INFORMATION VINE * 50 Unreleased Photos of Hawaii's History * 2 parts

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Hawaii is the fiftieth state of the United States, and it is the only state outside North America. Hawaii is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands and the only state in the tropics. It is also known as "The Aloha State." Hawaii became the fiftieth state in 1959. 


It is the eighth-smallest state. The natural scenery, warm climate, public beaches, and oceanic surroundings make it a popular destination for tourists. The islands are the tops of volcanoes, with some of them still active.

Fireworks in celebration of the unconditional surrender of Japan

Victory over Japan Day, V-J Day, is the day Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, bringing the war to an end. August 15 is the official V-J Day, and the formal surrender occurred aboard the USS Missouri in Japan. Cheers, celebrations, parades, and tears broke out across Hawaii when the war officially came to an end. For a week straight, they celebrated. 



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There was a huge parade, barbecues, and dancing. “Others who could find nothing with which to make noise just shouted and whopped it up with whatever wax they could. Auto horns were honked, radios blared, and conversation buzzed.” ----- Karl Wray

Congresswoman Patsy Mink

Patsy Mink was an American politician; she was born and raised on the island of Maui. She opened her own practice in 1953 and became a member of the Democratic Party. She became the first Japanese-American woman to serve in the territorial House and, two years later, became the first woman to serve in the territorial Senate. In 1964, Mink won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. 



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She was the first woman of color to be elected to Congress. She served twelve terms and worked on the legislation of importance to women, children, immigrants, and minorities. Mink was also the first East Asian-American woman to seek the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. Until her death in 2002, she served in the U.S. House.

Vietnam crisis in Hawaii

During the Vietnam War, Hawaii contributed its share. The 25th Infantry Division deployed from Schofield Barracks in early 1966. Many Hawaiians volunteered or were drafted, and over 500 Guardsmen saw combat duty in Vietnam. In 1968, the 29th Infantry Brigade, Hawaii National Guard, was ordered to active duty at Schofield Barracks. 



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The Declaration of Honolulu in 1966. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson presented a personal letter to North Vietnam and petitioned the North Vietnamese leadership to discuss a cease-fire for the upcoming new year. He hoped to resolve the Vietnam civil conflict.

Astronaut Training, Hawaii

The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation is on the Hawaiian mountain of Mauna Loa. Hawaii contributed to NASA by housing a tracking station for early human space flights, served as the first port of call for astronauts returning from the moon, provided sites for geology training for astronauts, and landscapes that mimic the surface of Mars. 



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The island of Oahu became a focal point for the recovery of Apollo missions returning from the moon. Recovery ships sailed from Pearl Harbor to meet the returning crew and take them to Honolulu. “There were an awful lot of people on the route between where they offloaded us from the recovery ship Hornet and transported us to Hickman. And the astronauts were amazed by the reception of the public.” -----John Hirasaki

John F. Kennedy in Hawaii

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy arrived in Hawaii. Kennedy started the next day by visiting the USS Arizona Memorial and paying respects to the fallen. He went to Hawaii to tell mayors from many U.S. cities that black Americans deserved equal rights. On Kennedy's way back to the airport, he stopped at the Academy of Art to autograph a bowl that is now kept by the Harvard Club of Hawaii.



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The 1961 Lincoln convertible that he rode in Honolulu carried him to his death in Dallas five months later. "This island represents all that we are and all that we hope to be. I say they should be equal in their chance to develop their character, their motivation, and their ability." ------ President Kennedy

Fashion show in Honolulu, Hawaii

In the 1960s, fashion was flower power, animal prints, longer hair for men, pale lipstick, dark eyeliner, and groovy patterns. The Aloha shirt or Hawaiian shirt is a style of dress shirt originating in Hawaii. They are buttoned and collared dress shirts, usually short-sleeved and cut from printed fabric. They would be worn as casual wear and informal business attire. 



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Traditional Aloha shirts are usually adorned with Hawaiian quilt designs and simple floral patterns. The locals tended to shy away from the “too wild” Aloha shirts. In 1965, Bill Foster led a campaign lobbying for Aloha Friday. It was a day that employers would allow men to wear Aloha shirts on the last business day of the week, a few months of the year. Aloha Friday officially began in 1966.

Hawaii During WWII

From 1941 to 1944, Hawaii was under Martial Law. Civilian government was dissolved, and a military governor was appointed. Under martial law, every facet of Hawaiian life was under the control of the military governor. All residents over the age of six were fingerprinted. Blackouts and curfews were imposed, food and gasoline were rationed, the news, media, and mail were censored, alcohol was prohibited, and business hours were assigned. 



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Violations meant punishment without appeal by the military. After the attacks at Pearl Harbor, there were 37% of residents of Japanese descent. The military officials doubted the loyalty of the island’s many Japanese Americans. “I wasn’t supposed to speak Japanese anymore. It was almost like a sin.” ----- Jane Kurahara

Polo in Honolulu, Hawaii

Polo was introduced to Hawaii from Asia through an Australian cowboy visiting from India. Hawaii’s polo fields were like a necklace of emeralds spread across the island chain. The special bond of athletic talents between horse and rider has helped polo evolve into The Sport of Kings. The first recorded polo match in Hawaii was in 1880 on a Palama field. King David Kalakaua enjoyed horse racing and polo, so he turned Kapiolani Park into a race track and a polo field. 



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The peak in polo’s popularity lasted about 20 years but gradually faded. However, there is still a faithful following in Hawaii. “They used to play arena polo on Saturday nights in the old termite palace, Honolulu Stadium.” ------Allen hoe

Dillingham Construction Office in Honolulu, Hawaii

Walter F. Dillingham founded Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. in 1902. It is the oldest and largest full-service general contractor in the State of Hawaii. Some early projects were the entrance to Pearl Harbor, the Ala Wai Canal, and Honolulu’s waterfront development. They also constructed some landmark projects like the King Kalakaua Building and the Honolulu Museum of Art. 



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They completed two five-star hotels, the four seasons Wailea Hotel in Maui and the Hawaii Prince Hotel in Waikiki. They built many of the roads and highways for Hawaii and then Ala Moana Shopping Center. Dredging played an important role in developing Hawaii’s economy and infrastructure and improving the islanders' quality of life.

Molokai Island

Molokai is the fifth most populated island in Hawaii. It lies east of Oahu and north of Lanai. The island's economy has been driven primarily by cattle ranching, pineapple productions, and sugar cane production. The island does not see many tourists. 



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Molokai developed from two volcanoes known as East Molokai and West Molokai. Kaunakakai is Molokai's largest town. In 1878, an immigrant from Germany was the first farmer on the island to grow, produce, and mill the sugar and coffee commercially. Ranching began on the island in the first half of the 19th century.

Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. The surprise attack drove the United States into World War II. There were eight U.S. Navy battleships present, and all were damaged, four sunk. Three cruisers, three destroyers, one anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer were also sunk. In the attack, 2,403 Americans were killed, and 1,178 were wounded. 



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After six months, five battleships and two cruisers were patched or refloated and sent to shipyards. The Arizona and Utah were too damaged for salvage and remained where they sunk. The Arizona became a war memorial. Japan announced a declaration of war on the United States later that day. December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy.” ----President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Premiere of the movie "Hawaii"

"Hawaii" is a 1966 American drama film about an 1820s Yale University divinity student who becomes a Calvinist Missionary in the Hawaiian Islands. It was mainly filmed on the islands of Kauai and Oahu in Hawaii. Most of the movie props were imported from Mexico, Taiwan, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Philippines. 



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Starring in the film were Julie Andrews, Richard Harris, Gene Hackman, Max Von Sydow, Jocelyne LaGarde, and Carroll O’Connor. The film was released on October 10, 1966, and it was the highest-grossing film of 1966. The film won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Score.

Dedication ceremony of the Sheraton-Maui Hotel at Kaanapali Beach

The Sheraton-Maui Hotel opened in 1963 at Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii. A special introductory rate was fifteen dollars per night, and the hotel was the only high rise along the beach. The event drew many celebrities from Bing Crosby to the MacMurray's. It was on a gorgeous beach with its own airstrip and the first 18-hole resort golf course. The Sheraton quickly grew to 240 rooms. The resort held the island’s first Celebrity Golf Pro-tournament and brought the first United Airlines to fly to Maui, delivering the grand opening guests. 



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“Sheraton Maui’s distinctive architecture was spectacular and romantic and was applauded throughout the world. It was selected for inclusion by the New York Museum of Modern Art for Architecture—USA exhibition to tour through the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the 1960s. Sheraton Maui set the standard for the innovative, luxury, Polynesian resort.” ----Alexis Eaton

David Kalakaua, King of Hawaii

Kalakaua, also called the Merrie Monarch, was the last king of Hawaii. He reigned from February 12, 1874, until his death. He enjoyed entertaining his guests with his singing and ukulele playing. The Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 was during his reign and brought great prosperity to the kingdom. 



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Kalakaua wanted Hawaiians to broaden their education, so he instituted a government-financed program to sponsor qualified students to be sent abroad for further education. The Statue of Kamehameha and the rebuilding of Iolani Palace were two of his projects. He was pressured to sign a constitution that made the monarchy mean little; died on January 20, 1891.

1959 Volcano Eruption

The eruption in 1959 of Kilauea Iki Crater was a short-lived event and produced some of Kilauea’s most spectacular lava fountains. Fissures erupted at 10:30 pm on November 14. The lava fountain reached heights of 1,050 ft and the lava pooled like a lake in the crater 365 feet deep. 



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The eruption provided the first measurable data about the magma reservoir system at Kilauea. By November 15, only a single vent remained active. There were multiple episodes of eruption between 1959 and 1960.

Staff Sergeant Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1943 and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was stationed in Hawaii and was released on a medical discharge in 1945 due to chronic stomach ulcers. He was paid $21 per month and was kept very comfortable during his service. 



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He spent most of his military career playing for baseball teams, and he was given special privileges due to his pre-war fame. While in Hawaii, he and other players mostly tanned and drank on the beaches. He eventually requested a combat assignment but was turned down. He was also stationed in California and New Jersey during his service.

The Hula Dance

The Hula is a Polynesian dance form developed in the Hawaiian Islands. The hula portrays the words of the song in a visual dance form. The ancient hula is called Kahiko and is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments. Hula, in the 19th and 20th centuries, is called ‘auana and is accompanied by song and western-influenced musical instruments. Hula dancing is a complex art form. 



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Many hand motions are used, and foot and hip movements often pull from steps, including the kaholo, ka’o, kawelu, ‘uwehe, and ‘ami. Hula changed in the early 20th century, and there has been a renewed interest in the hula. The Merrie Monarch Festival is an annual one-week long hula competition in honor of King David, who revived hula's art.

Hawaiian Leis

Lei is a series of objects, often flowers strung together with the intent to be worn. The most popular in Hawaii is a wreath of flowers. It is usually presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of affection. Common events for leis to be distributed include graduations, weddings, luaus, and dances. There are eight common methods of making a lei: Haku, Hili, Hilo< Hipuu, Humu, Kui, Wili, and Haku mele. 



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Ancient Polynesians originally wore leis; Native Hawaiians used them to signify their ranks and royalty. They were also worn as a form of honor to each other and their Gods. On May 1st, Lei Day is celebrated to honor the act of lei making and the custom surrounding it. At the 81st Lei Day, Honolulu set the record for the world’s longest lei.

The State Capital

The Hawaii State Capitol is the official capitol building of Hawaii. The building is located in downtown Honolulu and was opened on March 15, 1969. It replaced the former statehouse, the ‘Iolani Palace. Several capitol building monuments decorate the statehouse grounds. One of the prominent monuments on the statehouse grounds is the Father Damien Statue. 



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The Eternal Flame is a torch that burns endlessly as a tribute to all men and women from Hawaii who served the United States. The monument consists of 768 black marble pedestals engraved with the names of deceased service members of the Vietnam War. There is a larger marble slab that bears a Hawaiian language inscription of remembrance. A reflecting pool surrounds the capital to reflect the ocean, cone-shaped chambers to reflect volcanoes, columns around the building to reflect palm trees. The architecture is magnificent.

Gatorade Ironman Triathlon

The Ironman Triathlon has been held every year in Hawaii since 1978. The course is three events, the Waikiki rough water swim, around Oahu bike race, and the Honolulu marathon. In 1978, only 15 athletes started the race, and 12 crossed the finish line. Each was rewarded with a trophy. 



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The swim is 2.4 miles, the bicycle is 115 miles, and the marathon is 26.2 miles. In 1979, the first woman won the endurance event, Lyn Lemaire. In 1985, Jim MacLaren was the first amputee to finish the Ironman.

Banyan tree

The banyan tree was planted on April 24, 1873, in Lahaina, Hawaii. It was planted to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first American Protestant mission. It is located in the Courthouse Square and was renamed the Banyan Tree Park. It is the largest in the state and the United States. The tree was a gift from missionaries in India and was only eight feet when planted. 



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It is now 60 feet, and the canopy spreads over an area of 0.66 acres. The tree’s circumference is about one-fourth of a mile, and about one thousand people could congregate under it. At night the birds congregate in the branches of the tree, causing a cacophony of bird cries. An irrigation system in the park sustains the tree.

Traditional ceremonial clothes of ancient Hawaii

The basic garments were a malo (loincloth) for men and a skirt for women, and a rectangular shawl or Kihei for both. All of the clothing was made of Kapa, barkcloth made from wauke, mamaki, oloa, and plant fibers. At least 68 individual types of Kapa were produced and used for bedding, sheet material, banner, and wrapping material. 



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Ti leaf capes protected against the cold and rain. They wore feather capes, cloaks, helmets, and lei as signs of rank and status. Feathers were taken from live birds and then released, so the feathers needed for one cape could take decades. Most often, the feathers were yellow or red.

Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and his wife Princess Sophia on Their Honeymoon in Hawaii

Juan Carlos, Prince of Asturias, and Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark were married on May 14, 1962. They were married in three ceremonies at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, and the Royal Palace. The bride wore the Belgian lace veil her mother wore at her wedding and a diamond tiara. 



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She wore a silver and white lame’ gown covered in tulle and antique lace with a 5-meter train. The groom wore his Spanish Army uniform. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii and met with President John F. Kennedy. They reigned as King and Queen of Spain from 1975 until his abdication in 2014. They had three children.  

A Hawaiian Pineapple Plantation

Hawaii is famous for pineapple, or as Hawaiians call it, halakahiki. The pineapple first arrived in Hawaii in 1527, and the import of foreign workers started in the 1850s. The “Pineapple King” John Kidwell was the founder of Hawaii’s pineapple industry. Dole bought the island of Lanai in 1922 and established the largest pineapple plantation globally, which produced 75% of the world’s supply. 



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Life on the plantation was hard for immigrant workers. The workers wore heavy protective clothing because of the sharp pineapple leaves, and their wages were less than $20 per month. Today, every single pineapple is planted by hand. A skilled planter can plant about 10,000 fruits a day.

Walter Francis Dillingham

Walter Dillingham was called the Baron of the Hawaii Industry. He was an industrialist and businessman from Honolulu, Hawaii. He served on several commissions for the Territory of Hawaii, including the tax appeal court. Dillingham drained the wetlands of Waikiki and created the Ala Wai Canal. 



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He helped suppress Japanese Hawaiian plantation workers’ call for better labor conditions when he was the Hawaii Emergency Labor Commission's chair. In 1948 a small Air Force base in Mokuleia was named for his son Henry Dillingham, who was killed in Japan. In 1961, his son Lowell Dillingham merged the remains of the Oahu Railway and Land Company; he formed the Dillingham Corporation.

American battleship U.S.S. Arizona

The USS Arizona was the second battleship built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Arizona was one of the American ships that escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference. The ship was then sent to Turkey to represent American interests for several months. She was then transferred to the Pacific Fleet and remained there. The Arizona was used for training exercises between the wars. 



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In 1940, the Pacific Fleet was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On December 7, 1941, Arizona was hit by a Japanese torpedo; she exploded and sank. 1,177 men died that day on the Arizona. Arizona was irreparably damaged and still lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. It now rests under the USS Arizona Memorial, which was dedicated to all killed on December 7th. The memorial floats above but does not touch the ship’s hull. The Arizona was awarded one battle star for its service in World War II.

Lolani Palace

The ‘Iolani Palace was once the royal residence of Hawaiian rulers. It is located in the capital district of downtown Honolulu. It is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1893, the building was used as the capitol building for the Provisional Government. The Palace was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1978. 



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It is the only royal palace on U.S. soil and features architecture seen nowhere else in the world. In the basement is a photographic display of the Palace, orders, and decorations given by the monarchs. The palace is one of the only places in Hawaii where Hawaii’s flag can officially fly alone without the American flag.

USO Dance in Honolulu

The USO is an organization focused on providing support, programs, and entertainment to active duty service personnel and their families. The dances, live music, and singing was a staple at many USO centers. In Hawaii, they did it big. 



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USO clubs served food, provided stationery to write letters, bunks to take naps, and the latest phonograph records. On fleet days, sailors lined the streets; some went to see movies and others to drink and carouse. You could also find them dancing in the street with women.

Statue of King Kamehameha

Lava erupts at night in the Helemaumau Crater at Mt. Kilauea on the island of Hawaii

Dwight Eisenhower Signing Hawaii as a State

Seven Leaders of the Communist Party in Hawaii

Waikiki Beach

Lydia Kamekeha Liliuokalani, Queen of the Hawaiian Islands

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Waikiki Beach

Statue Duke Paoa Kahanamoku

Byodo-In Temple Oahu Hawaii

Punchbowl

Kalaupapa Peninsula

Amelia Earhart

Sugarcane Plantations

Hawaiian Luau

Navy fliers receiving their Navy Cross medal

Diamond Head, Hawaii

Honolulu Memorial

Native Hawaiian Fishing

Father Damien of Molokai

The Apollo 13 astronauts join President Richard Nixon