In 1927, Hawai'i-born Bill Tapia already had a lifetime's worth of musical experiences under his belt. He was 19 years old and criss-crossing the Pacific Ocean playing jazz guitar for steamship passengers.

During a trip home to see his parents, though, band leader Johnny Noble offered him a few extra dollars to stay here for a special job: Playing on opening night of a new hotel in Waikiki: The Royal Hawaiian.

Last night, 81 years later, as The Royal Hawaiian prepared to shut down for six months and an $85 million renovation project, Tapia was back home, playing his first love, the 'ukulele, for hundreds of adoring fans in one of Honolulu's most storied musical venues, the Monarch Room.

And if you didn't already know that Tapia was 100 years old, you'd never guess it from the way he handled the instrument and crowd with high-powered energy, enthusiasm and wit.

"I opened The Royal Hawaiian hotel, and now here I am closing it, too," Tapia said to a roar of approval from the crowd.

Playing the 'ukulele and telling jokes, Tapia thrilled the crowd with an easy musical style, a constant smile and a remarkable memory.

Tapia, who was born in 1908 across the street from what is now The Queen's Medical Center at a time when Honolulu had neither paved roads nor street lights, bought his first 'ukulele for 75 cents at the age of 7. But by age 15, he had traded the 'ukulele for guitars and banjos and a life in the jazz community and teaching music, mostly on the West Coast, where he settled in 1946.

It wasn't until more than 50 years later, after the deaths of his wife, Barbie, and daughter, Cleo, that he started playing the 'ukulele in public again. He's been selling out concerts and lifting the spirits of listeners ever since.

Six years ago, he helped celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Royal Hawaiian, and he performed there again last year on its 80th anniversary for staff members and their guests. He released his first album in 2004 at the age of 96 and followed that a year later with another. He celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year along with 900 fans at a performance in San Pedro, Calif. Last night, though, was the first time he had performed for the public at the Monarch Room with his 'ukulele.

Royal Hawaiian General Manager Jon Gersonde invited Tapia to perform last night and send the hotel off on hiatus in musical style. Tapia was joined on stage by Jeff Peterson on guitar, Ernie Provencher on bass and Hawaiian singer Mihana on vocals.

Mihana told the crowd how she met Tapia several years ago in his California home and was astonished to see a decades-old picture of her mother, singer Irmgard Aluli, on his wall. Tapia told Mihana that he taught Aluli how to play the guitar. That brought tears to her eyes, Mihana said.

Mostly, though, last night's show put a smile on the faces of people who came to hear Tapia and spend a little time in The Royal Hawaiian before it closes — and perhaps, changes.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Roy Brillante said he saw Tapia in a show a couple of months ago and had to come back for last night's event. "And, hopefully, I'll have tickets again when he reopens the Monarch Room in six more months," Brillante said.

Jay Ferschweiler brought his 69-year-old mother, Consuelo, to the show and she ended up buying one of Tapia's CDs. "My mom saw a story about the show this morning and she just suggested that we come," said Ferschweiler, who is visiting Hawai'i from San Diego.

The hotel will close tomorrow and won't reopen for at least six months as it undergoes a complete overhaul.

Company officials envision the reopened hotel retaining its classic feel, but with modern upgrades in the decor and amenities. And yes, it will still be painted pink and offer pink towels and robes to guests.

On the night in 1927 when the hotel opened at a cost of $4 million, the Honolulu Symphony performed for 1,200 guests who paid $10 each to be there. Tickets for last night's show were $48 —not bad considering all the history that came with the event.