• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

THE OLD MOANA PIER AT WAIKIKI By E d w in N o r t h M c C l e l l a n Historian, Editor, Lawyer, Traveller, Columnist, Radio Commentator and former member of OCC E d w in N . M c C l e l l a n Moana is an integral part of W aikiki! History reminds us of the Moana Chiefs and Chiefesses, the good ship Moana, Moanalua, American Legation Moana at Waikiki, and the Moana Hotel. About 1678 there was a High Chief on the Big Island of Hawaii with name of Moana, which means “The Ocean; the Sea generally or particularly, camping- ground; place of meeting for consultations among the Chiefs.” Piilani was the wife of Chief Moana. Their daughter Iliki-a- Moana had two sons, and one daughter the water from the residence of ty named Moana. Some of their descend­ United States Minister [Moana Le4, ants live on Oahu. tion]. The Big W hite House, now on MOANALUA, OAHU Kalakaua Avenue across from the Mo­ An early appearance of the word Mo­ ana Hotel, was then on the site of the ana on Oahu, in modern haole times, was hotel and was occupied by Harold M. in Moanalua, located in a beautiful part Sewall, United States Minister. of suburban Honolulu. “Sewall was a tall, distinguished fig­ ure, who entertained lavishly and the FIRST DATE OF MOANA PIER IN HAZE Pier was built in the hey-day of its ro­ “No one seems to be able to trace mantic associations at that time. During down the exact date when the [Moana] state functions at the house of the U. S. Pier was built,” explained the Paradise Minister, the Pier was gay with flags and of the Pacific, October, 1930. “W. H. lanterns and many a statesman, distin­ Baird of Honolulu, however, feels cer­ guished citizen or visiting naval officer tain that the Pier was built forty years walked out upon the Pier with his lady ago” or about 1890. That was ten years between dances.” before the Moana Hotel was constructed by W . C. Peacock and his associates. VISITORS TO LEGATION USED PIER The property from which the Moana “O n the sides of -the Pavilion at the Pier jutted into the Pacific “was origin­ end of the Pier were two boat-davi^ ally owned by Queen Kapiolani, who which, in the opinion of A. P. Taylci^ sold it to a Mr. W illiam P. Toler of San Librarian of the Archives of Hawaii, Francisco,” continued Paradise. “After were used to hold the small boats sent Mr. Toler gave up the house it was oc­ out by the warships of foreign countries, cupied by Dr. J. W . Brodie. It then be­ anchored in the waters off Waikiki came the residence of the U. S. Minister Beach. It is entirely probable that the [Harold M. Sewall], For a while it was visiting statesmen, who came to pay occupied by Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Cunha honor to the U. S. Minister, had their and then acquired by the interests that - small boats fastened at the end of the built the Moana Hotel. Pier and walked up it to the American “Even before the tourist hotels were Legation,” named Moana. built at Waikiki, the Pier was a rendez­ Many distinguished guests were enter­ vous for romantic persons who liked to tained at the American Legation Moana, break away from social functions for a and enjoyed Moana Pier. “One day we tete-a-tete under the Hawaiian Moon,” sat on” the Lanai of the American Lega­ wrote Paradise. tion Moana, home of American Minister AMERICAN LEGATION MOANA AT WAIKIKI Sewall, “at W aikiki and watched the “In the early days the Pier led out into surf-boating," wrote Isabel Anderson [6] who, in 1897, had arrived at Honolulu Mrs. Sanford Ballard Dole, and mem­ aboard the Gaelic. “That day L and I bers of the Dole Cabinet; Japanese Min­ put our bathing-suits on" and “got into ister Resident Shimura; Charge d’Affaires an outrigger canoe with two native boys Canavarro of Portugal; Acting British to handle it.” Isabel enjoyed surfing very Commissioner Kenny; M. Louis Vossion, much. French Commissioner; and American ENTERTAINMENTS AT MOANA LEGATION Naval and Marine officers of the Monad- “The reception of U. S. Minister and nock, Mohican and Nero. They all visited Mrs. [Harold M.] Sewall from 3 to 6 was the old Moana Pier. held at their house in Waikiki where POPULAR S.S. MOANA they have recently moved,” reported the The S.S. Moana was a popular liner in Advertiser, July 6, 1897. the Gay Nineties. For instance. Burton The American Minister honored Com­ Holmes, who participated in the forma­ modore Fort, of the French warship tion of the Outrigger Canoe Club, sailed Duguay-Trouin, with a “breakfast” on from San Francisco to Honolulu aboard October 1, 1897 at Waikiki, reported the the Moana in the summer of 11398. The Advertiser, October 2, 1897. Present were Old Moana Pier became “American” Commodore Fort, Rear Admiral Miller when Hawaii was annexed on July 7, (U. S. Navy), Consul-General Haywood, 1898 and the Flag raised the following Trench Commissioner Vossion, W. M. August 12th. ,£iffard (Chancellor, French Legation), THE MOANA HOTEL M. de Slane and M. O'Neil of the French Waikiki had become well-known to Commodore’s Staff, Flag-Lieutenant Rog­ the world by this time and a de luxe ers of the U.S.S. Philadelphia, Paul Neu­ hotel for the visitors was started at W ai­ mann and W. N. Armstrong. Toasts kiki—the Moana Hotel. In 1896 a design were drunk to the Presidents of the for the Moana Hotel appeared in the American and French Republics. Then newspapers. The plan lagged but was came the War between the USA and revived in 1899. For the Moana Hotel Spain. Story, and its opening on March 11, PRESIDENT DOLE VISITS 1901, read the Forecast, November, 1950. LEGATION MOANA AND PIER But, observe, that on this date the Old Harold M. Sewall, the American M in­ Moana Pier had been there for over ister, held an official reception at the ten years. American Legation Moana at Waikiki THE OLD MOANA PIER CONDEMNED TO DIE from noon to one o’clock, July 4, 1898. “Old Neckin’ Place must be repaired,” It was a tense social function for all the headlined the Advertiser, August 28, guests and the host for all were hourly 1930. “The Moana Pier, famous land­ expecting news that the United States mark of Honolulu and Waikiki Beach >had annexed Hawaii. Present were Presi­ may be dismantled as the result of action dent of the Republic of Hawaii, and taken,” August 27, 1930, at the "weekly The old pier at Moana Hotel Pic by Edwin N. McClellan [7] meeting of the Board of Harbor Com­ Clampitt, Gwen Clark, William Eric Danford, missioners.” Walter K. Collins, Sheila Goldsmith, Edward T. Harrison, Charles H. Holt, F. C. Kling, “Finding that a sign had been posted Phyllis M. Knapman, A. E. McCarty, Frank D. near the Moana Pier notifying all and Tilley sundry that the Pier was unsafe, and A sso cia te that those walking on it would do so at Lionel Banks, Diane McLean, Francis Owens, their own risk, the Board of Harbor Com­ George Stickler missioners started an investigation,” ex­ J u n io r Nichols Coler Beck, Lorna Sharpe Danford, plained the Star-Bulletin, August 28, Rona Ann Danford, Mary Lamora Harrison, 1930. The notice had been posted by the Thomas C. Jensen, Linda Long, Lynne LaMure Territorial Hotels Company, owner of S e rvic e the Moana Hotel. Members of the Har­ O. T. Jensen, Jr., Howard J. Connolly, Quen- bor Board, which had jurisdiction over tell Violett the waters of the Territory, after a thor­ ough search of the records, failed to find APPLICANTS FOR MEMBERSHIP any mention of permission to erect the Below is a list of applicants for mem­ Pier and decided that it must have been bership to the OCC. Each member has constructed prior to the “institution of a duty, to look over the list carefully and the Harbor Board in 1913.” Since the if for any reason he objects to the accept­ Pier started from the property of the ance of any applicant he should get f Territorial Hotels Company, Ltd., and touch with Dr. Irving Blom, Chairmah since owners of that property deemed of the Admissions Committee. Any infor­ the Pier unsafe, the Harbor Board noti­ mation given him will be kept strictly fied that Company to either repair or private and carefully considered. The tear down the Pier. So, the Old Moana Club does not need more members, Pier was erased! but does need members of high moral OCC SADLY MOURNS PASSING OF PIER and financial standing. Help your Com­ “The old Moana Pier, in which a mittee keep a high standard. thousand romances have begun and, per­ haps, almost as many dissolved, has been S E N IO R A p p lic a n t S p o n s o r Se co n d e r torn down,” described the Paradise of David Watumul) R. N. Linn Richard the Pacific, October, 1930. “The old Mo­ Wurdeman Harold Whitaker George Brangier Nat Norfleet ana Pier has universally a sentimental ap­ Hart Wood Jr. Hugh Howell Carter Galt Joseph Woolley Ralph Woolley M. Woolley peal to all who have known and loved James Youd A. H. Brodie J. Casey Honolulu.” Carl Bechert Buzz Moriarty John Mowat Irene Burger Yvonne Boyd Alfred Jungnickel Moana Pier was there when the Out­ Celia Coughlin Curtin Lesser Frank Addleman Richard Dennis George Brangier Nat Norfleet rigger Canoe Club was born at Waikiki Sara Heinz Mrs.

Load more

  3

Copy Link