THE CLUB AND W AIKIKI, JULY-DECEMBER, 1925 By Edwin North McClellan (Continued from January Issue) The year 1925 was one of construction for both the Club and Waikiki. The Outrigger Canoe Club filled up The Lagoon, moved the big Pavilion from the Beach to about 150 feet from Kalakaua Avenue, and constructed new bathhouses. Creation of the new Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Gardens started but they were not opened until 1927. The Old Seaside, with its traditions and memories, were gone forever, though the name was retained for the cottages moved to mauka of Kalakaua Avenue. However, in 1925 only a vivid imagination could envision Waikiki as competing with downtown Honolulu as a business area. But with the erection of the Royal Hawaiian, there were some of us who saw Waikiki’s Kalakaua Boulevard as the Fifth Avenue, the Chestnut Street, or the Rue de la Paix, of Honolulu. Busi­ ness remained away from Waikiki; there was no Waikiki Shopping Center and there were no theatres. The Moana Hotel and the Outrigger Canoe Club lani Hotel was not yet a prominent part formed the center of social and aquatic of the Beach. Edgewater and Gray’s activities at Waikiki. Beaches were there; Fort DeRussy dom­ inated its end of the Beach; walls thaf GETTING FROM PEARL HARBOR TO WAIKIKI spelled doom of Beaches despite groit, I had many official and social respon­ stood insultingly; Waikiki Tavern and sibilities at Pearl Harbor—where I was Prince Kuhio’s Establishment were at on duty as Second-in-Command of the the Diamond-Head end; a house fronted Marine Barracks. But we often got down by a stone-jetty requiring one to swim or town, and to Waikiki. I joined in with to go to Kalakaua Avenue to get around civic plans as often as possible. I became it; a fenced-in wall sticking out into the a member of the Ad Club and attended ocean mounted with two guns pointed its meetings at the Young Hotel. I wrote with a Pier. There was no Kuhio Beach articles for the Star-Bulletin, Advertiser, and futile imported sand; and the Desha- and Paradise-of-the-Pacific and broadcast Law required an un-native attire. How­ on the radio. ever, the Outrigger Canoe Club and the We would drive from Pearl Harbor Moana Hotel helped to balance the along the narrow road makai of the ledger. There was the old Moana Dining OR8cL Company’s railway tracks with Room extending a bit over the water. I canefields on our right (Hickam Field remember that on September 1, 1925, we was a thing of the future) ; across the entertained at dinner in that old Moana railway tracks; through Moanalua beauty Dining Room. There was the Banyan past Fort Shafter; along King Street Court, the Moana Public Bathrooms through town to Kalakaua; along that where one could secure a bathing-suit^ noble Avenue over the Waikiki Canal to towel and locker, for a price. And the'' the Outrigger Canoe Club and the Mo­ old Moana Pier of Romance. ana Hotel. MOANA PIER However, before we drove our auto­ Reminiscence carries me back forty- mobiles beyond the Naval Station, we five years to that old Moana Pier which had considerable difficulty in securing some people in 1925 thought was ugly. drivers’ licenses from the City-County. But in it lodged part of the Soul of Wai­ T he relations between the Services and kiki. It was a real joy, day or night. On the Honolulu Police were not as satisfac­ it, under the full moon shining down tory as they are in 1952. like a new-silver-dollar, the Beach-Boys sang their plaintive Hawaiian songs — A CHANGED WAIKIKI Lei o na Hawaii, Old Plantation, Imi au I found Waikiki somewhat different i a oe, Two-and-One, and concoctions from the Waikiki of my visits in 1908, like Duke's Mixture, an unorthodox 1910 and 1913. The absence of the Sea­ composition of a dozen songs and voices. side Hotel was the biggest blow. Haleku- Hotel guests were pleased with the

[ 1 Beach-Boy vocals as well as their instru­ evidence that this interesting rowing- mental music. Couples — not always battle between the Healanis and Myrtles youngsters — found a Lovers? Lane on took place. But, September 19, 1925 was the Pier — the gayest Promenade of Wai­ Regatta Day and the contestants rowing kiki and Honolulu. The pavilion at its in Honolulu Harbor were: Healani, end was the best spot from which to Myrtle, Honolulu, Navy, Police, Kunalu view arriving and departing ships. With and Hilo. The Healanis won the Senior no Boardwalk, Waikiki needed that Pier, Race with Navy second and the Myrtles, now gone. I encouraged athletics among third. However, the Myrtles took point the Leathernecks and attended many of honors. "Yabo” Taylor [of the Outrigger the games and meets of our civilian Canoe Club] was coxswain of the Myrtle friends. Among such was — crews. Gay H a r r is , of the Outrigger THE SWIMMING MEET AT PALAMA POOL Canoe Club, was stroke of the Myrtle Junior crew. In this month of Septem­ The Palama Pool Swimming Meet ber, 1925, Judge Bill Rawlins suggested took place on the night of August 26, that Honolulu be host to a huge Aquatic 1925. T he Rotary Club entered the fol­ Olympiad in 1926. lowing swim-stars to carry the ideal of “Service Above Self:” Arthur A. Hauck WEHSELAU WINS SWIMMING DUEL (Captain), G. Stanley McKenzie, Robert WITH GARATTI -1.. Maconel, Ralph Johnson, and Ernest Eleanor Garatti and Lester Smith — ^/lark. “The A d Club will put in a strong Mainland swimmers — arrived in Hono­ four under Dad Center as Captain,” re­ lulu from San Francisco on October 20, ported the Advertiser of August 26, 1925. 1925. T he W omen’s Auxiliary of the “Members of his team will be Percy Not- Outrigger Canoe Club and the Hawai­ tage. Col. Blackman, Bob Gilman, and ian Association of the Amateur Athletic Bob Fuller of Olympic fame. The R ep­ Union, sponsored a Swimming Meet in resentatives Club quartet may prove the the Punahou Pool on October 29-30-31, dark-horse stuff. Ez Crane, as Captain, 1925. has the following reliables: H. Harvey, Mariechen Wehselau (OCC) defeated Harold Kay, and Allen McGuire.” Eleanor Garatti in three major events of Dad Center surprised the other teams the meet. These were the freestyle events with substitutions in the above-named of fifty; one-hundred; and two-twenty Ad Club team. “The A d Club took first yards, while Garatti won from Wehselau place [in the Club Relay] with Hartman, in the fifty-yard backstroke. In addition Gilman, Dad Center, and C. Dudley to these victories Wehselau won some Pratt swimming. The Representatives Hawaiian championships. She also won Club placed next, while the Rotary Club the Swanzy-Cup for all around feminine . . . brought up the rear.” swimming for the second year, defeating “In the exhibition of life-saving, Dad Dot Waters, Leilehua Judd and Pauline ^Center and two of the Outrigger boys Laird, all of OCC. gave demonstrations of the uses of the C. Dudley Pratt (OCC) was third in surfboard in saving drowning persons; the plunge; Hess (OCC) won race for and also in teaching people to swim. boys under 15 with Trotter (OCC), 2nd; Following this, Dudley Pratt and S. Gay Harris (OCC) was second in the Wright gave a demonstration of the vari­ 150-yard backstroke; G ay H a rris was ous holds and breaks that are common third in hundred freestyle; Makinney of in life-saving work . . . Miss Pratt and the Outrigger Canoe Club won the dive; Miss Bogert also gave demonstrations. Miss Bickerton (OCC) was third in the The Meet was closed by a sensational Women’s freestyle Junior; W ehselau fire-dive by Fred MacDonald.” won the Women’s breaststroke with Wa­ ■E6ATTA DAT ters second and Judd third; Wehselau The newspapers, several times, pub­ won the Women’s dive with Laird sec­ lished information concerning "The First ond and Judd third; in the plunge, for Annual Hawaiian Henley" on the Wai­ women, W aters finished second and kiki Canal to feature the opening of the Wehselau third; Hui Makani won the Territorial Fair. However, I read of no (Continued on Page 13)

[5] THE CLUB AND WAIKIKI ECCENTRIC SANDS OF WAIKIKI Groins were relied upon to save the (Continued from Page 5) Sands of W aikiki. On July 25, 1925 Max 220-yard Club-Relay with OCC second; Long told Ad Club that "Honolulu the water-polo match was won by Out­ might benefit greatly if it improved the rigger Canoe Club (Minvielle, Wood, beach” at Waikiki. On August 5, 1925, Kammy Ross, Gay Harris), score 3-2, Judge John Albert Matthewman pro­ and so they carried away the cup offered tested to the Board of Harbor Commis­ by Gay Harris. Among the officials were; sioners about encroachment of property- Dr. Paul Withington (OCC) one of the owners on the Beach. Former Mayor marshals; Dad Center, C. Dudley Pratt George F. W right, as Past-President of and Mrs. K. C. Leebrick (all OCC) mem­ the Engineering Association of Hawaii, bers of the Games Committee; Ernest on October 9, 1925 addressed a letter to Tucker Chase (OCC), scorer. the Association calling for beautification of shoreline from Ward Street to Dia­ CLUB'S ANNUAL SWIM-MEET mond Head. The Association passed a “The aquatic dope-bucket was tipped Resolution calling for a complete pro­ considerably at the O utrigger Canoe gram for Waikiki Beach. Oahu was be­ Club’s Annual Swim-Meet at Waikiki coming keenly conscious of the “sins Beach on Thanksgiving Day [November against Waikiki” but the mood soon 26, 1925] when Gay Harris defeated A. passed off. \ [“Toots”] Minvielle, Jr., for first place MANY OTHER THINGS OF 1925 tn the Castle Cup Event,” reported the Herbert Dowsett and Harold Dilling­ Star-Bulletin of November 27, 1925. H. ham departed on August 1, for the Star Wood was third. This event was inaugu­ Yacht Races on Long Island Sound; Polo rated in 1917. “By defeating Minvielle, was prominent at Kapiolani Park; Navy Harris won the Harold Castle Trophy Dirigible S h e n a n d o a h cracked-up in which has been taken by Minvielle the September and never used the Ewa last two seasons.” The course was from mooring-mast; Commander John Rod­ the “old Castle Home to three stakes gers arrived by air and sea with his opposite the Outrigger Canoe Club Navy Flag Seaplane PN-9 No. 1; Mrs. grounds.” Gordon May (Lillie Bowmer) was swim­ Mariechen Wehselau won the Wom­ ming well on Pacific Coast; Waikiki So­ en’s Open event over a course starting cial Club building gutted by fire in at the Public Baths and ending at the October; Daisy the elephant and her three stakes; Janice Lovett was second 13-year-old attendant (Dorothy Mocki- and Leilehua Judd, third. Beatrice New­ ni) in Kapiolani Zoo, received publicity; port won the novice race for girls with lava activity still prevailed at Kilauea; A. Douse second and Eleanor Bickerton Cunard Liner Carinthia arrived Novem­ third. Course, from Cunha Surf to ber 3, with 377 passengers who visited Jtakes. Waikiki; University of Hawaii sponsored Hans Bahr won the event for boys a Swim-Meet on November 6; Armistice under sixteen years, Edgar second, and Day was commemorated; Duke Paoa H. Field third. Course, Public Baths to Kahanamoku played left-tackle for Hea­ Stakes. In the race for boys under six­ lanis as National Guard team defeated teen, B. Wood finished first, A. Hess sec­ them on M oiliili Field seven to nil; ond and W. Newport third. Course, “Adventuring Through Waikiki” (Star- Cunha Surf to stakes. R. Askew won race Bulletin, December 5); Burton Hooper for men over thirty with A- S. Baum sec­ won the Diamond-Head Five-Mile Run, ond and Pat O’Sullivan dropping out December 12, time, 29 minutes, one and with cramps. Course, Cunha Surf to a fifth seconds, with Fong Mow second, stakes. Merageas (U.S. Army) third, and Hel- The officials were: “Mouse” Smith, bush fourth. starter; A. E. Minvielle, Sr., Clerk-of- 1925 was a wonderful year for the Course; Edric Cook, F. Turner and Dad Club and Waikiki but 1926 was destined Center, timers; Sam Starret and R. Co­ to be even more complete. I was in wan, judges. Hawaii all of 1926 and most of 1927. [13]