Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Pitman Tablet

“In 1878 the Kingdom of Hawaii, with King Kalakaua at its head, honored Captain Cook at the centenary celebration of discovery. The permanent memorial established in Honolulu at that time was the splendid statue of Kamehameha the Great which stands upon a high pedestal in front of the Judiciary Building.”

“The Hawaiian Historical Society sponsored the first movement to honor Captain Cook in a sesquicentennial [150th] celebration in Hawaii in 1928.”

“[Albert Taylor], in 1925, proposed a major celebration to include the official visits of warships of England and America, these to visit Waimea, Kauai, where Cook first landed, and Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, where Cook was killed, and at the latter place to fire an international salvo.”

“Strangely enough the original plan was carried out to the letter in August, 1928. Bruce Cartwright, at this same time proposed the issuance of commemorative stamps and a coin.” (Taylor)

“The Taylor-Cartwright plan … particularly, included formal invitations to be addressed to the Governments of Great Britain, United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada to participate; with request that the British and United States governments send warships to Hawaii …”

“… that the United States government issue commemorative Captain Cook stamps and a silver 50-cent coin; that speakers of note, particularly in historical fields, be invited to make addresses …”

“… that a bronze tablet be set just beneath the surface of the water at Kaawaloa, Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, where Capt. Cook ‘fell on his face in the water,’ as his chroniclers state …”

“… that a monument be erected at Waimea, Kauai, where Cook set up his astronomical instruments, and where William Whatman, a seaman, was buried, Capt. Cook there reading the burial service of the Church of England, the first recorded Christian service ever held in the Hawaiian Islands.” (Taylor)

In a unique incident, “Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Pitman and her son, Theodore Pitman the artist, of Boston, presented a beautiful bronze tablet to the Cook Commission, commemorating Captain Cook.”

“The tablet was given, also, to commemorate the ancestors of Mrs. Pitman’s husband, who was part-Hawaiian, descendant of the Chief Hoolulu, who, in May, 1819, secretly took possession of the bones of Kamehameha the Great from the temple of Kamakahonu, at Kailua, Hawaii, and as secretly hid them, supposedly in a cave on the coast, a location never revealed again.” (Taylor)

The Pitman Tablet Commemorative of Captain James Cook reads, “Capt. James Cook Forerunner of Modern Civilization in the Pacific Ocean. In Hawaii 1778-1779. In Memory of the High Chief Hoolulu, High Chiefess Kinoole and her son Keola-O-Kalani (Benjamin Franklin Pitman). Presented by Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Pitman, Benjamin Pitman and Theodore Baldwin Pitman – Sculptor.”

“On August 1, Theodore Baldwin Pitman, an artist and sculptor of Boston, accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Pitman, arrived on the steamer ‘Malolo,’ bringing a beautiful bronze memorial tablet to honor Captain Cook …”

“… and which was to be formally presented by them to the Territory of Hawaii through the Cook Commission, the tablet also serving to honor Hawaiian ancestors of the sculptor.” (Pitman)

“At this juncture a variation from the set speeches came when Colonel Iaukea announced that Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Pitman, widow of the late Benjamin Keola-o-kalani Pitman, born in Hilo, Hawaii, but raised in Boston, and her son, Mr. Theodore B. Pitman …”

“… would present a beautiful bronze tablet to the Territory of Hawaii to honor Captain Cook, and in memory of her husband’s and her son’s Hawaiian ancestors.”

“Mrs. Pitman, addressing herself to the Secretary of War, the Governor, the Chairman and ‘citizens of the Territory,’ said: ‘When it was my privilege, twelve years ago, to come to these beautiful Islands in company with my husband, Benjamin Franklin Keola-o-kalani Pitman …”

“…  who, after an absence of over fifty years, was led, providentially I believe, to return to the land of his birth that he might realize, before he was called to his final home, the loving interest that, unknown to him, had followed him like a protecting spirit all his days …”

“… because he was the grandson of your great High Chief Hoolulu and the son of Kinoole, the beloved High Chiefess of Hilo – the wonderful hospitality and love extended to us not only by the Hoolulu family, but by all those who had become imbued with the spirit that pervades these Islands, filled our hearts with gratitude and a desire to manifest in some way our sincere appreciation.”

“‘On this great occasion, the Sesquicentennial of the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands by the noted explorer, Captain James Cook, the way has been opened to us through the Chairman of this Commission, Colonel Curtis P Iaukea, not only to do honor to Captain Cook, but to make a permanent demonstration of our feelings.”

The Pitman Tablet was unveiled at Archives of Hawai‘i Building and officially accepted by Governor Lawrence McCully Judd on February 14, 1930.

“Master Theodore Pitman, Jr., son of the sculptor, who with his wife, all of Boston, were present, was accorded the honor of unveiling the tablet. He lifted the old Hawaiian Royal ensign from the tablet, and revealed its golden beauty to the assemblage.”

“The sculptor had achieved a marvelous result, and his inspiration was the moment Captain Cook, in the ‘Resolution,’ was skirting the shore of Kauai.”

“Out at sea was a Hawaiian outrigger canoe, and in it, a paddle in hand and standing, was an Hawaiian, his back to the beholder, looking toward the strange ship from abroad. In the background are the shores and mountains and valleys of Kauai.”

“Flanking this scene, for artistic embellishment, were two lofty cocoa- nuts. Between the branches of the trees is a medallion of Captain Cook, a startling likeness that seems to change and live as light rays travel over the surface. The unveiling met with a round of applause.” (Pitman)

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by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Ranch House

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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Punahou Taro Patch

“Long ago an aged couple dwelled near the present spring. At a time of drought and famine, the people were obliged to search the mountains for ti root and wild yams for food, and to trudge to Kamo‘ili‘ili to fill their calabashes with drinking water.”

“One night the old woman dreamed that a man appeared to her, to whom she complained bitterly about having to go so far for water, whereupon he said: “He wai no” (“There is water”) and told her that beneath the trunk of an old hala tree nearby she would find it.”

“She awoke her husband and told him the dream, but he made light of it. The next night he had a similar dream. The apparition directed him to go to the sea and catch some red fish, to roast them in ti leaves, reserving a part as an offering to the family deities, and then to pull up the old hala tree by the roots.”

“He awoke, and lo! it was a dream. But the impression it made on him was so strong that in the morning he hastened to carry out the directions which he had received, and when at last he pulled up the hala tree, water oozed out from beneath its roots.”

“He dug out the place, and thus formed the spring, which was named Kapunahou. A pond was formed below the spring, and by it were irrigated a dozen or more taro patches.” (Sterling and Summers)

Prehistorically and historically, the area of densest population in all the Hawaiian Islands was that flanking Waikīkī on the island of O‘ahu. Here the chiefs had their residences near the now famous beach and the offshore waters where conditions were ideal for their prized sport of surf riding.

A whaling captain, FD Bennett says that in Mānoa Valley yams were grown ‘chiefly for the supply of shipping.’ Menzies with Vancouver in 1792, described the plantations behind Waikīkī as ‘little fields planted with taro, yams, sweet potatoes, and the

cloth plant.’ (Handy, Handy & Pukui)

This in early times idyllic area was flanked by the great wet-taro lands of Mānoa, and the area between that valley and the sea which was one continuous spread of taro land and fishponds; by Pauoa, Nu‘uanu, Waiolani, Kapalama, and Kalihi. (Handy, Handy & Pukui)

Mānoa, due to its broad, well-watered valley, was probably settled early by the Hawaiians, who probably cleared much of the lower areas near streams for wetland taro cultivation.

“In upper Manoa the whole of the level land in the valley bottom was developed in broad taro flats . The terraces extended along Manoa Stream as far as there is a suitable land for irrigating.”

“Some of the lower portion of the old taro area, in land from the slightly elevated land south west of Rocky Hill, is now covered by streets and houses. But except for this, the extensive terrace area is still intact and could be replanted.”

“Most of it is under grass and unused. About 100 terraces are still being cultivated, but these do not constitute more than one tenth of the total area capable of being planted.”  (Sterling and Summers)

There was a famous terraced area below what is now the Punahou School campus. “Kauawaahila afterwards made some kalo patches [there], and people attracted by the water and consequent fertility of the place came and settled about ….”

“More and more kalo patches were excavated and the place became a thriving settlement. The spring became known as Ka Punahou, and gave its name to the surrounding place”. (Nakuina, Thrum 1892)

The first recorded landlord (Konohiki) of Kapunahou was Kame‘eiamoku, one of the twin supporters of Kamehameha I. This was in 1795.  The twins were originally Kamehameha’s guardians (Kahus) and later supported his rise to power.

In recognition of this support, Kamehameha gave Moanalua and Kapunahou to Kame‘eiamoku. Kameʻeiamoku died at Lahaina in 1802. Kapunahou passed on to his son, Ulumaheihei. Ulumaheihei was renamed Hoapili by Kamehameha I.

Hoapili lived at Kapunahou for, some twenty years and when Kamehameha I stayed at Waikīkī (1804-1811) he visited Hoapili there. Hoapili gave Kapunahou to his daughter, Liliha. This probably happened when Hoapili moved to Lahaina to become the Governor of Maui.

Liliha was married to Boki, the Governor of O‘ahu.  Shortly after this, Ka‘ahumanu, Queen Regent, became an ardent supporter of the missionaries who had arrived in 1820.

In 1829, she wished to give Hiram and Sybil Bingham a gift of land and consulted Hoapili. He suggested Kapunahou (although he had already given it to Liliha).

According to A. F. Judd, “Not unnaturally, Liliha demurred the proposal, but Boki consented. And Liliha’s resentment could avail nothing against the wish of her father, her husband, and the highest chief of the land.” The land was given to the Binghams, but by missionary rules, it was really given to the mission as a whole.

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Pre- and Early-teen Pineapple Workers

Child employment is regulated by both federal and Hawaii state laws. When the laws overlap, employers are required to follow the one that provides more protection. It’s also essential to know that the regulations vary significantly depending on the youth’s age.

Children under 14 are generally prohibited from working in non-agriculture operations, with some exceptions. Fourteen- and 15-year-olds are subject to limited types of work and limited working hours.

Teens ages 16 and 17 can generally work any number of hours in any job unless it’s considered hazardous, which we’ll touch on later. Once someone turns 18, they’re no longer subject to child labor laws.

Hawaiʻi law requires anyone under 18 to have a child labor certificate, or work permit, before their first day on the job. This is a way for the state to ensure the work isn’t hazardous and won’t interfere with a teenager’s schooling. (ALTRES)

It used to be different … “I worked when I was eleven …. Of course, I was already cleaning haole houses, so this work was steady income. You work, you carry your canvas bag, and your lunch, and your bottle of water. Gloves, everything you need.”

“When we had to go picking, you would climb through all the plants to get to the center of the field. You pick the pineapple, you throw it to the next line.”

“[I]f you caught a field with a lot of ripe pineapples, boy, you work fast, you can earn a lot of money because you get a bonus for the number of crates you crate up.”

“I was only eleven, and the other people were twelve. But then, I’m in the same grade they are; we’re in the sixth grade. I remember I was paid ten cents less, because I wasn’t twelve years old yet”. (Jane Lee Gabriel, UH Oral History, Lānai: Reflecting on the Past)

Another pre-teen worked in the fields, “I remember working in the pineapple fields when I was eleven years old. So, at eleven I would be a sixth-grader [in 1944].”

“The war is still going on, yes. We had to wear canvas pants, a long-sleeved denim jacket because we would get pierced by those long, pointed pineapple leaves. We also had to wear wire goggles to protect our eyes. Then a hat, because we would be out in the sun.”

“We had to do weeding and putting fertilizer into the pineapple plant, and picking the ripe pineapples from the plant. … My classmates, because they were already twelve, were getting sixty-seven cents.”

“I remember grumbling about it. I went to the luna, and said, ‘You know, my pay is not fair. How come they’re getting more money than me?’”

“‘We’re in the same grade at school, and I’m going to be twelve in November. But then, this is the summer, so I’m only eleven.’” (Jane Nakamura, UH Oral History, Lānai: Reflecting on the Past)

Another preteen worked in the fields … [I was] ”Twelve years old. My pay I believe was something like thirty-five cents an hour. The war was still going on and I went to get my physical. I was so proud. I’m going to work and they gave me a number, aluminum tag with my work number [bango].”

“[We did] Everything from picking pineapples to cutting grass. Especially in the summertime, it was never cutting grass, it was always picking pineapple.”

“When you’re twelve years old, you don’t weigh even one hundred pounds. I didn’t. We had these big bags we put the pineapples in. The weight of it would weigh—if I wasn’t set and leaning a certain way, I couldn’t put any pineapples in there without [Tipping over].” (Takeo Yamato, UH Oral History, Lānai: Reflecting on the Past)

Another Lanai youth noted, “When I was twelve, pineapple field were picking up kids up to – well when I was eleven, they picked up kids up to twelve years old to work in the pineapple field.”

“So I said next year, I can work in the pineapple field cause all the kids look forward to going to work into pineapple field cause that’s about all you had on the island besides playing sports or whatever.”

“So I said, well, next year, I’ll be able to work in the pineapple field. That year, they picked (kids) up till thirteen and they stopped. And I said, well, I will have to wait the following – following year, they stopped at fourteen.”

“When I got to be fourteen, they had this law, something about you had to go to the labor board and everything, so it stopped at fifteen.”

“When I was fifteen, they said up to sixteen, and that’s it. So by the time I worked in the pineapple field, I was sixteen years old. I worked about two years (in the pineapple fields). I graduated from school when I was eighteen and I left (Lānai) and (joined) the army (in summer of 1956) and that’s it.”

“But my sister, I think she started (working in the pineapple fields) when she was twelve or eleven. Every time I wanted to be the age so I can go and work (in the) pineapple field, they stopped at the age before me.” (Charlotte Richardson Holsomback; UH Oral History, Lānai Ranch)

Maui Land & Pineapple used to have similar success in recruited youthful workers …“In years past, we had to turn kids away. There wasn’t anything else to do. Now going to work for a plantation is the last thing they want to do.” (Hnl Adv-Jun 14, 1973)

”We put on a big campaign on Kauai and Hawaii for local boys. From the Big Island we wanted 30 boys and got six. We anticipated 20 boys from Kauai and got four.” (Shuji Seki, recruiting and personnel supervisor for Maui Pine)

Hawai‘i youth were not filling the needs … “Until five years ago Maui Pine recruited 100 per cent of its labor from the island. With the rapid increase in hotels and the resulting decrease in local agricultural labor the company was forced into recruiting from the off islands and finally from the Mainland.” (Hnl Adv-Jun 14, 1973)

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Kahanamoku – Weissmuller – Crabbe

There is evidence, particularly archaeological evidence which suggests that what we deem as modern swimming has been practiced from as early as 2500 BC in Egypt and thereafter in Assyrian, Roman and Greek civilizations. Swimming was often a part of martial training in the Greek and Roman civilizations in order to help with strength and overall fitness.

During the 1st Century BCE, Gaius Maecenas a Roman diplomat and counsellor to the Roman emperor Augustus built the first known heated swimming pool.  As for swimming in Europe and the UK, it wasn’t really practiced until around the late 17th century for Europe and around 1830 in the UK. (SwimmingNature)

Swimming started its sporting journey in the mid-19th century, when the world’s first swimming organization was formed in London in 1837. Inevitably, things soon became competitive, and, in 1846, the first swimming championship was held in Australia. (Olympics-com)

The breaststroke is believed to be the oldest stroke and the first to be swum competitively. Breaststroke looked relatively similar to what we see in pools today: A wide, sweeping pull with the arms at the same time, followed by a ‘frog kick’ with both legs simultaneously. Between strokes, swimmers would glide for a few beats before their next pull.

The breaststroke is believed to be the oldest stroke and the first to be swum competitively. Captain Matthew Webb was the first man to swim across the English Channel – from Dover to Calais – swimming the breaststroke for 21 hours 45 minutes without stopping on August 24-25, 1875.

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. Swimming is “one of only four disciplines to have been retained, appearing in every summer Olympics since [the first Olympic Games] – the others being athletics, artistic gymnastics and fencing.”

The first Olympics introduced some strange races into the lineup, as it was purely an experimental event to begin with. For example, the 100m free for sailors was strictly for members of the Greek Navy, and all of the races were held in open water. (Swimming World)

By the late 1890s, Australian swimmers of the British Empire began experimenting with the earliest version of the crawl stroke. Charles Daniels is credited with perfecting the modern freestyle stroke. (pbs)

This freestyle stroke was evolving painfully in the western world until Duke Kahanamoku swam out of the Hawaiian Islands with it in 1911.  His world record times no one would believe. (International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF))

Until 1912, only male swimmers were allowed to compete in the Olympics. It was not until the 1912 Stockholm Olympics that women were able to compete, and even when they were finally allowed in the water, they were only given two events in which to compete—the 100 free and 400 free relay.

“There was — and arguably still is — no greater icon in the sport of swimming than Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. He was the most successful athlete of his time and the harbinger of Hawai‘i’s Golden Age of Swimming.”  (Checkoway)

Duke Kahanamoku earned his living as a beachboy and stevedore at the Honolulu Harbor docks. Growing up on the beach in Waikiki, Duke surfed with his brothers and entertained tourists with tandem rides.

By the time that Kahanamoku burst upon the world scene in 1911 (at the age of 21,) shattering American and world records in the one hundred and fifty yard freestyle swimming races at an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) sanctioned meet in Honolulu Harbor, sport had become a tool of nationalism used by countries around the world to demonstrate modern manliness and vigor.  (Nendel)

Duke later won an Olympic gold medal in 1912 – a feat he repeated eight years later at the age of 30. In 1924, he won the silver.  Overall, he won five medals at the various Olympic Games.

For The Record:  Olympic Games: 1912 gold (100m freestyle), silver (4x200m freestyle relay); 1920 gold (100m freestyle; 4x200m freestyle relay), 4th (water polo); 1924 silver (100m freestyle); 1932 team member (water polo); World Records: freestyle.

In the 1924 Olympics, Kahanamoku raced against Johnny Weissmuller.  Barely 20 years old, Johnny Weissmuller was favored against 34-year-old Duke Kahanamoku. Both were tall, lean and strong, with large hands and feet. And both were faster than any swimmers the world had yet seen. (Smithsonian)

Just before the race began, pointing at the awards podium, Duke told Weissmuller: “Hey, the most important thing in this race is to get the American flag up there three times. Let’s do it”. (Sports Gazette) Weissmuller nodded his agreement. Weissmuller finished 2.4 seconds ahead of Kahanamoku; Kahanamoku’s younger brother Sam took the bronze medal.  (Smithsonian)

The 1932 Olympic Games were held in the middle of the Great Depression and, given the transport links of the time, in the relatively remote region of California. Consequently, participation in the Games was the lowest since 1904, with only half as many athletes taking part as had in 1928. Despite this, the standard of competition was excellent. (Olympics-com)

Clarence Linden ‘Buster’ Crabbe II, who was not a native Hawaiian but who lived in the Territory, won Olympic gold in the 400-​meter freestyle in Los Angeles in 1932, and two island brothers named Maiola and Manuela Kalili grabbed silvers at the same Games in the 4×200-​meter relay. (Checkoway)

Buster Crabbe moved to Hawaii as a 2-year-old when his father took a job as an overseer on a pineapple plantation. At Punahou he was a three-year letterman in swimming and captain of the 1927 swimming team.

While in college at USC from 1928 to 1932 he was the AAU National Indoor and Outdoor Champion, domination every freestyle event in excess of 200 yards. (Punahou)

Kahanamoku was a legend in his own right – swimmers Weissmuller and Crabbe went on to portray legends.  Johnny Weissmuller was swimming’s first superstar by winning five Olympic gold medals and set 28 world records.

After his Olympic swimming experiences, Kahanamoku played in four decades of intermittent bit-part acting in Hollywood films.  Though he was never able to escape typecasting or achieve Hollywood stardom, you can still spot him in small roles in 13 Hollywood films. (pbs)

After his swimming career, Weissmuller became a movie star. Cast as ‘Tarzan the Ape Man’, he starred in 12 films and became the actor most commonly identified with the character.  (Olympics-com)

After the Olympics, Crabbe was signed by Paramount Studios, who were looking for a rival to Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan at MGM. The first of Crabbe’s 175 movies was ‘King of the Jungle’ in which he played the role of Kasta, the Lion Man.

Although Crabbe played Tarzan only once, as the star of (B) movies he was never short of work, playing the title role in Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers films in addition to appearing in 65 westerns. (Olympics-com)

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