Coco's Coffee House "Gateway of Waikiki"

“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 with his secretary and meet with staff for all the Spencecliff Family Restaurants. In the restaurants would be Cliff Spencecliff who was working on the ground floor with his straight forward and hardy communication with the staff and wasn’t afraid of setting a standard as he released a chef and waitress at one point for not meeting the expectations of the company.

Marker at the Entrance of Waikiki, where there was a Treasure Chest at the Hostess Front where after a family had a meal there they would pick a toy from the chest and it was a treat for the kids, not to mention the kids menus could be folded and opened up as a face mask, a clown, or a cowboy. The location was great as it was where people always had to pass to get into Waikiki and the shows there drew customers and there was a boy selling newspapers between shows. Waikiki performers would be known to gather over at Coco’s after work to unwind with other good company that they could relate to and have breakfast for dinner. After the wrestling was done at the Civic the Hawaii Wrestlets would eat there: Ripper Collins,"Gentleman" Ed Francis, and King Curtis Laukea. Coming through the door would be all kinds of well known people like: Duke Kahanamoku throwing shaka with the beach boys, Aku Hal Lewis from KGMB and the crew, and even Checkers and Pogo, Don Ho saying "Meet ya at Cocos!", Surfers, Fabulous Echoes, Nephi, Brothers Cazamero and Peter Moon, Sterling Mossman, Moe Keale, Jon & Randy, Zulu, Drifters, Sons of Hawaii.

It was called a coffee house and they would ask if you wanted “Caf” (with caffeine) or “Decaf” (without caffeine) because that coffee would make your eyes wide open for the next few hours before going home and hitting the bed crashing harder then ever from the effects of the caffeine. Their was also a cigarette machine. Some people forget or don’t know that it was a full-scale restaurant and not only a coffee house and it really was something different with those hours that would be from the early mornings of the sunrise to the lunch or the dinners and late night hours where people were hitting that coffee. There are all kings of people who went through because of the service from the gracious and sweet not to mention beautiful waitresses of the time and the hard working chefs in the back…it was a joke about the nice hours as people would say “Does this place ever close?” and the waitress would say “No, were always open sweetie, look at the sign outside it spells it out”. It was a time when people read the paper over cups of coffee, sit there alone in ones thoughts thinking or even daydreaming, the waitresses would make customers feel like they should stay longer as they'd just keep pouring more coffee.

Architecture, Coco’s Coffee House was one of the most beautiful coffee houses for its architecture created by Pete J Wimberley (1915-1985) of Wimberley Allison Tong & Goo. He came to Hawaii from Washington State in 1940 to do naval work at Pearl Harbor. The architecture on the outside really has a charm as it looks like the wide bottom area goes into the center to the main lit up sign that is nice in the evening driving by looks like either a hat or a volcano. The Kau Kau Korner had predated Coco’s and the hat design that it was well known for and inside was the Kau Kau Korner Office that was the size of an apartment for a time, which would turn into the Penthouse that would have a private bar for parties that was cozy. When recreating the space the Weaver brothers would transform the area into a private sort of place that could be reserved, expand things to make it more roomy and classy, something that would be desired for a special occasion with a bar to make things easy and convenient for the customer.

Sharon Takeuchi would end up working with Mayfield Smith Park Advertising Agency in the 70s had an account there handled by Jeanne Datz-Rice who would meet with Spence Weaver and her. Sharon was the one who was in charge of Spencecliff’s Marketing where things were creative, smart business wise, and had a fun angle to things to say about getting the word out with his charismatic charm. The people in the marketing business back then were built tough and some of jokes that might offend some would deflect or be seen as small talk with strength being shown in other ways then speaking, but in the ways of achievement and by doing. The ads and artwork would be presented and feedback was given by the agency art directors that was time consuming with the back and forth that went on things like holiday menu specials.

The menu, it was many tested favorites of the time like: Teriyaki Steak Sandwich w/oriental sauce and lettuce with crispy fried wonton, Buttered Steak Sandwich, French Beef Dip Sandwich, and Mahimahi Burgers as many establishments had. The Hamburgers that were served were the: Nui Burger (fresh ground beef, lettuce, tomato, crunchy kosher dill), Teriyaki Burger (teriyaki marinated fresh ground beef, lettuce, tomato, crunchy kosher dill), and the Chili Burger (fresh ground beef, special chili, chopped onions, lettuce, tomato). While these were all and goof many would be ordering from the favorite dishes anytime part of the menu that included their: Saimin, Hawaiian Plate, Chop Steak that had garden vegetables too with Shoestring Potatoes or Steamed White Rice or House Baked Roll, Old Fashioned Beef Stew, Spaghetti with Garlic Bread and Salad, or Fish N Fries. They also had beverages (coffee,tea,sanka, milk, buttermilk, hot chocolate), a fountain (sodas,shakes,malts,freezes,sundaes,floats,splits, shortcakes), and deserts (jello, layer cake, cream pies, fruit pies, pudding).

The Hawaiian Fruit Boat (aka. Fruit Salad), had originated from the Coco’s Salads and was so fine and so tasty as it was what many people remember along with everything else. While cottage cheese isn’t thought of with fruits or lettuce it was part of the menus of many places back in the day with Coco’s being known for their three main salads: Cling Peach Cottage Cheese (fresh cottage cheese, fruit, and chopped lettuce), Hawaiian Pineapple Boat (half a pineapple used as a vessel for fruits, cottage cheese, sherbert, and whipped cream), and their Coco’s Chef Salad (crisp tossed greens, julienne roast, swiss cheese, ham, crumbled hard boiled eggs, tomato, and choice dressing). Hawaii Fruit Salads would often follow the Coco’s way of making salads when people went home and that meant a lot of people got interested in cottage cheese and sherberts.

Obake Ghost Waitress Story, 

Staff: Jim Blair (manager),Moku Young (manager), Dick Saunders (manager), Charles Miller, Tom Schied, Bill Salvador (chef), Wayne Chock (chef), Yama (chef), Shannondeshan Alesna (cook), Lorna Webster, Sandraw Jewell, Rose, Darren Au, Richard Mau, Christina Canete, Irene Wedemeyer Vierra, Carter (busboy), Duffy, Poochie (hostess), Dee (hostess).