ROMER HOUSE WAIKIKI HOTEL
Posted on Jun. 30, 2025 / Native Species, Edible Landscapes / Subscribe 0
By: Dana Anne Yee
A request for an article about Sustainability and Design? Well, I have one to share!
In the heart of Waikīkī lies a little oasis. A gem!
Figure 1. A Lo`i Kalo in the heart of Waikīkī! Kalo was planted reminiscent of the old Waikīkī Lo`i Kalo of the 1800s.
Kalo, is planted reminiscent of the old Waikīkī Lo`i Kalo of the 1800’s. On Nahua Street near the Mauka entrance of the International Market Place is a Lo`i. Other culturally significant Hawaiian plants were planted plentifully at the front entrance, welcoming all. E Komo Mai, to the 21,397 s.f. renovated 179-room mid-century style architectural hotel.
The owners wanted a lush and green landscape. But how to accomplish this with a landscape in the center of Waikīkī, at a small hotel surrounded by concrete, limited planting spaces, and a small budget? With this lack of space, a 3,400 s.f. amenity deck on the second floor was built over the existing parking lot which created entertainment and planting spaces. Working closely with the team, the landscape architect had to compete for this precious space. After years of meetings and designs, the landscape came to life for the opening of the Romer House Waikīkī Hotel.
THE CHALLENGE:
Lush, green, few flowers.
The challenge was difficult- lush, green, few flowers, in a small area? The landscape architect worked diligently and described the plants to people unfamiliar with our island’s flora. After many design revisions, it worked! The landscape architect filled the landscape with as many native Hawaiian plants and plants used by the Hawaiian culture, while being sensitive to environmental sustainability and having a functional, usable landscape.
Figure 2. Hawaiian plants that are planted throughout the gardens from Hapu`u, ‘Akia, `A`ali`i, Carex, Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo, Kupukupu Ferns, and N`ā`u.
QUALITY OF DESIGN AND EXECUTION:
Any chance to teach our Hawaiian culture to our visitors is a golden opportunity. And this landscape did just that. The on-grade, closed-bottomed, and ceramic pot planters were filled with plants that met the Owners’ request for lush, green, and few flowers. After filling up the landscape spaces with plants, the Romer House Waikīkī seemed to come alive. Everyone’s spirit was reinvigorated after a difficult , long design and construction renovation project, bringing smiles to their faces.
Figure 3. Guest rooms that look out onto the amenity deck needed privacy, but also an open feeling to see through. Groupings of Ki’s were placed in front of the sliding doors to allow the guests to see through, but also as a screen to prevent looking directly into the rooms.
Large green leaves. It might have been simple to just plant a single species of Monstera sp., but the landscape architect wanted to provide an experience for the visitors through the planting of varieties of green plants, including large leaves of Kalo, `Ape, Ki, Heliconia, and native Hapu`u with smaller leaves of native `Akia, `A`ali`i, Carex, and N`ā`u. Imagine accomplishing the owner’s request while being able to share our Hawai`i’s glorious endemic and indigenous plants along with lei and canoe plants.
NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS:
The landscape architect hopes that planting native Hawaiian plants will contribute to preserving native Hawaiian plant species and ultimately teaching and perpetuating the Hawaiian culture to our visitors. The owners are enthusiastic about their new native and cultural plants and plan on hosting future educational plant activities with their guests.
Figure 4. The planting of xeriscape plants and native Hawaiian plants, such as native Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo was a necessity in the reduction of water use and helps to contribute to our part in preserving native Hawaiian species and perpetuating the awareness of our Hawaiian culture to our visitors.
Many native Hawaiian plants are planted throughout the gardens including Hapu`u, ‘Akia, `A`ali`i, Carex, Koki'o ke'oke'o, and N`ā`u. Planting native Hawaiian plants created habitats for our native species.
The landscape of the interior added to the warmth and greeting of the dark interior. The interior landscape filled the spaces with much-needed life and light.
Figure 5. The colorful interior landscape added a warm welcome.
SUSTAINABLE GARDENS:
Part of the meaning of sustainability is to provide sustenance and nourishment by growing edible plants. The landscape architect accomplished planting Lo`i Kalo in front of the hotel in view from the new restaurant, for future harvesting and educational experiences.
All of these plants contributed to this environmentally sensitive landscape. In a big city like Honolulu, we have seen many large trees removed for progress. We have seen projects having minimal plants, but this Hotel’s direction for a lush landscape in Waikīkī was impactful and a refreshing direction.
Figure 6. Waikīkī - City sidewalks, Busy sidewalks - now graced with Native Hawaiian plants and culturally significant plants, all learning tools for our visitors to enjoy.
HAZZARD MITIGATION
Care was taken to adhere to this Waikīkī Special Design District, accessible pathways were maintained, and ceramic pots were strategically placed to prevent guests from falling.
RESILIENCE STRATEGIES:
The plants will continue to grow in this special space in Waikīkī. The kalo can be harvested yearly. Many native white terns (Gygis alba) known as manu o Kū birds in Hawaiian, were seen flying over the banyan tree as if to say, “We are happy with your new landscape, and we would like to make this our new home.” It seemed so appropriate at the end of the project to look up and see native white terns.
Figure 7. A native Hawaiian white tern, at the Romer House Waikīkī Banyan Tree, also seemed to welcome and bless the hotel. E Komo Mai!
DESIGN VALUE TO THE CLIENT AND COMMUNITY
In the heart of Waikīkī, the landscape came to life at the Romer House Waikīkī Hotel. This landscape is now filled with lush, green, and edible plants sharing Hawai`i’s glorious endemic, indigenous, lei, and canoe plants, which hopefully contributes our little part in beautifying Waikīkī and preserving native Hawaiian plant species while teaching, bringing awareness, and perpetuating the Hawaiian culture to our visitors. Hopefully, the sharing of stories and traditions will inspire those who travel here. And to think, they have the welcoming and blessings of a native White Tern. E Komo Mai!
TEAM:
Client: Highgate Hawai`i Group, Rebecca Weinstein, Ryan Facer
Landscape Architect: Dana Anne Yee, Landscape Architect, LLC
Architect: BWA Design LLC dba Benjamin Woo Architects,
Melvin Nakaoka, Elliot Lazo, Norman Soohoo, Lorrine Atagi
Construction Consulting: Rider Levett Bucknall, Mackenzie Hulihee
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General Contractor: Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc., Kai Huang
Landscape Contractor: Hui Kū Maoli Ola, Jana Akaka, Rick Barboza
©2025 Dana Anne Yee, all rights reserved.
Dana Anne Yee, FASLA, LEED AP, ISA Certified Arborist, RA, MOCA, City Planner, UH Master Gardener Emeritus, Mayor’s Arborist Advisory Committee, TRAQ from the firm of Dana Anne Yee, Landscape Architect, LLC. www.danaanneyee.com. Dana has been a presence in the Landscape Architectural profession and has a long-standing pattern of service to her profession and the community, served as President and currently Trustee of ASLA Hawai‘i. Dana was honored as a Fellow with the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2012. Dana has served as President and is currently an Advisor for the Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Vice-President for Scenic, Hawai‘i, Inc., Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of the Culture and the Arts, and she currently serves as Vice Chair on the Mayor’s Arborist Advisory Committee. The Dana Anne Yee Foundation, www.day1foundation.org, is a 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation. The board of directors and members will continue in their commitment to serve and protect Hawai'i’s delicate ecosystem and natural environment in their pursuit to help to preserve Hawai‘i’s beauty and to keep our Hawai‘i green.
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