808Talk Hawaii » History

Hawaii Five-O: Book ‘Em, Chin Ho!

April M. Williams — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:45:03 +0000

The recent DVD release of the long running Hawaii Five-O television series has sparked continued rumors of a remake or feature movie which in the past week seems to have become a reality with the signing of “LOST” star Daniel Dae Kim. The original series was filmed on location in Hawaii, and ran from 1968 to 1980. Each hour-long episode featured the fictitious Hawaii State Police team solving crimes in Oahu and neighboring islands. The name Five-O comes from Hawaii’s status as the fiftieth state.

The popular opening theme song and views of the spectacular pipeline wave are easily recognized by fans. When the criminals are nabbed, the show often closed with the famous line “Book ‘em.” The DVD release has spiked renewed interest in Hawaii.

The tropical Hawaiian setting was a backdrop for crime sprees, interrogations and investigation. Waikiki and Kailua Beach were favorite locales for shooting action scenes. Car chases and street scenes were usually filmed in gritty Chinatown. The Iolani Palace in Honolulu, the only official state residence of royalty in the United States, became the offices of the Five-O team. The cast was often shown rushing down the grand koa wood stairway to protect the citizens from crime. Outside the team’s office, you can see the distinctive State Capital building. Hawaii is one of only eleven state capitols in the United States to not have an external dome. (The others are Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee and Virginia.)

The series’ main characters were played by actors Jack Lord, James MacArthur, Kam Fong Chun and Gilbert Lani Kauhi “Zulu.” While a revival show may eventually happen, bringing the original cast together again is not possible. Zulu’s ashes were reportedly scattered along Waikiki Beach while Jack Lord’s ashes were placed on the beach near his home on Kahala Beach. Kam Fong is buried at Diamond Head Memorial Park (SEC. DEV.34-C) in Honolulu, where we recently paid our respects.

Diamond Head Memorial Park (Book ‘em Chin Ho!)

Fong, of Chinese ancestry, was born in Kalihi, Honolulu, Hawaii on May 27, 1918, and died October 18, 2002. Adversity played a part in Fong’s life. He watched a younger brother burn to death in a freak painting accident. Fong was at home when two B-24 military planes collided over his house, the burning wreckage killing his first wife and two children. He was employed at Pearl Harbor and began his shift just as the attack on December 7, 1941 began, watching the USS Arizona burn.

After retiring from the Honolulu police force and before joining the television series, Fong was a disc jockey, real estate agent, talent agent, actor and ran for Hawaii governor in 1989.

With his 16-year career as a Honolulu police officer, he was a natural in his role as Detective Chin Ho Kelly from 1968-1978. His television character was named after Chin Ho, who founded the famous Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki, often used for location sequences. The opening scene with Jack Lord standing on the penthouse balcony was filmed there. The hotel’s aqua blue trim is easy to recognize in episodes.

While best known for his Hawaii Five-O portrayal of Chin Ho Kelly, Fong was a sought after character actor. According to IMDB.com, his movie credits include “Gidget Goes Hawaiian,” “Goodbye Paradise”, “Ghost of the China Sea,” “Seven Women from Hell,” “Cry for Happy” and “Diamond Head.”

Interest in Hawaii Five-O continues as the show reaches new audiences through syndication and the recent DVD release. A different cast of characters could breathe new life into the show and hook a next generation of viewers. Tourists may view the tropical location and this would increase interest in Hawaii as a vacation destination.

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
Twitter http://twitter.com/AprilMWilliams
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AprilMWilliams
CyberLife Tutors Blog http://www.cyberlifetutors.com/blog.html
Personal Blog http://aprilmwilliams.wordpress.com

Before The Beginning There Was Maui

Richard Wong — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:45:39 +0000

One day the Demigod Maui fashioned a large magic fishhook. He went to his brothers and asked them to go out to sea with him to use the hook. His brothers reluctantly agreed and went with him. On the sea, Maui instructed his brothers to paddle the canoe and not look back from where they had come. No matter what they heard, don’t look back, they were told. Maui cast his hook into the sea and told his brothers to paddle and paddle hard. The canoe moved slowly because they had hooked something large. They pulled and pulled and soon a rumbling sound was heard behind the canoe, “pull” Maui instructed, “PULL!” Finally, one of the brother’s curiosities got the better of him and he looked back. To his amazement he saw Maui had pulled the Hawaiian Islands up from the bottom of the sea with the magic hook. Due to the brother looking back, the hook let go and we have only the Hawaiian Islands instead of a continent.

The Hawaiian Islands

Photo Credit: (Waifer X) / CC BY 2.0

This Hawaiian History Moment Brought To You By:
Ohana Walking Tours with special thanks to Richard Wong

Learn more about Ohana Walking Tours by visiting them on the web.
http://www.ohanatours.org

Mal Middlesworth Remembers Pearl Harbor

April M. Williams — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:25:47 +0000

Mal Middlesworth is a survivor of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. He was an 18 year old with the Marine Detachment on the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco that morning. Years later Mal vividly remembers the scene and he is dedicated to ensuring our future generations also remember. Mal currently resides in California and is the past president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Mal agreed to speak to me recently and here are highlights from our recent conversation.

April: Where did you grow up?
Mal: I was born in Cowden, Illinois and moved to Elgin, Illinois when I was two years old. I lived in Illinois until I enlisted in the Marines.

April: What are you working on these days?
Mal: I am the past National President of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and currently editor of the Pearl Harbor Survivor Association Gram.

April: In your opinion, why is it important to keep the history and stories of Pearl Harbor alive?
Mal: He who forgets the mistakes of the past is likely to make them again. Pearl Harbor was crisis. Pearl Harbor survivors concentrate on giving presentations to students at high schools. Today’s high school students don’t know anything about Pearl Harbor. They read 1/4 page in their history books and they have no concept of the times in which we have lived. The attack on Pearl Harbor is one of the most significant events of the 20th century.

USS Arizona Memorial – Pearl Harbor

Photo Credit: (mandalariangirl) / CC BY-SA 2.0

April: Do you compare the Pearl Harbor attack to the September 11th attack?
Mal: They were both sneak attacks on American soil. It was a different type of war than we have today. We were not prepared for either one of these attacks.

April: Tell me about your experiences returning from the duty. How did Americans receive you?
Mal: We all were well received by the people when we returned home. They were grateful for our service and still are today. In the Palm Spring Veterans Day Parade, the Pearl Harbor survivor’s ride in antique cars, fire engines, trucks, etc. and always get the biggest applause of all the entries in the parade. The applause are experienced in all parades, memorial services, etc.

April: Do you feel that you currently get the proper respect and recognition from today’s younger generation?
Mal: The younger generation is busy with their iPods and their computers. When Pearl Harbor survivors set up a booth at air shows we will put down a map of Pearl Harbor. People want to know specifically where each of us was during the attack – as individuals.

Normally the first thing they ask us is where was your ship – and we use the map of Pearl Harbor to show them the location of the ship we were stationed on. If you were not in the harbor itself (Army, Army Air Corps, Marine base, military installation on the Island of Oahu) we use a second map to show the entire island.

They realize we are as rare as dodo birds. The Smithsonian is currently doing audio and video history recording. There is much interest in World War II and in Pearl Harbor survivors. Some of the 10 year olds I meet know more about Pearl Harbor than I do. Their families have brought their children up to recognize our service during those years.

The Pearl Harbor survivor slogan is “Remember Pearl Harbor. Keep America alert.”

April: While serving in the military, what prejudices did you see?
Mal: During my service I experienced a transformation, mostly due to Eleanor Roosevelt. When I enlisted, there were no Blacks and few Latinos in the military. In 1943 I was transferred to a Marine Base in Southern California and saw women Marines for the first time.

Near the end of the war, (1945) we had an all Black company of Marines in our Battalion. Many Marines from the South thought we would have a race war. This was the first non-White Marine I had ever seen. Many were college graduates. I still found animosity during and after the war. I traveled extensively in the South and was amazed at the prejudices I saw.

At the end of the war I earned a college degree and I’ve been in the media business ever since as a writer and even had my own film company. In my last job I was Vice President of productions at of one of the largest media companies in the country. I would not have been as successful in my business or my life without my service in the Marine Corp.

April: Are members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association military or civilian?
Mal: The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc. is a 501c non-profit corporation chartered by Congress. When there are no Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc. members, the national charter will no longer be legal. The charter and organization will no longer exist unlike the VFW, American Legion, Marine Corps League, etc. So we are a very unique military organization. Only military members who were on active duty at 7:55 AM on December 7, 1941 and on the island of Oahu or within three miles of shore are eligible to join.

April: Have you developed lifelong bonds with others who shared your experiences that day?
Mal: I have been a member of the Pearl Harbor survivors association for 10 years and very active in my local chapter. Some of my closest friends are Pearl Harbor survivors. In fact, I have more Pearl Harbor survivor friends than family friends here. It’s a very unique bond between us. I went to Hawaii before I joined the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. I usually go back every other year. Next year the National Convention will be held there. I have many friends who work at the Arizona Memorial. Our group now works closely with the Arizona Memorial Museum Association (AMMA) and the National Park Service. The AMMA partnership will carry on the activities of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association when we are no longer able to.

You Are Not Forgotten – Pearl Harbor

Photo Credit: (mandalariangirl) / CC BY-SA 2.0

April: When you return to Hawaii, what activities are a “don’t miss” for you?
Mal: For me it’s the tour in the late afternoon on the new boats. They take us around the whole harbor and they stop near where the ship was. Also, a visit to the other memorials like the USS Oklahoma which is a new exhibit. There are pylons, which represent each person who perished on the boat.

You can read Mal Middlesworth’s story, Pearl Harbor: Remembered, here…

Read more stories from other Pearl Harbor survivors here…

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

Pearl Harbor – Keeping Our History Alive

April M. Williams — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:05:34 +0000

Hawaiian and United States history changed forever in the early morning hours of December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

While I read my history text books as a child and understood the events, I did not connect with the history of World War II. As with Pearl Harbor, the stories of our country’s history did not come alive for me until I began traveling to historic sites.

On my first visit to Oahu, I toured Pearl Harbor’s Arizona Memorial and Arizona Memorial Museum. As we waited for tickets early in the morning, we were greeted by one of the Pearl Harbor survivors. Here was a veteran committed to educating younger generations on the lessons of our past. His warm welcome to visitors and dedication to our understanding of Pearl’s history was evident.

Years later I brought my children to the Arizona Memorial. As they toured the site and viewed the exhibits in the Visitor Center, I could see they did not feel connected to the events represented there. We rode the boat across the harbor to the Arizona Memorial perched atop the sunken ship and I realized they did not understand the enormity of the tragedy that had occurred at the site. The story of December 7, 1941 did not come alive for them as it had for me.

In contrast, they lived through the time of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. My youngest son watched the scenes unfold in real-time on live television. Their visit to Ground Zero in New York hit them right between the eyes, bringing back vivid memories of the attack.

There are parallels between these two defining moments in our history. Both were surprise attacks occurring on United States soil and led our country into war. Loss of life was great with 2,402 casualties in Pearl Harbor and 2,976 in the east coast attack.

U.S.S. Arizona Memorial Wall
Photo Credit: Noel F. Williams

There are also differences. In 1941, the attack was on a military installation while civilians were the major focus of the 2001 attacks. The government of the country of Japan invaded Hawaii while on September 11 we were attacked by terrorists. The Pearl Harbor attack happened in a concentrated geographic area while three cities were hit during the 9/11 attacks.

How do we keep Pearl Harbor’s history alive for future generations? The number of Pearl Harbor survivors is dwindling and each year it becomes more difficult for the aging veterans to travel to Hawaii. In 2006, a final Hawaii Reunion was held for Pearl Harbor Veterans with over 400 survivors in attendance.

A handful of survivors from the Pearl Harbor attack regularly meet with visitors at the center, so if your trip to Oahu includes a tour of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, look for these volunteers who are doing their part to keep history alive for us.

I was fortunate to meet a survivor of these attacks during my last visit and captured our discussion on video. Herbert Weatherwax volunteers at the center three days a week and shares his stories as he talks with visitors at the Memorial. You can hear “Uncle Herby” tell his story here.

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

In The Beginning – The Breath of Life

Richard Wong — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:13:32 +0000

One day the gods Ku (god of war), Lono (god of agriculture and fertility), and Kanaloa (god of sea and the underworld), were playing at the crater of Ulupau, which is currently the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. From the dust of the earth, they fashioned the shape of man during play. They bid man to rise from the dust and to walk the earth. However, no matter what they did they could not get man to rise out of the dust. Then came Kane, the gentle loving god of all. Kane saw the shape of man fashioned from the dust of the earth. Kane knelt gently next to the figure of man and blew the breath of life into man’s nostrils. That is the story of man in the Hawaiian culture.

This Hawaiian History Moment Brought To You By:
Ohana Walking Tours with special thanks to Richard Wong

Learn more about Ohana Walking Tours by visiting them on the web.
http://www.ohanatours.org

Battleship Missouri Gets a Facelift

April M. Williams — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:45:16 +0000

On October 14, 2009 four tug boats pulled and prodded the 54,889-ton Battleship Missouri two miles to dry dock for a facelift. Restoration specialists will work around the clock for the next three months as the USS Missouri (BB-63) benefits from an $18 million dollar preservation effort. Work will include painting and patching leaks in the hull, installing anti-corrosion systems as well as upgrading plumbing, sewage and electrical systems. Chains will replace the worn rope mooring lines. The ship will have a new tent installed on the fantail to host events. The USS Missouri Memorial Association funded this project through donations, admission fees and product sales.

USS Missouri (BB-63) arrives at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Mark Logico/Released

Mighty Mo is one of several historic sites clustered within Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. An Iowa class battleship, she is 997 feet long and 209 feet high from keel to mast. Original equipment included nine 16 inch guns and twenty 5 inch anti-aircraft guns. She could reach speeds of over 30 knots (35 mph).

The Missouri saw plenty of action in 50 years of service. Earning 11 battle stars, she was the last battleship ever commissioned by the United States government. Built in the Brooklyn New York Navy Yard and christened by Mary Margaret Truman on January 29, 1944 she sailed in time to join the Pacific Fleet during World War II. During her tour of the Pacific Theater she fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She was in Okinawa when attacked by a Kamikaze pilot who left a lasting dent on her aft starboard side that is still visible today. Perhaps the most memorable event occurred on Sept 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay. The formal Japanese surrender and signing of the Japaneseâ€“Armistice that ended World War II took place on the Missouri. A commemorative brass plaque embedded in the ship’s teak deck now marks the historic spot.

A key force in the Korean War, the Missouri was the first American ship to arrive in support of the Korean Republic. She sailed into the Korean peninsula and served there from 1950 to 1953. The nine 16 inch guns launched 2,700 pound shells a distance of up to 23 miles. The ship was decommissioned in 1955, destined for the Pacific Reserve Fleet and possibly the scrap yard. In 1986, however, the Mighty Mo was re-commissioned and retrofitted with the most advanced technology available at the time, including Tomahawk missile launchers. In 1990, she took on Iraq and Kuwait targets in “Operation Desert Storm“.

On the 50th anniversary of the December 7, 1941 attack, the Missouri made its final voyage, leading an armada into Pearl Harbor. America’s last active battleship was decommissioned once again in 1992. In 1998, she was donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to her preservation. The ship was then opened to the public as a museum, a memorial to our people and history, exactly 55 years after she was launched. Her position in Battleship Row off Ford Island honors and watches over the men of the USS Arizona who were entombed below the water just yards away on December 7, 1941. These two ships symbolize the beginning and end of World War II in the Pacific Theater.

The USS Missouri receives over 400,000 visitors who tour the ship each year. The battleship is expected to return to her position on Battleship Row in January 2010.

Designing the Missouri took 175 tons of blueprint paper. The ship was built in three years and required over 3 million man-days to complete the job.
For comparison’s sake, the Missouri is 279 feet longer and 11 feet wider than the USS Arizona. The Mighty Mo is also 5 feet longer and 18 feet wider than the RMS Titanic.
Just how big is the Missouri? If you could stand the ship on end, it would be 332 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
The nine 16-inch guns are the Mighty Mo’s trademark feature. Each gun barrel is approximately 67 feet long, weighs an incredible 116 tons, and can fire a 2,700-pound shell 23 miles in 50 seconds â€” with pinpoint accuracy.
The Missouri was the last U.S. battleship to be launched and the last to be decommissioned. She was also the most formidable. In addition to her massive firepower capabilities, she possessed thick steel armor plating that protected the hull (13.5 inches), the gun turrets (17 inches in front; 13 inches on the sides), the citadel (17 inches), and the conning tower sides (17.3 inches).

USS Missouri via 808Talk on Flickr

Video: Timelapse – Mighty Mo entering drydock via Honolulu Advertiser/USA Today

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
Twitter http://twitter.com/AprilMWilliams
CyberLife Tutors Blog http://cyberlifetutors.com/blog.html
Personal Blog http://aprilmwilliams.wordpress.com

Ohana Walking Tours Brings Hawaii History to Life

April M. Williams — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:25:14 +0000

Did you know the Iolani Palace had electric lights and telephone service before the White House and Buckingham Palace? Are you interested in Hawaiian mythology? Looking for an interesting way to spend a weekend morning in Honolulu? If you would like to learn more about Honolulu history, check out the Ohana Walking Tours in downtown Honolulu Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9-11 AM. Ohana is the Hawaiian word for family and your whole gang can join in on these excursions.

Ohana Walking Tours invited our ohana to a Sunday morning jaunt with tour guide Richard Wong, a local expert on the olden days. Richard’s family has lived in Honolulu for five generations. As a young history buff, Richard researched accounts of Honolulu, Oahu and surrounding islands. Over the years he has amassed a vast collection of antique glass bottles through excavation of abandoned buildings and demolished properties. As a Honolulu police officer he often had official access into government buildings and marveled at their splendor.

808Talk Checks Out Ohana Walking Tours

We began our two-hour tour at the famous golden Kamehameha Statue on King Street in downtown Honolulu just across from Iolani Palace. It was easy to identify our guide by the Ohana Walking Tours logo on his shirt. Richard began by telling us about his family’s long history on the island of O’ahu. The tour covers Hawaii history from ancient mythology to current events. Richard covered many topics including:

Four major Gods of nature:
- Kane – God of all
- Kanaloa – God of the sea
- Lono – God of agriculture
- Ku – God of war
Captain Cook’s celebrated landing on the islands and his ultimate demise
Key battles and unification of the islands
History of the Hawaiian monarchy and the only Royal Palace in the United States
Benefactors of Hawaii schools and State Library
Architectural insights

As amateur history buffs ourselves, we were impressed with the quantity and quality of information Richard shared with us. He is an articulate orator and storyteller who kept our attention throughout the tour. When I looked at my watch, it seemed hard to believe two hours had flown by. Richard related these tales to us without use of notes.

Ohana Walking Tours: Video Tutorial

Ohana Tours recommends you call to make advance reservations though if you find yourself downtown on Saturday or Sunday around 9AM, stop by the Kamehameha Statue and look for the tour guide. To make reservations or to learn more visit http://www.ohanatours.org.

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

Happy 119th Birthday To Duke Kahanamoku

Vernon Brown — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:40:07 +0000

Duke Kahanamoku

“In Hawaii, we greet friends, loved ones or strangers with aloha, which means with love. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawaii renowned as the worldâ€™s center of understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with aloha. You’ll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed. Aloha to you.“

- Duke Paoa Kahanamoku

Happy Birthday Hawaii – 50 Years Of 50th State

Vernon Brown — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:15:49 +0000

Hawaii Becomes A State (film)

Hawaii Becomes A State (slideshow)

Oahu Districts And Ahupuaa

Richard Wong — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:00:12 +0000

The Islands of Hawai’i are divided by districts. On the island of Oahu there are 7 districts. Each district is further divided like a pie from the top of a mountain outward to the sea. These divisions are called Ahupuaa. However, there is one exception, the Mokapu peninsula on the island of Oahu. The peninsula is itself an Ahupuaa which does not extend to the top of a mountain range. Mokapu is a world meaning “sacred land” and is derived from Hawaiian moku, meaning: “division”, and kapu, meaning: “sacred.” The Ahupuaa is considered sacred for Ulupau crater (Kaneohe Marine Base), which is the site where the 4 major Hawaiian gods created man.

“In old HawaiÊ»i, ahupuaÊ»a was the common subdivision of the land. It consisted most frequently of a slice of an island that went from the top of the local mountain (volcano) to the shore, following the banks of a stream. AhupuaÊ»a varied in size depending on the economic means of the location and were meant to support roughly equal numbers of people.

AhupuaÊ»a is derived from Hawaiian ahu, meaning: “heap” or “cairn”, and puaÊ»a, pig. The boundary markers for ahupuaÊ»a were traditionally heaps of stones used to put offers to the island chieftain, which was usually a pig.

There may have been two reasons for this kind of subdivision:

travel: in many areas of HawaiÊ»i, it is easier to travel up- and downstream than from stream valley to stream valley.

economy: having all climate zones and economic exploitation zones in each land division ensured that a sudden drought or overfishing would not starve any ahupuaÊ»a or make one dependent on another.

Rule over an ahupuaÊ»a was given out by the ruling chief to subordinate members of the Ê»aliÊ»i. On the larger mountains of Maui and HawaiÊ»i, smaller ahupuaÊ»a extended up to about 6,000-8,000 feet elevation, while the higher elevations of an entire district would be included within a single large ahupuaÊ»a. These ahupuaÊ»a, such as KaÊ»ohe, Keauhou, KapÄpala, KeaÊ»au, KeÊ»anae, PuÊ»u WaÊ»awÊ»a, and HumuÊ»ula, were highly valued both for their size and because they allowed control over items obtainable only from high-elevation areas, such as high-quality stone for tools and Ê»uaÊ»u (Hawaiian Petrel) chicks. They were given to high-ranking Ê»aliÊ»i, or often retained by the high chief personally.“

Mokapu Peninsula

This Hawaiian History Moment Brought To You By:
Ohana Walking Tours with special thanks to Richard Wong

Learn more about Ohana Walking Tours by visiting them on the web.
http://www.ohanatours.org

The Bishop Estate – Kamehameha Schools

Richard Wong — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:30:11 +0000

Prior to her death, Ke AliÊ»i (princess) Pauahi being childless and having no heirs, was the last of the Kamehameha’s. With the help of her husband, Charles Reed Bishop, she setup a will and trust for the use of her estate to provide education for the Native Hawaiian children. Her will created the Kamehameha Schools in honor of her grandfather “Kamehameha The Great.” Now all the children of Hawaii were hers. Along with the Oahu campus, the school has a campus on Maui and the Big Island. The Bishop Estate is the largest non-profit charity for education in the United States.

Bernice Pauahi Bishop
1831-1884

Photo Credit:
Bronze Statue of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop by c_chan808

This Hawaiian History Moment Brought To You By:
Ohana Walking Tours with special thanks to Richard Wong

Learn more about Ohana Walking Tours by visiting them on the web.
http://www.ohanatours.org

Punahou School – Buff ‘n Blue

Richard Wong — Sun, 24 May 2009 07:20:18 +0000

Charles Reed Bishop was a very prominent business figure on Oahu in the 1800’s. So much so that one evening Charles Reed Bishop returned home following work and announced to his wife, Princess Pauahi, that he was to be one of the new Board of Directors for the new Oahu College. This new college was to be built at the site of the springs at Ka Punahou (the New Spring). He further informed the Princess that this school was to be an all white school. Following their conversation the Princess thought, “wouldn’t it be great to have a school for Hawaiians.”

The Oahu College has since become the Punahou School. That is why the school insignia is represented with the O with the wings on the side, which refers back to its history as the Oahu College. At present the Punahou School is one of the top college prep schools in the Western United States. It is also the alma mater of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

The Punahou Carnival is one of many ongoing traditional
events that take place on campus annually.

Photo Credit: c_chan808

This Hawaiian History Moment Brought To You By:
Ohana Walking Tours with special thanks to Richard Wong

Learn more about Ohana Walking Tours by visiting them on the web.
http://www.ohanatours.org

Diamond Head – Hike Into History

Richard Wong — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:46:02 +0000

Most of us are familiar with the popular Diamond Head hike. In fact it is almost a must do while on Oahu. However, many don’t know the history behind this Oahu landmark. Before Diamond Head received its current name, the Native Hawaiians knew it as Le’ahi. That changed when naÃ¯ve British sailors in the 19th century thought there were diamonds in the crater, which later was discovered to only be calcite crystals in the lava rock. In 1898 when Hawaii was annexed by the United States it added harbor defense for obvious reasons. Diamond Head then became Fort Ruger when it was outfitted with an eight-cannon battery of 12 inch caliber mortars in the crater of Diamond Head. This specific area was named Battery Harlow. The mortars were capable of launching 700-pound deck piercing projectiles at a max range of eleven miles. The crater was a great way to hide the weapons. The crater was great for hiding but bad for seeing the targets on the ocean. Before the age of radar, targets were located with telescopes and positions were telephoned back to the battery.

In 1908 began the unenviable task of constructing a proper observation. Much of this work was done with pick and shovel by hand and the construction material was lifted using cables up the side of the mountain. In the end there was a 4 level observation built for smaller guns, sightings, and coordinating with the Fort DeRussy commander which was nearby, and overall commander which was situated at the top. All the levels were connected with a spiral staircase. These levels are hard to see and for good reason.

Much of this great defense is owed to Secretary of War William H. Taft (1857-1919) who recognized the need to defend the harbors of Honolulu. Later in his life he was elected as the 27th president.

808Talk Hawaii: Top Of Diamond Head

This Hawaiian History Moment Brought To You By:
Ohana Walking Tours with special thanks to Richard Wong

Learn more about Ohana Walking Tours by visiting them on the web.
http://www.ohanatours.org

Close But Not Close Enough

Richard Wong — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:05:57 +0000

Before King Kamehameha ruled the Hawaiian Islands another ruler by the name of Kalanikupule was supreme on Oahu. Recent victory on Oahu led the chief to grow very ambitious and had his sites set on Kamehameha and the Big Island. These two already had a tumultuous past, which included previous battles without a clear victor. On January 1, 1795, the Oahu King initiated his plan, which included a meticulous plot to take ships from its white owner William Brown and use them to invade Kamehameha’s territory. While some of the ships men were dispersed inland, the Hawaiians surprised the remaining few on the ship killing Brown and others. Kalanikupule prepared his war party of approximately 40, forcing the remaining sailors to sail the Prince Lee Boo and the Jackal for the Big Island. However, instead of sailing down the coast the acting captain steered abruptly out to sea and in several minutes overwhelmed with bravery and perhaps some luck the outmanned crew regained control of the ships. Kalanikupule was then sent ashore and the ships sailed away. Upon hearing this Kamehameha felt he was as strong as he would ever be and in the early months in 1795 engaged in battle with the Oahu chief and the rest is history…

This Hawaiian History Moment Brought To You By:
Ohana Walking Tours with special thanks to Richard Wong

Learn more about Ohana Walking Tours by visiting them on the web.
http://www.ohanatours.org

Commemorating 50 Years Of The 50th State

Vernon Brown — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:03:23 +0000

Next year Hawaii will celebrate it’s 50th year as a state in the greatest nation on earth, the United States of America.

In March 1959, both houses of Congress passed the Hawaii Admission Act and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law. On June 27 of that year, a referendum was held asking residents of Hawaii to vote on accepting the statehood bill. Hawaii voted at a ratio of 17 to 1 to accept. There has been criticism, however, of the Statehood plebiscite, because the only choices were to accept the Act or to remain a territory, without addressing the issues of legality surrounding the overthrow. Despite the criticism, the United Nations decolonization committee later removed Hawaii from the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Hawaii was officially admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, making it the 50th state. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The most recent census of 2005 puts the state’s population at 1,275,194.

“HONOLULU â€“ To kick off the commemoration of Hawai’i’s golden anniversary of statehood, the 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission today began airing the first of 50 Voices of Statehood radio and television vignettes.

The vignettes, which are being recorded by the award-winning Searider Productions of Wai’anae High School, feature personal perspectives on statehood and Hawai’i’s history from 50 residents representing the stateâ€™s diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, political, social and economic backgrounds. Each week over the next year, a different vignette will air on six television stations and 60 radio stations statewide. An interactive online forum will allow teachers and students to incorporate the vignettes into their classroom discussions.

The first of the 50 Voices of Statehood vignettes features Dody Brown. Although she was only six at the time Hawai’i became a state, a young Dody was featured in a well-known 1959 photograph holding a newspaper announcing “STATEHOOD” in big, bold letters.

The 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission has planned a comprehensive year-long series of events and activities, with a special focus on education, to honor the 50th anniversary of Hawai’i’s admission to the United States. The 50 Voices of Statehood series, as well as information on the Commission, its members and the commemorative plans may be found at www.hawaii.gov/statehood.“

Source: Hawaii.gov

Links:
50th Anniversary of Statehood
50 Years of Hawaiian States
808Talk Hawaii: 50th State

Iolani Palace Takeover On Admissions Day

Vernon Brown — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:30:25 +0000

So I thought long and hard about doing a writeup on the Iolani Palace takeover and well as you can see, I’ve decided to put it out there again. If you remember, it was just a few months back when we wrote an article titled “Native Hawaiians Take Iolani Palace“, after one group locked the gates and decide to resume control for the Hawaiian Kingdom Government. Well to no surprise it happened again on “Admissions Day”, the celebration of Hawaii Statehood, and after a recent proposal of new rules for Iolani Palace and grounds. This time it was a different group who also claims to be the rightful heir to the Hawaiian Kingdom.

I said earlier that I thought long and hard about doing this writeup because I read many responses on the web and social networks regarding recent events where some responded to people talking about it and basically said, no need to continue to talk about negative Hawaii things. So I ask, is this a negative Hawaii thing? I mean who is right and who is wrong in this matter? I sure don’t know the answer to that one, but one thing I do know is that if I were a tourist planning a trip to Hawaii, I would WANT TO KNOW that this was going on! I think I would be more upset to spend my hard earned money and travel all the way to Hawaii to then learn about the struggles of the Native Hawaiians against the State of Hawaii and the United States especially if it meant that it was going to affect my travel plans or itinerary.

I only wonder myself as may many others, who really is the Hawaiian Kingdom of today? There are so many groups who claim it, but yet it seems they are still divided. Just think of the power they would have if all the Native Hawaiian groups came together and combined into one body and fought for the same cause.

Now after reading this I want to make it clear that I’M NOT implying that it is not a good idea to travel to Hawaii, in fact right now is as good a time as any to travel to the islands and let it be known that although there may be ongoing protest from time to time, there has yet to be any violence towards visitors or residents. Yes some of the other bloggers and media gurus in Hawaii may not like to see this type of posting, but hey most out there don’t really regard my opinions or writeups anyway when it comes to Hawaii. I write for the love of it, not because I get paid to do this or because I’m seeking a social standing. WHO CARES! What matters is the now and what is happening in Hawaii.

I love Hawaii, I love the people, I love the Aloha and most of all I love telling others that this is indeed the most beautiful place on earth. As for the Native Hawaiian movement, I truly believe they have a great cause worth fighting for, so why not get the world involved to develop a global opinion on what should be done to gain recognition and therefore right the wrongs that the Hawaiians have endured, instead of just keeping it quiet and hush, hush within Hawaii.

If you got something interesting to share in regards to the Native Hawaiian movement or even the recent Iolani Palace takeovers that have occurred, please feel free to add them in the comments below. We can only hope that as Hawaii approaches it’s 50th anniversary of statehood next year, that recognition and rights will be restored to the Native Hawaiians and the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Hawaii Statehood Apparel Line Launched

Vernon Brown — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:30:29 +0000

Honolulu, HI (PMW) – August 21, 2009 is the 50th anniversary of Hawaii statehood, and a perennial Hawaii tourist has created a line of specialty apparel to mark the occasion. The line is available in wholesale quantities at www.poolsidemarketingllc.com.

Designs feature a retro take on traditional Hawaii iconography, and are available on screen-printed t-shirts, embroidered golf shirts and (of course) Hawaiian shirts.

The line is aimed primarily at the millions of Mainland U.S. visitors who travel to Hawaii every year, “but of course we hope that Hawaii residents will also find something they like, to help mark Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of Statehood,” says Don Alfano, the clothing line’s creator and founder of Poolside Marketing LLC.

Alfano is a resident of Carol Stream Illinois, but he and his extended family travel to the Aloha State at least once a year. “Hawaii means so much to me and my family,” says Alfano. “My parents will be celebrating their own 50th anniversary in August of 2009, so the date is really special for all of us. On our last vacation in Hawaii, I wanted to pick up an Hawaii statehood anniversary gift of some kind for my parents, and I was amazed at how difficult was to find anything.”

Frustrated by the lack of souvenirs commemorating Hawaii statehood, Alfano took matters into his own hands. His rough sketches have been transformed into a keepsake line of apparel that is now available for pre-order at www.poolsidemarketingllc.com. The wholesale site is aimed at souvenir retailers, gift shops, hotels, resorts, golf courses, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses. Screen-printed white t-shirts start at $7.20 each in quantities of 50.

“Each of the designs reminds me and my family of something we love about the Islands,” says Alfano, “from the surfing, to the gorgeous scenery, to the amazing golf courses, and of course the wonderful people of Hawaii. Everything that draws us back to Hawaii year after year.”

An extensive wholesale catalog of Hawaii Statehood-related apparel and accessories is available today at www.poolsidemarketingllc.com.

Hawaiian Kingdom Government Denied Right To Assemble

Vernon Brown — Sat, 17 May 2008 23:54:06 +0000

The Hawaiian Kingdom Government who recently took over Iolani Palace on April 30th has been denied a permit to assemble and occupy palace grounds which they have been granted on a weekly basis until yesterday.

State Land Board Director Laura H. Thielen denied the group an assembly permit yesterday, saying it had broken the rules of previous permits issued to the group.

“Based on their behavior over the last week, we cannot rely on the assurances that they’ve provided us because they have violated the permit conditions after full explanation of what those conditions prohibit,” Thielen said.

The group violated permit conditions by collecting money and entering buildings that were off limits, Thielen said.

A few questions I want to present to you readers out there is under the U.S. Constitution, citizens have the right to assemble peacefully which is what the Hawaiian Kingdom Government is doing. Would that apply in this case if you consider the land you are occupying non U.S. soil, which in turn would mean you are a foreign national and therefore in a foreign land that is not governed under the U.S. Constitution and laws?

Could this also mean that you did not have to comply with the conditions and laws of the State of Hawaii in this matter so therefore a permit would not be required? Would this protest and assembly then be allowed under Hawaiian rule? Would the King have permitted these actions? Just some food for thought. If you think about it, it’s a weird sort of loop that almost has no end. I’m just curious what others out there think…especially law guru’s. Add a comment below and join in this conversation.

Note:
The official site of the Hawaiian Kingdom Government which is occupying the palace grounds, is HIGovt.org and NOT HawaiianKingdom.org. For more clarification read here…

Additional Links:
Permit denied for assembly at palace
Native Hawaiian group: We’re staying
Native Hawaiians take over palace in Honolulu
Four Hawaiian royal societies criticize sovereignty group

May Day Is Lei Day In Hawaii

Vernon Brown — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:07:29 +0000

“In Hawaii, May Day is also known as Lei Day, and is normally set aside as a day to celebrate island culture in general and native Hawaiian culture in particular. While it was invented by a poet and a local newspaper columnist in the 1920s, it has since been adopted by state and local government as well as by the residents, and has taken on a sense of general spring celebration there. The first Lei Day was proposed in 1927 in Honolulu. Leonard “Red” and Ruth Hawk composed “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai’i,” the traditional holiday song. Originally it was a contemporary fox trot, later rearranged as the Hawaiian hula song performed today.“

More:
Lei Day In Hawaii
May Day Wiki
Honolulu Sets Out To Create Worlds Longest Lei
Honolulu Lei Day Celebration
Don Blanding (One of the original founders of Lei Day)

Native Hawaiians Take Iolani Palace

Vernon Brown — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:57:42 +0000

“A Native Hawaiian group that advocates sovereignty locked the gates of a historic palace in downtown Honolulu on Wednesday, saying it would carry out the business of what it considers the legitimate government of the islands.

State deputy sheriffs weren’t allowing anyone else to enter Iolani Palace grounds as unarmed security guards from the Hawaiian Kingdom Government group blocked all gates to the palace, which is adjacent to the state Capitol.“

Iolani Palace: http://www.iolanipalace.org
Hawaiian Kingdom Government: http://www.higovt.org

Source: The Associated Press

UPDATE: Sen. Will Espero Wants Answers On How Palace Takeover Occurred