815

1-800-367-6027

1-800-955-0555

https://www.halekoa.com/

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March, 2026

The Drive Up To The Entrance

The Unloading Entrance

Hale Koa’s 50 Year Anniversary

The Lobby

The Hotel’s Year Round Tennants

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Inside The Lobby

A Wood Carving Of The Hale Koa Logo

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A Beautiful Gateway Off The Lobby

Carved Wood Stanchions With Kukui Nut “Ropes”

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The Hale Koa Parking Garage…

…Directly Across The Street From The Hotel

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Hale Koa’s Founder

The Honorable Dan Daniel

May 14, 1914 – January 23, 1988

A United States Congressman from Virginia, Mr. Daniel was a Senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, with 10 Consecutive Terms and Nineteen Years of Congressional Service. As Chairman of the House Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Panel. Mr. Daniel was Instrumental in the Development of The Hale Koa Hotel and in the Retention of Ft. DeRussy, as the Armed Forces Recreation Center of the Pacific.

He was an Unyielding Champion for Improving the Quality of Life for American Military Personified and their Families Throughout the World.

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E Komo Mai

Welcome To Hawaii

In Our Case It Was, Back To Hawaii

Diamond Head, Over Our Hotel Room Bed

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Views From Our Hotel Room

7th. Floor

Looking Left From Our Lanai

A Wyland Painting On A Building

Wyland (Robert Wyland) is a renowned marine life artist and conservationist based partly in Hawaii, famous for painting over 100 life-sized “Whaling Wall” murals worldwide.

Moving to Maui in 1979 to study humpback whales, his work in painting, sculpture, and photography focuses on ocean conservation, often featuring Hawaiian marine life.

(I copied this from Google.)

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Seeing a Wyland on the side of a building just adds to the Hawaiian experience.

https://wyland.com/

If you would like to know more about Robert Wyland just click on the link above for his website. Wyland was around when we lived in Hawaii. I used to have a lovely gold whale tale charm that I got from a Wyland gallery but it has since disappeared. Perhaps I should look into replacing it? 🙂

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Looking Right From Our Lanai, Waikiki Beach

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Waking Up On Our First Morning To THIS:

When we arrived in Hawaii the time difference was 5 hours ahead of us.

While we were there and Daylight Savings Time kicked in that made Hawaii 6 hours ahead of us.

Hawaii time always stays the same, they don’t participate in Daylight Savings Time.

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So, What Are We Doing Back In Hawaii?

Well, I’m Going To Tell You…

It was back in December, 2024 that our son Brodie proposed to his longtime girlfriend Mackenzie at Bok Tower Gardens in Florida.

If you would like to read more:

Click Here For Mother Of The Groom

I do document our lives and experiences on our websites.

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We lived in Hawaii for 13 years with both of our children being born in Honolulu. The islands, and the state of Hawaii has meant a lot to us. When we left in 1999 we just never got Hawaii out of our systems. The cultures have stayed with us. They have been a large part of us. We even celebrate to this day some of the Asian and Polynesian traditions and holidays. Hawaii played a big role in our lives and I believe that when it came time to both Brodie and Mackenzie choosing a location for their wedding, they chose Hawaii.

Me, Waiting For The Elevator

Time To Go Exploring The Hotel

Stairs Leading Down To The Pools, Restaurants, Shops, Luau, And The Beach

We have stayed at The Hale Koa before a few times, but that was back in the 90’s. So much has changed since then.

The Big Banyan Tree at The Hale Koa

One thing that we never got to do during our 13 years of living in Hawaii is to just hang around the hotel. Any hotel. We were poor military and never had the kind of money that would allow us to do so. Therefore, it was fun just to wander around taking photos and taking in all that The Hale Koa had to offer.

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The Grounds and the Landscaping were Beautiful!

The Hale Koa Hotel Waterfall Near The Luau Entrance

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The Luau Garden Entrance

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Walking Around The Hale Koa Hotel Grounds

The Blooms Look Like Delicate Tissue Paper

The Unique Palms

Wooden Shutters

The Landscaping

Plumeria Blooms

Shell Ginger

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We Have This In Our Front Yard Landscaping As Well

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A Random Bamboo Fence

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Hala Tree

The Tree Ceiling Was So Thick And Woven Together, It Was Like An Umbrella

Every Detail Was So Beautiful! Even A Drain.

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Looking Up From Where We Are

The Bougainvillea Atop A Pergola

We Were Also Scouting Out Photo Op’s And Came Across This Sanctuary

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Hawaiian Tropic

Don’t Forget The Sunscreen 🙂

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We were buying a few things from the Exchange at the Hotel and I grabbed a Chicken Salad Sandwich for me, a Ham and Swiss for Gordon, and some Maui Onion Potato Chips.

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Nice Oceanside Lunch

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Ready To Hit The Pool?

They Have An Adult Pool and Spa

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Hanging Heliconia

There are many varieties of Heliconia. It is one of my favorite tropical flowers.

Can You Find The Bird?

More Heliconia Varieties

I Don’t Know What This Is But It Is Standing At Attention

I Love How This Is Growing Out Of The Tree Here

I Don’t Believe These Are Christmas Berries, But I’m Still Looking To Identify

I forget the name of the long Bloom left, but the yellow cone shapes on the right are a Ginger, Awapuhi.

Variegated Anthuriums

I Believe These Might Be Young Royal Palms

More Varieties of Palms

More Ground Cover That I Cannot Identify, But Beautiful None The Less

I Do So Love The Crooked Trees

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Meanwhile, Back To The Hotel Room….

We Grabbed Some Spam Musubi From The Exchange Store

To Eat For Dinner In Our Room

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Mini Fridge In Our Bathroom

Sandwiches, Sushi, Veggies, Salsa, Pasta, Fruit, Juices, and Flower Leis

We didn’t have a microwave in our room, but there was one right across the hall from us in the laundry area that we would use when necessary.

Also, there was only ONE WASHER AND ONE DRYER for the entire floor in that room! Surprisingly, it was always available when we needed to use it.

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We Made A Lot Of Sun Tea

Aloha Mints and Some Trinkets

Our Hotel Room Desk

My Coconut and Mango Treats in my New Coconut Bowl

Note Pads

Postcards

(I even mailed a few of them to myself using my Elvis Stamps.)

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Aloha Soy Sauce Packets Along With Plastic Cutlery

When we first moved to Hawaii back in 1986 we were poor and living in the slums of Waikiki. We barely had any money and one thing we would do is to hit up the fast food restaurants and take the salt, pepper, napkins, condiments, cutlery, straws, etc. And now here we are 40 years later and still doing the same. 🙂

Love These Kona Bars

My Hawaiian Tote and Pareo’s For Tablecloths

We did load up on the snacks.

We did also bring a few food items from home along with some paper plates and napkins.

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Loosing Weight On Vacation

In our two weeks in Hawaii I probably lost a good 6 – 10 pounds. I don’t know precisely because I never weighed myself. I could just tell by looking at myself in the mirror and how my clothes were fitting me. I am one of these people that always looses weight when I go on vacation because I don’t think about food that much. My mind is more focused on the fun tourist activities, taking photographs, lots of walking, etc. To me food is getting a bite of something here and there and then it’s off to the next sight to see. I may end up putting some of it back on but I am going to try and keep it off. Thin just feels so much better than fat.

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I Claimed This Bed For Some Of My Things

I like seeing all that I have sprawled out in front of me.

I also would lock everything up in the suitcases whenever we would leave the room. Well, not everything. We did leave some clothing hanging in the closet and things tucked in drawers, but everything else was locked away.

Me, Settling In For The Night (Even Though It Is Light)

Hey, we were in a time zone where we were 5 hours behind our Florida time. We would go to bed early in the evening, and get up early the following morning.

Also, all those bags you see in front of the headboard are gifts for the Rehearsal Dinner Luau.

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E Komo Mai To The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Luau

If You Would Like To Read More:

Click Here For: E Komo Mai to the Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Luau

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We Bought Double Here

For Brodie and Mackenzie at the Luau, And For Us

Just Some Extra Things We Found In The Exchange Gift Shop

Kukui Nut, Shell, and Seed Leis

We Bought Several Of These For Luau Guests

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The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Luau

If You Would Like To Read More:

Click Here For: The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Luau

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Going Down?

Our 7th. Floor Hibiscus Beach Elevator Door

Some of the Other Floors Beach Elevator Doors

How Beautiful They All Are

Ground Floor Honu. My Favorite 🙂

Every Floor Had It’s Own Unique Beach Elevator Door

The Honu Was At The Bottom Of Every Floor

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The Magnificent Hale Koa Family Pool Complex

Isabelle and her dad, Brian

When your child or grandchild is happy, then you are happy! 🙂

Isabelle Exhausted Herself On This Day And Slept 14 Hours That Night 🙂

Gordon Taking A Photo Of Me, Taking A Photo Of Him

I Did Get Some Good Flea Market Book Purchasing Reading In The Sun

Check Out That Waikiki Beach View

Our Isabelle, Happy As Can Be

The Happy Family

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Our Great Table

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Isabelle Loved The Ship

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Isabelle, Brian, and Veronica

Waikiki Beach at Hale Koa

Splashing Around, and So Very Happy

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Me, Checking Out My Photos

The Blue Bag Right, Was A Gift From Mackenzie’s Family From The Wedding To All The Guests,

LOVE IT! Perfect For All Of Us Couples!

Isabelle And Her Protectors

Tutu Papa

Cutie Isabelle

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Veronica and Isabelle Enjoying Their Pool Day

A Moment of Toddler Reflection

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Happy’s Restaurant

This was one of the eateries at Hale Koa.

I do have to say that they served the best Fried Chicken Sandwich I have ever eaten in my life!

I would actually love one right now! 🙂

Happy’s Menu

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I Do Miss Using The Little Wahine’s Room 🙂

Hale Koa View From Waikiki Beach

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Diamond Head

Waikiki Beach

Me, Taking Photos

(It was here that I dug my feet in to this sand continuously, and they came out as smooth as silk. It may ruin your pedicure, but it will beautify your feet!)

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Gordon

I Can Only Imagine What Is Going On In There?

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Our Little Picnic On Waikiki Beach

We bought this Honu Beach Mat, and brought some foods for our beach picnic.

A Garden Salad for me, Sushi for Gordon, and Fruit Salad for both of us.

Sun Tea, Hawaiian Juices, etc.

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Yet Another Beautiful Doorway To Paradise

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The Banyan Tree At The Hale Koa Hotel

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Gordon and the Banyan Tree

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Look At That Beautiful Blue Moon!

I Have Never Seen A More Beautiful Moon In My Life

Our Waikiki View From Our Balcony

O.K., I think that I need to stress that I am not pointing at anything.

That is just my hand doing it’s thing. 🙂

SHAKA!!!

I Would Like To Say That We Ate Out On Our Lanai Many A Night

We could also hear the drums and music of the Luau going on beneath us.

Overlooking our lanai we could also see the Tiki Torches all lit up. It was wonderful!

Hawaiian Host Juices, CHEERS!

Eating Our Huli Huli Chicken Plate Lunches

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A Coconut Cream Dessert I Embellished With A Cupcake Pineapple Topper

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Another Great Night On Our Lanai

Pot Stickers, Fried Rice, Huli Huli Pork, and Wine

Loving The Nighttime Views

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Views From Our Lanai

Looking Down to a Hale Koa Eatery and Gathering Place, and the Adult Pool, Right

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The Hale Koa Grounds Extension

This is just an extension area of the Hale Koa grounds towards Waikiki.

It Is A Huge Park, Here Are Some Of The Residents

It Truly is Beautiful Here

I Believe This To Be A Red Jade

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The Tiki Torches

I cannot tell you enough how much we loved hearing the drums and music from the Luau Gardens every other night. The music, the drums, the fire, it was spectacular. We could then see the tourists as they would exit the Luau, walking through the grounds on their way to the main exit out the front of the Hotel.

We Do Love The Hale Koa Hotel

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We Decided To Walk Around Waikiki A Little Bit

Here We Are Headed Towards The Hilton Hawaiian Village

The Wahine Fountain

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The Story of Kalia

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The Hilton Hawaiian Hotel Grounds

At the base of the Hilton are many shops and eateries. Even a McDonald’s where Gordon ran and bought us breakfast one morning.

We also bought ourselves new wedding rings at one of the Hilton jewelry shops.

The Ducks Seem To Have It Made In Waikiki

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Fountains and Waterfalls

Me, Overlooking The Fish Pond

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I Do Love The Fish With The Foreheads

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I Have To Admit This Is The Cutest Butt I Saw While In Hawai’i 🙂

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A Sausage Tree

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The Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel

The Beautiful Sculptures In Front Of The Hotel

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Our Last Full Day In Hawaii Before We Leave The Next Day

We didn’t realize it but we got 33 inches of rain the night before. I never heard anything! No storm, no rain, I just remember waking up at about 5:25 a.m. and as I emerged from the bathroom at around 5:30, everything went BLACK!

Every little light that we had in the room went dark. Like the hotel alarm clock for example.

I knew that our building had lost power, but the other buildings didn’t.

We were supposed to keep Isabelle that day while Veronica and Brian toured the new Jurassic Park on The North Shore. So our last full day wasn’t going to be anything great for us. Perhaps hanging out at the pool, or going to the beach, etc. But, because of all the rain, we pretty much just stayed in our room and packed for our flight home the following day.

Our Very Rainy View Of Waikiki Beach From Our Lanai

The Mess That Is Packing

The hotel room was dark. We didn’t take a shower until the electricity came back on 8 hours later. We couldn’t see in that pitch black bathroom to do anything really. I thought back to when I was packing for the trip that I removed a small flashlight that I would always carry in my purse, just in case. Family members would make fun of me for carrying those kinds of things, well, we certainly could have used it that day! It would have helped out considerably. So, from now on my flashlight stays in my purse no matter what!

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When Veronica and Brian Dropped Off Isabelle….

Gordon walked over to McDonald’s at The Hilton and bought us Breakfast

Because it was raining outside, and with us having no electricity, we did have her battery operated Tablets, and I did bring Bluey Coloring Books, Crayons, and some Bluey Story Books for her to read.

We got through it all. She did a really good job of not complaining.

I am an entertainer and I had her entertained. 🙂

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Meanwhile, Gordon and I put 3 boxes together of things to mail home. We did some shopping while in Hawaii. Gordon ran them to The Post Office. He had to carry them down 7 flights of stairs because we didn’t want to risk the elevator getting stuck and not working. Of course he couldn’t carry all 3 of them at once, so he made two trips to the car garage. It was a lot of tiring work, but he made it to The Post Office and got them all off, then grabbed us some dinner on his way back to the hotel.

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I Was Taking These Photos From Our Lanai Of Workers Below

I don’t know what they were doing, but they were trying to get our electricity back on.

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Eating McDonald’s On Our Lanai

As much rain as we had we never got wet while on the lanai.

Isabelle Enjoying Her Breakfast

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Yet Another Photo Of The Work Going On Beneath Us To Get The Power Back On

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Once the power came back on hotel life went back to normal. Veronica and Brian made it back to the hotel from their Jurassic Park excursion just as the power was coming back on. Isabelle was quite good during that whole outage time. I was very proud of her. Gordon and I managed to finish packing and have our suitcases ready to go once we checked out the following morning at 4:00 a.m.. We even managed to do a few loads of laundry late that afternoon. I can’t remember what we ate for dinner that night before we went to bed, but for some reason I do think it was good. 🙂

When we left the following morning we thanked the Hale Koa for hosting us and taking such good care of us and giving us such a good time while there. We managed to get up very early in the morning we checked out and got all of our luggage down to the drop off/pick up zone. I stayed with everything while Gordon went to the parking garage, in the rain, and got the rental car. We were very sad to leave, but all good things do come to an end and it looks like we got out of Hawaii just in time before all the flooding arrived. Not to mention, the TSA Agents that weren’t getting paid and those long lines due to the government shutdown.

When we arrived in Hawaii and checked in we had started a war with Iran. When we left Hawaii TSA Agents weren’t getting paid because of a government shutdown and gas prices on the island as of mid March were $4.00 a gallon. I can only imagine what they must be at this writing? It looks to me like we got in and out of Hawaii just in time. The thing is that we love Hawaii. We weren’t there to get what we wanted out of the island and then leave. We were there to celebrate the island and it’s people and cultures. It was very sad about the flooding and all that the people have to endure being part of our country, but not really benefitting from it.

Here’s To Hawaii Strong!

Julie

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This Website Page Dictates Our Trip Over, And Our Trip Leaving