Outrigger adds more Hawaiian artifacts

Outrigger adds more Hawaiian artifacts
- 2004-05-21 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

The locally-owned Outrigger hotel chain has added more museum-quality Hawaiian artifacts to its flagship Outrigger Waikiki hotel, pursuing a policy that a more authentic cultural experience is good for guests, employees and the state.


The $20 million renovation of the 530-room hotel was planned around such artifacts, and there are now two dozens such items on display, many on loan from private collectors, galleries and museums from both Hawaii and the mainland.

"The oldest items are three large wooden fish hooks and an octopus lure, all of which date back prior to Captain James Cook's arrival in 1778," Outrigger said in updating the project Friday. "Other rare items include several kapa pounders, koa wood daggers, wooden bowls, a stone poi pounder from Kauai and two very hard-to-find women's hair combs made from wood and turtle shell during King Kalakaua's era."

Many of the items will remain on permanent exhibit, Outrigger said, while a series of additional items will be rotated through on a quarterly basis under the themes of weapons, canoes, stone items and fishhooks.

"This exquisite collection represents the very heart of this hotel," said Kimberly Agas, operations VP for Outrigger's Waikiki Beachfront Division. Agas, who is part Hawaiian, personally assisted in the acquisition of the items. "This entire display reflects the rich history and beauty of the Hawaiian culture, which is exactly what we want our guests to experience."

Items on loan were obtained by private collectors Caroline and Don Yacoe of Honolulu. Many of the artifacts came from their private collection and through relationships with various galleries, including the Fortess Collection of Honolulu, Honolulu Academy of Arts Lending Collection, Deroche Gallery in San Francisco and the Kamuela Museum on the Big Island.

"One of the rarest items in the exhibit is a whale tooth necklace worn only by Hawaiian Alii (royalty)," Caroline Yacoe said. "I don't think you could put a value on such a special piece. It's absolutely magnificent and extremely rare."

The items are on display in a massive 20-foot long, five-piece display cabinet, which is actually a testament to Hawaiian art history. The cabinet and two koa wood tables were specially designed by Jan Yamamoto and inspired from actual pieces created by the finest cabinetmakers to Hawaii's Royal family -- John Joseph Halstead, Wilhem Fischer and F.N. Ostremba. The pieces were crafted by Honolulu artisan James Ferla following designs that can be seen reflected in pieces on display at Iolani Palace and Bishop Museum.

The 18-month renovation of the Outrigger Waikiki is mostly done. All guestrooms, corridors, meeting rooms, public areas and the lobby are refurbished; a new restaurant opens next month to complete the project.