Aloha – Saturday, March1/14
Today the Ilikai is 50 years old – the hotel/condo building where we are staying (actually it was February 29, 1964). Unfortunately (and rather oddly), no celebration ceremonies have been planned. That said, the complex has a pretty impressive history. It began much as it still is today with 1) owner-occupants, 2) owners who rented out their units, 3) owners who put their units into the hotel room market and 4) a hotel operator running half the building. The visionary was Chinn Ho (recognize that name? from Hawaii Five-O). The original series opening scene was filmed here with Jack Lord on the penthouse lanai. Because of the support for the television series from local hotel owners Chinn Ho (from the Ilikai) and Roger Kelly (from the Outrigger hotel), one of the characters in the show was named Chinn Ho Kelly.
In 1964, the Ilikai was described as “a monster of concrete and glass” by Paradise of the Pacific magazine. Over the years, numerous famous people called the Ilikai home – the astronauts of Apollo 13 were reunited with their families, Elvis strolled into the bar area one night and shows by Jack Benny, Jim Nabors, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, as well as local talents drew several hundred people.
For the past 50 years, Richard Bell, has continued to light the torches and blow the conch signalling sunset. He began the gig at age 26 when relatives were in the entertainment business at the Ilikai and hasn’t looked back.
Sunday, March 2/14
Second day of rainy weather in paradise, but that’s okay – still warm….sitting on the balcony (lanai) people-watching….
We went for a walk once the rain let up mid-afternoon into Waikiki. We wandered down the main strip then a side street before heading back. Came across the “pigeon house” – they sure looked content….
Monday, March 3/14
We went for a morning walk to Ala Moana Park and struck up a conversation with an older man outside the yacht club. He has a lot of family in various parts of Canada and was eager to share stories. We were invited into the club, showed around and given a 2 week pass.
Later in the morning, we took the bus to the courthouse area in Honolulu. In front of the courthouse (Ali’iolani Hale) stands the statue of King Kamehameha (seen on Hawaii Five-0; but alas still no “Boys” sighting). The 5.5 m statue celebrates Hawaii’s favourite and most famous king.
After clearing security, we toured the courthouse. …Very interesting – explained the judicial system on the islands pre and post Western influence.
Especially interesting was the section on Martial Law in Hawaii from 1941 – 1944 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Across the street is the Iolani Palace. It was the official residence of Hawaii’s monarchy and has been restored to the time when King KalaKaua (he built it in 1882) and his sister, Queen Liliukalani resided.
So much history! King Kalakaua successfully negotiated a reciprocity treaty which allowed Hawaiian sugar into the United States duty-free and products made in the United States into the Kingdom duty-free. He toured the world and hosted world leaders at the residence.
In his later years, on the advice of his physician, King Kalakaua traveled to the United States for a change of climate to recuperate his health. He died at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco on January 20, 1891. His remains were brought back to Hawaii.
Kalakaua was succeeded by his sister, Liliuokalani, who was proclaimed queen on January 29, 1891.
She attempted to bring in a new constitution to solidify Hawaii’s sovereignty, but it was opposed to by forces of the Committee of Safety, which was made up of Hawaii born citizens of American parents, naturalized citizens and foreign nationals. This group, with the support of the American Minister to Hawaii, orchestrated the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the establishment of a provisional government.
In 1895, an abortive attempt by Hawaiian royalists to restore Queen Liliuokalani to power resulted in the queen’s arrest. She was forced to sign a document of abdication that relinquished all her future claims to the throne. Following this, she endured a humiliating public trial before a military tribunal in her former throne room.
She was sentenced to imprisonment in an upstairs bedroom at the Iolani Palace.
During her imprisonment, the queen was denied any visitors other than one lady companion. She began each day with her daily devotions followed by reading, quilting, crochet-work, or music composition.
In 1993, 100 years after the overthrow, President Clinton signed a Congressional resolution in which the United States government formally apologized to the Native Hawaiian people.
Great day!
