Rearview Mirror: Danny Kaleikini had a way to make everyone feel special
Danny Kaleikini, who died Jan. 6 at the age of 85, had a way of making everyone feel special. Read more
Danny Kaleikini, who died Jan. 6 at the age of 85, had a way of making everyone feel special. Read more
Every 10 years or so, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser runs a column of things you should remember if you’ve lived in Hawaii a long time. I thought that my first column of 2023 would be a good time to update this popular feature. Read more
An end-of-the-year tradition for me is my annual Rearview Mirror Awards, given to those who made, preserved or wrote about Hawaii history. Read more
Last week I began my annual two-part review of things I learned in the course of writing this column in the past 12 months. Read more
At the end of the year, I review my columns and write about some of the things I learned in the past 12 months. Writing this column is a process of discovery for me. It gives me great pleasure to do it. Read more
With Mauna Loa erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years, I thought I’d ask readers about their first experience with the volcano. Read more
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Last week I wrote about long-gone restaurants and the dishes readers would like to be able to dine on again. Over 100 readers responded and suggested their favorite places, so here is another installment. Read more
Recently, I was talking to a friend about Mama’s Mexican Kitchen. It had locations at 378 N. School St., Moanalua Shopping Center, Pearl Kai Food Court and in Waikiki at 478 Ena Road. I particularly liked their taquitos, sopes and salsa. Read more
A landmark for over 50 years, and once the Leeward area’s swankiest place to dine, the Pearl City Tavern began in 1940 when only 800 people lived in Pearl City. Read more
My research this year has brought up a man named Donald Billam-Walker a few times. He and Clarice Taylor researched 1,300 Honolulu street names, writing about them in 1956. Read more
Every year, I write about the anniversaries of important Hawaii organizations. In August I explored the 190th anniversary of Liliuokalani Church in Haleiwa, the 100th anniversary of Misaki’s Grocery on Molokai and the 95th anniversary of St. Francis Hospital in Liliha. Here are some more significant anniversaries. Read more
At the end of the year, I give out awards to Hawaii people who have made history, preserved it, written about it or, in this case, all three. Read more
I spoke to the Roosevelt High School class of 1960 reunion Thursday at the Waialae Country Club. I gave them a quiz — a “final exam” — that tested their knowledge of the school, coaches and students. Read more
Every now and then I find myself with several vignettes that didn’t fit into an earlier column but are too interesting to ignore. So I put three or four together, even if they are unrelated. I call this type of column “leftovers.” Read more
It’s always interesting to me when a simple question leads to unexpected places. Such was the case in September when a question about Eames Street in Wahiawa turned up the fact that Alfred W. Eames Sr., who gave the street its name, narrowly missed being on the Titanic in 1912. Read more
Queen Elizabeth II died Sept. 8 after a reign of 70 years. I’ll write about her three visits to Hawaii another time. Today I thought I’d write about her mother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who visited Honolulu twice, in 1958 and 1966. Read more
Sometimes my research takes me to unexpected places. I’ve written about Hawaii streets several times this year, and a recent question from a reader revealed that a Wahiawa man and his daughter were booked on the ill-fated 1912 sailing of the RMS Titanic. Here’s how the story unfolded. Read more
The University of Michigan football team took revenge on Hawaii on Saturday, beating the Rainbow Warriors 56-10 in a “close” game. Read more
Four years ago I wrote about Dammit the Dalmatian, a dog who “attended” classes at University of Hawaii at Manoa. Max Urata told me the staff of the student newspaper, Ka Leo, gave Dammit his own column in 1954, and he even ran for student body president. He lost by a whisker, Urata said. Read more
In this column, I thought I’d look back 61 years, to the first Hawaii team to capture a winners bracket game at the 15th Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. It took place in August 1961. The team was the Hilo Americans. Read more
I love it when readers share a personal experience that was meaningful to them and that is also entertaining to the rest of us. This week’s column features tales of spirits — from carrying pork over the Pali, to the spirit of aloha transplanted to the Midwest, to a spirited tribute to a retiring Punahou president that surprised and amused his local audience. Enjoy. Read more