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Amelia Earhart and her husband George Putman relax at The Royal Hawaiian during a visit to Waikiki in 1934. // (c) Matson Navigation Co. Archives |
Clients visiting The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort in Waikiki, can now see rare photos of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart. The recently discovered photos come from the archives of Matson Navigation, whose cruise ships traveled from the mainland to Hawaii from the 1920s-60s.
The collection includes 65 black and white photographs that document Earhart's time in Hawaii from Dec. 22, 1934-Jan. 12, 1935 and March 18-20, 1937.
Earhart, her husband George Putnam, technical expert Paul Mantz and Earhart's Lockheed Vega -- a red high wing monoplane -- were transported on the S.S. Lurline cruise ship from Los Angeles to Honolulu on Dec. 22, 1934. They arrived in Honolulu at Aloha Tower five days later on December 27. Although she was planning her solo flight across the Pacific from Honolulu to Oakland, Earhart also vacationed in Waikiki and was photographed relaxing at The Royal Hawaiian, having tea in a kimono robe and even sharing a pineapple with legendary island waterman Duke Kahanamoku.
Matson built The Royal Hawaiian so that luxury accommodations were available both afloat and on shore. Matson photographers took thousands of snapshots of the celebrities who traveled on its ships and vacationed in Waikiki. Its archives encompass a vast collection of photographs and artwork from the 1920s-60s.
The Earhart photos will remain on display in The Royal Hawaiian's Coronet Lounge until the end of 2010.
The Royal Hawaiian
www.starwoodhawaii.com
