By Curtis Narimatsu
James “Kimo” Henderson married Lydia [after Queen Lili'u] Macy, of the Hawai’i branch of the NYC Macy family [Hawai'i Wessel ohana is same family — owns the bldg. where Cronies Restaurant is].
James Kimo Henderson
Of course, Lydia Lei was of Hawaiian ethnicity, whose sister married our biggest banker Harold Patten, whose mansion still stands in Pu’u'eo [BJ Penn's parents' home]. James Kimo’s mansion in Pi’ihonua is ready to fall down, whose termites are tired holding hands. Kimo is Hilo’s second biggest philanthropist, after fellow Scotman Charles C. Kennedy. Central Hilo, where Kimo’s sugar mill stood [Central fire station], is graced with Kimo’s beneficence [Lincoln Park org/etc.]. Just as Kimo led Helco [where Farmers Exchange stood] in Central Hilo’s Kino’ole St. area, CC Kennedy [& widow Laura Vestal Kennedy] primed up the rest of Hilo. Imagine, two Scotmen as Hilo’s greatest philanthropists!! Kimo’s son Sonny kept our Japanese population out of internment camps WWII. Kimo’s daughter Lei [namesake like mother Lydia Lei] enabled Kimo’s residential Pi’ihonua plantation villagers to a better life [along with her husband Hutchinson]. I can go on and on about Kimo, but it would be pointless for anyone outside of Hilo to know of Kimo’s destiny-making impact on us all till this day. Yet, Kimo stands among the greatest of philanthropists throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It is no easy feat to be right up there with CC Kennedy, Waiakea Sugar Mill mgr. In today’s lingo, CC Kennedy is Bill Gates, and Kimo Henderson is Warren Buffett. Yes, the incomparable composer Helen Desha Beamer wrote the operatic Kimo Henderson hula in honor of Kimo & Lei Macy Henderson. Listen to this metaphysical melody, & you will be hooked forever to the magic of Helen Desha Beamer. — Aloha, Curt
Aia i ka u ka o Pi`ihonua
Ke kîhâpai pua ulumâhiehie
I laila au la `ike i ka nani
O nâ pua `ala a he nui wale
Ho`ohihi nâ manu o ke kuahiwi
Nâ `i`iwi maka pôlena
I ka `ono i ka wai o nâ pua
O Moanike`ala i ka uluwehiwehi
Mahalo `iâ `oe e ka hoa aloha
I ka ho`okipa e nâ malihini
Eia kô lei poina `ole
O Leimakani lei onaona
Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
Moanike`ala i ka uluwehiwehi
Hea aku mâkou e ô mai `oe
Kimo o ka uka `iu `iu he inoa
In the uplands of Pi`ihonua
A flower garden in beautiful array
There I see the beauty
Of the fragrant flowers in great profusion
The birds of the forest are attracted here
The yellow eyed `i`iwi
At the sweet nectar of the flowers
Of Moanike`ala’s beautiful gardens
Thank you dear friend
For gracious hospitality to visitors
Here is your unforgettable, beloved
Leimakani, a lei so fragrant
The story is told
Moanike`ala, beautifully verdant
We call, you answer
Jim of the highlands, your name-song
Words and music by Helen Desha Beamer are posted here courtesy of huapala.org.
(Curtis Narimatsu is a lifelong resident of Hilo who writes about the forgotten past such as the old plantation days & untold heroes.)
August 31st, 2009 at 3:31 am
Being snoopy and familiar with radioman Hardy Hutchinson a Hilo native with part Hawaiian ties, is the Hutchinson above his father or perhaps an uncle?
Hardy was a full-on character who later succeeded on Oahu in public relations but came back here to retire and die. He made a ledgendary fall through the ceiling of Hlo High auditorium that broke both of his legs. He was kalohe.
He could be charming and crazy, all on the same day.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Wow!! Editor Tiffany Edwards Hunt, thank you, thank you!! So beautiful, Helen Desha Beamer’s operatic number in honor of Kimo/Lydia Lei Henderson’s verdant Moanike’ala estate in Pi’ihonua. Yes, Hardy Hutchinson’s mom Lei is Kimo’s/Lydia Lei’s daughter. Hardy’s dad also was a terrific community enabler, was Gas Co. head [later offices with Helco's Kimo at what we remember as our National Dollar Store bldg. SW corner Kamehameha/Kalakaua Sts.]. Hardy was our typical Andy Hardy/Mickey Rooney raconteur, a child of destiny via the Henderson-Hutchinson great altruism legacies. Hardy never showed it, but deep inside Hardy knew that the Henderson-Hutchinson spirit of aloha/spirit of the islands were unmatched. Love everlasting [I only now came to a cafe computer], –Curt
August 31st, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Helen Desha Beamer 1882-1952 did the 1st commercial recording of Ke Kali Nei Au [The Hawaiian Wedding Song] for Columbia Records. She/hubby Pete 1873-1967 lived at their palatial estate overlooking Wailuku River’s Maui Canoe. When Helen was a child, her dad George Desha & uncle Rev. Stephen Desha Sr. prohibited her from learning the hula, regarding it as the devil’s dance. But as Kalakaua broke us in to the essence of authentic Hawaiian culture/heritage, Helen’s DNA in ancient chants/rituals going back to the 1500s came to the forefront, and multi-gifted Helen [chants/hula/opera diva/poet/writer/dancer/etc.] became our greatest bearer of Hawaiian custom/history a la Mary Kawena Pukui/Joseph Nawahi/etc. Yes, Keola Beamer is Helen’s great grandson. Aloha, –Curt
August 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Charles C. Kennedy 1848-1917 quit school at age 12 to work in economically depressed Scotland, then immigrated to Hawai’i where he became Waiakea Sugar Mill mgr. CC Kennedy became our greatest philanthropist, because of his immense compassion for impoverished youth/folks, the lower strata of society he so fondly came from/remembered with great attentive support-care for. Irony is that CC’s baby brother James Kennedy, later shipping magnate, had son Stan Sr. who started Inter-Island Airways/Haw’n Air, our haole-only air carrier, something CC never would’ve flew for had CC seen the start of commercial aviation here. CC’s widow Laura Vestal Kennedy 1879-1967 carried on CC’s philanthropy with astounding accomplishments [Lili'uokalani Park in honor of Lili'u who died 1917/Mo'oheau Park tree-planting-beautification/Lincoln Park playground fixtures/etc.]. Aloha, –Curt
August 31st, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Oops, my bad, cafe computer venue, CC Kennedy died 1919, not 1917. Kirriemuir Scotland is CC’s native village, same village which produced Peter Pan creator JM Barrie!! CC Kennedy came to Hawai’i 1877, baby brother James born 1852 came 1878, oldest brother Tom came to Hawai’i, then went back to Kirriemuir, Scotland, to live out his idyllic days. Aloha, –Curt
August 31st, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Do you know that our famous Kahele [forest ranger above Kimo Henderson's estate in Pi'ihonua] genesis [today's Na Pala Palai virtuoso vocalists] was benefacted by Kimo Henderson, just as our famous Keli’i [Kimo-Lydia expanse groundskeeper] genesis [today's electricians] was benefacted by Kimo [Keli'i ohana are Helco stalwarts, just as Pi'ihonua Camp 3 plantation supervisors-families progeny were benefacted by Kimo's Helco/Kimo's daughter Lei Hutchinson took care of Pi'ihonua Camps 4 & 5 folks-kids/Kimo's son Sonny took care of Kimo's mill camp folks-kids at Lincoln Park distrct downtown]. Aloha, –Curt
August 31st, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Henry Shimabukuro born 1931, 1st highest ranking Uchinanchu/AJA Air Force brass after Kotonk/Statesider Ben Kuroki born 1917 [92 yrs. young], still lives in mama Matsu Shimabukuro’s home Camp 4 Pi’ihonua, says that Kimo Henderson was a mean old man who didn’t even bother to look outside his car window as Kimo came up to his mansion above Pi’ihonua Camp 3. That Kimo only took care of Kimo’s supervisors/families, not everyday laborers like Henry’s widowed mama/Camps 4 & 5 commoners. But Kimo’s loving daughter Lei took care of Camps 4 & 5 folks/kids. Just as Lei’s hubby Hutchinson was so kindly/gracious/generous to Camps 4 & 5 folks/kids. Henry says that Lei’s son Hardy was a typical spoiled brat haole kid who ignored plantation barefoot kids, & was a big loudmouthed show-off in school. So perspective depends on geography, I guess [Mill camp kids who worshipped Kimo vs. mountain uchinanchu-Okinawans who were ignored by Kimo]. On the other hand, Mill Camp/Lincoln Park kids absolutely worshipped Kimo Henderson & Kimo’s son Sonny, ably assisted by Helco asst. exec Pat Brown [ansy/pansy gorgeous Sheila Clark's dad]. After all, 3 of Kimo’s acolytes/devotees, Frank Ishii/Froggie Yoneda/Sambo Saito, became living legends of Ponahawai district!! Not to mention others sublime yet so great/altruistic like Coffee Kohashi/etc. Rudy Legaspi came much later & boastfully extols the Lincoln Wrecker tradition, yet Rudy’s beginnings mark the end of the actual earlier Lincoln Park/Ponahawai district golden era/years 1904-1949. Rudy had no finger on history of the area, just Rudy’s loco moco craze [Rich-Nancy Inouye's Lincoln Grill 1949, yet it was May Goya who concocted the original loco moco at her May's Fountain in Shinmachi back in 1947, vs. Nancy's start a year later/May is legendary UH Hilo sports genesis Ramon Goya's mama]. –Curt
August 31st, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Oops, flown, not flew [CC Kennedy never would've condoned CC's nephew Stan Sr.'s haole-only Haw'n Airlines, which is why Kukuihaele grassrooter Ruddy Tongg's TransPacAir-TPA, later sold to Ruddy's understudy Hung Wo Ching 1912-1996, Hung Wai's 1905-2002 baby brother, was counterpoint to Stan Sr. Kennedy's haole-only policy]. District, not distrct. Don’t have notes w/me, going from computer to computer at cafe venue, CC was 30 yrs. older than 2nd wife Laura [CC's 1st wife died of illness, leaving behind 2 sons, who were lovingly raised by CC, then later incl. by Laura], so was CC born 1849 [to Laura's 1879]? I’ll check when I retrieve my notes. Do you know that in honor of our 442 boys, Laura gave our boys her parcel of land which became today’s AJA Veterans’ social hall across our Hilo Muni golf course? Laura had her vehicles serviced at Sato’s Garage in Shinmachi, so when Sato’s son came home a 442 veteran WWII, Laura gave her land to our boys. Laura’s masseur was AJA, so she sold him for almost nothing her palatial parcel NW corner Ponahawai/Kapi’olani Sts. After CC’s death 1919, Laura still Amazonian/vivacious/Hollywood gorgeous, later married Hawaiian opera singer [name escapes me right now]. Nonetheless, Laura’s old-age photo hangs proudly at our AJA social hall, just as Kimo Henderson’s old-age photo hangs proudly at our Pi’ihonua Kaikan-social hall in Camp 3. Kimo’s great-grandson can find tons of Kimo’s photos which are repositoried w/Plantation Museum’s Wayne Subica, whose phone number is 959-4769, Wayne’s waiting for new venue to re-open his grassroot museum [vs. Lyman's missionary museum]. I got Ponahawai Lincoln Wreckers gang to donate all of the archival photos of the Lincoln Park district/Ponahawai area to Wayne Subica’s Plantation Museum. Irony is that Kimo Henderson loved his bow tie, not his more formal long necktie. And he loved his WWI era Woodrow Wilson hat. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 10:20 am
Yes, Charles Clark Kennedy was born on December 28, 1848 in Kirriemuir Scotland, and died on January 9, 1919 at age 71. Laura Vestal Kennedy 1879-1967 of San Jose, California was a schoolteacher by vocation and remarried via an actual Hawaiian opera singer but stage name Carlos Sebastian in 1930, 11 yrs. after CC Kennedy’s death. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 11:02 am
CC Kennedy’s mansion was where today’s Mormon church is on Kilauea Ave. by our Hilo Shopping Ctr. Hilo High teacher Isabella Kennedy [red hair] is not CC’s wife Laura Vestal Kennedy. CC 1848-1919 enabled Waiakea Sugar mill kids TR Saiki/etc. to successful careers [TR our 1st buddahead banker], just as Laura Vestal Kennedy 1879-1967 personally taught/tutored our later leading community icons. Of course, Kimo Henderson 1876-1965 had his mansion above Pi’ihonua Camp 3 because Camp 3 is where Kimo’s plantation offices were [relocated from Kimo's Mill where Central Fire station is today]. Of course, Chun Afong’s peers Tong Ai Yee/etc. had their original Chinese sugar mill where Kimo’s later mill stood, all along the Alenaio stream corridor from Ululani St. down to Lili’uokalani Lane [makai of today's Salvation Army bldg. on Ponahawai St.]. CC Kennedy’s Waiakea Sugar Mill [CC was mgr./Kimo Henderson eventually owned Kimo's Hawaii Mill off Ponahawai St.] was where today’s vacant Island Chevrolet car lot. The later Flintkote/cane fiberboard huge factory complex was where today’s Waiakea Villa expanse is along Wailoa pond. Waiakea Sugar mill camp [Isamu Kanekuni born 1921 from here] was where today’s Hilo Shopping Ctr. is, down to Puueo Poi factory below today’s Island Chevrolet car lot [car lot built on 10 ft. fill to thwart tsunami flooding]. Waiakea ahupua’a runs from Coconut Island/Moku’ola all the way up to the forest above Ainaola Drive/Buddy Azevedo’s residence. Waiakea Sugar Mill camp 2 was where today’s housing is makai of Waiakea Elem. School off Puainako St. Camp 3 was where today’s Maikai St. is mauka of the Food Fair/Sure Save [now County Housing office] bldg. off Kino’ole/W. Kahaopea Sts. Camp 4 was where Ainaola park is a half mile below the junction of Komohana/Ainaola Drive. Camp 5 is the junction of Ainaola/Ainalako Sts. Camp 6 is the junction of Ainaola/Kupulau Rd. Camp 7 was consolidated 1920 w/Camp 6 & was junction Hoaka/Mala’ai St. Camp 8 was junction Ainaola/Mala’ai St. Camp 9 was a mile above junction Alawaena/Mala’ai St. Camp 10 was at the forest line end of Alawaena St. Camps 9/10 were consolidated w/Camp 8 in 1925. Pi’ihonua mill camp is where today’s Osorio Lane/Kuku’au-Lili’uokalani lane are between Kilauea Ave./Kino’ole St. extension 1925 [Kuku'au ahupua'a but part of Pi'ihonua sugar plantation]. Pi’ihonua Camp 2 was consolidated w/Camp 3, & was Puna side/quarter mile south of junction of Waianuenue/Manaolana Place [old radio tower where river concrete crossing is]. Camp 3 is where Pi’ihonua school/Head Start facilities are. Camp 4 is a mile above Camp 3. Camp 5 is where the tree grove starts [Henry Shimabukuro's mama's ag lot], up to the end of Waianuenue Ave. below the forest line. As the plantations started downsizing in distant field labor camps/began to use mechanical harvesters, our numbered camps started dwindling. Aloha, –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 11:37 am
When Kimo Henderson sold his sugar mill/operations to Hilo Sugar Co. of Wainaku, Kimo retained lands around Kimo’s Camp 3, which Kimo then virtually gave away to Kimo’s supervisors who lived around Kimo’s mansion/Camp 3 area. Like Camp 4 uchinanchu Henry Shimabukuro says, this is not grassroot to the deepest core, but a reward to upper level supervisors, albeit mostly Japanese. Nonetheless, Kimo’s beneficence is obvious to Camp 3 residents. Of course, Henry is the driving force behind lease to fee conversion of Pi’ihonua government lands to private household ownership, the only one of its kind in our State, 1983-1995. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Yes, the Helco hydro plant at Wainaku Ave. has its intake at Pi’ihonua across Manaolana Place. Of course, the old Ali’i/then Lyman Boarding School ditch [1st to generate electricity on our island] has its intake mauka of the Pi’ihonua Camp 3 bridge. A berm now prevents water from flooding into Pi’ihonua Camp 3, but the ditch remnant still exists makai of the Pi’ihonua school yard [not the yard culvert but the smaller culvert just a few feet makai of the yard culvert]. The lower Kaumana side of the Ali’i ditch is today’s huge floodwater culvert at the end of Omao St. just mauka of the Kaumana 7-11 store. The ditch narrows again to a small culvert at the end of Malana’i & Springs Sts. off Punahele St. makai of Kaumana 7-11 store. It then culverts again alongside lower Punahele St. across the current jail/office bldg. It then culverts again on the way to Veterans Cemetery No. 2 above the Boys/Girls Club [whole expanse was Lyman Boarding School grounds]. Below Kaumana fire station across Lahaina St. along Waianuenue Ave., you can see the ditch meander down toward the Omao St. area. Actually, the ditch water also climbed up the top of Haili Hill to the headpipe, then careened down toward Lyman Boarding School. Since the water source was way above Haili Hill in elevation, going up Haili Hill was no problem. Remember when Chiaki Matsuo was going to develop the whole area Puna side of the Ponahawai plantation road at the end of the side roads off Waianuenue Ave. from Malana’i St. all the way up to Wiliwili St. [Lucy's Okazuya]??? And the only new D-11 Kubota blade dozer engine died by the Ali’i/later Lyman ditch?? And the dozer operator walked off/quit plumb on the spot??? Strange events. Imagine, dozer operator was buddahead, not Hawaiian. He said he didn’t feel right being at that spot. Visceral, not rational. Aloha, –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 6:57 pm
The old Ali’i ditch dating back 2 centuries ago had multiple uses [drinking water/irrigation], & where today’s Church of God grounds are mauka of Hilo Intermediate school, had verdant taro/kalo fields, irrigated by the Ali’i ditch. Our Chinese sugar masters/planters irrigated their canelands where today’s Homelani Cemetery is, thanks to the Ali’i ditch. Of course, flumes supplied water both to Kimo Henderson’s mill corner Kino’ole/Ponahawai Sts., & to Hilo Sugar Co. in Wainaku, sourced from Wailuku river-Ali’i ditch, & from Alenai’o stream [major water flow obliterated by 1881 lava flow, but residue still flowed]. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
The story of the 3 sisters [the 3 Haili hill series -- middle hill excavated for fill in Houselots area] which averted Haili Church from being overrun by lava, was well known to Hawaiians of 2 centuries ago. Hilo Intermediate school has mural of 3 sisters at its cafeteria bldg. The middle hill crest is mauka of Komohana St./Pu’u Honu Way above where County FCU is. Of course, Haili Hill is the well known hill, the third hill still existent but covered by jungle on the Puna side of our Kaumana 7-11 store. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Yes, June Gutmanis died in 1998 of massive heart attack before she could publish her findings on the uppermost Haili [3rd] hill, which she postulates was used for astronomy by ancient Hawaiians, based on stone formations at its peak/apex. No, not hewa/curse — June was most beloved as a Hawaiian cultural treasure — her books Na Pule Kahiko & Kahuna La’au Lapa’au, not to mention Pohaku, are standards in comprehension of Hawaiian culture/history/heritage. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Al McNarie’s BI Weekly article last week raises the question of whether Kingdom law during the reign of Kamehameha III prohibited sale of certain Mahele lands, which the later sugar planters bought/cultivated. Kuleana lands were not taxable, but the Mahele intended to create private property ownership, not impede the sale of certain Mahele lands, as raised in the body of the article by Mr. Ha’a. Of course, the 1865 legislature prohibited sale of the Kings’ crown lands, such lands being transmuted to government ownership, as delineated in Lili’u Court of Claims case 1910. The government bailed out the King over his debts, thence freezing his crown lands for the benefit of the Kingdom’s residents. This came long after the death/reign of Kamehameha III, our greatest Constitutional Monarch. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 7:39 pm
There is a 4 wheel drive road, so to speak, along the 1960 lava accretion/flow from Cape Kumukahi south for a mile and a half to the north border of today’s gated Kapoho beach lots subdivision. Of course, at considerable government expense, a user-friendly access road is an option along this route to Champagne pond. There are eminent domain/condemnation issues for access over private property inland of the coastline. Which are why BJ Leithead’s mission for public access via the current gated subdivision road from ocean to the Kapoho-Kalapana Highway 137 is crucial. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Pi’ihonua had its cemetery Hamakua side of Camp 4, but when Alae Cemetery re-interment happened 1965, the Pi’ihonua cemetery remains were transferred to Alae cemetery. Of course, Kea’au 1930s 9 mile camp cemetery [century-old original 9 mile camp was along Old Volcano highway by today's Kea'au shopping ctr.] still has remains left, including my kin folk, now canopied by jungle gunpowder trees. –Curt
September 1st, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Still on unfamiliar cafe computers. Sorry for being disjointed. Signing out for now. Aloha, –Curt
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:23 am
For awhile I thought you were talking about Tandy MacKenzie, the Hawaiian opera singer. Probably greatest tenor ever. European critics thought he was better than Caruso. Born in Hana, March 10, 1892. Had his debut in “La Boheme” as Rudolpho at Cannes, France in June 1929. Died in 1963. Buried in Los Angeles.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:07 am
Hi Pua: Thank you for your great diversity of interests. Lot Kaulukou 1884-1959 was not accomplished like Tandy MacKenzie [Canada's MacKenzie River family], but Lot [stage name Carlos Sebastian] first trained under C & C founder Amos Cooke’s daughter Annis 1846-1920, then under famed Polish tenor Jean de Reszke in Milan & Paris. It is no coincidence that Lot & Laura Vestal Kennedy 1879-1967 [CC Kennedy's widow] were star-struck with each other [Laura loved culture/arts, & Lot loved sophisticated women like Laura]. Thanks again, –Curt
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 am
Harry Kaina Brown 1891-1953 was honored by our AJAs post-WWII for keeping our buddaheads [Issei immigrants/2nd generation Nisei--AJAs] out of internment camps. Harry is our longest-serving elected official [County auditor 1924-1953; died in office], & was mirror image of mayor Sam Mahuka Spencer, longest-serving mayor 1924-1944. Harry was infantry Capt. WWI & commanded Co. D, our WWI all-Japanese infantry unit which included later historymakers like Wil Tsukiyama [S.Ct. chief justice 1959-1965; mandatory age 70 retirement]/Sanji Abe [1st AJA Terr. Sen. 1940 from Mamo St.]/Futoshi Frank Arakawa [famed engineer-architect who designed most of our landmark bldgs. like today's East Hawai'i Cultural Ctr.]. So Harry knew how Americanized/utterly loyal to America our buddaheads were. To Harry, there was no question as to our buddaheads’ patriotism to America. Opera diva/famed educator Elizabeth Hawea Waia’u is Harry’s daughter. Harry’s wife/Hawea’s mama is great educator Eliza Desha [Haili Church's longest-serving pastor Stephen's daughter]. Of course, Hawea’s twin brother Kihei was our great vocalist virtuoso –Curt
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:26 am
As the Shipmans sold their unproductive ranch lands, eager local investors like Ruddy Tongg 1905-1988 [Fern Forest/etc.] got into the act for land speculation/development. The Shipmans’ divestiture of unproductive lands presaged our Democratic Party revolution of 1954, which thereafter taxed land per highest/best use, not current low fallow value. –Curt
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:33 am
Because CC Kennedy 1848-1919 had only a 4th grade education in his native Scotland, CC wanted to make sure that our local kids got the best schooling possible. Thence CC’s philanthropy to our schools/youth orgs. Of course, even in death CC Kennedy’s beneficence lived on. Dearest wife Laura Vestal Kennedy 1879-1967, San Jose native-educator herself, erected the CC Kennedy Memorial Annex to our public library [today's welfare office bldg. makai of our downtown Federal bldg./PO] after CC’s death. –Curt
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
Yes, corporate raiders were existent even at Statehood, such as Harry Weinberg [who took over HRT from Big 5, who operated as the Big One]. Of course, our Big 5 got away w/moider pre-Statehood because our Big 5 set their own tax rates on their immense fallow land holdings, making them prime targets for takeover by Stateside raiders/predators who could easily buy up the Big 5′s undervalued stocks & tremendously valuable land inventory-portfolio which was not taxed for fair share to public coffers. Fiefdom-conscious Walter Dillingham 1875-1963 was fearful of Liberty Ship builder Henry J. Kaiser’s relocating to live in Hawai’i, where Kaiser, 7 yrs. younger than Walt, could more than match Dillingham’s clout as our Pearl Harbor naval contractor. Dillingham, in Naval clout [direct phone access to FDR WWII] bigger than our Big 5 [Dillingham also missionary progeny like C & C/A & B], had the only cement plant in our islands, until Henry J. Kaiser came along & built Kaiser’s own cement plant to supply Kaiser’s cement needs. To Kaiser, our Big 5 oligopoly suffocated individual incentive/initiative, & had to be dismantled by a fella/outsider like Kaiser. –Curt
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I think Weinberg has had the last laugh on all that fought with him. His name is plastered all over the state on multiple non-profit buildings. If there is life after death, Harry is having a good time.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:37 am
Harry Weinberg HRT & Art Rutledge Teamsters-Unity House were upended by Frank Fasi born 1920 when Frank/Paul Devens went to D.C. & bought their own buses to overcome the impasse between Weinberg/Rutledge. Fasi was a do-er, despite Fasi’s tyrannical personality. –Curt
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:18 am
Oops, the foregoing was my post [on cafe computer]. As you know, per Weinberg Foundation’s requirement, a nonprofit org which gets more than $250,000 for its bldg. fund [most get $ for operations, not bldg. fund via Weinberg, which is a big help for starter/seed orgs] has to name its bldg. the Weinberg Foundation. Of course, Weinberg 1908-1990 was a tyrant in life, but to avert horrendous estate/inheritance taxes, Weinberg [like all other barons such as Rockefeller/Ford/Carnegie/JP Morgan/John MacArthur/Bill Gates/Warren Buffett] created his namesake foundation. Weinberg’s $2 billion foundation was among the 12 largest in the nation when formed, & is the 3rd largest private landowner in the Haw’n Islands in total assets valued, behind KSBE/Queen Emma foundation. Of course, Weinberg was the quintessential original Hawai’i corporate raider, coming in at Statehood & giving hell to our hiterto invincible capitalists like Walt Dillingham 1875-1963 [who then had Walt's hands full vs. Henry Kaiser 1882-1967], AmFac, A & B, and C & C. Thank you, communicant Pua, for your observations. –Curt
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Pi’ihonua Camp 3 native Yoshito Tanaka, our former County Attorney, was richly/happily retired when kumiai/community ass’n do-er Henry Shimabukuro asked Yoshito to assist Yoshito’s fellow common folk villagers for lease to fee conversion of Pi’ihonua plantation camps. Yoshito told Henry that Yoshito didn’t want to get involved and didn’t want to take up time to help Yoshito’s fellow villagers. Despite big wheel Yoshito not lifting a finger to assist Yoshito’s kumiai, Henry was able to get lease to fee conversion for government lands for the Pi’ihonua villagers, the only one of its kind. Ed Taira [Mac's son] of the County Housing office, also a native Pi’ihonua villager, was not inspirational for the grassroot fulfillment/villagers’ dreams, being [like Yoshito Tanaka] emotionally distant [Mac had Mac's beautiful new home built below Camp 3, unlike the other villagers like Matsu Shimabukuro, Henry's mama]. –Curt
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Yes, there was ethnic discrimination by Naichi/Mainland Japanese vs. uchinanchu/Okinawans a century ago, typified by earliest Pi’ihonua Naichi residents like Wakimoto vs. Oshiro/Shimabukuro/etc. Toppy Kawauchi’s home sits plunk astride the Lyman Boarding school ditch on the opposite side of Waianuenue Ave. just below Pi’ihonua school grounds. The ditch does not flow because a berm has been erected along the Wailuku river headwater. The ditch along Toppy’s home looks like a child’s playpen construction a foot deep, a foot wide. Of course, before the berm was built mauka of the school grounds, floodwaters used to devastate the whole area 20 yrs. ago. –Curt
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Pi’ihonua Camp 3 has a wooden bridge which crosses the Wailuku tributary, a photographer’s delight, but this bridge is condemned/unsafe, & access to its canefield roadway is blocked by gates. Of course, the concrete river crossing at Manaolana Place also is blocked on the Hamakua side of Wailuku river by earth berm. The Wai’au stream wooden bridge also is a photographer’s delight but access to it is blocked via gate. This is where the Helco substation is, & on the Hamakua side of Wai’au stream was Amau’ulu Camp 3 [Filipinos like the great hoopsters Tomas boys]. Wai’au stream is mauka of Hilo Hospital & merges with Wailuku river across & mauka from today’s Protestant church above Hilo Hospital. Were Waia’au merges with Wailuku is a sight to see, sort of like a mini-mini Niagara Falls. By the way, the sound of an approaching tsunami with a bore/wave front is like being at Niagara Falls/immense deafening pounding of water on granite below. Amau’ulu mill camp is where today’s HSPA 2 story wooden bldg. is half a mile above the junction of Wainaku Ave./Amau’ulu rd. Camp 2 Spanish/Puerto Rican camp was just above the junction of gravel plantation roads Amau’ulu & Pi’ihonua-Wainaku north-south road. Camp 4 Uchinanchu/Filipino was just above still-existent Haw’n/Ka’aumoana mango tree/ghost house [not so, just kids scaring each other] camp. Camp 5 was where the KIPA tower was toward the forest line/old Hilo Sugar Dairy. –Curt
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Sorry, Wai’au, not Waia’au [thinking of Hawea Waia'u]. To see Kimo Henderson’s post-apocalyptic looking mansion, go to what looks like a fork in the road along Waianuenue Ave. above Manaolana Place, then turn left up the narrow paved road for a quarter mile, where you’ll see the termites holding up the structure. Kimo’s daughter Lei Hutchinson lived in a home below the mansion. What looks like servants’ quarters are above the mansion. Imagine, this jungle looked like Fantasy Island nearly a century ago!!! –Curt
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Pi’ihonua Camp 4 had its own clubhouse/social hall, since razed [behind Charley Shimabukuro's home --Charley was Henry's older brother, Charley a sports hall of fame boxer]. Camp 3 kaikan/social hall built by Hilo Sugar is below the Pi’ihonua/Head Start school grounds, on the opposite side of Waianuenue Ave. You can still see single men rooming house where Kahele lived just mauka of Manaolana Place on the Puna side of Waianuenue Ave. Long house, not rectangular. Waiakea Sugar mill camp still has one left, now a church site, in the rear parking lot for employees of Hilo Shopping Ctr. [behind our former Miko Meat facility]. “Haole camp” by Boiling Pots is not part of the sugar mill camp sites, but separate residential subdivision, integrated racially when Bishop/1st Haw’n Bank’s mgr. Wong moved to the Bishop bank mgr. home at the start of the camp along Wai’au St. above the Protestant church. The Lyman boarding school ditch crosses Waianuenue Ave. via a little hump by the reservoir at Haole camp. –Curt
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I want to thank Pua & other pseudonyms/anonymous communicants for their scintillating wisdom. My regrets are 1) I really cannot figure out an anonymous communicant’s mentality, so to speak; 2) I’m unable to discourse one on one with an anonymous communicant. Still on cafe computers. I applaud Don Pakele born 1944 for Don’s sharing of immense knowledge of Hawaiian culture/local geography/etc. Signing out for now. Love always, –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 8:35 am
In 1932 our Board of Supervisors/County Council asked Public Works chief E.L. Wung to survey the old trails leading to the shoreline over W.H. Shipman Ltd. ranch land, in order to ensure the public right of way to the shoreline. The survey was completed and in May 1933 the Land Court awarded ownership of the 9-mile long & 10-foot wide road [Old Puna Trail/Old Government Beach Road] to the Territory of Hawai’i. –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 9:21 am
The public right of way Old Puna Trail is parallel to the coastline. The Shipman private roadway to Ha’ena beach is perpendicular to the coastline, and is not a public right of way. Native Hawaiian customary rights are for Native Hawaiian residents of that area, not for interlopers from outside. –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 11:16 am
In 1958 David Watumull submitted his Paradise Park subdivision plans for the nearly 9,000 acres of former Shipman land. Most lots were sold to Orange County California residents, sight unseen. But by mid-1963, with only 40 of 140 miles of subdivision roads built, our County threatened to sue Watumull to build his roads. Watumull built his roads, but by 1966, 100 miles of roads failed to meet minimum standards & were prone to washouts, & 30 miles still were unbuilt, at which point our County sought to cancel a fourth or 2,000 acres of the planned subdivision. But in 1967 Watumull produced a letter of credit to complete the remaining roads, though leaving the earlier roads in substandard condition, and not built to County standards, thence not being dedicated/transferred to our County. Watumull’s red cinder over pahoehoe road base made the roads huge dust bowls during droughts, & deep lakes during rainstorms. Water catchments were polluted by the dust, in violation of air pollution strictures. Residents formed Paradise Hui Hanalike road maintenance for Increment II’s 3,000+ lots, with the 4,500+ lot owners in Increment I retaining undivided interests in the roadways in Increment I, not subject to road maintenance fees. –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Okay, Georgie Wong of 1st Haw’n Bank, is 1st resident to integrate racially Wailuku Drive Haole subdivision, by residing in 1st Haw’n Bank mgr.’s home, entrance to Haole subdivision, NW corner Waianuenue/Wai’au Sts. above Protestant church/Hilo Hospital, born 1898 in Pepe’ekeo. Georgie’s sister I think is Finance chief Bill Takaba’s mama. Georgie a huge inspiration to local career bankers. Not to be confused with other super-idol Sam Wong of Kukuihaele, whose brother Archie Wong was mega-developer Ruddy Tongg’s 1905-1988 closest confidant/right hand man from small kid days in Ruddy’s Kukuihaele. Our Hercules, Johnny Yuen born 1923, was inspired in banking by Sam Wong & Jim Evans. Johnny Yuen was Doc Fonkey Wong’s right hand man/Wanderers icon. Sam Wong’s wife was Beans Afook’s sister. –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Sam Wong was Mr. Bank of Hawai’i, peer Georgie Wong was Mr. Bishop/1st Haw’n Bank. Aloha, –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Yes, Jim Albertini/Kaliko Kanaele were sentenced for trespassing on Shipman/Ha’ena Rd., a private road, and the PASH [Angel Pilago] case had no impact on their cases. PASH does not require a roadway for Native sustenance — PASH only applies to undeveloped land, ergo where no roads go. –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Jerry Rothstein along with Angel Pilago inspired PASH [Native Haw'n sustenance/gathering rights case]. –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Osorio Lane off Kilauea Ave. behind Two Ladies Kitchen mochi is named after JAM Osorio’s tract [Kimo Henderson's former mill camp], where JAM also had a starter coffee mill. JAM Osorio is Elroy Osorio’s dad Emil’s kin. JAM’s sons are Tristan/Vasco/Sonny Osorio. JAM’s home was the mansion where today’s Dodo Mortuary is in Pu’u'eo. Judge Tristan’s home is on Kanoa St. where today’s low-income apts. are [Kanoa heiau]. The original Chinese Congregational Church w/Rev. Tsui was where today’s Salvation Army bldg. is on Ponahawai St., before it relocated to Kino’ole/Mohouli Sts. 70 yrs. ago. The original Korean Methodist church was on Haili St. opposite Western Store bldg. before it relocated to Waianuenue St. above the public library. Original native languages/ethnicities were dispensed with as assimilation occurred. The original Filipino Congregational Church still is on Papa’ikou old Mamalahoa hghwy. below today’s gym. Of course, Rev. Ernest Gomes De Silva’s Portuguese evangelical church is today’s Haili Christian church. Haili Church is the Hawaiian Congregational church. Today’s Holy Cross Church on Lanikaula St. opposite UH-Hilo was the former Japanese Christian Church where today’s Trib newspaper employee parking lot is. Rev. Shiro Sokabe of Honomu had a lock on the rural Uchinanchu Christians, esp. from Hakalau’s Chin Chuck camp. –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Curtis,
I have a home I rent out to a tenant on Wailuku Drive which used to be owned by the Yadao’s (the nicest stretch of Wailuku Drive below Boiling Pots) and it is in the nice area of Wailuku Drive. Built in ’38, three bedroom, two bath with fireplace against bamboo forest on the cliffs.
What house are you talking about on Wailuku? Is it the big Tudor looking house, built in “38 that is a registered National Historical Monument home, which used to be owned by the Wilhelms. If this is the house, it is where Steve Wilhelm (with county) lived with and grew up in.
Why do you call it Haole subdivision and give me a history of area?
September 4th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Rev. Shiro Sokabe 1865-1949, our Samurai missionary Congregational Christian of Honomu, felt that his sorrowful side [isolated from step-son/lonely/outlived his resonant generation] was not to Jesus’ calling, & had Napoleon Muneno/aides burn in a “bonfire” over 3 days what amounted to Sokabe’s lifetime of written work/compositions. So sad. In contrast, look at Mother Teresa & her preserved Confessions [approved by Vatican], where she had understandable/fallible doubts about whether God ever listened to her — that she never was able to talk to God, so to speak. In despair, she questioned the strength of her own faith. The Vatican preserved her Confessions because such metamorphosis/human condition are universal-ubiquitous among us all, thence Catholicism becomes very relevant/of import to our search for fulfillment/happiness. This, sadly, was not the safety net for Sokabe’s extensive writings. If only Sokabe had positive enablers who preserved his compositions, even against his wishes. But such Samurai, taisho like Sokabe, had no naysayers who had the prescience/vision/foresight to preserve his amazing lifetime of writings. So sad. Love, –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Hi “G” — Georgie Wong’s home is the “keyhole” entrance to Haole Camp [Kimo Henderson's Pi'ihonua Camps 2 to 5 designation of the rich folks' homes below these field hands' villages] NW corner Waianuenue/Wai’au St. junction. Car repair/gas station mogul Ben Stoddard was the 1st resident in Haole Camp 1920, after which affluent haoles moved there in droves [status trip/palatial/cool temperature-high elevation/verdant flora-jungle]. Geopolitical power — Kimo Henderson’s incredulous “Shangri-la” estate legitimized Waianuenue St. above Rainbow Falls [Waianuenue named for Rainbow Falls]. The relocation of Hilo Hospital from below the Hilo High track to just below Rainbow Falls enhanced the area’s mystique as a place of healing/serenity/comfort. Yet, irony is that Kimo Henderson sold his plantation to Hilo Sugar Co. because Kimo’s proposal to relocate his mill equidistant from lowest mill camp to most mauka Pi’ihonua Camp 5 — ergo, smack dab where today’s Hospice facility is — sent Kaumana residents into a frenzy to oppose Kimo’s mill’s relocation [industrial soot/noise/odor/etc.]. I guarantee you, if Kimo had gotten his mill relocated to where Hospice is today, there would be no Haole Camp until 1950 [after WWII's need for sugar abated, which is when Kimo's mill would close down]. Of course, you realize that the old mill setup needed running stream water/exit point for flushing the cane, & the stream confluence were Hospice is [merged w/Wailuku on north side of Pu'uhina St.] was ideal for these reasons. Thank you for your inquiry, “G.” BTW, Eppy Yadao was a comer Filipino, both Eppy/wife Jo children of renowned pastors [Jo is Regal maiden name]. Eppy was destined for immortality [solon/judge], but cancer cut him down in his prime. Irony is that Eppy & fellow solon Ben Menor 1922-1986 were ethnic rivals, & Jo [now car dealer David De Luz' wife] has no love for Ben [she seethes that Ben sabotaged Eppy]. Of course, Eppy’s/Jo’s kids are loving/full of life. Yes, Jo has an image of being status-conscious, like David De Luz. As to Ben Menor, Ben’s accomplishments off camera, not on camera, speak for themselves [among our greatest youth enablers, which is why Ben died broke okole -- everything Ben had, Ben spent on impoverished kids a la our greatest youth enabler Walter C.K. Victor Sr. 1904-1975]. Aloha, –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Elias P. “Eppy” Yadao 1925-1966 was a handsome/friendly solon, compared to quiet but blithe spirit Ben Menor 1922-1986. Both men were tremendous impact-makers, & were the Prince Valiants of their Filipino people, a la Pablo Manlapit half a century before. The magnitude of their legacies?? Ben Menor is the greatest modern Filipino wayfinder, Pablo Manlapit is the greatest ancient Filipino wayfinder [no relation to Kaua'i solon Edward Malapit]. Irony is that Yadao/Jo Regal Kaua’i roots [like Ed Malapit], Manlapit is O’okala/Big Isle roots [though he/Menor are immigrants, not native-born here]. Aloha, –Curt
September 4th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Boiling Pots treacherous as they are hydrolically, drew Ben Stoddard to settle there, Ben’s service station being where today’s Duke’s Kino’ole service station is off Haili St. below the YWCA. In aristocrat subdivisions, Pu’u'eo started over a century ago, then Kaiulani St. [Reed's Island], then Halaulani Place [Hamakua side of Pukihae gulch, were Carl Carlsmith lived], then Boiling Pots heights, leading up to today’s uppermost portion of Sunrise Ridge, where Harvey Tajiri has his mansion a la Harold Patten of Pu’u'eo [today's Lorraine Shin home, mother of BJ Penn]. Yet, the magnum opus of Pu’u'eo castles, you never heard of, banker Phil Peck’s castle which burned to the ground in 1904, right next to today’s Penn/Shin home, site of Patten expansive estate ergo Gil of Mana Transport, later Gordon Granger’s home where Granger was murdered]. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Georgie S. Wong of Bishop Nat’l-1st Haw’n Bank, with St. Louis High/U Cal schooling under his wings, trooped w/the high-mighty haoles/Luso-Portuguese of Hilo. Sam Wong, earthy to the tee, trooped w/the everyday folks. Sam of Bank of Hawai’i wasn’t afraid to voice Sam’s opinion to haole highers-up. Sam was a major inspiration to local bankers like Johnny Yuen born 1923 [Laura Yuen Chock's oldest sib-only brother]. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Kimo/Lydia Lei Henderson’s expansive estate above Pi’ihonua Camp 3 was built when Kimo took over Hawaii [Sugar] Mill 1912. Camp 3 plantation store was run by Kimo’s daughter Lei, where today’s lone gas pump is [looks like shave ice machine]. Kimo’s office was right next to it. Pi’ihonua School was built when Hawaii Mill flourished, with the lower elevation bldg. being the 1st structure, followed by the higher elevation/Hamakua direction structure. Of course, the original mill camp offices were where today’s Hilo Printers are, Puna side of Alenaio canal/Central fire station. And the Luso Christians [Cabrinha/Silva/Canario] actually started up what were the remnants of the old Chinese sugar mill, but they went out of business in no time flat 1894-1900. These Luso also started up our Wainaku-Kaiwiki sugar mill 4 miles above the Hilo Sugar mill, where Gilbert Santos’ home is, just a mile below today’s Kaiwiki park. Of course, the Kaiwiki Christian church [Rev. Ernest Gomes De Silva, itinerant evangelist/pastor] is the Luso legacy, across Kaiwiki park [former school, though original school was mauka of park below photographer's delight wooden bridge where Sevey Urubio lives]. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Our Honoli’i Belt Rd. bridge was built in 1938 by Frank Enos [today's Dick Pacific], so the meandering old Mamalahoa hwy took a straight line from Lalakea truck farm camp where Kitsutani gravestone monument shop is to Pauka’a junction, & connected up w/the old hwy at today’s Kahoa/Kulana St. junction in Pauka’a. The Belt Rd. bridge road cut to Kahoa/Kulana Sts. still is visible on the mauka side of the embankment along the Belt Rd. before today’s Kulana St./Belt Rd. junction. There was a plantation store where today’s Kitsutani [monument] family lives in the “V” formed by Kahoa St. as it merges w/Kulana St. The perpendicular roadway makai of Kitsutani’s home in Pauka’a was the main artery to the old railroad [RR] depot by the Honoli’i lighthouse [not visible to motorists along the Belt Rd.], the roadway formerly crossing today’s 1950 Belt Rd. at the ridgepoint of Pauka’a, from the Hilo side where all of Hilo bay is visible [not from Papa'ikou side of Pauka'a ridgepoint]. Margie Kapahua Cabral’s home/estate are there at the ridgepoint [Kapahua was Honoli'i/Pauka'a mega landowner after the 1848 Mahele]. That perpendicular road to the lighthouse had a store along w/the later Matthew Kamelamela family [all ohana w/Jesse Kapahua]. Today you see nothing but a huge yard makai of the Belt Rd. ridgepoint, on the Hilo side atop a rise being Margie Kapahua Cabral’s expansive estate. Yes, these were the quaint/rustic/rural village scenes amid King Sugar [Pauka'a mill camp concentric around mill where Manuel Reis' home is along Kulana Rd.], connected via RR depot by Honoli’i point lighthouse. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Great eye doctor Minaai grew up grassroot in Lalakea [Lalakea mega-land owner of Wainaku/Waiakea after 1848 Mahele] truck farm camp mauka of Kitsutani monument shop [now owned by beneficent angel Mike Sasaki], across little gulch from Alae cemetery. Dr. Sam Haraguchi grew up in Wainaku camp 3 sankai along Kaiwiki rd. Lorraine Rodero Inouye grew up by Wainaku camp 2 gym, called Sankai camp 3, as did baseballer Stan Costales. Of course, contractor SK Oda grew up in Pauka’a. Pauka’a camp 2 was by former airplane landing strip a mile and a half above Pauka’a mill camp, along the banks of the beautiful Honoli’i river. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 8:43 am
The earliest Naichi/Mainland Japanese immigrants to settle in Pi’ihonua, Wakimoto & Kamimura kazoku/families, had patriarchs who were strongly anti-Uchinanchu [Okinawan]. Of course, w/assimilation-blending of cultures, anti-Uchinanchu blessedly is a forgotten thing of the past. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Olympic gold medal swimmer Yoshi Oyakawa is from Papa’ikou [A frame home along old Mamalahoa hwy before junction w/plantation mgr's home was old Japanese Christian church, where Yoshi's papa pastored, after coming from Kona], as is the famous Ralph Yempuku, whose dad was Buddhist minister. Ralph was Hung Wai Ching’s 1905-2002 right hand man/UH asst. AD when Hung Wai told Ted Tsukiyama born 1920 to stop bawling, but get constructive instead by forming the Varsity Victory Volunteers [VVV]of UH ROTC buddaheads, which eventually led to Hung Wai’s formation of the noted 442 Regimental Combat Team [RCT]. Hung Wai also is the genesis of the pre-1919 born 298th/299th Hawai’i Nat’l Guard conscripts which became the awesome 100th Infantry Batt. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Yes, Kimo Henderson’s proposed mill site consisting of 11+ acres from today’s Hospice site mauka/up to today’s Rainbow Crafts across the Okutsu Veterans Home, equidistant between mill camp/Kilauea Ave. & Pi’ihonua Camp 5 below forest line, was discussed BEFORE Hilo Hospital even thought of relocating to today’s HIAC complex below Rainbow Falls. Obviously, to our Hilo Board of Trade 1920, putting a sugar mill next to Rainbow Falls was not a good idea. Boiling Pots were accessible by trail until today’s Wailuku Drive opened up. Boiling Pots were a fatal attraction. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 9:42 am
The power of Mother Nature?? I thank great editor Tiffany Edwards Hunt for her accompanying photo about Pu’u Kuki’i in Kapoho’s 1960 lava. Our valiant blades/dozer operators, 2 dozen at a pick, set up the most massive earth barriers/dikes between Pu’u Kuki’i [twin cone w/Kukae at junction of Hwys 137/132, Kapoho to Kalapana rd. w/Pahoa to Kapoho rd.] & Kapoho cone, over 30 ft. high, only to see the encroaching/inexorable lava LIFT UP 300 ft. of Pu’u Kuki’i west flank of cone [inasmuch the dike/berm backed up the lava to a height of 30 ft, level w/the highest reach of the berm], being that the lava went under the cone after being stopped by the berm, & FLOAT IT PAST THE BERM/BREACH, thereby destroying the Kapoho school at the Hwys. 137-132 junction. Translated, our blades/dozer warriors erect this massive dike, only to see Pele carry the west flank of Pu’u Kuki’i cone on her shoulders, then drop it plunk onto the breached structures to the south of it. Not only this, but the lava actually burrowed under the massive dike, lift it up whole, & easily flowed past it to structures/human habitation. Amazing power of Mother Nature!! Aloha, –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 10:36 am
The old railroad furrows are always makai, not mauka, of today’s Belt Rd., if not directly under the Belt Rd. [our Territory bought out the RR rights of way after the 1946 tsunami/collapse of our RR industry, to build our Belt Rds.]. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Ha’ena white sand beach is such because the coral outcrops were not covered by later lava flows. Had the Kaloli region not been covered by lava flows which border Ha’ena, today’s Paradise Park shoreline also would have white sand beaches. Ha’ena is the crook of the elbow with Keaukaha on one end & Kaloli on the other end. Ha’ena is the only white sand beach on the East side of Hawai’i Island. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Waikiki’s reef system reverse turbos an oncoming tsunami, diminishing the tsunami’s impact on land. Hilo’s breakwater looked like a Halloween lantern with missing teeth after the 1946 tsunami. Its 2 to 4 ton boulders careened in with the pulse/tsunami. The magnitudes of the 1946/1960 tsunamis were not diminished by the breakwater. Elephants communicate via their low wave amplitude pounding on the ground with their sensitive feet. Can they sense an oncoming tsunami?? Cattle/horses have hooves & do not communicate like elephants do. Of course, ranchers know that cattle/horses break water pipes with their hooves to drink/play with the water. Mariners’ tales about giant ocean waves are not tales anymore. Science [statistical observations via satellite] proves that monster waves are more prevalent than thought of. Walt Dudley understands the titillation of monster waves, but because tsunamis have way more impact on civilizations, Walt focuses on tsunamis, not oceanic monster waves [which sink oil rigs]. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 11:02 am
My Dad’s Wainaku boyhood pal Yasu Mizukami 1915-2003 sat atop today’s Wainaku Exec. ctr./warehouse to see the 1946 tsunami gulp down the Hilo Sugar bag sugar warehouse at Alealea point 25 ft. above sea level. Yasu’s lab which sat cliffside 40 ft. above sea level was splashed awhole by the massive water which coursed parallel to the cliffside but perpendicular to Alealea point. Yasu saw what we call today seiche/wave reflection/bathtub sloshing as a massive wall of water coming in from outside Hilo bay on the Keaukaha side banged up against a reflecting wall of water which banged up against Alae point cliffside, resulting in what Yasu calls a Yellowstone geyser 200 ft. high. Scientist George Curtis called this height exaggerated 15 yrs. ago, when Yasu told me of Yasu’s incredible observation, but George believes it today. Yasu died before George visualized the result/splash effect. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Honomu is defined in Hawaiian as silent bay for good reason — its underwater terrain/bathymetry diminishes wave energy pulse, such that the 1946 tsunami splashed, but did not destroy, Honomu mill which sat terrace-like atop Honomu bay. Of course, as great prodigy Kieven Ayala born 1991 says, go further north along the cliffside below Doc Buyers’ mansion, & the waves turn angry & bellicose, perfect surfing area, provided that you surfers don’t drown first from the pounding sea, no pun intended but as a precaution!! Love, –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Rich Imai born 1910 took wife Eleanor to work at Hakalau at 6:30 a.m. April 1, 1946. On the way back to Hilo along the winding old Mamalahoa hwy, Rich meanders around Kolekole horseshoe gulch road & sees water falling from the embankment around him. He figures that a flume broke & the water is spilling all around him. And if it didn’t break, then why is the water falling down the bank as if a torrential downpour just occurred, when in fact it’s a clear sunny morning??? Boy, when Rich comes to Honoli’i, then he sees a giant wave lift up the Chicago studio bldg. [former Hackfeld bldg. 1894 which was kitty-cornered to SE corner Kam/Waianuenue Ave.] & deposit it on Kam Ave., only to see the bldg. lift up again by what Rich assumes to be receding water & sink right out in the middle of Hilo bay. Rich also sees other makai bldgs. of Kam Ave. get lifted up & deposited onto Kam Ave. by the incoming water. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
David Lyman 1876-1953 was said to have remarked that especially with shoreline names, oftentimes the names meant something about the place/location. Honomu — silent bay is a classic example, just as Kapoho is [sunken place, scientifically true inasmuch Kapoho village sat right atop the south fault line of the Kapoho graben/valley, with the north fault line a half mile away where the huge rock embankment still remains]. Of course, Kula [assemblage -- beautiful old Kula a major Native Hawaiian settlement since covered by the 1960 Kapoho lava flow, makai of Pu'u Kuki'i/Kukae twin cones] is the specific land district where Kapoho village lay, with Kapoho where today’s gated community is, although Kapoho overall signified that whole area. Kula is apt, because of its gorgeous bay/cove, along old Waiakaea [not a variant spelling of the sea power, contrasted w/Mauna a Wakea, the mountain power]. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Oops, the Kulana Rd. store was opposite Kitsutani’s daughter’s home between Herm/David Reis’ homes. Dorothy De Conte born 1925 tells me that the RR depot was where today’s Belt Rd. junction is with Margie Cabral’s road going down to the Honoli’i lighthouse area, below which was another store, Japanese family, & also a dressmaker in this area. Of course, Manuel Reis’ home where the old Pauka’a sugar mill was had a lumber yard next to it in the Gomes Figueira lot, & the dispensary was on the Hilo side of it where the retired Japanese fireman lives [in the small driveway w/another home]. The stables were opposite on the mauka side of Kulana Rd. parallel to mill camp rd. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
The run-up of the 1960 tsunami inundation swept away all the California grass at the Hamakua cliffside of Honoli’i Pali, up to a height of 30 ft. The water level was not this high, just the banging of the water against the cliff face. Why ancient shipwrecks happened against Alealea point area in Wainaku are beyond me, inasmuch skippers stayed away from the rugged coastline, yet were constrained to dock outside today’s lighthouse area at Wailuku river, which is the headpoint along the rugged cliff face going north. Breakwater construction came much later, a century ago, vs. sailing ships docking outside today’s Wailuku river lighthouse area, in the 19th century. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Don Pakele born 1944 says that an ancient settlement near Ha’ena had a valued watchdog who’d bark when outsiders/intruders entered the village. He says you still can hear this mythic dog bark today. No, there are no feral dogs in this area. Love, –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Yes, below Manuel Reis’ home in Pauka’a, there was a little gulch where the spent water flowed downhill from the sugar mill in Manuel’s property. This is in the area where today’s Lindsey/Shioji properties lie makai of Reis’ home. This is where Dorothy De Conte/friends used to go down to the RR depot, via the little gulch where sugar cane grew. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Toy Tamanaha 1917-1984 was Pi’ihonua camp 4 genesis boxer who spawned later great Pi’ihonua boxers Masa/Mokey/Herb Hanagami, & Charley Shimabukuro, all of Camp 4. Toy got his name from Filipinos who called him toy-toy as a cuddly little kid. Pi’ihonua had an undefeated barefoot football team that won it local renown. Mac Taira is a Pi’ihonua icon [community organizer/sports coach], transplant from Waiakea as a teenager. Taira is Uchinanchu/Okinawan like Toy/Shimabukuro. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Toy & Charley Higa of Waiakea Uka Camp 6, who couldn’t go to high school [too expensive/odious public school tuition fees set by Big 5 to relegate plantation kids to field labor] moved to O’ahu for better job opportunities 1930s, & together they produced our greatest boxers of all time from Hawai’i Island, clustered around Uka Camp 4 legend Paul Inamine 1921-1941 [died from anti-aircraft shell Pearl Harbor attack][had beaten our eventual 1st pro world champ from the Haw'n Islands Dado Marino of Wainaku as an amateur]/Uka Camp 6 Ali-like wisp graceful Richard Pablo Chinen 1919-1991 [Civic Auditorium correctly named after him/Beans Afook never used Civic--came before Civic--Beans doesn't deserve nameplate]/Uka Camp 5 rugged pro journeyman Joho Shiroma [esteemed police officer Julian's dad][Joho fought a whole slew of pro world camps & distinguished himself well, incapable of being knocked out -- Joho's permanent nose bridge tear is from Spanish bull Louie Martines, who bit Joho's nose when Joho's gang belittled Louie's eventual Naichi/Japanese wife]/Advertiser editor Sandy Oshiro’s Uka Camp 6 dad Harunori Henry Oshiro, a great boxer-puncher/journeyman pro boxer Slim Suzuki of Uka Camp 5. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Joho Shiroma 1920-1981 trained later great boxers like Charley Shimabukuro for Sambo Saito’s Lincoln Wreckers boxing club at our Nihon Gakko Japanese school warehouse corner Kukuau/Ululani Sts. [today's Kukuau Apt. complex]. Paul Inamine’s best friend Ed Sumitani born 1921 assisted Joho. Of course, Uka Camp 6 Naichi Bobby Hayashida born 1931 was trained by my in-law Jimmy Nakaoka per auspices of former legendary multi-sport athlete Dickie Furtado’s Lanai Restaurant boxing club [Lanai Restaurant today's Green Onion bar on Wailoa pond next to huge banyan tree overlooking Kilauea/Pauahi St. intersection]. Bobby went on to be 1956 Olympic tryout boxing entrant at Syracuse NY, of whom 2 islanders, Kohala’s Choken Maekawa & Kalihi’s Ray Perez, went on to represent the U.S. in the Olympics. –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Yes, today’s Pu’u'eo Apt. bldg. painted green on the banks of the Wailuku river on NE corner Wainaku Ave., across/makai of the Helco hydro plant, is Hale Huki, for Pete/Helen Desha Beamer’s expansive grounds/home. Hamakua side of this estate is former Roback property where legend has it that night marchers trekked thru this site mauka to makai. The Pu’u'eo store SE corner Ohai/Wainaku Sts. was a former duplex with family w/all boys on one floor, family w/all girls [Helen Hamada Canario] on the other floor. Of course, Steamy/Lily Chow lived on NE corner across the store. CF Tong’s Ah Ping store was down the block corner Ohai/Pu’u'eo Sts., where CF would shortchange little kids their currency change. CF’s son Don typified the proud imperial Chinese image, vs. utterly magnanimous baby brother of CF Tong, Richard Nigga Tong 1912-1987, who IS Jesus incarnate. Don Pakele/Harvey Tajiri, our Masters/positive role models today, absolutely revere Nigga!! Harvey also emulates 442 legend Rev. Hiro Higuchi’s older brother Etsuo, Moses Co. salesman, Hiro/Etsuo great athletes in their WWI era, Etsuo being boy scout leader for upper Kaumana kids like Harvey Tajiri because no one else would lead the kids. Etsuo abided by Matthew 5/Isaiah 58 [blessed are the powerless, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven], Etsuo’s papa being the mythic Rev. Kwan Higuchi of our Japanese Christian church where today’s Trib employee parking lot is at Lincoln Park area. Harvey also emulates Takashima old man/ojisan because Takashima man would rake/level the dirt/gravel roadway where Harvey lived, despite not having a car, to show appreciation to Harvey’s dad/others who did errands for Takashima man. Ever inquisitive Harvey never forgot Takashima/Higuchi random acts of kindness. Yes, Harvey is today’s Kimo Henderson, & acts the part [ignores those who are nameless], but when you nail down Harvey [to the cross], Harvey bleeds like the rest of us [& bleeds just like Kimo bled]. Like I say to angel on our shoulders Don O’Reilly, I’ll take Don [w/incognito Volcano home] over Harvey [w/castle fit for a king] any day of the week, because Don’s beneficent heart never shall have any home huge enough to accomodate Don’s heart [love/compassion/sensibility]. Isamu Kanekuni born 1921/our 442 brethren post-1920 born/Jimmy Arakaki born 1940/Harvey Tajiri born 1944 — none equals the size of Don O’Reilly’s heart. I tell Don I’m not here to promote/charm over folks w/names like Arakaki/Tajiri. These money is god chaps don’t have the roll of Providence over folksy Don O’Reilly. Love, –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I thank my niece’s husband for letting me know that he’s family to Kimo Henderson. I did Kimo’s bio on my old email system, but it got deleted when my system shut down. Thence, I thank great editor Tiffany Edwards Hunt for publishing my current tribute to Kimo Henderson. Aloha, –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Mary Foote Henderson 1846-1931 adopted Shokan “Jesse” Shima[bukuro] 1901-2002, in large part because Hilo’s Jesse was an orphan like Mary’s husband, Sen. John Henderson 1826-1913, Civil War General who co-authored the 13th Amdt. abolishing slavery after Lincoln’s death, & who reminded Mary so much of her dearest husband John Henderson. Jesse’s nephew Henry Shimabukuro born 1931 of Pi’ihonua Camp 4 is among the earliest AJAs/1st Uchinanchu to ascend up the Air Force top brass, after Stateside WWII fighter pilot Ben Kuroki, 92 yrs. young. Mary Foote Henderson, gallant & gorgeous, was among our earliest women suffrage advocates/19th Amdt. women’s right to vote in 1920, & is responsible for designing Wash. D.C. as the silken home of the world’s embassies a century ago. She even promoted relocating the White House to Meridian Hill [today's Malcolm X Park] along 16th St. NW, 2 miles from the White House, to sit on the greatest city promontory with a breathtaking view of D.C. But the City fathers/Capitol Hill felt tradition better served by keeping the White House at the bottom of 7 mile long 16th St. Mary Foote Henderson’s embassy row along 16th St. created a United Nations within D.C. proper, long before today’s U.N. bldg. in NYC. Yes, this is the power/culture bloc, the world’s greatest, which Jesse Shima was embraced by. It’s no surprise that Jesse’s closest friends were D.C. Howard University [our Black Harvard, so to speak] mythics Mordecai Johnson/Charles Hamilton Houston [1st-longest serving Black President Howard U 1926-1960/the architect of our greatest U.S. S.Ct. decision Brown v. Bd. of Education 1954, respectively], & Jesse’s political mentor was FDR’s closest friend/advisor Harry Hopkins [New Deal architect/Lend-Lease armaments pre-WWII], & Jesse’s peer was Ike’s closest friend/advisor Jim Hagerty [took over for Ike when Ike had Ike's heart attack in office]. I asked very young Uchinanchu spitfire ace Shari Tamashiro born 1972 if she had heard of Jesse. She said yes, Naichi Ted Tsukiyama born 1920, Jesse’s acolyte, drummed in to her all about Jesse via Ted’s personalized memoir of Jesse in relation to Jesse’s beneficence to future mega-leaders of Hawai’i Dan Inouye/Spark Matsunaga/etc. Uchinanchu need to stand together. Hooray!! Love everlasting, –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Yes, Jesse Shima[bukuro] had no pull over the War Dept., so Jesse was interned briefly WWII, then released thanks to people in high places, where Jesse crusaded for fair treatment of U.S. Nikkei/Japanese ethnics. Which is why Tony Masamitsu aka Tony Honda [NOT ITALIAN] worshipped Jesse as the Nikkei savior in the U.S. Of course, Tony Honda was my Dad’s 442 infantry buddy [go for broke]. This is the Jesse Shima which our AJA leader deep into the 21st century, Shari Tamashiro, my Joan of Ark/Mary Foote Henderson, just heard about. Shari, the fate of AJA history rests with you, including the legacy of your own Uchinanchu-Okinawan, Shokan “Jesse” Shima[bukuro] of Lyman Boarding School, Hilo. HILO!! Love always, –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Yes, Jesse was immigrant shin/recent Issei who was incapable of U.S. citizenship until Congress passed the McCarren-Walter Act of 1952 allowing naturalization of Japanese aliens, over President Truman’s veto [Harry called the Act's red-baiting disqualification of applicants "Un-American," wanting a fairer system which did not exclude politically-inclined Japanese]. Jesse had broader impact over U.S. Nikkeis than Mike Masaoka 1915-1991, whose claim to fame was the 1952 naturalization Act here. After all, egomaniac Masaoka penned his autobio, “They Call me Moses Masaoka” — yikes!! Masaoka claimed credit for formation of the 442 RCT — wrong — Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002 started the 442, which had a 10 to 1 ratio of island buddaheads over Stateside kotonks, but Masaoka got himself & his brothers & other kotonks as 442 enlistees. Masaoka had nothing to do with formation of the 100th Batt. conscripts born pre-1919. Again, Hung Wai Ching rallied Gen. Delos Emmons to form the infantry attack team 100th Batt. Jesse was the steadying influence in D.C., vs. Masaoka’s ego-driven impetuous behavior. No doubt, current JACL cowards/know-nothings rail vs. Masaoka for betraying Kotonks, but not so. Masaoka still is a better man than all of the current crop of JACLers combined. Frank Sogi’s bad-mouthing of Masaoka is ridiculous. If not for Masaoka’s uplifting U.S. Nikkei, Sogi would not have become the millionaire mouthpiece between Japan-U.S. commerce based in NYC. Sogi shoots himself in the foot by bad-mouthing Masaoka. Sogi is a mauka Keopu Kona boy [Keopu just north of Holualoa on slopes of Hualalai]. The man with the most impact on the world in relation to Nikkei worldwide is none other than Southern China progeny Hung Wai Ching, who changed the face of America/the world via the 100th/442, wherein MacArthur’s Japan diplomacy worked wonders for Japan [who came to trust the U.S. via the 100th/442 valor]/Red China eased up on paranoia vs. the U.S. [Chou En Lai was tickled pink over Hung Wai Ching's rags to riches fame/Horatio Alger image][Nixon normalized U.S.-Red China relations]/Truman’s military integration is a direct result of the 100th-442/CJ Earl Warren’s make-up call via Brown v. Bd. of Education, Warren was Cal. AG who opposed internment WWII–threw support to Ike as Cal. Gov. 1953–Ike appointed Warren as CJ–Warren vowed not to repeat what happened to U.S. Nikkei WWII/Ike’s nascent Civil Rights Act 1957 result of 100th-442 make-up call/etc. In positive Nikkei impact, in order of priority, 1) Hung Wai Ching; 2) Shokan Jesse Shima[bukuro]; 3) Mike Masaoka. Unquestionably, Hung Wai is our greatest modern historymaker in Hawa’i, not Jack Burns [Hung Wai's Statehood mission via Statehood Joe Farrington 1897-1954; Joe died in office as Cong. Delegate from Hawai'i][Hung Wai's 100th-442 boys changed both GOP/100th & Dem/442 political party politics]/etc. Love, –Curt
September 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Tried to maximize my time on $ cafe computer clock. Signing off for now, love, –Curt
November 8th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
[...] patriot Futoshi Frank Arakawa (1891-1977), born here/Nisei, was classified as enemy alien WWII. Frank did stirring [...]
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Curt,
From my first grade year to my sixth grade year at E.B.deSilva school, I lived behind the old Henderson mansion. I think it was the Maid and Butlers house. Curt, while I lived there I explored much of that area and experianced a lot of ghostly activity.
I would be more than happy to share my stories over a cup of coffee. I still go up to the river with the island in the middle of it to play. In the Kaikan, there was a picture of an old heiau that loooked like a natural bridge over wailuku river. Do you know what the heiau was used for? Do you know where I can find pictures of the old mansion. Whoa, memories! I still have dreams where i am up there and there are ghost folowing me. Do you know the Nakamotos and Mr. Joe Ventura?
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Hi Isaac: Thank you for your inquiry. I lost your email address. The natural bridge is not a heiau. See Randy Farias for photos of the old mansion. Randy is into the Macy [as in NYC Macy's] ohana, wherein Kimo Henderson married Lydia Lei Macy. Of course, Horse Nakamoto & Jolly Joe Ventura are Pi’ihonua icons. Merry Christmas/Feliz Natal!! Always your fan, –Curt
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 am
Curt,
Yes very good to hear from you! When I came back to Hilo, I drove up to my old house in Pi’ihonua. It was kind of sad to see both the Henderson mansion and my old house caved in. But I guess this is how time re-claims a birth rite.
However though, I still go to the waterfall and island that caught my attention when I first moved up there at the age of about five or six years old. Sometimes I will go up to this waterfall to clear my mind and listen to nature.
During this past stormy weather, I had a feeling to go and play the hawaiian nose flute amidst this particual place within Pi’ihoua’s beauty. So I went up there with my cam-corder, mounted it on a tripod, held the umbrella over myself and my equipment and I started to record this particular serenety for people to relax with. This is my first attempt to provide a kind of stress reducing environment for the world.
Just recently when I put this video on you-tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVx8i8QdEC0&feature=related
…i heard little children say, “Ho, playing in the rain” right at 1:36sec. Listen real good (may need headphones) and you will hear these ghostly children. It’s so cute! There was no one else around me when I was recording this and I am convinced to a certain extent of two world’s mergeing briefly.
So if anyone should visit this holy place where spirits linger, say a prayer inside your heart and leave them some food.
My e-mail address is isaackn@hawaii.edu
March 7th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
I got as far as aug 31st reading this on Kimo Henderson as I feel honored being decendant from him.I really appreciate finding more out about my Hawaiian heritage as I am a 1972 alumni from Kamehameha. I had also had the opportunity to visit with dad and some of the people he ran around with in 1999. They also presented Greatgrandfather Henderson in a human way considering the time period. The only way I ever heard Uncle Sonny’s name was in a negative way as apparently he embezzeled money from the Hilo Gas & Electric Company in order to keep his fishing float out of Kona operationful. When Richard Henderson found out about this situation, he presented Kimo with the chance to sell out his son (blood) or fight for money. As far as it happened, Kimo chose to let us in the future figure it out for ourselves
March 8th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Aloha, Anybody there?
March 8th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Aloha, Hardy!
I’m here.
I’m sure Curtis will be with you shortly.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Hi Hardy & Tiff: Thank you, Tiff, for letting me know about Hardy’s comments. Lei Hutchinson’s husband was a terrific altruist, always helping our Pi’ihonua Camps 3/4/5 kids. Lei herself was very beneficent, & our Uchinanchu/Naichi/multi-ethnic kids loved her to no end. Irrefutably, Sonny Henderson/Pat Brown [Sheila's dad] were our Kukuau altruists, w/Kimo Henderson overseeing the downtown philanthropy. Richard Henderson born 1928, among our greatest-ever solons, is no relation to Kimo. Scotchie’s parents lived on Hua’alani Place north of Pu’u'eo & were accts./bookkeepers. Kimo’s ohana lived above Pi’ihonua Camp 3 [where today's Head Start school is]. Much aloha, –Curt
March 8th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Aloha Curtis and Tiff! I really didn’t have much interaction with Grandmother Lei. After Hardy II passed away in April of 1955, not quite a year after I was born. Grandmother Lei pretty much stayed in Palo Alto. She married Rex Watkins. I had the opportunity to visit them in 1973 when I went to California (LA) to work at a camp for blind children. As I mentioned, I am trying to piece together my family’s history and I thank you for all your input. I’m also glad that after so many years, I can reseach this from where I have lived since 1979, of all places, Hutchinson, Kansas. The last time I was home (I was born and raised on O’ahu in Kailua) was in 2007 for my 35th class reunion. The last time I was on the Big Island was in May 2003 after dad had passed away. Ellie, my stepmother, had been living by herself in Hilo until late last year when she moved up to Volcano to live with her daughter Penny. Aloha for now, Hardy Kalamaika’i
April 2nd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
On Momoyo Ishiyama — linkage to Kimo Henderson
Honohina no longer exists, being an ancient relic of our plantation era. Nor is
its cemetery used, its graves being interred & relocated to our Alae cemetery
in Hilo. All which remains of Honohina is its old road which is overgrown with
jungle. What has supplanted/replaced it is something which has nothing to do
with the original Honohina camp/village, our Umauma World Tropical Botanical Gardens. The best chronicle of Honohina is
Kurisu’s “Sugar Town.” Author Scotch Kurisu was an obnoxious blowhard, but
his book was written by publisher George Engebretson and bankrolled by Scotch’s
son Duane via Watermark Publishing.
James Henderson was about 31 yrs. old or so, single, no children, when
he got a local Japanese girl pregnant. Because the child was born out of wedlock
[biological parents not married to each other], “haji” shame resulted and the child
was whisked away from Hakalau. James married Lydia Lei Macy after the birth of
his Hakalau child. I do not know if the biological mother of the child was married
to anyone else at the time of the biological mother’s pregnancy/birth of her child.
James probably got her pregnant from his sexual urge, in that James did not
acknowledge paternity and/or support in formal fashion [court/legal documents]. Of
course, I’ve heard that James did have angst/grief over his so-called “desertion/abandonment” of
“his” love child, and that he offered to make up to “his” love child/progeny in some way when
he got to be an old man. I do not know any person still alive who knows about the
Ishiyama kazoku/family or of James’ “itchy borichi.”
James Henderson came to Hawai’i to escape his hard scrabble blacksmith
trade in bleak economy-situated Scotland. Henderson was a squat stocky man,
Hollywood handsome like rugged Holywood tough guy Steve McQueen. Henderson’s keiki wahine [or
is it his mo'opuna wahine?] is a spitting image of Henderson, w/huge round eyes & granite-round
face, except that she wore oversized sunglasses which obscured her gorgeous eyes.
Henderson got a Hakalau [Honohina] Japanese girl pregnant out of wedlock shortly
after he immigrated to Hawai’i. I do not know if she was Issei/immigrant or born
in Hawai’i/Nisei 2nd generation. What the pregnancy tells you about “Kimo” Henderson
are that 1) he was expectedly a man/libido-horny; 2) he had a fetish/liking for non-
haoles [girls]; 3) he was grassroot at heart [for the common laborer]. After all,
Kimo [James] was a blue collar tough as nails blacksmith, known for blacksmiths’
typecast huge arms/shoulders [anvil/hammer]. It is no surprise that Kimo’s “squeeze”
1) was a Hakalau plantation geography/local native; 2) is buried in Honohina, which
to you is comparable to going to Hanapepe shoreline from your main highway thru
Hanapepe [a stone's throw in distance between Hakalau & Honohina, only a quarter
of a mile]. I do not recall your family members
ever meeting Kimo face to face. Aloha, –Curt
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:18 pm
James’ wife Lydia Lei had a weak heart & was wheelchair-bound for many years before her death. Lydia’s sister McLane [schoolteacher]
told James/Kimo that Lydia would come back to haunt James, allegedly because Kimo was very abusive to Lydia. Stories abound from Kimo detractor Henry Shimabukuro born 1931 that after Lydia’s death circa early 1930s Kimo was seen walking down his long driveway to his mansion in his pajamas in the dead of nite firing his rifle in the air. Of course, Henry is prejudiced vs. Kimo because no-nonsense Kimo [typical Scot crude behavior] once told Henry’s dad, “You owe me money [company store], you can’t pay me, so here [sticks 8 inch knife into wood table], go kill yourself!!” Of course, Henry’s dad was tempted to kill Kimo w/the knife.
Of course, Isaac Nahakuelua born 1981, Afghanistan combat
veteran, who just wrote the greatest photo book advocating peace, describes the ghost who walks up the long stairway in Kimo’s mansion [Isaac lived in the servants' home in the rear of the mansion -- servants' home still there] as a slow-moving rather short stocky man with a WWI vintage straw hat or 1920s dapper capitalist power hat, assumedly old/hunched over. Imagine, Isaac has no idea what Kimo looks like. This is Kimo whom Isaac saw. Isaac’s email address is isaackn@hawaii.edu Isaac’s phone no. is 989-0739. Isaac’s link to me is that I got Isaac together w/WWII war hero Wataru Kohashi born 1922, who was supposed to receive the Medal of Honor, but instead gave it to the 1st killed in action soldier of the 442nd combat team, Kiyo Muranaga of California. Wataru told Isaac, “Son, just be lucky you’re alive. Whether we live or die is out of our hands. Just be lucky you’re alive.”
Kimo had his secretary girlfriend after Lydia Lei died. Kimo remarried in 1952 or so, leaving no children from his new wife. Kimo sold his mega-interests in Helco/Gas Co./etc. as WWII wound down, & moved to Honolulu in 1947. Your family members who came to Kimo’s mansion site did not know that Kimo had sold his estate here & relocated to O’ahu. None of Kimo’s descendants/progeny live here anymore. The hapa/han half-Scot daughter/rep said arigata meiwaku to Kimo’s offer to give her money– thanks but no thanks [for giving me grief!], apparently. Waru kosa [blowhard] is Macy non-family promoter today. Bottom line is Kimo’s “squeeze” was a typical buddahead lass who almost certainly went gaga over Kimo’s drop dead Hollywood looks/eyes/hair [Scot ehu look] — I do not think there was anything spectacular/extraordinary about her intellectually/emotionally except for her exotic sexually arousing gorgeous look. The Hakalau of 1906-1909 was no different than any other major plantation era culture/society, probably akin to your Kaua’i Rice & Maui’s Alexander-Baldwin operations. Adieu for now.
from Wikipedia: Hakalau is a small unincorporated community located along the Hamakua coast about 15 miles (24 km) north of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was once a thriving, multiethnic sugar plantation town up until the early 1960s at which time the plantation originally called Hakalau Plantation Co. began to be phased-out. Small family farms now exist growing tropical fruits, taro, flowers, coffee, or cattle. Some historical sites remain from the plantation era. The privately owned sugar plantation managers home built in the early 1900s still exists today, along with two warehouses built in 1920 and an old theater, presently operating as the Hakalau U.S. Post Office. Located just below the ocean cliff where the Hakalau stream meets the bay, the old sugar mill ruins are still visible. During the 1800s the Hakalau Bay was used to transfer goods and passengers from smaller boats to larger ships. Today, the bay has been used mostly by local surfers and fisherman. Hakalau now has a small, day use, state owned park with picnic tables and ocean access for recreational use, located at the bottom of the Hakalau gulch.
From HSPA files: Hakalau Plantation Company had the reputation as having some of the best employee conditions in the Islands, a direct result of the interest of Mr. John Ross, manager between 1905 and 1942. The Hakalau Building Valuations reflect this aspect of the company’s history. All the Building Valuations are an excellent source of information about living conditions, being especially graphic because a photo of each dwelling is included. (HCP Box 4) The C. Brewer & Co., Ltd. circular letters provide insight into plantation/agency relations over a ten-year period. Additionally, the circular letters combined with the orders and requisitions document the plantation business history of C. Brewer & Co., Ltd. for 30 years.
April 3rd, 2010 at 11:09 am
Waru bosa/bozo [minus/negative guy, is Macy family tree promoter here, who's not a Macy but a sycophant], not kosa, my typo. I spoke w/Honohina native/historian Waichi Ouye 95 yrs. old, who does not know Ishiyama kazoku/family.
April 3rd, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Hey Curtis,
Thanks for looking over my new book. I am currently working to get it copyrighted and published. I am excited for the adventure it may bring.
Yes, I love the Kimo Henderson mansion and servants house. There, I was able to explore the jungles freely with my machete my father purchesed for me while I was in fourth grade at E.b. DeSilva elementary school. I made many forts in the bamboo forest and climbed the tall waiwi trees to eat their fruit. I still have my beloved trail-knife my dad got me from Ace Hardware in Hilo.
I remember this one time when one of Mr. Joe Ventura’s calf broke through his barbed wire fence and crossed into the old Henderson property to eat the califonia grass near my old house.
Seeing the loose calf, I rode my bike over to Mr. Ventura’s house to tell him about it. Mr. Ventura grabbed some old yellow rope from under his old house and told me that I am going to help him rope this calf. I was excited.
So we drove in his old truck (I think it was an old orange jeep) up to where the calf was grazing. He got out and told me that when he lassos this calf, the calf will jerk his head upward and I have to hold the rope. I remember thinking, “Yeah right, like this old man is going to handle this cow”.
Well, Mr. Ventura lassosed the calf and it jerked his head upward like Mr. Ventura said it would. I was in a quick moment of shock as this was actually happening. Mr. Ventura said, “Hold the rope boy”. I must admit I detected a little anger in his voice because I didnt think he was actually going to lasso the calf on the first throw which made me not hold the rope firmly. As a result from my disbelief and me not holding the rope firmly, the old nylon rope cut Mr. Ventura’s hand when the calf jerked it’s head upward. I felt bad.
But Mr. Ventura said to me, no worry about his hand, cause that was nothing. After that experiance, I developed a respect for that old Paniolo man. After returing the calf back to the pasture, I helped him fix the broken fence line. He was a tough old man!
April 4th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Hi Krishen:
James Henderson was team luna/field supervisor for Scot John M. Ross’ new managment team. Momoyo was in close physical proximity to James. Why is it hard to imagine that libido dictated peoples’ lives? Libido’s urges lorded over
outcomes/results. Aloha.
——————————————————
From: Krishen of Kaua’i
Subject: Momoyo Ishiyama/kazoku-family
To: Curt
Thank you so much for all the information!! My mom actually thinks I’m crazy for wanting to know this information (more so about Mr. Henderson). As I’ve said before, I was always fascinated with history but more so American and European so thought the tiny bit of haole roots would have been interesting to know. I did try and search for information about Kimo about five years or so ago but came to a dead end (only found the song by Ms. Beamer). After seeing that show on Fridays about the stars tracing their roots, it inspired me again to want to know about this particular branch, more so Nana’s mom the immigrant who gave birth to Kimo’s daughter, who is my great grandmother/Nana. As luck should have it, as I was searching the internet I came across your articles and comments.
Thanks for checking on the Ishiyama family. I only wish there was more information about them. The background I have about my Nana (Hanako Ishiyama Gushiken) was that her mother (Momoyo Ishiyama died young — my mom wanted to try and find her grave which is a long story in itself and met with the reverend who had the death date for her which must have been at Alae cemetery). Nana was Momoyo’s only child. Nana was born in 1908. We know that Nana was sent to live with her father’s (Hitaro Ishiyama) sister (Goto family) because they didn’t have children and that aunt was really good to her. However, she died when Nana was small and Nana was sent back to her father and he soon remarried and they lived on Kauai. The only thing that I know was that her step mom was really mean to her and that she also worked in the plantation fields before getting married. It is surprising that Mr. Ishiyama would accept this child as his (especially with the whole shame thing). I was hoping to find out how could she die so young? I cannot begin to imagine what Nana’s life must have been like with no mom and probably a feeling that she didn’t belong anywhere.
I was also able to find the passenger list from Nana’s mom and husband who immigrated to Hawaii in 1902. I guess they married in Japan and came to work in the plantation since it listed his occupation as farmer. Although, I’m not sure if her husband was born in Hawaii or Japan. Actually, the only other information we know of her mom was that she came from Hiroshima. It’s funny that we know close to nothing of her mom but yet we know of her biological father. You would have thought with the shame, that a name would not have surfaced. I haven’t questioned my grandma enough to know how that information came about. Not sure if it’s a culture thing or what, but my grandma and her sisters do not like talking about it nor about the past so much. It’s like they rather keep things hush hush and I feel that I’m just dredging up things so I learned not to ask.
Were records kept of the workers on the plantations? I just find it odd that she would allow herself to be with this haole man, while married, and knowing the whole race and class systems during that time would be against her so why bother? Especially with the whole Japanese and saving face culture.
Funny you should make that comment about his daughter out of wedlock. I told my mom and she said that my grandma told her that when they met Mr. Henderson, there was no mistaken that Nana was his daughter because she looked like him and something about a mole (not sure what that means). My mom also said that he did visit Nana when she was born and nothing else. So you see about the culture thing, if I didn’t bring this up, my mom would have never said anything. And Nana did die in her 80s in 1992. Do you think he could have had other children out of wedlock?
Sorry for going in circles and for writing too much. It would be great to talk story whenever you have time. It kind of brings about more questions than answers now. I am amazed at how much history you know and again thankful and grateful for all the information thus far.
Thank you again and have a great easter!!
April 4th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
James Kimo Henderson’s “fathering” of Hanako Ishiyama Gushiken 1908-1992 reminds me so much of Strom Thurmond’s fathering of half-Negro daughter Essie Mae Williams.
From Wikipedia:
Shortly after Thurmond’s death on June 26, 2003, Essie Mae Washington-Williams publicly revealed that she was Strom Thurmond’s daughter. She was born to a black maid, Carrie “Tunch” Butler (1909–1948), on October 12, 1925, when Butler, a minor at the time, was 16 years old, and Thurmond 22. He helped pay her way through college and later paid her sums of money in cash or, through a nephew, checks. Though Thurmond never publicly acknowledged Washington-Williams when he was alive, he continued to support her financially. These payments extended well into her adult life. Washington-Williams has stated that she did not reveal she was Thurmond’s daughter during his lifetime because it “wasn’t to the advantage of either one of us” and that she kept silent out of love and respect for her father. She denies that there was an agreement between the two to keep her connection to Thurmond silent.
After Washington-Williams came forward, the Thurmond family publicly acknowledged her parentage. Many close friends and staff members had long suspected this to have been the case, stating that Thurmond had always taken a great amount of interest in Washington-Williams and that she was granted a degree of access to Thurmond more appropriate to a family member than to a member of the public.