Columnist Bob Sigall writes the weekly column “Rearview Mirror,” which takes a look back at historic Hawaii through stories, interviews and photos.
An anonymous reader asked me a curious question recently. He heard that the general manager of Sears in 1959 would not agree to move from its Beretania Street location to the new Ala Moana Center unless it could bring a vendor everyone called “the peanut lady” with it. Was it true? he wanted to know. Read more
I’ve been talking to Carol Hoshiko, a dean at Kapiolani Community College. The college is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. One topic that came up in our conversation was the Cannon Club, the officers club at Fort Ruger, where KCC is today. Read more
In the past few months I’ve spent some time exploring locations that were considered for iconic Hawaii places, such as the Hawai‘i Convention Center, the state Capitol, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Neal Blaisdell Center, Aloha Stadium and University of Hawaii. Read more
Ten years ago, on April 15, 2011, I wrote my first Rearview Mirror column. Ten years is not all that much in the newspaper business. Ferd Lewis and Bob Krauss both topped 50 years. Still, it’s a lot for me. Read more
My wife and I visited Australia and New Zealand 10 years ago. When we boarded the plane in Auckland to come home, I heard a voice call my name. It was a former student of mine from Hawaii Pacific University. Read more
A few weeks ago I wrote about iconic Hawaii museums, auditoriums, schools, centers, athletic facilities and entertainment complexes and the possible locations that were seriously considered for them but not chosen. Read more
I have a great fondness for Aloha Airlines, even though it went out of business 13 years ago. I admired its founders and had many friends who worked there. Read more
A few weeks ago I wrote about how East doesn’t always meet West, and readers wrote to share more examples of such misconceptions from their personal experiences. Here are some. Read more
Love’s Bakery announced it is closing later this month after 170 years in business. The bakery operated under the reigns of six royal monarchs, the provisional government, the republic of Hawaii, 12 territorial governors and eight state governors. Read more
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Imagine you had a dream the other day. You were showing a visiting friend around Oahu, but things were in the wrong place. Read more
Last month I wrote about how mainlanders and islanders misunderstand each other on occasion, and my inbox has received a flood of new stories. Here are some. Read more
Every year about this time, I look back at some of the companies, schools and events celebrating anniversaries in the next 12 months. Hawaii has a rich, interesting history. It makes the events of today more meaningful to remember it. Read more
Every now and then, I explore what occupies a particular Oahu location today and then go back in time to see what was there in the past. Read more
Last week I wrote about ways that those “back in the States” misunderstand Hawaii — some think we all live in grass shacks, surf, have hula hoops and eat pizza with pineapple. Read more
Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, but some people are slow to get the memo. They think everyone here lives in grass shacks, dances the hula and plays ukulele. I asked my readers to send examples from their experience. Read more
Many in the islands remember Frederick Buck Woo Lam, known as Freddy Buck. Besides being a sweet-bread king, he was also a champion boxer. Read more
Does history repeat itself? Some of last week’s events reminded me about the 1960 presidential election in Hawaii. Read more
Last month I wrote about “Tin Can Alley and the Beretania Follies.” The Follies was a strip club mauka of Beretania Street about where the Chinatown Cultural Plaza is today. One of the dancers there was Tempest Storm. Read more
Last week I began this two-part column honoring those who have made history in the islands, researched it, preserved it or shared it. All of you have made Hawaii a better place, and for that I thank you. Read more
Merry Christmas! Every year at this time, I issue my Rearview Mirror Annual Awards for those who have made a contribution to Hawaii. Some of them made history, some researched it, some preserved it and some shared it. All have added to the richness that is our Hawaii. Here’s Part 1. I’ll conclude Jan. 1. Read more
When I look at those who have made a difference in other people’s lives, it’s usually ordinary people who have stepped up and given selflessly. Here are two of their stories this week. Read more
