6/27/13

Let's visit HAWAII IN THE 1930s: Rice field in Waikiki


I actually have no idea where this photo was taken in Hawaii, but when shown to my father he said he remembers areas of Waikiki looking like this when he visited in 1945. No matter where it was actually shot, it's the Hawaii of long ago.


Click on image to see it larger.

On the far right there appears to possibly be railroad tracks with a car. Could this be part of the old Oahu Railway and Land Company?
This Company is now running trains to Waianae, 33% miles from Honolulu, the new Extension of fifteen miles beyond Ewa Plantation having been completed July 1, 1895. The equipment of the road is first-class in every particular. Excursion rates are maintained from Saturday morning till Monday of each week. A first-class hotel is in course of erection at Waianae, and will afford unequalled bathing facilities. A delightful ride through varied and unsurpassed scenery, a day of rest and pleasure at Waianae, make an excursion on the Oahu Railway one of the most attractive features of the Islands, not only to tourists, but to residents of Honolulu as well.

Pearl City, located on the famous Pearl Harbor, the proposed naval and coaling station of the United States, has been, laid out in streets, provided with a complete system of water works, picnic grounds, dancing pavilion, boat houses, etc. Over $100,000 in lots have been sold to 150 different purchasers, and a number of residences erected; a few very desirable lots may yet be had on very reasonable terms.

With a perfect climate and the pure air from mountain and sea, no other spot on earth can equal this as a health resort. Dr. P. S. Kellogg, of Battle Creek, Mich., says of this locality in a recent letter: "When we had reached a height of 1,000 feet, we could observe a marked difference in the atmosphere; so cool, pure and bracing was it that we were impressed with the thought that here, removed from the con-laminating influences of unsanitary surroundings, was an ideal spot for the invalid to find rest for body and mind." (SOURCE: History of Later Years of the Hawaiian Monarchy)
This is the last image I have from this series. I can only hope to someday find more.

3 comments:

  1. Wow! I had no idea that there were (ever) rice fields in Hawaii...great piece of documentary photography. Thanks for dropping by btw...Happy PFF!

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    1. It's also possible this was a taro patch. I'm not sure. I do remember the rice fields when I lived out there. There would be tower in the middle of all the fields with rope lines stretching out in all directions across the fields with, I believe, bells hanging off the lines. The lines would be anchored across on the other side of the fields. Then the person in the tower would grab the lines and shake them to keep the birds away.

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  2. I've read stories about the steam trains that used to be used on the plantations of Hawaii... and find them fascinating - as did the US service men that saw them while there during WWII.

    Thanks for sharing this photo. :)

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