Posted on: Sunday, September 26, 2004

OUR HONOLULU

By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist

The controversy continues as to why Tripler Army Medical Center is painted pink. Did the U.S. Army have a surplus of pink paint? Is it because pink doesn't show red dirt? Did the architect try to imitate the Royal Hawaiian Hotel?

Whatever reason Tripler came out pink, we have firm documentation for the Pink Palace in Waikiki. It's a fascinating tale that produces an answer so improbable that you're not going to believe it. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is painted pink because of the Portuguese.

Our story begins more than a century ago when Kinau Judd, daughter of the legendary medical missionary, married Sam Wilder, who was just starting his barnacle-studded career as a shipping tycoon. He founded the Wilder Steamship Co. and built his wife a mansion in Nu'uanu Valley.

Meanwhile, a royal canoe shed on Waikiki Beach became known as Kinau Hale after kuhina nui Kina'u, the regent for whom Kinau Judd Wilder was named.

The Wilders had a son, Kimo, who turned out to be what they called in those days a Bohemian. He married an equally unconventional lady named Sarah whose ancestor founded the Pony Express. Are you still with me? OK, Kimo and Sarah preferred to beachcomb at Waikiki in Kinau Hale rather than reside in respectable Nu'uanu.

Let us now switch to the enterprising captain of a coal barge in San Francisco, William Matson, who started the Matson Line to Hawai'i. The Matsons and the Wilders became close friends. Little Lurline Matson, the only child of the sea captain, played at Kinau Hale.

However, she grew up in San Francisco. There she fell in love with Billy Roth. Her parents frowned on the match because he was Jewish.

But Kimo and Sarah liked Billy. They helped smooth things over with Lurline's parents and the marriage took place to the satisfaction of all concerned. Billy Roth, who helped his father-in-law run Matson Lines, became godfather to the daughter of Sarah and Kimo, the late Kinau Wilder, our informant.

In 1920, Kimo and Sarah took the grand tour of Europe where he painted and she potted. They fell in love with Lisbon, Portugal, especially houses painted pink with blue shutters.

When they returned to Waikiki, Kinau Hale was dark green. In short order it was transformed to salmon pink with blue-green shutters. By this time Billy Roth had taken over Matson Lines and was building the Royal Hawaiian Hotel as a destination resort for his liners.

He came to Kinau Hale and said to Kimo and Sarah, "I love what you've done to your house. Can I paint my hotel the same color?" So, you see, the Portuguese are responsible for a lot more than the 'ukulele in Hawai'i.

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.