Prior to 1893 and the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom the area was known as Kālia (Hawai'ian: “waited for” “waiting“, ”hesitating”)[4] and was the family home of five time gold and silver medalist Olympic surfer and swimmer Duke Kahanamoku.

After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy the land was held by John Ena Jr., a Chinese–American businessman with ties to the Royal Family of Hawai'i.

Dramatic redevelopment occurred from 1920–1970, including the formation and initial dredging of Ala Wai Canal in 1927,[5] creation of the Ala Wai Harbor in 1935, the creation of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in 1955 (also designed by architect Edwin Bauer, and built by Dillingham Development), and the creation of the Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Lagoon.

[8] The building is situated at the makai (oceanside) extremity of Waikiki, and is an L shaped structure facing northwest to the Ala Wai Canal and south to its namesake, the Ala Wai Harbor, the largest small boat and yacht harbor in the state of Hawai'i.

Harbor View Plaza is the only building in the south-west Waikiki Gateway,[10] one of 6 zones that designate the road and pedestrian entrances to Waikiki from the surrounding areas of Ala Moana (north-west), McCully - Moiliili (north), Diamond Head / Kapahulu (south-east).