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The iconic Ilikai Hotel will close this month, putting as many as 142 union members and an undetermined number of nonunion employees, out of work, the Honolulu Star Bulletin reports.
iStar Financial Inc., the New York-based parent of a company that bought the hotel for $51 million at a foreclosure auction in May, revealed its intention to close the hotel operation today, as UNITEHERE! Local 5, the union representing employees, planned a vigil for tomorrow afternoon to encourage the company to keep the hotel open and keep the employees working.
The closure will not directly affect operations at the 806 other condominium and timeshare units or common areas within the Ilikai property. Current guests will be moved to other hotels and those with future reservations will be accommodated elsewhere, a statement released by iStar.
The Ilikai Hotel opened in 1964 and was made famous by the opening shot of the TV series "Hawaii Five-0," which featured star Jack Lord standing on the balcony of the hotel's penthouse.