Polynesian Room - at the Naniloa Hotel

Hilo, Hawaii, United States

The Naniloa was first opened as a hotel in 1939. The name "Naniloa" means "very beautiful".

The Polynesian Room was built in 1964.

The Polynesian Room was an interesting construction of 4 hut-shaped buildings. Several tiki poles throughout and on the exterior walkway leading to the buildings as well.

The interior was trimmed out in a fantastic array of bamboo and tapa cloth with many unusual features, including bamboo chandeliers and a thatched roof over the stage area where each beam was capped with a Maori warclub (from Oceanic Arts).

The building fell into disuse and during "renovations" everything was painted, including many carvings that had previously been naturally finished with stain & oil.

Today, as of 2022, the site is run as a Hilton Doubletree Hotel. The Polynesian Room hut buildings are not highlighted in any promotions and it appears they have been treated as storage.

Hopefully, at some point, they will be given some attention and brought back to life...