World War II Honolulu Pictures

[Lincsong]

Here's some old pictures I salvaged from my grandmother's album of War-Time Honolulu

 

[The Wingnut]

Do you have any more? I just got back from Oahu and I'd like to see what it looked like before all the high-rises cropped up.

 

[Lincsong]

I'll try to come up with more pictures. I know there aren't too many, but there are some. I'll see what I can dig up.

here's a couple more;
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=17790

and here;
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=17788

 

[dhermann1]

Here's an image from Hawaii in 1942 on one of my favorite websites:
http://www.prewarbuick.com/cars/256/1942-Buick-Flxible-ambulance
I was stationed at Camp Smith, in Honolulu, from 1967 to 1969. This was just at the beginning of the explosion of high rises, and there was still a lot of the old Honolulu left. It's a wonderful. wonderful place!

 

[Lincsong]

Nice looking ambulance there. A good place of old buildings in Hawaii is downtown Hilo, on the Big Island. After three tsunami's in 20 years, they didn't rebuild it. The buildings are old and worn, but some have been restored.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Here's a link to the Palace Theater's website in Hilo. A great old movie palace that needs our help.

http://www.hilopalace.com/

 

[Lincsong]

When I was living in Hilo, in 1988 the Palace Theater was empty and some people were trying to save it. The main negative about it is that the front is just a fascade. The building is just wood framed with corrogated steel on the outside. It is very interesting. The last time I was in Hilo, in 2002, right around the corner from the Palace Theater is the old Kress Store building. It has been converted into a 4 screen movie theater. I remember in 1988 looking through the window into the empty Kress Store and just seeing the old lunch counter.

The Big Island has a couple plantation towns with old buildings. Honokaa on the Hamakua Coast and Naalehu down in Kau'.

I'm glad they got something going on there at the Palace Theater. On my next trip there I definetly will be going to see a show at that place.

 

[Lincsong]

Unfortunately most of the old photos my Grandma had were either lost when she moved and she also threw/gave away a big chunk of pictures 30 years ago. Whatever little ones she has left are real tiny, smaller than the USO photo. I'll try to scrounge up what I can. Same goes for my Dad's side.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

The Palace has a ways to go before it's 100%, but they've done an excellent job. The Kress Theater looks pretty darn good, it's about the only example of Art Deco on the Big Island and they really put maximum effort into cleaning it up so that it shows its beauty.

Historic preservation is a challenge in a tropical environment, with the salty sea air and an average of 200" of rain per year. It's good to see folks rising to that challenge.

 

[Lincsong]

You can say that again. Especially since the buildings are mere yards from the Pacific Ocean. Add to that that when the last tsunami hit, the people basically did nothing for decades to the area and basically let it rot. I remember, I'm not sure but I think it was the Y. Hata building right there on Kam Blvd. had a tree growing out of a crack of a second story window. But with the influx of mainland money going into the downtown it may be able to pick up some tourist dollars. I really should make a trip there this year. I remember the Koehenen (sp?) building was redone back in the late 80's when I lived there and it was beautiful.

 

[anselmo1]

Check these out from December 7, 1941

 

[Lincsong]

Those are some awesome pictures Anselmo. Fabulous shots.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Those wartime photographers amaze me. Who among us would have the presence of mind to take any pictures at a time like that, and who would be steady enough to take such great pictures? Incredible talent and what nerves!

 

[dhermann1]

There was a series of articles in the NY Times, I think starting last Dec 7, that were written during the war, but for security reasons were never published. They chronicled the rebuilding of Pearl Harbor, with great pix.
I was stationed at Camp Smith, in Halawa Heights, from 1969 to 69. (If you see the John Wayne movie Pacific Command, the opening scenes are at Halawa Hts Naval Hospital, which became USMC FMFPAC Headquarters later.) Instead of working, I would stand at the window and watch them film Tora! Tora! Tora!. It was cool but weird to see Pearl being bombed again, although the original bombing was done by dive bombers (plus torpedo planes). Because of a fatal accident early in the shooting, they only filmed planes flying relatively straight and level.
There was still a lot of "Old Honolulu" in the 60's, the old bars on Hotel St., huge concrete pillboxes at Waikiki, etc. Aside from being staggeringly beautiful, Hawaii is a fascinating place.

 

[Lincsong]

Two really great looking buildings of "Old" Honolulu are the Alexander & Baldwin Headquarters Building and Honolulu City Hall; Honolulu Hale. I'll try to find pictures on the web to post. Also the Kaimuki section of Honolulu has the old buildings from the 1930's and 1940's. There was a saimin shop in Kaimuki that I used to go to eat and my Uncle Freddie would tell me that the same Japanese lady was stirring the pot in the 1980's and was stirring it in the 1940's. lol

 

[Lincsong]

Alexander and Baldwin Building

This is a very impressive building. If you go to Honolulu, make some time to go downtown and see some absolutely beautiful buildings.

 

[greyhound68]

Lots of folks visit the Arizona during their visit to Hawaii Oahu. However, what many people don't know is on the opposite side of Ford Island is a small memorial to the USS Utah which sunk with over 70 hands on board. Unlike the Arizona which is almost completely submerged the Utah is on her side and one can still see some of the ship above water.

 

[Lincsong]

You can see the USS Utah if you take the Pearl Harbor cruise. If I had a scanner I'd post a picture I have of it. The USS Arizona Memorial is one of those places that no matter how many times you go to Honolulu you never want to overlook stopping there.

 

[Lincsong]

bump

 

[DeeDub]

You can see the USS Utah if you take the Pearl Harbor cruise. If I had a scanner I'd post a picture I have of it. The USS Arizona Memorial is one of those places that no matter how many times you go to Honolulu you never want to overlook stopping there.

I haven't seen the Utah; it's on my agenda for next time.

My first time to Pearl, I had been reading books in the ship's library about December 7, so it was all fresh in my mind. As the ship entered the harbor and proceeded to the pier, the entire experience was one of the most moving in my life. That was over 30 years ago, and I still get emotional anywhere around there.

Here are a couple of pictures from my last visit.