Hawaii in 1959

Hawaii became a state in August of 1959. What was Hawaii like then? We had half today's population - 650,000 - and 1/30th the visitors - 250,000 compared to nearly 7 million today. This was 9 years before Hawaii Five-0 showed Hawaii in vibrant color to the mainland and caused a five-fold increase in tourism.

In 1959, shopping was mostly downtown Honolulu. ALa Moana Shopping Center had just opened 8 days earlier than Statehood. Top stores included Ming's, McInerny, Andrade, Carol and Mary, and Kress.

We dined at Pearl City Tavern, the Tropics, Canlis, Tahitian Lanai, Columbia Inn, Fisherman's Wharf, Kapiolani Drive-In, the Ranch House, and Queen's Surf.

The State Capital site was selected. Alternatives included Fort Armstrong, the Windward HPU campus, the Ala Wai Golf Course, Aala Park, Fort Ruger, Oahu Country Club and 15 other sites.

John Burns was sworn in as Congressman, as was Daniel Inouye, who was mistaken as the King of Siam at his first White House dinner.

You could see the great Duke Kahanamoku everywhere. Elvis Presley had just performed at the Old Honolulu Stadium.

Hawaii's biggest group ever, the Kingston Trio topped the charts with "Tom Dooley." Don Ho entertained nightly in Waikiki.

The Ward estate was still standing, where the Blaisdell Center is today, and for sporting events, we went to the Honolulu CIvic Auditorium on King Street (today the Interstate Bldg.)

Magic Island was just being talked about, as was the Ilikai.

For more, see "The Companies We Keep" volumes 1, 2, and 3, by Hawaii Pacific University professor Bob Sigall. Available at Hawaii bookstores and www.Companieswekeep.com.

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