Kaiser laid the groundwork for Hilton Hawaiian Village

By Bob Sigall

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 22, 2012

~~<p>In 1955, Henry Kaiser bought the 8-acre John Ena estate in Waikiki. He then added a 6-acre parcel that was formerly the site of the Old Waikiki hotel, built around 1900 and redeveloped into the Niumalu Hotel in 1928. The properties cost Kaiser $2.5 million. He turned the property into the Hawaiian Village Hotel.</p>
<p>The area was known to Hawaiians as Kalia, which held Waikiki's largest fishponds. It was Duke Kahanamoku's childhood home. In 1908 the military filled in the fishponds and developed Fort DeRussy, named for Brig. Gen. René Edward De Russy (17891865), superintendent of West Point.</p>
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In 1955, Henry Kaiser bought the 8-acre John Ena estate in Waikiki. He then added a 6-acre parcel that was formerly the site of the Old Waikiki hotel, built around 1900 and redeveloped into the Niumalu Hotel in 1928. The properties cost Kaiser $2.5 million. He turned the property into the Hawaiian Village Hotel.

The area was known to Hawaiians as Kalia, which held Waikiki's largest fishponds. It was Duke Kahanamoku's childhood home. In 1908 the military filled in the fishponds and developed Fort DeRussy, named for Brig. Gen. René Edward De Russy (17891865), superintendent of West Point. Login for more...