"Where did all the fun places go?"

A friend tossed this question my way the other day.

He was reflecting on the Barefoot Bar, where Sterling Mossman and Varoa Tiki first found stardom, at the beloved Queen's Surf Waikiki nightclub ... where Kui Lee once performed and where Elvis Presley even stopped by one night. The site has been gone for decades, a victim of progress and change.

You have to be kama'aina to remember — or have experienced  — long-gone places and performers. Mention Hilo Hattie, and most folks think of the Hawaiian attire/souvenir emporium for Island-style gifts and aloha wear. I remember when the real Hilo Hattie (Clara Inter Nelson) did her classic "Hula Hop" at the original Halekulani Hotel.

People, places — they come and go. Herewith, reflections of the folks and sites that gave our city a distinctive personality:

NIGHT SPOTS

Cock's Roost

Canton Puka

Primo Garden

Polynesian Palace

Duke Kahanamoku's

Le Boom Boom Club

Blue Dolphin

Waikiki Beef 'n' Grog

Studebaker's

On Stage

Esprit

Optown

Hot Rod Dinin' & Dancin'

Maile Lounge

Da Swamp

Toppe ada Shoppe

Kalia Gardens

Tapa Room

Prow Lounge

Plantation Room

Garden Lanai

The Point After

Canoe House

Captain's Table

The Clouds

Hala Terrace

The Glades

Trappers

Garden Bar

Imperial Showroom

Ginza

Hula Hut

Maharaja

Hilton Hawaiian Village Dome

Cupid's Lounge

Pink Cadillac

Scruples

Kapono's

Shell Bar

Oasis Nightclub

Wave Waikiki

Malia's Cantina

Reef Showroom

The Library

Kento's

Mahina Lounge

The Row Bar

Hong Kong Junk

Hana Hou Showroom

Eurasia

World Café

Hoku Hale Theatre

Aloha Showroom

The Dunes

Gussie L'amour's

Ship's Tavern

Rainbow Villa

Yoko's

Club Hubba Hubba

Forbidden City

In Between Lounge

Keone's

RESTAURANTS

Andrew's

Bagwell's 2424

The Black Orchid

Coco's

Don the Beachcomber

The Ranch House

Hanohano Room

The Pottery

Tahitian Lanai

Ship's Tavern

A Pacific Café

The Third Floor

Golden Dragon

Green Turtle

Baci

Rose City Diner

Kyo-Ya

New Tokyo

Waikiki Sands

Maile Restaurant

Canlis

Top of the Ilikai

Third Floor

Queen's Surf

Trader Vic's

La Ronde

Padovani's Bistro

Sunset Grill

Compadres

La Mancha

Parc Café

Momotaro

Maile Restaurant

Surf Room

Orson's

OnJin's Café

Ray's Seafood

The Tropics

KC Drive Inn

Flamingo Chuckwagon

Spats

Columbia Inn

Ferdinand's

Golden Dragon

Waikiki Broiler

Yacht Harbor Restaurant

Spindrifter

Yum Yum Tree

ENTERTAINERS/ PERSONALITIES

Alfred Apaka

Ed Kenney

Al Lopaka

Hilo Hattie

Haunani Kahalewai

Kimo McVay

The Reycards

John Rowles

Charo

Martin Denny

Tavana

Moe Keale

Dick Jensen

Arthur Lyman

George Street

Emma Veary

Freddie Morris

Don Ho

Tommy Sands

The Aliis

Linda Green

Masako

Honolulu

The Fabulous Krush

Burgundy Express

Topp Banana

Ethel Azama

Butch Williams

Alexander and Peggy Oumansky

Rene and Akemi Paulo

Guido Salmaggi

Sterling Mossman

Jerlene Rome

Jonathan Von Brana

Napua Stevens

Eddie Kekaula

Donna Butterworth

Howard Morrison

Malia Solomon

Mike Woodward

Mai Tai Sing

Teddy and Nanci Tanaka

Anna Lea

Kit Samson's Sound Advice

Connie Kissinger

Del Courtney

Frankie Stevens

Myrtle K. Hilo

Al Harrington

Scott Kincaide

Johnny Todd

Liz Damon & the Orient Express

Prince Hanalei

Blue Kangaroo

Loyal Garner

Glass Candle

Myra English

Inny Young

Charles K.L. Davis

Bu La'ia

Jules Ah See

Varoa Tiki

The Dimensions

Warren Marley

Phase Seven

Zulu

Reach Wayne Harada at 266-0926. Read his Show Biz column Sundays in Island Life and online at http://showandtellhawaiihonadvblogs.com.