This place had a lot of owners and went by a lot of names; it even had two different street addresses (it stayed in the same place, but it is not clear when or why the address changed).
It started with Robert Hind and his dairy operation. While it didn’t start with that name, more often than not it was called some derivation of the Ranch House. The structure was remodeled at least twice (1951 and 1971).
In 1918 Robert Hind started Kapahulu Dairy. (Kelly) In 1924, Hind purchased 2,090-acres and established the Hind-Clarke Dairy with John K Clarke. “Rancher and Cattleman To Import 100 Pure Bred Guernseys At Once Will Be Added To Stock Ready for Opening of Hind-Clarke Dairy”
“One hundred pure bred Guernsey milch cows for the Hind-Clarke dairy, which is to be opened for business in the Waialae district later in the summer, will arrive from San Francisco June 30, announces Robert Hind, rancher and dairyman, who returned from the mainland on the steamer Wilhelmina Tuesday.”
“‘These cows will produce the highest quality of milk, which will be of a rich color and of a taste for which the Guernsey is famous. The animals have the best kind of pedigrees and would be valuable additions to any dairy.’”
“The dairy already has 150 Holstein cows, which produce milk In quantity, and the coming herd will increase his herd to at least 250 milk producers.” (Star Bulletin, June 10, 1925)
The Hind-Clarke Dairy was a favored stop along the road, as noted in a 1930 visitor’s guide … “The Hind-Clarke Dairy, a short way ahead and to our left with a large sign over the entrance, is not to be passed unnoticed.”
“The dairy is a model of its kind and well affords an opportunity to see dairying in its most scientific form. The cottage cheese on sale is, perhaps, the most delicious you have ever tasted.” (Cultural Surveys)
“And Hind-Clarke Dairy had this drive-in where they had their own ice cream parlor [Hind-Clarke Drive Inn]. And later on it got to be known as M’s Ranch House.” (‘M’ referencing Mona Hind Holmes, Robert’s daughter.)
“Until only recently it was still there, and they finally closed down. But it started out as a Hind-Clarke Dairy ice cream parlor, but people drove in there to buy ice cream.” (Yamaguchi Oral History)
The Hind Clarke Dairy operation occupied the area presently occupied by the ‘Āina Haina Shopping Center and ‘Āina Haina Elementary School.
It stretched into the valley and over the ridge (now the Hawaii Loa Ridge subdivision). Hind Clark Dairy also had a small zoo near the library site today; there was a zebra in a pen. (Archaeological Consultants)
The former cattle pasture was subdivided into lots to form a new residential community called ‘Āina Haina (which means “Hind’s land”).
A little-known fact, lost (for the most part) to history, is that the Hind-Clarke Drive Inn became the Six Star Drive Inn briefly (around 1945) before coming M’s Ranch House. (Darren Conley)
A September 1, 1945 advertisement in the Star Bulletin stated, “Opening Today the Six Star Drive-in, Fountain Service, Sandwiches. A La Carte Menus, Open Daily… 5202 Kalanianaole Highway. Near the Hind-Clarke Dairy Under the management of Mona Hind and Harry Shingle”.
However, Harry’s participation soon ended with an announcement, “Notice is herby given that Harry Kusuhara, also known as Harry Shingle, is no longer connected with the Six Star Drive Inn located at 5202 Kalanianaole Highway … I have returned to General Contracting and Catering as of the 15th day of January 1946.” (SB, Jan 25, 1946)
Then, “Notice is hereby given that on the 16th of May, 1947, Mona Hind Holmes and Charles W Lucas Jr, entered into a copartnership doing business under the name of The Ranch House, operating, maintaining and conducting a restaurant at 5202 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu, TH.” (Advertiser, May 17, 1947)
“Originally opened as the ice cream drive-inn for the Hind-Clarke Dairy and creamery, it was converted into a full service dining restaurant after the Dairy was sold in 1946, and the valley was subdivided into residential lots.”
“We moved into Aina Haina in 1949, and as a child growing up, our favorite thing was to play ‘cowboys’. We could choose between riding our bikes over to Niu Valley and feeding Lani Moo in her corral, or riding our bikes to M’s Ranch House, and play in the covered wagon.” (Navas, Territorial Airwaves)
In 1971, the restaurant was “renewed” and “has a new look so different and so handsome that we hasten to reassure its family of customers that inside the doors, the food, the services, the hospitality, and the informality are all as they were before – only nicer.”
The Ranch House was “completely redecorated and refurbished … with a new roof line new paint and signs – but still the basically unchanged ‘dining home’ of thousands of Island families … [and] prices did not go up after all the remodeling and redecorating.” (SB, Jan 10, 1971)
The Ranch House was demolished in 1991, and Longs Drugs was built and still occupies the site; the ice cream parlor, drive In, fountain, Alibi Cocktail Room, hearty meals, live music entertainment … and covered wagon are now gone.
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