Waikiki, Hawaii - 1950s

You may think I'm just relaxing and having a good time here in Honolulu, but if you could only imagine how hard I had to work to sculpt my hair into this perfect cone. Life is not as easy here as you might imagine.

This is the Moana Hotel again, the first hotel in Waikiki. We looked at a very early photo of the hotel earlier in the week. It's very beautiful, and it hasn't changed much over the years. That may change soon. Back in the 1970s, people were alarmed at all of the high-rise hotels going up in Waikiki and concerned about encroachment on the beach itself, so height and shoreline setback requirements were adopted for the Waikiki Beach District. Currently there is a nine-story tower attached to the Moana Hotel; it hadn't been built yet when this postcard was issued. It's really not bad looking and doesn't overwhelm the historic hotel, which apart from its historic significance is surely the most beautiful building in Waikiki.

However, Kyo-Ya corporation is poised to tear down the 9-story tower and replace it with a 26-story tower, which would also encroach 60 feet into the 100-foot shoreline setback. Although the proposed building does not comply with the regulations, Honolulu City Council voted 9-0 to give them the initial go ahead. It's not over yet, but it doesn't look good. If they grant the variance, I can't imagine how they could turn down future requests. Here's a recent article from the NY Times. Be sure to scroll back up and take a look at the picture of the hotel and imagine how a 26-story tower ould look right next to it.

Here's the back of the postcard, offering free reservations by Reservatron. In the age of internet reservations, that may not sound like a big deal, but Sheraton was the first hotel chain in the world to start offering hotel reservations by telex.

Hawaii, 1920 - A Drive Around the Island

A drive around the island of Oahu is a great way to spend the day. Starting out in Honolulu, you stop in Haleiwa for lunch and make additional stops to look at beautiful beaches and amazing waves.  You might stop in Waimanalo for a second lunch or a snack.  In many ways, the drive around the island is probably not that different from decades ago, although I'm not sure how good the roads were back then.

There are still some pristine beaches and peaceful spots, and you do still see some pineapple fields, though not as many as in the past. It used to be that it was almost a rite of passage for youth in Hawaii to work in the Dole cannery - not so much anymore. There also used to be a lot of sugar cane fields, but there aren't many at all today.

This photo from our 1920 cruise to Hawaii is labeled "On the drive around Oahu Island", but it doesn't specify where. I think it may be Waimea Bay.

Here's a view of pineapple fields, probably near Wahiawa:

Ala Moana Center - Honolulu, Hawaii

Is this your vision of tropical paradise?

Well, it may not be, but in 1966 when this photo was taken, this shopping mall was a very big deal.  Remember that Joni Mitchell song, Big Yellow Taxi, with lyrics that included: "they paved paradise, put up a parking lot?" The song was inspired by a 1970 trip to Hawaii, when Mitchell woke up in the morning and looked out of her hotel window to see a huge parking lot, quite possibly this very one.

Today, with lots of other options for shopping, Ala Moana Center is still a very important shopping destination. When I lived in Hawaii many years ago (but not as early as 1966!), this is where I went to buy groceries. I also had my ears pierced at a jewelry store in the mall. Strange as it may seem, this is also where I bought my first Christmas tree as an adult. For a long time, this mall was scruffy and not a very pleasant place to be. Now it's actually quite elegant - as malls go. It still has a big ugly parking lot.

But, there is something else in the works here right now - an elevated rapid-transit system that will connect a planned new University of Hawaii campus, residential areas, the Honolulu airport, and end at Ala Moana Center.  The first part of the system is scheduled to open in 2012, but it won't connect to Ala Moana center until 2019. There are also some planned extensions, including one to the University of Hawaii Manoa campus and to Waikiki. Currently, if you don't take a taxi, shuttle, or rental car from the airport to Waikiki, your only other choice is the bus, which doesn't theoretically allow luggage.
Here's a link to find out more about Honolulu Rail Transit.

Oh, by the way, Streetcar Sunday will return next week. And here's the back of the card.