This Week in Hilton History
On Jan. 3, 1957, the head bartender of Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, Harry Yee, created the Blue Hawaii tropical drink. The refreshing beverage, a combination of blue Curacao, light rum, vodka and a sweet and sour mix, is recognized for its distinct color. The cocktail became an instant hit and remains popular around the world today. Yee, the head bartender at the resort for more than 30 years, went on to invent 15 more iconic cocktails, including the Tropical Itch and Hawaiian Eye. Browse the photos to see Yee with this Hilton creation, including at a 100th birthday party thrown for him by Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in September 2018.