Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Quonset

The Narragansett were a northeastern Algonquian Native American people. In 1709, the Narragansett quit-claimed New England tribal lands under pressure from the British government. By 1717 the area had been divided into farming plots purchased by European settlers. A place there is named Quonset Point – Quonset appears to translate either as ‘long-place,’ ‘round shallow cove’ or ‘boundary.’ Quonset Point goes back to the Revolutionary War; it’s the birthplace of the US Navy,

Fast forward to 1941; the Navy needed an all-purpose, lightweight, standardized housing unit that made efficient use of shipping space, could be easily transported anywhere and could be quickly and easily assembled without skilled labor. The design ended up modeled after the British Nissen – ultimately using corrugated steel and semi-circular steel arched ribs. Over time, improvements and changes were made and the “Quonset Stran-Steel Hut” was the most produced. A total of 153,200 Quonset Huts and 11,800 Warehouse units were produced or procured by the US Navy during World War II.

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The Third Warning Voice

On the January 20, 1881, King Kalākaua set out upon a tour around the world. After the king’s return he proposed a ten million dollar loan, chiefly for military purposes but (it was) met with no encouragement. He then published a pamphlet entitled ‘A Third Warning Voice,’ in which he urged the establishment of a large standing army. “The gist of the argument is that the Legislature should provide for an army of 521-men and ten staff officers, at a cost of $345,541. The salaries of the staff officers are to amount to $45,680.”

“We have been a warlike race for generations to generations back, and for nearly half a century we have enjoyed the blessings of peace and the imagination of our permanent security … there has been a clash of sentiments caused by divergent interest that the nation is at every moment to political strife, and the loss of its autonomy and independence.” “I will conclude by adding, that it is only in the Military profession and occupation that the life of the nation, of the dying Hawaiian and Aboriginal race can have hope for its continuance, perpetuation and maintenance.” (Robert H Baker)

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Mānoa War Homes

“Housing was a critical problem at the beginning of the war.” “On December 7, 1941, the only project operated by the Hawaii Housing Authority was Kamehameha homes consisting of 221 units for families in the low-income bracket.” “Prior to the declaration of war, plans had been prepared for the construction of a low income family project of 368 units to be known as the Mayor Wright homes. The war prevented this development from going ahead”. Following the war more homes were needed.

In 1946, the problem has become even more serious – 11,000 additional houses were needed in the Honolulu-Pearl Harbor area. “Of those who applied the authority could provide houses for only 1,265, 1,000 of whom were placed in Mānoa war homes.” It worked for a while; then, “The Commissioners of the Authority froze vacancies as of January 1, 1956, at Mānoa War Homes, a 982-unit temporary war housing project, as the site must be vacated, buildings demolished, and the land restored to its owners by June 30, 1958.” Familiar Mānoa landmarks that were once the site of the Mānoa War Homes are the Mānoa Marketplace, Noelani School and Mānoa Innovation Center.

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Military Strength

“During the reign of Lunalilo a mutiny occurred among the Household Guard.” Lunalilo disbanded the Household Troops and the kingdom was left without any regular organized military force. During the election riot of 1874 (Kalākaua v Queen Emma,) “No dependence could be placed on the police nor on the Hawaiian Guards; these had proved unfaithful to their duties to preserve order, and had in some cases joined the partisans of Queen Emma in their riotous actions.” “The only alternative, in this emergency, was to seek aid from the (American) war vessels in port.” Then, the newly-elected king, Kalākaua, restored the army, and named it the Household Guard.

In 1893, the Kingdom’s force strength was 496 (272 at the barracks and 224 at the Police station.) Then, “Queen Lili‘uokalani attempted on Saturday, Jan 14 (1893,) to promulgate a new Constitution … This was resisted by the foreign element of the community, which at once appointed a committee of safety of thirteen members; they had about 200 of the old Honolulu Rifles besides from 400 to 600 citizens that would shoulder a gun if it became necessary. The Committee of Safety also wrote to American Minister John L Stevens noting “the public safety is menaced and lives and property are in peril, and we appeal to you and the United States forces at your command for assistance.” “(A) small force of marines and sailors was landed from the United States ship Boston, as a precautionary step for the protection of American life and property”.

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Red Hill Underground

Originally Top Secret, Red Hill’s hidden facility became generally known in the early-1990s, when the facility was declassified. When RADM Chester Nimitz was Commander of the Bureau of Yards & Docks (in 1940) he wanted the Navy’s 2 ½-year supply of fuel oil protected from aerial attack – existing aboveground unprotected tanks next to the Submarine Base presented a vulnerable enemy target.

Consulting engineer James P Growden came up with excavating large vertical tank chambers. The tanks were set up in two parallel rows with two main access tunnels, one above the other. (Nothing like this had ever been attempted before.) Starting the day after Christmas 1940, 20 underground fuel storage tanks were built more that 100-feet below the surface. Dug from the inside, the storage facility is connected with pipes (32-inch-diameter diesel pipe, and 18- and 16-inch jet fuel pipes) and tunnels down to a Pearl Harbor pumping station, more than two-and-a-half miles away.