Things are looking up for the Ilikai Hotel's Yacht Harbor Tower.
A well-known developer has partnered with Marriott to launch a luxury hotel at the iconic location.
From the ground up, construction at the Ilikai Hotel is underway.
A new luxury boutique hotel is about to roll into town: The Waikiki Edition is in a race against the clock to open sometime this year.
"That will help and redevelop that part of the neighborhood and it really needs it because that is a jewel, a diamond that needs to be polished," said Rep. Tom Brower, (D) Waikiki-Ala Moana-Kakaako.
Renovations to what was formerly called the Ilikai's Yacht Harbor Tower is slated to become the latest premier resort hotel chain developed by hotelier Ian Schrager and Marriott International.
Edition Hotel executives are extremely tight-lipped about the project. They won't say how many people they are hiring but an online networking site shows the hotel is looking for all positions including management, banquets and administrative assistants, to name a few.
"This is going to provide jobs. I hope that's the former workers of the Ilikai are invited back," said Brower.
Ilikai officials say the Yacht Harbor Tower, although on the same property and formerly a part of the Ilikai, is now a completely different hotel, but sources say a plan may be in the works for The Waikiki Edition to take over management of the Ilikai.
"The Ilikai was getting a little musty and it needed to be redeveloped," said Brower.
One part of the redevelopment involves bringing in internationally known Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto to open Morimoto Waikiki Restaurant.
"I mean this is the melting pot for all different cuisines, types of cuisine and yeah, it'd be perfect for Hawaii," said Sharon Gale, a visitor from Canada.
"We've been talking to a lot of different people, all different backgrounds, every type of college student known," said Shannon Deaton with Morimoto Waikiki Restaurant.
