The Kōloa Hotel
Building 9Long considered the hub of the Kōloa community, the Kōloa Hotel is believed to be Kauaʻi’s second hotel, after the Fairview Hotel in Līhu‘e. It was probably constructed at the turn of the century as an extension to the Yamamoto Store and used specifically as a lodging place for the numerous traveling salesmen, also known as drummers, who worked for large mercantile agencies on Oʻahu.
Long considered the hub of the Kōloa community, the Kōloa Hotel is believed to be Kauaʻi’s second hotel, after the Fairview Hotel in Līhu‘e. It was probably constructed at the turn of the century as an extension to the Yamamoto Store and used specifically as a lodging place for the numerous traveling salesmen, also known as drummers, who worked for large mercantile agencies on Oʻahu. These salesmen would arrive at Kōloa Landing after an often-rugged ocean trip by steamer and rowboat. They would take their samples to each plantation and plantation camp store and sometimes even fan out from house to house in outlying communities. Troops of old-time Japanese actors and the occasional solitary traveler looking for inexpensive accommodations would also stay there since a supply of meals and company was assured. The Kōloa Hotel was leased by Yamamoto and Sons until their retirement in 1982.
