Oahu | Page 67 | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

December 5, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

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.)

Lord first broadcast the program from his hometown of Jonesport, Maine, and then aboard the four-masted Seth Parker. With on-location reports from Lord each week, the program was billed as ‘The Cruise of the Seth Parker.’

Phillips Lord conceived an idea to sail his new ship to various exotic ports, with a team of celebrities, to broadcast his radio programs. The Seth Parker sailed from Portland Maine on December 5, (Woram) calling at various ports on the East Coast to broadcast the show. (Offshore Radio Guide)

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.”

“Next came a report from the schooner that the storm had subsided and ‘all’s well.’ (However,) On Feb 10 the Seth Parker was again in trouble, again calling for help.”

“The ‘Australia,’ 300 miles away by that time, returned to repeat her ‘rescue’ act. This time she took off the schooner’s nine crew members. Lord and four others remained aboard, and the vessel was towed by navy tug to Pago Pago.” (Advertiser, June 12, 1936)

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. (Offshore Radio Guide)

“About that time Hawaiian Tuna Packers, Ltd, decided to buy her as a bait boat and sent representatives to Samoa to inspect her. Upon hearing from scouts that the big schooner was in ‘good shape’ the company completed the purchase”. (Advertiser, June 12, 1936)

In April 1935, Hawaiian Tuna Packers took an option on the schooner. Chris Holmes had tanks fitted in the ship, with the idea of filling them with sardines to use as bait for tuna.

The ship was sold to Chris Holmes’ company for $10,000, a tenth of what it cost Phillips Lord to buy and outfit the Seth Parker for his exotic radio junkets. The vessel sailed for Honolulu on July 3. (Offshore Radio Guide)

“En route, the Seth Parker began to leak badly. Her new skipper radioed for help, and the coast guard cutter Tiger was dispatched to her assistance. The trip from Pago Pago to Honolulu took the schooner 64 days.”

“Reconciled to its bad bargain, Tuna Packers abandoned hope of putting the schooner to any use. It was then that Christian R Holmes, company president, decided to take the ship to Coconut Island.”

“And there she has been … bedded in concrete almost up to her waterline. At 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.”

“For a long while she was immaculately groomed. Her hull was kept spotless white, her decks polished, her four masts ready for sails, but it was just a front.”

“Her whole interior was fitted with a bar, a theater and other entertainment, features for amusement of Mr Holmes’ guests on his fabulous island retreat.” (Advertiser, June 12, 1936)

Holmes bought the island from Bishop Estate to use as a tuna-packing factory. As he wasn’t satisfied with the size of the island, he decided to enlarge it to 28 acres, more than double its original size, using material taken from a sandbar in Kaneohe Bay.

Holmes had a vision of creating a private paradise, so while working on increasing the size of the island he also enhanced it by building a saltwater swimming pool and fishponds (which later became useful for HIMB) and adding numerous exotic plants and trees.

He also built a bowling alley, brought a shooting gallery from an amusement park in San Francisco, and built bars at several spots on the island. The boat was used in the movie ‘Wake of the Red Witch,’ starring John Wayne. (Parkvall)

The stately silhouette of the Seth Parker remained intact until Holmes’ death in 1944. The masts were removed around 1945. Some attempt was made to maintain the hull during the next few years, but the ship slowly rotted away.

A fire in the 1960s accelerated the ship’s demise. As the paint on the hull wore off, the original name Georgette and home port of San Francisco became visible. (Offshore Radio Guide)

“If you’ve ever seen a bleached and crumbling skeleton of some large animal on the sands of a mainland desert, you’ll have an idea what the Seth Parker looks like today.”

“Her masts are gone, her bow sprit has long since rotted away, her hull is drab and peeling, part of her deck rail has disintegrated and hunks have rotted out of her decks. Even the bar and theater and baubles that gave her her final claim to glory have been stripped away.” (Advertiser, June 12, 1936)

Today all that is left is a mound of green vegetation where the Seth Parker once was berthed. For many years the wheel of the ship was on display in the main house on Coconut Island, but the wheel was later donated to the Hawai‘i Maritime Center at Honolulu Harbor. (Offshore Radio Guide)

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Seth Parker – Moku O Loe – Coconut Island

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Coconut Island-Seth Parker in Background- 1940

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Seth Parket (lower left) Moku_o_Loe-Life-1937

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Aboard the Seth Parker-Spokane Daily Chronicle-Feb_17,_1934

Coconut Island Club International

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Wake of the Red Witch

November 23, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Okumura Home

“In August, 1894, Rev T Okumura, accepting the call of the Hawaiian Evangelical Association, came to Honolulu to succeed Rev J Okabe in the pastorate of the Nuuanu church, which had only 91 members at that time.” (Star Bulletin, April 7, 1914)

At age 29, Reverend Takie Okumura of Japan was initially appointed to serve as minister of the Japanese Christian Church, the predecessor to today’s Nuʻuanu Congregational Church.

Okumura left there and began his work in the section of Honolulu centering about Makiki district in November, 1902. The work commenced in a little shed on Kīnaʻu Street near a Japanese camp and without a single church member. (The Friend, November 1930)

“In April, 1896, he established the Nuuanu Japanese School for Children with a view to the correct reading and use of the Japanese language.” (Star Bulletin, April 7, 1914)

“Being the founder of the first Japanese language school and a strong believer in the instruction of the Japanese language, I did not wish to see the splendid work which had been done so far spoiled.”

“So, in writings and speeches, I pointed out the folly of spreading Japanese nationalistic education under the cloak of loyalty and patriotism, and called upon the people in charge of language schools to alter their policies.” (Okumura)

“In September, 1896 he opened his home for the Christian home training of children. This boarding school has been able, up to the present, to receive 400 boys.” (Star Bulletin, April 7, 1914)

“In August 1896, the wife of one of my friends was returning to Japan for an extended visit, and I was asked to look after their boy in my home. I decided to do this simply to help my friend. But this was really the beginning of my Home.”

“The boy who was only nine years old when he first came to me, stayed with me for sixteen years … The second boy in the Home was George, son of Rinnojo Uyemura, a notable and powerful man in the Japanese community.” (Okumura)

“In 1899, $7,000 was raised by contributions and we purchased a lot and house on Kukui Street, the present site of a concrete building which was used until recently as the Philippine Consulate. In October, the Home moved to this larger house, which a spacious ground for the children to play in.”

“In December 1901, $2,000 was donated to the Home. With this sum, we built a two-story building for 60 boys and girls. Then, Mother Castle gave us 60 iron folding beds. For years the beds were known among the children as ‘Castle Beds.’”

“From early years, the Home promoted good citizenship, discipline and healthy exercise by encouraging military drills with wooden guns under the leadership of an Army sergeant from Camp McKinley which was then in Kapiolani Park, and later under an experienced instructor, Rev. K. Komuro.”

“The Home is run on strict Christian principles. Each day is opened and closed with prayers, and every possible effort is made to build up strong characters, not by mere words but by actual living. After vesper services, simple language lessons are given. On Sundays, every one of our boys and girls attend church services and Sabbath School.”

In October 1902, when the Nuuanu Church served its connection financially from the Hawaiian Board of Missions, the Home was given permission to use the old theological seminary building on Punchbowl Street, near Beretania Street.”

“But in 1906, the Hawaiian Board sold the Punchbowl Street property and we were forced to move … (and again in 1907.)”

“Immediately, I agreed with (Frank Damon’s) proposal of building a strong Christian school, and gladly offered my help. Keeping only about 18 boys all below the age of twelve, I sent 40 of the older boys to join 60 Chinese boys to form the nucleus of the ‘Mid-Pacific Institute.’”

“The incorporating of Kawaiahao Seminary, Mills Institute (founded in 1892), the Japanese Boarding School (opened in 1896), and the Methodist Korean Boarding School, was approved by the Hawaiian Board of Missions in 1905, thus supplying a boarding school for all races for both boys and girls.”

“This year there is an enrollment of one hundred and thirty-four, representing the following nationalities: Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Porto Rican, Filipinos, South Sea, American, German, Hawaiian-Spanish, Hawaiian-Scotch, Hawaiian-Norwegian, Hawaiian-Japanese-Indian, Hawaiian-Mexican.” (Hawai‘i DOE, 1913)

The Home was called by a variety of names, including Okumura Home, Okumura School Japanese Boarding School Japanese Christian School. In 1988, the home would be closed by Suyeki Okumura, a prominent Honolulu attorney and Reverend Okumura’s last living son. (Castle)

In early-1910, the Makiki Japanese Church (later known as the Makiki Christian Church) introduced the custom of one English sermon per month. The Church acquired property near McKinley High School (at the corner of Pensacola and Elm.)

Then, in the 1930, a new, enlarged church was contemplated and then constructed. The “Makiki Castle” was the inspiration of the Reverend Okumura. Okumura asked Hego Fuchino to design the church. It was modeled after a Japanese Castle.

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Okumura Home PP-46-5-018-00001

November 16, 2016 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Islands in the Bay

With the Bay as our backyard, we were fortunate kids growing up on Kāneʻohe Bay. Within the body of water were a number of small islands we would boat to, camp at, fish, party, etc.

Mokoliʻi (little lizard)

While Hiʻiaka the goddess (Pele’s younger sister) was returning to meet with Pele, as she approached Kualoa, she came upon a moʻo (lizard, dragon) who tried to stop her.

Hiʻiaka crushed the evil moʻo and left a piece of his tail as a landmark – Mokoliʻi at Kualoa (his body became the foothills below the steep Kualoa cliffs (‘long back’.))

Today, because of the obvious shape of the island, many generally refer to Mokoliʻi Island as “Chinaman’s Hat.” We’d land and camp on the seaward side. Back then, we’d also climb to the top of the island (about 306-feet high.)

Kapapa (shoal island)

As recently as the 1950s, scholars from Bishop Museum conducted modest digs on Kapapa. In addition to the koʻa, their work revealed a canoe house and also unearthed tools, jewelry and human remains (and reportedly a heiau.)

“Kapapa was always an important stopover for fishermen. It was difficult to navigate in the bay of Kane‘ohe, because of the patch reefs. But Kapapa is outside the reefs, and fishermen would always go there to camp and to dry their catch.” (Kawelo; Hollier)

Kapapa Island is located two miles off the shore of Kaneʻohe Bay. The small island is inhabited by many seabirds. These seabirds fledge anywhere from 150 to 300 chicks a year. (Sabado)

“Seabirds are really sensitive to the intensity and frequency of human activities. Adult birds can fly away, but the chicks are stationary in their burrows. The main thing is that having people around affects the nesting birds and the seabirds’ ability to reproduce.” (Misaki; Sabado)

The islet is protected as a sanctuary with access restricted, as well as prohibited activities on the island to permit holders only.

While Kapapa was once used recreationally for fishing and camping (things we frequently did,) visitors are now limited to just fishing, and only around the perimeter of the island in the daytime; the islet is closed to access between sunset and sunrise.

Ahu O Laka (Alter of Laka)

I have heard of three different traditional stories associated with the naming of Ahu O Laka. The first references the sand and links this site to Laka, goddess of the Hula.

The second refers to Chief Laka, born in Haili, Hilo. He reportedly died in Kualoa (some say on the island) and was subsequently buried in ‘Iao Valley (a place reserved for the highest of chiefs.)

The final story suggests that the place served as an ancient dividing line between fishers from the regions of Kualoa and Kailua.

As a kid, 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, otherwise it is covered with water.

Moku O Loʻe (Loʻe’s Island)

Three brothers, Kahoe, Kahuauli and Pahu, and their sister, Loʻe, were sent from ʻEwa to live in Kāneʻohe. Kahuauli was a farmer at Luluku (in the area of Puʻu Kahuauli).

Kahoe was a farmer near Haiku and Keaʻahala; and Pahu was a fisherman in Pohakea (in the area of Puʻu Pahu). Loʻe lived on Moku o Loʻe (Loʻe’s island). (Jokiel, HIMB)

It came under the ownership of Bishop Estate. In 1933, Chris Holmes, owner of Hawaiian Tuna Packers (later, Coral Tuna) and heir to the Fleischmann yeast fortune, purchased the island for his tuna-packing factory.

Later, Holmes tried to transform Coconut Island into his own private paradise. He enlarged the island, built the ponds, harbors and seawall surrounding the island (it even housed a small zoo for a short time with donkeys, a giraffe, monkeys and a baby elephant.) (HIMB)

He also planted large numbers of coconut palms which gave rise to its popular name, ‘Coconut Island.’

After Chris Holmes passed away in 1944 Coconut Island was used for an Army Rest & Recreation center; later Edwin Pauley bought it and a concept plan was developed to use the island as a millionaire’s playground and exclusive resort, an ultimate “retreat for tired businessmen.”

By the early 1950s Edwin Pauley was approached by the marine biologists at the UH’s fledgling Marine Laboratory to use the island’s boat facilities as a base for their research vessel. (HIMB)

Instead of a millionaire’s playground, the island became a haven for world-class scientists at the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology (HIMB) (and it was featured in the opening scene of Gilligan’s Island, a 1960s television sitcom.)

Coral Island

The earliest modifications to the natural marine environment of Kane‘ohe Bay were those made by the ancient Hawaiians. The construction of walled fishponds along the shore was perhaps the most obvious innovation.

The development of terraces and a complex irrigation network for the cultivation of taro no doubt had an effect on stream flow, reducing total runoff into the Bay.

Then they started to dredge (records of dredging permits issued by the Army Corps began in 1915.) Almost all of the early permits were for boat landings, piers and wharves, including the 1,200-foot wharf at Kokokahi and the 500-foot wharf at Moku O Loʻe for Hawaiian Tuna Packers (in 1934.)

Although some dredging was involved in the construction of piers and small boat basins, probably the first extensive dredging was done in 1937 when 56,000 cubic yards were dredged “from the coral reef in Kāne‘ohe Bay” by the Mokapu Land Co., Ltd.

The great bulk of all reef material dredged in Kane‘ohe Bay was removed in connection with the construction at Mokapu of the Kaane‘ohe Naval Air Station (now Marine Corps Base Hawai‘I – dredging for the base began on September 27, 1939, and continued throughout World War II.)

Appropriately named because it was formed by stockpiling coral dredge material on a nearby reef, at low tide it was a single island but became two when the tide came in. A small cove was on the lee side of the larger island, this is where we anchored.

‘Coral Island’ is now gone; constant pressure from the tides and waves leveled and lost the island.

Like any other place, use and demeanor here and elsewhere should be courteous and respectful. This does not mean we can’t have a good time while enjoying the Bay, but it does place responsibility on each of us to understand, care about and, ultimately, care for special places in Hawai‘i.

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October 3, 2016 by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Dowsett Tract

Honolulu, by the end of the 19th century, was densely populated. Overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions were of great concern.

In part because of the 1900 plague and the Chinatown fire, residents began moving away from the city and into the surrounding valleys, wanting to escape from the overcrowded city into the quiet and serene rural areas.

With the introduction of the railway, trolley system, and the construction of new roads into the Honolulu area, transportation and accessibility into the city was made easier, thus affording residents with an easier commute.

There was a trolley that traveled from Waikiki into Manoa Valley along Oahu Avenue, and another that traveled along Nu‘uanu Avenue from town into the Nuuanu Valley. The introduction of automobiles, and construction of finished roadways also made travel easier.

Before the construction of the Pali Road, residents living on the windward side of Oahu would travel over the Ko‘olau Mountains by foot, along a treacherous path, to reach Honolulu.

In 1876, improvements were made to the trail to allow horses access to the trail as well. Regardless of these improvements, the trail was still quite dangerous, and took time to travel.

In 1897, plans for the construction of Pali Road were initiated. Engineered by Johnny Wilson and Lou Whitehouse, after its completion, it was considered one of Oahu’s major roadways.

Pali Road, connecting with Nuʻuanu Avenue (the present Pali Highway), officially connected the windward side of the island with downtown Honolulu. The development of this road allowed for greater accessibility into the valley.

In order to support the growing populations in dense areas in Honolulu, reservoirs and sophisticated systems were developed to collect and transport water to these areas.

By 1890, there were already two reservoirs in place in Nuʻuanu Valley, and a third one was under construction. Plans for a fourth reservoir was underway after the 1891 drought, and construction on this reservoir began in 1905.

With the area’s water system development, it supported the lifestyles of those living in the valley area. This area was one of the first on O‘ahu to be developed as a residential subdivision. It was called the Dowsett Tract.

The Dowsett Tract was named after the family that once owned the land. James Isaac Dowsett was born to Samuel James Dowsett (born in Rochester, Kent, England 1794 – lost at sea in 1834) and Mary Bishop Dowsett (Rochester, Kent, England; 1808 – 1860) in Honolulu, December 15, 1829.

Samuel and Mary married in Australia. A ship captain, Samuel did shipping business in Australia and was into whaling. Samuel first arrived in Hawaiʻi in 1822 when he was first officer of the “Mermaid,” accompanying the “Prince Regent,” a gift-ship from King George IV of England to King Kamehameha I, promised to the King by George Vancouver.

Samuel returned with his wife on July 17, 1828, arriving on the brig Wellington; they set up their home in Hawaiʻi at that time. Samuel and Mary had 4 children, James, Samuel Henry, Elizabeth Jane and Deborah Melville. James Isaac Dowsett was the first non-missionary white child to be born in Hawai‘i.

With his father’s disappearance, James Dowsett started working from the young age of twelve, and had a strong work ethic that would help him become a successful businessman.

He was active in the whaling and lumber industry, owned a fleet of boats that operated between the islands, and had extensive ranching investments. In his youth, Dowsett was a playmate of Kamehameha IV, Kamehameha V and Lunalilo.

Dowsett married Annie Green Ragsdale of Honolulu, and together they had thirteen children. “He was a quick thinker and an excellent reasoner and while not a talkative man was always willing to supply any information from his great storehouse that might be useful to another or that might interest an inquirer.”

“He knew the town, the people and the country. He never left the Islands but once in his whole life and then four days in San Francisco was enough of life in foreign parts. He was a perfect encyclopedia of history and biography not only of Honolulu and Oahu, but of the entire group.”

“The common suggestion to one in search of obscure historical data was to go to Mr. Dowsett and he never failed. He could always supply day and date and all required details.” (Hawaiian Gazette, June 17, 1898)

Dowsett took on Chung Kun Ai as his protégé, allowing Ai to use a portion of his warehouse, and Ai started importing cigars, tea, peanut oil, shoe nails and other items. Ai and others later started City Mill, a rice milling and lumber importing business in Chinatown, Honolulu. The City Mill building on Nimitz was dedicated to Dowsett.

“Dowsett saw the grass hut replaced by the stone business block and the taro patch filled up for mansion site. He saw the little paths become fine streets and the broad and barren plains thickly populated districts. He saw the life of a nation change. … Through all this he was a close observer and always on the side of what was right and just.” (Hawaiian Gazette, June 17, 1898)

Dowsett died on June 14, 1898; “news of the death of Mr. Dowsett had been sent all over the Island and the Hawaiians in large numbers joined the throng of haoles calling to pay respects and offer consolation.”

“The older Hawaiians could not restrain themselves at all and gave vent to floods of tears and to strange wailings. They were overpowered and overcome by the thought that no more would they have the friendly greeting, the certain and reliable advice or the material assistance of the one who had been their reliance at all times and upon all occasions for so many years.” (Hawaiian Gazette, June 17, 1898)

After his death in 1899, James Dowsett’s heirs formed The Dowsett Company, Ltd. to help manage his extensive Hawaii property, including Dowsett Tract.

The Dowsett Tract was 273 acres of land in Nuʻuanu Valley. On October 4, 1912, the Dowsett Company subdivided the property into two lots (A and B). In June of 1916 – September 1916, the property was subdivided into 57 lots.

The Niniko ʻauwai runs through the development, providing fresh drinking water for virtually every land parcel contained within the triangular portion of land bounded by Nuʻuanu Avenue, Dowsett Avenue and Alika Avenue. Dowsett Avenue and Ragsdale Place in Dowsett Tract and Highlands in Nuʻuanu are named after James and Annie.

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Oahu_Country_Club-from_Alewa-(GaryWild)-1919-Dowsett Tract

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Nuuanu Valley, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1900

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Nuuanu_Valley-Aviation Day formation over Oahu-(hawaii-gov)-December 17, 1934

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September 24, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Marconi Wireless

Until 1840 any immediate communication between human beings was limited to the range of the eye or the ear. In nations such as France, Russia and Great Britain, fire signal towers stretched the length of the country to serve as early warning systems.

During the nineteenth century scientists and inventors came to better understand electricity’s ability to transmit sound, and with this understanding came such inventions as the telegraph by Samuel Morse in 1840, the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1875, and the phonograph by Thomas Alva Edison in 1877.

In addition to these new wonders came such scientific advances as James Clerk Maxwell’s 1865 theory, which postulated electromagnetic waves existed and moved at a uniform speed, but varied in length and frequency.

In 1888, Heinrich Hertz proved this theory by demonstrating that electricity could bridge a gap from one coil to produce a current in another. These all laid the groundwork for humanity’s delving into the possibility of wireless communication.

Then came Guglielmo Marconi (who was born at Bologna, Italy on April 25, 1874.) In 1895, he began laboratory experiments at his father’s country estate where he succeeded in sending wireless signals over a distance of one and a half miles.

In 1900, he took out his famous patent No. 7777 for “tuned or syntonic telegraphy” and, on an historic day in December 1901, determined to prove that wireless waves were not affected by the curvature of the Earth.

He used his system for transmitting the first wireless signals across the Atlantic between Poldhu, Cornwall, and St. John’s, Newfoundland, a distance of 2,100 miles. (Nobel Prize)

In the Islands, “Telegraph communication seems likely soon to be in operation between our islands. Marconi has successfully sent telegrams across the British channel without wire.”

“An invisible electric ray is flashed from lofty mast, directed to receiver thirty miles away, which records it. So Hawai‘i will not need an inter-island cable. Rain, fog and darkness do not obstruct the ray.” (The Friend, May 1, 1899)

Then interisland wireless came; “Just about the latest wonder accomplished by science is telegraphing without wires, communicating between far distant and mutually invisible points by means of the ether which is believed to exist as a sort of cement holding the molecules of the atmosphere together.”

“Today Hawaiians will be given their first opportunity of witnessing the workings of this marvel the marvel by which a young Italian boy named Marconi astonished the world a few years ago.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 16, 1900)

Then, the American Marconi Company began establishing global coverage with long distance, paired sending and receiving stations not only in England, France and the United States, but also Spain, Italy, Egypt, India, and Argentina.

Hawaii was viewed as a bridge facilitating wireless communication between California, Hawaii and Japan as well as Australia; he planned facilities at Koko Head and Kahuku. At the time of Kahuku’s opening, it was the largest wireless telegraph station in the world in terms of capacity and power.

Everything in the plant was in duplicate, the one system backing up the other, so there was no reason to have to shut down operations because of a need to undertake repairs. (NPS) “Quite a large staff is housed in the Marconi Hotel, some operators and some engineers.” (Marconi Service News)

“Besides being included in the great chain of wireless stations which are to be erected by the Marconi Company, Hawai‘i has been favored with being selected as the site for the largest wireless station in the world.”

“While situated in the middle of the Pacific ocean, isolated, as it were, from the rest of the world except for a single cable and a wireless station only capable of working at night …”

“… Hawai‘i will be able to throw off this isolation with the coming of the Marconi system, get into a more complete touch with the rest of the world, and be drawn into closer relations with the country of which it is a territory.” (Star Bulletin, April 19, 1913)

The transoceanic stations were officially opened on September 24, 1914, approximately two months after the start of World War I in Europe. (NPS)

The first message (from Governor Lucius Pinkham to President Woodrow Wilson) read, “With time and distance annihilated and space subdued through wireless triumphs and impulse …”

“… the Territory of Hawai‘i conveys its greetings, profound respect and sympathy to Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States, as he so earnestly seeks the blessings of peace and good will for all men and all nations. (Star Bulletin, September 24, 1914)

President responded with a short, “May God bring the nation together in thought and purpose and lasting peace.” (NPS)

“Today marks a new era in transpacific and world-communication for the people of Hawai‘i. With the opening of two great wifeless stations on Oahu by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America ‘’

“… Uncle Sam’s midpacific territory is brought closer and is bound closer than ever to her sister commonwealth of the mainland.” (Star Bulletin to Associated Press, September 24, 1914)

The Marconi Wireless Telegraph Station at Kahuku includes four buildings: the power house/operating building, hotel, administration building, and manager’s cottage.

With the end of WWI, Radio Corporation of America (RCA) took over the facility; then, preparations and defense facilities, in anticipation of WWII, started popping up on the island.

The north-Oʻahu facility was under the overall command of the Hawaiian Air Force (HAF) headquartered at Hickam, Oʻahu. The HAF was activated on October 28, 1940, as the first air force outside the Continental US. (Bennett)

On November 25, 1941, Army Engineers took over the RCA facility and started constructing an Army Air Base in and around it. (They also constructed two other North Shore airfields at Kawaihāpai (Mokuleʻia/Dillingham) and Haleiwa.)

The old Marconi/RCA administration building was converted into air base headquarters and Commanding Officer’s quarters. The RCA buildings, with the exception of the powerhouse/operating building, were also used by the air field.

The hotel became the base headquarters, the administration building housed base operations, and the manager’s house became the commanding officer’s quarters.

The usual theater of operations support buildings were constructed (i.e., control tower, barracks for enlisted men, officer’s quarters, mess halls, chapel, dispensaries, cold storage, two fire stations, paint shop, Post Exchange, radio station, telephone exchange, etc.)

The April 1, 1946 tsunami devastated the Kahuku Air Base, destroying numerous buildings and covering the runways with debris. Following this tidal wave, military air operations ceased at Kahuku and sometime between June 12, 1946 and March 1947 the lands were returned to Campbell Estate.

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