The Royal Hawaiian Hotel threw a reopening party on Saturday that will be remembered, and talked about, for years to come.

In spite of gray skies, the hotel sparkled as guests in tuxedos and pink gowns or cocktail dresses (many stuck with the tried-and-true little black dress) meandered through the spiffed-up grounds, First Blush champagne cocktails in hand.

Mega event planner David Beahm, who was brought in from New York to plan the gala, wanted guests to feel as though they were time-traveling through the decades, from 1927 when the Pink Palace first opened to the present. He also wanted the event to appeal to several generations. He succeeded.

The guests, who paid $350 for an individual ticket or $10,000 for a table in the Monarch Room, were greeted at the porte cochere by men in malo blowing conch shells, and women in pa'u skirts.

Entertainment in the Coconut Grove under graceful canopies began with hapa-haole Hawaiian music and hula, as well as 101-year-old Bill Tapia talking story about the first grand opening, at which he played, in 1927.

As the evening progressed and guests nibbled on kalua pig with taro rolls, crab, oysters and 'opakapaka, to name a few pupu, the music segued into a modern motif. In the Monarch Room, at a multi-course sit-down dinner, Grammy-nominated trumpeter Chris Botti entertained. On the Ocean Lawn, under a see-through tent, Ginai offered jazz stylings that got the gang dancing.

At 8:45 p.m., there was a fabulous show of fireworks over the ocean — mostly pink, of course.

Late night also offered lots of choices, with a mellow club-style atmosphere in Azure, a rockin' dance floor on the lawn, couples relaxing in the cabanas, Lopaka Colon, Taimane Gardner and Makana (in a suit, for this event) entertaining by the pool. An avant-garde water performance featured two Iona Contemporary dancers in fantasy costumes, floating and flirting in the pool.