Most hotels boast a new look after renovations, but how many can claim a new scent? In the case of the recently debuted OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Paradise, the delicate fragrance of pīkake (jasmine) wafting through its lobby symbolizes a revival of the hotel’s royal Hawaiian legacy as much as remodeled and refreshed rooms and amenities.
“One of the biggest changes is that we were able to pay tribute to Princess Ka‘iulani in many different aspects of the hotel,” notes general manager Kiana Beimes, referring to the beloved crown princess of Hawai‘i who died in 1889, at age 23. “This hotel is part of Ainahau, the name of her estate, and since she lived here, we pretty much incorporated all of her memory into all areas. From the moment when you walk in, you smell her favorite fragrance, which is pikake — the same name as her favorite bird, which was the peacock.”
The fragrance is not the only tribute paid to Princess Ka‘iulani in the 443-room hotel, formerly known as Ohana Waikīkī East. Artist JT Ojerio of Aloha De Mele, one of several local artists whose work is showcased, painted pikake on a surfboard in a mural on the street level of the lobby. Works by muralist Kamea Hadar and contemporary visual artist Marques Hanalei Marzan as well as live floral displays also feature other flowers and plants once grown at Ainahau, including 500 coconut palms planted in Ka‘iulani’s honor, according to Beimes.
Princess Ka‘iluani’s former estate “was portrayed as a paradise garden, and that’s why we selected the name Waikiki Paradise,” Beimes explains. “Images of Ainahau depict lush foliage throughout the estate — tons of coconut trees, tons of flowers like hibiscus and pikake — so we tried to reimagine the hotel and bring our guests back, but also forward. We blended modern comforts with the traditions of how this place used to be.”
The completely redesigned pool deck on the hotel’s first floor, above the lobby, epitomizes that blend of modernity with the history of Ainahau as a lush private enclave. The deck includes daybeds, cabanas, water chairs and a Jacuzzi tub, plus a brand-new, state of the art fitness center featuring two Peloton bikes and Technogym equipment. Leslie Cariaga, creative director at Refinery Creative, designed the playful “Come Be Here” mural in the pool. “It’s truly an oasis in a busy metropolis. It’s like a secret garden and quite relaxing,” Beimes says. “Even when we’re surrounded by business, when people come to Paradise, they’re able to escape.”
The stylishly updated rooms are also designed as royal escapes, including custom-designed wallpaper from Hawaiian tattoo artist Kalehua Krug, contemporary art by O‘ahu artists Jack Soren and Lauren Roth, and (come January) a copy of Lei Aloha, a book by iconic Hawai‘i stylist and lei maker Meleana Estes. Along with Hadar, Marzan, Ojerio and Cariaga, these artists and influencers have been dubbed the “Paradise Originals,” Beimes says. “There’s this element of telling the story of Hawai‘i through vision and talent of these artists.”
Beimes, who grew up a block from the hotel, also has a vision for creating signature experiences that honor Princess Ka‘iulani. “We want to reignite the Princess Ka‘iulani Triangle Park right across the street,” she says. “We’ve been recognized as the caretakers of it since the pandemic, but it doesn’t have the vibrant presence it once had. We’re going to have a gardening experience where our guests will be welcome to pick pīkake and also plant some for the next group of guests. We also want to do adopt-a-park experiences where we can invite kama‘āina (residents) and guests to come mālama (care for) Princess Ka‘iulani Park around her statue.”
At the grand reopening of OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise on Princess Ka‘iulani’s birthday of Oct. 16, “we honored her statue and prayed over her with Hawaiian societies that came and adorned her with lei,” Beimes notes. “We want to make that more of a routine and ritual. Nothing is more iconic than having her adorned in pīkake lei.”
The rejuvenation of the hotel and renewed interest in Princess Ka‘iulani hold special significance for Beimes. “My whole childhood was in this area — I would come swim in the hotel pool and walk by her statue every day, and I used to surf where she used to surf,” Beimes recalls. “It’s been almost spiritual for me to come back to this place where I first started my career — my new hire orientation was in one of the meeting rooms—and to be part of this project in redesigning the hotel and honoring the princess has been very meaningful to me.”
