George Lycurgus operated one of the first small hotels in Waikiki, but he was best known for hosting hundreds of visitors at the Big Island's Volcano House on the rim of Kilauea Caldera.
Born in 1859 in Sparta, Greece, Lycurgus came to Honolulu in 1889 and joined his relatives in a fruit business. He also bought the California Wine Co.
Lycurgus entered the hotel business in 1893, when he opened the Sans Souci Hotel in Waikiki. He also acquired the Union Grill restaurant in Honolulu. The Sans Souci hosted author Robert Louis Stevenson in 1893, and two years later was a headquarters for Royalists who tried to return Queen Lili'uokalani to the throne. Lycurgus was imprisoned on a treason charge, which was later dropped.
Lycurgus started his first Big Island venture in 1902 with the Demosthenes Cafe. Two years later, he took over operations of the Volcano House and in 1908 acquired the Hilo Hotel, once the summer palace of King Kalakaua.
Newspapers described Lycurgus — also called Uncle George — as the patriarch of volcano watchers and perhaps the world's most avid volcano fan. He was known for offering gifts of 'okolehao or a bottle of gin to volcano goddess Pele.
While visiting Greece in 1914, Lycurgus was caught by World War I and didn't return to the Islands until 1920. He then sold the Volcano House, and 10 years later bought it back in a receivership sale. A fire destroyed the hotel in 1940, but he rebuilt and reopened it the next year.
He died in 1960 at the age of 101.
