Blog Post #11: The History of Kaimuki

Amity Tran

HON 101

Schultz

17 November 2016

Blog Post #11: The History of Kaimuki

Although I currently do not live there, Kaimuki will always be my home. I moved into Kaimuki when I was about 11 years old and have lived there ever since. It is a very family-friendly neighborhood filled with little shops and restaurants all within a few blocks of each other, making it a very walkable neighborhood. Before reading Remember to Wave, I have never really put much thought into knowing the history of my community, but knowing the history of Kaimuki that I know now makes it an even more amazing place to live.

Today, Kaimuki is a residential area rich with history, but before it was anything else, Kaimuki was a very hot and dry environment not suited for living due to the lack of water in the area. In the 1800s, it was owned by King Kalakaua, the last reigning King of Hawai’i. He used this area as a farm for his ostriches, so in the 1800s, it was a normal sight to see these exotic birds roaming free in Kaimuki. After that, the state transformed Kaimuki into a farm to grow carnations that would be used as funeral flowers. Kaimuki Hill, also known as Christmas Tree Park because of the electric Christmas perched on top was used by King Kamehameha as a lookout spot. He would lookout for enemies coming in from Waikiki. Kaimuki’s main street, Waialae Avenue, has existed for as long as the community has and has been the home of many restaurants and businesses that have turned Kaimuki into such an exciting community.

Learning about the history of my community has made me appreciate my surroundings even more because Kaimuki went from a dry, barren land to a bustling residential and business area. It is also home to many historical landmarks and long-time shops that I have yet to explore.

What Came First?

                What came first, Longs Drugs or CVS Pharmacy? That was the question that was lingering in my mind as I walk to the nearest Longs Drugs near my apartment at University Avenue. I had never thought about it as I assumed Longs Drugs was just the Hawaiian name for CVS. After all, they both had titles in red and I even could use my “Extra Care” card from California at Longs Drugs. Nevertheless, I had to do some digging.

                What I learned from my research was not what I expected to say the least. Longs Drugs was actually founded not in Hawaii but in Covelo, California by Thomas and Joseph Long who was the son-in-law of Marion Barton Skaggs, co-founder of Safeway Inc. One of the brothers once commented "That's why Hawaii worked so well for us." he continued saying: " Customers there were used to stores running out of stuff, We didn't ." The original store used to be called Longs- Self Service- Drugs.

                So exactly how are Longs Drugs and CVS Pharmacy related? Well, in 1982, Longs Drugs reached the height of success with 162 stores in California, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, Oregon, and Nevada, and $1 billion in sales. They started to sell their stores around this time to companies such as Osco, Albertsons, and Rite Aid. It was not until 2008 that CVS purchased Long Drugs. This was no small purchase either. CVS Pharmacy bought all 521 Longs Drugs around the country for a grand total of $2.54 billion. CVS’s goal was to save upwards of $100 million in 2009 and $140–$150 million in 2010 in expenses from the business combination. Shockingly, Longs Drugs would not even have been sold to CVS Pharmacy if Walgreens would have continued its plans to offer a $3.50 per share premium over the cash purchase price offered by CVS. Who knew my local neighborhood pharmacy had such a history?

Hawaii Kai: The Ancient Hawaiian Fishpond

    To understand the history of Hawaii Kai, one needs to look no further than the high school that lays in the middle of the town, Henry J. Kaiser High School.  Henry J. Kaiser, the same Henry J. Kaiser who developed Vanport, Oregon in “Remember to Wave,” was an entrepreneur who built ships.  Fortunately, Hawaii Kai did not suffer the same fate as Vanport and is now a thriving community.  Before Hawaii Kai was developed by Kaiser, it was the Maunalua fishing pond, also known as Kuapa.  In 1961, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate agreed to let Kaiser develop the land into a community.  The fishpond along was then cleaned out and the construction of Hawaii Kai then began as houses were erected.
    At first, the locals were persuaded to invest in a home in Hawaii Kai.  Houses were sold at a relatively low price and as result, Kaiser lost money.  However, things took a turn for the better as mainlanders began to buy and invest in the houses in Hawaii Kai.  Since then, the value of the land and houses has gone up exponentially.
    The remnants of Kaiser and his development can still be found today.  The local high school is named after him.  The man-made marina was created by digging deeper down in the fish pond. 
    Hawaii Kai is full of iconic landmarks, beaches, and views.  A stunning view of the east side of the island can be achieved by trekking up Koko Head trail which previously served as a railroad to get ammunition to the anti-aircraft machine guns during World War II.   If one wants to get close to nature, one should take a dive in the stunning Hanauma Bay.  For the more adventurous, Sandy’s Beach offers an unforgiving shore break that is great for body boarding. After the adventure, one can grab a bite to eat at Hawaii Kai Shopping Center or Koko Marina Shopping Center.  Hawaii Kai is even home to a Costco, although there is no gas station.
     If there ever was one downfall in living in Hawaii Kai it would be the location.  Being that it is on the east side of the island, there is basically only one way in and out.  During times where major accidents have occurred on Kalanianaole Highway, the only alternative to get into Hawaii Kai is around the island via the Pali and Waimanalo.  If not, one can always wait it out until the accident clears up. 

Punahou Cliffs

 Punahou Cliffs Rules and Regulations            

I recently moved into the Punahou Cliffs building on Wilder Avenue nearly a block’s walk away from Punahou School.  This building’s location alone, sharing a street with a rather reputable school, left me intrigued about this building’s personal history.  Considering that upon entering the lobby I was greeted by two large koa-wood doors, untouched Hawaiian-print covered furniture, and more koa, I immediately assumed the building would hold its residents to a certain standard.  As I began my search to find the history of the building, I stumbled across the house rules document.  There were many words that I felt reflected a position of superiority, so I decided to write over the document.

"Owners" of the "Association"

diminutive

comfortably

easily



Managing Agent



no disturbing

The Board



unsightly?

disturbing?

removed



Managing Agent



SUBJECT

SHALL ABIDE



owner is unable to control

immediately remove



Managing Agent



no

of any nature

without approval



NOTHING SHALL BE HUNG



owner’s obligation

NOT TO DETRACT FROM APPEARANCE



SHALL be approved

SHALL not put their names 



damage

paid for by owner



OCCUPANTS SHALL NOT INTERFERE

Mililani: How War Grounds Turned into a Lively New Town

       Whenever people go to Mililani, they always tell me they don’t know how to get around. Mililani is huge, it’s easy to get lost. I moved there about 8 years ago and it’s amazing to see how much it has expanded. When i take a walk through the town, I mainly see a bunch of schools and neighborhoods as well as construction going on here and there. It is a very modern area, with 5 elementary schools and too many streets and neighborhoods to count. It’s really considered two towns: Mililani Mauka and Mililani town. Mauka, where I live, is the upper part of Mililani, it is more on the mountain. Mililani Mauka is where most of the construction is taking place, so there is newer housing and newer schools.

      This year, Mililani turned 41, so it is still considered a relatively new town in Oahu. It’s hard to imagine that Mililani was once not so full of civilization. In fact, Mililani used to be war grounds. Kipapa Gulch, an area in Mililani Town, was actually ground zero for the historical battle that happened when the Chiefs of Maui and the Big Island attacked Oahu. It wasn’t until 1850, when the land that makes up Mililani was granted to Big Island Chief John Pap i’i, that Mililani started to modernize. After the chief died in 1870, the lands were put in trust and sold to Castle & Cooke, the developers who still own them today, and named Mililani. The lands were used for farming until the vision for Miilani Mauka real estate came about in the 60s.  

      Mililani is actually Oahu’s first planned community. In just a little over 40 years, it has grown a lot - there are about 50,000 residents resign in 15,000 homes in Mililani. There are also schools, shopping centers and other necessities one needs to live in an area. For example, in these past few years alone the shopping center near my house in Mililani Mauka has added multiple new restaurants and stores such as Gyu-Kaku, Taco Del Mar and a breakfast place. The shopping center in Mililani town also just added Five Guys and is in the process of adding a California Pizza Kitchen.

      When I walk through Mililani, I could never imagine that where I am walking was once lands used for fighting and growing food. It’s actually kind of amazing, there’s so much history to this town and so much to learn about it and i think it’s important to know these things in order to fully appreciate where you live. 

Blog Post #11: The History of Mililani

The Memories Amongst the Pine

       The sky is a soft baby blue filled with white wispy clouds drifting through the quiet cool air. Pine trees line every walkway, surrounding the community in a luscious green sea. Past the stone sign welcoming residents into Mililani Mauka are simple yet comfortable townhouses in which families of all types (grandparents, small children, and pets) come together to frolic and share moments of peace and joy. Across the housing area is a tiny remodeled town center with a few small retail stores, restaurants, and a McDonalds. Further down from Mililani Mauka is a larger town center which fills with the laughter of friends and families, the singing of entertainers, and the chimes of people passing through restaurants. Before Mililani became the vibrant and family-friendly community it is today, it started off as a plantation field in Central Oahu filled with red clay. 

Mililani was designed with the plan to sell 15,000 homes and house 50,000 residents. The vision was to create a community filled with homes, schools, parks, shopping areas, and lots and lots of trees. On June 3, 1968, the first 112 houses in Mililani were offered for sale, and people jumped on the opportunity, creating a waiting list of two thousand people. Prices for homes ranged from $25,000 for a 884 square foot home to $35,000 for a four bedroom home. In 1976 travel time to and from Honolulu was cut in half due to the creation of the H-2 freeway. Although there is still a difficult commute from Mililani to Honolulu, the Mililani community continues to grow, with more homes being added and the first generations raising their children in the neighborhood they grew up in. 

When I hear “Mililani”, I see my childhood filled with trips to the recreation center pool and park, smell the fresh scent of pine, and hear the sounds of birds chirping as morning dew settles on the grass in my front yard. These are the memories I hold in my heart and the history I am now a part of. 

Stone Quarries and Mullets: A History of the Abundant Life in Moiliili

My neighborhood, Mcully-Moiliili, is conveniently located between all facets of life. Although the area is very residential, I can walk anywhere as long as I have at least 20 minutes. The Mcully-Moiliili shopping center is a block away, as is the park. The library, Ala moana beach, and the university are 10, 15, and 20 minutes away on foot, respectively. In the morning, the sun warms my bed, and in the afternoon, a cool breeze drifts through my windows. It is the perfect place it live.

When I walk around my neighborhood, I see a lot of Asian stores and temples. Some examples are the Hongwanji and the Tenrikyo. I was not surprised to learn that much of the Moiliili town was made up of immigrant families during the beginning of the 20^th century. I was surprised to learn that there used to be a large stone quarry where the UH athletic complex is currently located, which provided much employment for the residents of this area. The Moiliili Community Center’s Newsletter Quarry Dust originates from the excessive byproduct of the quarry mining operation that coated the entire area a few times each day.

A better-known historical fact is that the Moiliili area has an extensive and intriguing subterranean cavern system. The caverns are the result of rainwater flowing down the valley and slowly hollowing out the limestone foundation. Some caves contained fresh water mullets, which the residents fished recreationally, for sale, and for eating purposes. The majority of ponds have been since filled in or sealed off.

I never knew that Moiliili was so full of history. I really enjoy living here in terms of convenience, but I never had the time to walk around and consider the past of where I lived. This exercise has taught me that it is good to walk around once in a while, see the sights my neighborhood has to offer, and learn new things about my community.