Historic Old Oahu 1940 - Part Two

We recently discovered several vintage 16mm films depicting old Hawaii. The films were originally taken by an unknown photographer for his own personal enjoyment while on his way from San Jose to Austrailia in 1940. We purchased them at a garage sale at the house at an old local orchardist. The films were converted to digital by volunteers from the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County who used their telecine processor to preserve historic images at no charge. Thank you!
This sixth installment focuses on the island of Oahu, especially upon his arrival in Waikiki. Included in his original edit are a few additional shots of Kalakaua Blvd. from a later trip circa 1952. All Rights Reserved.

[@venomdust1]

Born and raised in Aiea 1967 I am so thankful to my parents for letting me grow up near the sugar mill in Aiea . I can still remember summers packed in a van going to Haleiwa and seeing sugarcane then pineapple then on the slope down from Wahiawa the sugarcane . Drying off as the sun was setting using wash clothes and the melted ice water to wash off before getting a plate with fresh cooked BBQ and homemade rice balls .Father would turn the radio on to the AM Hawaiian station on the way back . No street lights by Kunia so it was dark. Best memories being the only kid awake hearing static Hawaiian music with the greenish lights from the dash lighting my dads face. My mom telling my dad To make sure the kids change as soon as we went into the house even though we all just wanted to sleep

[@gigiviveiros-black9914]

Wow, this took me back to my childhood. Thanks.

[@123Dirtball]

cotillion at the Royal Hawaiian, Webley Edwards at the Moana and breakfast on the Hau Terrace at the Halekulani ( special occasion) Auwe! I’m old

[@fly-over1517]

One of the first things that catches my eyes about these old films is the amount of palm tree you see ( not that many these days), and the lack of (enjoyable) tall ugly buildings...would be exciting to go back in time and re-visit this era for a few days.

[@GulfIslandRock]

So true 🌴🌴🌴🌴

[@hualani6785]

Mahalo nui loa. A worthy project enjoyed by thousands. Now a senior, I first arrived in Hawaii at 7 years old (Father w/ Pan Am). These are a bit before our days, yet so rare in the 21st century. Appreciative of the hours, devotion, fun of restoration, music bed. Maika'i!

[@GulfIslandRock]

Such great classic video footage 👍👍🌴🌴🌴🤙🏼 Aloha

[@wirelesslanai]

Just wonderful. I have lived in Hawaii 20 years and find it amazing, especially in the Kona films, how little has really changed! Love the color film, it must have been a well-to-do gentleman to afford to shoot color film in the 1940s. Thank you to the Pioneers who volunteered to restore these. :)

[@UTubeGlennAR]

I feel the opposite, seeing how the Hawaii I knew as a boy no longer exists. I lived in Waianae for a few years in the 50s. We kids were not aloud to play in the front yard because of the wild boars in the forest across the street. Now there is a stop light pole in my old front yard and a Burger King across the street. The wild boars have obviously been gone for decades n Waianae is jam packed with houses and cars now..........

[@AustinCasey]

Beautiful! Thanks a million for sharing this! It is absolutely priceless! The music and the film fit perfectly together. I hope they still play music like this on the islands. -Austin

[@plumeria9990]

I grew up in Kailua. Aloha! 🌊🌴🌺

[@KailuaKid]

Kailua HS grad? If so... what year?

[@plumeria8357]

Thank you!!

[@GulfIslandRock]

Aloha from our islands in the North Pacific 🌴🌴🌴🤙🏼

[@GiuseppeBasile]

Love Hawaii

[@GulfIslandRock]

Same ❤ 🌴🌴🌴🌴🤙🏼

[@JAnotherday]

Very nice lovely thank you

[@ellorial]

Amazing, but u know what would be spectacular! The same video with a side by side of the same places then and now, obviously you might not be able to get all the screens but they would be something!

[@kkaanaana]

Thank you for sharing!!!!

[@donaldjaggersjr2686]

I miss home!

[@hebneh]

At 5:19, note Duke Kahanamoku speaking into the microphone with "Hawaii Calls" host Webley Edwards. As with the other films from this same source, there's a lot more 1952 footage than 1940 footage.

[@HelloThere-bj9rw]

When Waikiki was beautiful

[@howellwong11]

I used to go league bowling every week at the Waikiki Bowling Lanes. That is how far back I go. The SurfRider was being built on the other side of the Moana Hotel, when I left Hawaii.

[@HelloThere-bj9rw]

@@howellwong11 I’m very jealous you got to grow up during that time, I can put up with how it is now but it just dosent give me the whole “paradise” vibes everyone makes it out to be

[@HelloThere-bj9rw]

@@howellwong11 that why I just prefer to stay in Kailua haha

[@howellwong11]

@@HelloThere-bj9rw I should be jealous. i'm getting real old.

[@KailuaKid]

Great story

[@premiumblue1637]

So beautiful back then. A shame all the coconut trees were removed to make way for too many people and too much concrete

[@GulfIslandRock]

😢🌴

[@GulfIslandRock]

So many Coconut 🌴 palms make it look gorgeous . Shame they had to be removed

[@howellwong11]

This was my time in Hawaii, but I was too poor to enjoy the niceties of Hawaii. I left Hawaii in 1953 at age 21.

[@ikaikamaleko8370]

No place like home.🌴🌊

[@tedmattos9454]

Grew up King/McCully in 40s-50s...Pleny da kine memories..good n not so good..War was just end ..Pleny adjusting...low budget living...Ke Akua Pu Kakou 🙏🤙🏽

[@TargaWheels]

Who was the singer that was referred to as "Kalakaua" at the beginning of the video?

[@ptb2929]

Mahalo nui loa from Hawaii PTB