Hawai'i Ways
The way we were, Part II
By Victor Yamashiroya
Editor's note: This is Part 2 of two parts in which Victor Yamashiroya recalls past O'ahu spots.
Nightclubs: In the '50s and early '60s, nightclubs were very popular places to go to for entertainment: Forbidden City on Kalakaua Avenue, The Dunes on Nimitz Highway, Club Ginza on College Walk and the Oasis on Wai'alae Avenue. Remember when the nightclubs featured entertainers from Japan and the naked waiters and topless waitresses? Those were the days.
'Drive-In' restaurants (with car service): Remember when the drive-in restaurants were the place to go after the movies, on a date or just hanging around with your friends? You could stay in the car and the waitresses would come and serve you your order on a tray. My favorites were the K.C. Drive Inn on the corner of Kalakaua and Ala Wai, which featured the waffle hot dog; Likelike Drive Inn on Ke'eaumoku Street for their 'ono saimin; Kapi'olani Drive Inn; and, occasionally, Kelly's Drive Inn on Nimitz Highway.
Drive-in theaters: Remember when the whole family or a bunch of us kids would go to the drive-in movies? When it rained the window would get all cloudy and we needed to wipe the inside windshield of condensation so we could see the movies and sometimes we needed to bring senko (smoky Japanese mosquito repellent) to drive the mosquitos away. On a clear night, we could spread our goza (beach mat) on the pavement outside the car and watch the movies under the stars. The drive-in theaters are all gone now but they will always remain in my heart. The theaters were the Kapi'olani Drive-In where the Kaheka Daiei Holiday Mart now sits, Sunset Drive-In on the corner of Kunia Road and Farrington Highway, Wai'alae Drive-In on Wai'alae Avenue across from the Kahala shopping mall, Kailua Drive-In on Kalaniana'ole Highway by the old Quarry Road and the Kam Drive-In on the corner of Moanalua Road and Kaonohi Street, presently the site of the Kam Swap Meet.
Sports: Remember the old Honolulu Stadium at King and Isenberg streets, where the Stadium Park is now and where most of our sporting events were held? The major high school football games were held there leading up to the Thanksgiving Day double-header for the ILH championship. In the past, the private schools and public schools were part of the ILH. Baseball, stock car racing and championship boxing were also held there. Another place that was very active during its heyday was the Civic Auditorium on King Street, across from Sheridan Street. Most boxing and wrestling matches were held there, and when roller derby was popular it was one of its main attractions. High school basketball games were also held there and when rock 'n' roll was popular, concerts with big-name stars were featured.
Oh, those good, old days.
Victor Yamashiroya lives in Waipi'o Gentry.
