Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Moku Manu

The majority of seabird-nesting colonies in the main Hawaiian Islands are located on the offshore islands, islets and rocks. One of those, Moku Manu (Bird Island), is three-quarters of a mile off Mōkapu Peninsula. The island is actually of two parts; the main western one is about 18 acres in extent and the smaller outer part is about three acres. It has a relatively flat top, averaging about 165 feet in height but running up to 202 feet. The cliffs of Moku Manu drop directly into the sea around more than half of the island.

It’s aptly named; it has the most diverse and one of the densest seabird colonies in the Main Hawaiian Islands. It is home to Uʻau Kani or Wedged-Tailed Shearwater, Noio or Black Noddy, Noio kōhā or Brown Noddy, ʻOu or Bulwer’s Petrel, Koaʻe ʻula or Red-tailed Tropicbird, ‘Ewa ʻEwa or Sooty Tern, ʻIwa or Great Frigatebird, Christmas Shearwater, Pākalakala or Grey-backed Tern, ʻā or Masked Booby, ʻā or Brown Booby, ʻā or Red-footed Boobies and various common shorebird species. The state designated it the Moku Manu State Wildlife Sanctuary.

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Benjamin Parker High School

In 1927, the Reverend Benjamin Parker School (originally called Kāneʻohe School) opened in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. It started as an elementary and intermediate school, grades 1-8. Over the years, it expanded in size and grades taught; in 1937 it became an elementary and high school, grades 1-12.

Ground was broken in 1949 for a new windward school. On “January 2, 1951, Principal Clinton Kanahele and his 700 students of Benjamin Parker Elementary and High School made their move to the new Benjamin Parker Annex on Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive.” “At the start of the 1951-1952 school year, the name changed to James B Castle High and Intermediate School.”

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Seth Parker

In 1933, radio broadcaster Phillips Lord purchased the schooner ‘Georgette,’ which he renamed as ‘Seth Parker’ after the character he played on his popular radio show, ‘Sunday Evening at Seth Parker’s.’ (The character ‘Seth Parker’ was a clergyman and backwoods philosopher based on his real-life grandfather.) The ship passed through the Panama Canal and sailed to the South Pacific. “For a while the plan worked. Then, mid-way between Samoa and Tahiti, the Seth Parker on Feb 8, 1935, ran into a storm.”

“She radioed for help describing ‘mountainous’ waves breaking over the decks.” The damage to the ship during the typhoons was so great that the radio crew ended any thoughts of further broadcasts aboard the wounded ship. The ship was sold to Chris Holmes and he decided to take the ship to Coconut Island (Moku o Lo‘e in Kāne‘ohe Bay.) She couldn’t sail; but a glance, however, the ship seemed to be moored in a specially-constructed berth and ready at any time to take off again to the open seas.” Today all that is left is a mound of green vegetation where the Seth Parker once was berthed.

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Islands in the Bay

Within the body of Kāneʻohe Bay were several small islands we would boat to, camp at, fish, party, etc. Mokoliʻi (little lizard) – Today, because of the obvious shape of the island, many generally refer to Mokoliʻi Island as “Chinaman’s Hat.” Back then, we’d also climb to the top of the island (about 306-feet high.) Kapapa (shoal island) – Kapapa Island is located two miles off the shore of Kaneʻohe Bay. The island is approximately 10 acres in size and is inhabited by many seabirds. These seabirds fledge anywhere from 150 to 300 chicks a year.

Ahu O Laka – We called it ‘Sand Island’ (it went along with the “Island” references we used in the bay, i.e. Coconut Island and Coral Island.) Over time, the common name transitioned to Sand Bar. At low tide it forms into an island. Moku O Loʻe (Loʻe’s Island) – Coconut Island is now home to Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology (HIMB) (and it was featured in the opening scene of Gilligan’s Island.) Coral Island – formed by stockpiling coral dredge material on a nearby reef. ‘Coral Island’ is now gone; constant pressure from the tides and waves leveled and lost the island. (The view is from our living room.)

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Kolo Wharf

In 1907, McNeill & Libby started its first fruit cannery in Sunnyvale, California. It quickly became the largest employer with a predominantly female workforce. In the early 1900s, it established a pineapple canning subsidiary in Hawaiʻi and began to advertise its canned produce using the ‘Libby’s’ brand name.  Unlike the other bigger pineapple producers, Libby […]