Hawaiianology

“At the Gateway of Waikiki in a cozy Atmosphere that's Always Open” Coco’s Coffee House (1971-1986) was located on the corner of Kapiolani and Kalakaua across from Aloha motors (car dealership) and Don's Aloha Chevron, near the Alawai Bridge known as part of the “Spencecliff Restaurants”. The space that was occupied was Kau Kau Corner (1935-1960) and then Woody’s (Woody Woodstrom) and then sold to Spencer Weaver and Cliff Weaver to become Coco’s Coffee House where it was a meet up spot after people went clubbing, finished gigs, or people of every sort, odds and ends to the rowdy. The spirit of the restaurant that the brothers strived for was having fun, being in Hawaii with a coffee cup, and enjoying the traditional Hawaii arts like Laulala weave. There was a Lanai Dining area that took advantage of the air in the area and night time ambiance.  Owned by the Weaver Family, Spencer Weaver “aka. Old Spence” had the corporate office behind Coco’s Coffee Houses where he would work w...

The Kau Kau Korner was founded by the Sundstrom's in 1935. Hanley Paul Sunny Sundstrom (1909 – 1965) was born in Minneapolis and moved to Kingsburg Fresno County in California in his youth. He came to Hawaii in 1932 and was only in Hawaii for a few years, but he wanted to make a burger joint. He sold magazines door-to-door before he and a partner opened a up the place for $900.00. Sunny had eventually bought out the partner and as it became famous it was nicknamed the “Hamburger King of Hawaii”. The sign went up in 1938 (100$) and in 1941 the restaurant would undergo a 45000$ upgrade with a larger menu of steaks and chicken with the place being open 24 hours a day. It would be on the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue as the original "Gateway to Waikiki", because there wasn't a wide options of foods that were decent. Good food was hard to find and by solving the issue of a finding a decent burger in Honolulu the Kau Kau Korner filled that need. When it ...

The Outrigger Canoe Club was founded in 1908, it aimed to be a place where it could mark as a headquarters for water sports in Hawaii: surfing, swimming, outrigger canoeing. It heightened ancestral practices, ensuring their vibrant home of the canoe could be on the shores of Oahu. It all started with a deep concern for the accessibility of Waikīkī Beach, Hawaii's iconic surfing ground, which was increasingly being privatized by hotels and private residences. The water was slowly becoming more accessible from locals and became a luxury to the visitor, so things seemed out of balance. There was a urgent need to preserved the beaches and make it more assessable to people on the island. Alexander Hume Ford, a man from South Carolina, recognized this urgent need. With the support of prominent Honolulu businessmen, Ford envisioned and established a club at Waikīkī, a place where "men and boys could ride upright on the crest of waves."  In May 1908, this vision materialized. The...

Duke Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968), he was born three years before the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. He lived to see the territory's admission as a state and became a United States citizen. He is known as the legendary father of surfing and known around the world was a Native Hawaiian competition swimmer, lifeguard, waterman, and surfer. He transformed the world of surfing and was a pioneer, a ocean spirit as some say he was born with the ocean in his blood, sunlight in his grip, and the wind on his shoulders. Kahanamoku joined fraternal organizations: he was a Scottish Rite Freemason in the Honolulu lodge, a Shriner, law enforcement officer, an actor, beach volleyball player, and a businessman.  Long ago before the world had ever heard of his name, he was but a boy from the neighborhood area of Honolulu at Haleʻākala, the home of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, which was later converted into the Arlington Hotel. Born as Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamo...