Historic Pioneer Inn is star of the show

LAHAINA, MAUI -- Pioneer Inn, the oldest hotel on Maui and the oldest in continuous operation in the state of Hawaii, will celebrate its 100th year anniversary on Dec. 8.

An old-fashioned party will celebrate this inn's century in business. National, state and local dignitaries have been invited to attend in costumes from the Golden Age at the turn of the 20th century.


	Built in 1901 by Canadian immigrant George Alan Freeland, the Pioneer Inn was first called the Pioneer Hotel.

Beginning at 5 p.m., thousands of fresh flowers will be dropped from the sky onto the hotel, which will be dressed as it was for its original grand opening. Lahaina's harbor fleet will conduct a sail-by and will then be greeted by cannon fire from the Brig Carthaginian, which is moored directly in front of the inn.

Opening ceremonies will include a new Hawaiian chant, which has been composed in honor of the event. In addition to food and drink from Hawaii's many influences this past century, Pioneer Inn will feature a surprise historical entertainment program in its courtyard.

The day before, Dec. 7., the general public is invited to the Pioneer Inn's courtyard for a party and video showing of the Mervin LeRoy film, "The Devil at 4 O'clock," starring Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra and including Lahaina residents as extras.

The movie was filmed on location around the Pioneer Inn during the summer of 1960. Tracy and actress Katharine Hepburn spent so much time there during the filming that the suite they stayed in is known as the "Tracy-Hepburn Suite."

Built in 1901 by Canadian immigrant George Alan Freeland, the Pioneer Inn (which was first called the Pioneer Hotel) overlooks Lahaina Harbor and Front Street in the heart of Lahaina Town.

Its architecture is an example of a late-19th-century country inn with a collar of lacy columns and railings surrounding the exterior on both levels. In the 1960s, the Pioneer Inn expanded by removing its plantation-era theater behind the hotel and adding a new wing of rooms on the Front Street side. The old section on the waterfront still contains the original planks with square nails in place.

Over the past 100 years, Pioneer Inn has hosted scores of famous names, such as Hawaii's last queen (Liliuokalani), Mark Twain, Jack London, Sun Yat-sen, Jackie Kennedy, and Northwest author Tom Robbins.

Although it was constructed 30 years after the last whaling ships anchored in the Lahaina roadstead, it retains the flavor of a whaling inn and pub, complete with authentic antique whalers and whaling memorabilia.

Pioneer Inn is recorded as a Historic American Building in the United States' Library of Congress archives.

Information: Pioneer Inn is at 658 Wharf St., Lahaina, Maui. For reservations, call 800-457-5457 or visit www.pioneerinnmaui.com

Karee Carlucci is a free-lance writer based on Maui. She can be reached at karee@mauigateway.com.

Add P-I Getaways headlines to