Amelia Earhart at The Royal Hawaiian – A Collection of Recently Discovered Photos from Matson Archives

WAIKIKI BEACH, OAHU, HI (June 22, 2010)

WHEN: July 24, 2010 till the end of the year (July 24 marks the anniversary of Amelia’s birthday in 1897)

WHERE: Coronet Lounge at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort

The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort has partnered with Matson Navigation Archives to present a collection of recently discovered and rarely seen photographs of aviatrix Amelia Earhart, documenting her time in Hawai‘i from December 22, 1934 to January 12, 1935 and March 18 – 20, 1937. The opening of the exhibit coincides with the anniversary of her birthday on July 24. The photos will be on display in the resort’s Coronet Lounge until the end of the year. The collection includes 65 black and white photographs that document Amelia Earhart and her Lockheed Vega, a red high wing monoplane (identification on wing NR-965-Y) on Matson Lines S.S. Lurline passenger ship and in Hawaii.

Earhart and her Lockheed Vega were transported on the S.S. Lurline from Los Angeles to Honolulu December 22, 1934 and arrived in Honolulu at Aloha Tower five days later on December 27 with her husband George Putnam and technical expert Paul Mantz. Although she was planning her solo flight across the Pacific from Honolulu to Oakland, the aviatrix also vacationed in Waikiki and was photographed relaxing at The Royal Hawaiian, having tea in a kimono robe and even sharing a pineapple with Duke Kahanamoku.

Matson Navigation Company was instrumental in the development of tourism to Hawaii and the South Pacific. A fleet of Matson Lines cruise ships, the most famous being the S.S. Lurline, traveled from the mainland to Hawaii from the 1920s to 1960s. Matson built The Royal Hawaiian so luxury accommodations were both available afloat and ashore. Matson photographers took thousands of snapshots of the celebrities who traveled on its ships and vacationed in Waikiki. Amelia Earhart happened to be one of those celebrities on the Lurline, with her Lockheed Vega in December 1934.

Matson Navigation Company Archives encompass a vast collection of photographs and artwork from Matson Lines passenger and hotel era, 1920s to 1960s.

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