Kailua has a past to be proud of
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Columnist
When the idea for a Kailua Historical Society first came up, a few people scoffed.
Kailua? The one on O'ahu?
It's a beach town, for Pete's sake. A suburb. Its most distinctive physical feature is a marsh. It is one of the few places you don't come to automatically on an around-the-island drive.
Sure, it's got some good restaurants, but history? Manoa has history; 'Ewa's got it, too. But Kailua?
Still, when the fliers went up and word started going around, a funny thing happened: People were interested. More than 40 people showed up on a Monday morning for the society's founding meeting.
Now, they're off and running. The group is setting up committees to conduct oral histories, produce publications, conduct tours, preserve buildings, raise money, educate the public, gather old photos and documents, and establish an archive — maybe even a little museum.
Kailua people are funny that way. Passionate about their town.
"A lot of people love the spirit of Kailua, and many want to learn more about its history," said Joanne Flannery, a social worker and university professor who thought up the idea of the historical society over lunch with a few friends one day.
If you thought Kailua's history began the day they opened the Pali Tunnels to Ford automobiles, Flannery has news for you. The history goes back more than 1,000 years.
Kawai Nui Marsh was once the largest fishpond in all the Hawaiian Islands. Several local heiau are more than 500 years old. The subdivision known as Coconut Grove really was a royal coconut grove once. Maunawili was a favorite resting area of Queen Lili'uokalani. Generations of Hawaiians, and Chinese, Filipinos and other immigrants found a homestead and a farm there, too.
People have been commuting to and from Kailua for more than 80 years. Even back in the 1920s and 1930s, when it was still a half-day's drive from town, Kailua began luring homeowners with its cool trade winds and perfectly shaped beach and bay. Now many of the earliest residents are clamoring to tell their stories, Flannery said.
"No other place on this island has the same blend of ocean, mountains and marsh. And there's a great ethnic diversity that isn't always recognized," said Flannery, speaking with the zeal of a recent convert. She's lived in Hawa'i since 1957, but moved to Kailua only 12 years ago.
"Kailua definitely has a personality," she said. "It is a place you can define: comfortable, self-sufficient, friendly."
And now it doesn't just have a history. It's got a historical society, too.
The second meeting of the Kailua Historical society is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Kailua Recreational Center.
Mike Leidemann's columns appear Thursdays and Saturdays in The Advertiser. Reach him at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5460.
