The Moana Surfrider
What do the Duke of Windsor and Amelia Earhart have in common?
Built in 1901 by Oliver G. Traphagen (who also designed the Kalihi-Palama firehouse), the Moana is the oldest hotel in Waikiki, opening at a time when most visitors to Honolulu occupied rooms in the downtown area. The impressive two story-high porte cochere presented the citizens of the new territory with another manifestation of the City Beautiful movement. Traphagen adapted America’s “Colonial style” to meet Hawaii’s climatic needs via large openings and a broad lanai.
Guests have included the Duke of Windsor, Amelia Earhart, Joe DiMaggio, Walter Chrysler, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Boris Karloff, Loretta Young – and perhaps you.