A Honolulu film historian has turned reel history into real walking tours, linked to his passion — vintage movies with Island themes shot locally.

Steven Fredrick arrived in the Islands in 1994;15 years later, his admiration of vintage films and interest in Hawaiian history have evolved into a series of intimate tours of downtown sites prominently showcased in the old films in his collection.

Essentially, Fredrick’s intent is to shed light from the footnotes of the dusty past that still resonates today in contemporary Honolulu. And because his stories mine historical moments and sites, he attracts both a local and a visiting audience fascinated by history.

And he has a walk this Sunday, “The Charlie Chan Mystery Tour,” with a Charlie Chan theme. It’s a four-hour, three-mile trek through historic Chinatown environs, where the famed sleuth of print and flicks frequented. The Chan character owes its origin to real-life police detectiveChang Apana and the walk, with commentary by Fredrick, traces the former police stations, coffee shops, gambling houses, movie theaters, haunted hotels as well as the residence of Number One Son, from fiction and from real life, stretching from the hub of Chinatown to the current Aloha Tower Marketplace.

Fredrick also conducts "The Hawaii Wartime History Tour" with a World War II theme that turns back the clock when GIs frequented Hotel Street and places like the now-gone strip house, Club Hubba Hubba, and a third nighttime trek themed the "Honolulu Ghost Tour," somewhat of an homage to the late Glen Grant, who originated the concept of the obake journey (and who Fredrick admired) that includes haunts with, well, some ghost stories attached.

We asked Fredrick five questions:
Question: Your passion is historic Island films; how do the tours complement the films?
Answer: Shortly after arriving in Hawaii, I began collecting old 16 mm/35 mm films with an Island theme. I bought films from collectors who were liquidating their collections. I bought anything and everything I could get my hands on.
The 1941-42 Pearl Harbor Attack newsreels, filmed on Oahu, show the devastation of the Honolulu community. As a historian, I was curious about the Honolulu city sites. How many sites are still standing today? After viewing the wartime films, I went looking for them. Surprisingly, there are quite a few 1940s-era buildings still standing today. My Hawaii Wartime History Tour takes people to the actual sites shown in the wartime newsreels.
Q: Who's your audience — visitors or locals, young or old?
A: On the 2008 Halloween ghost tours, the guests were all locals and military, 20s-60s. When a young, local guy told me that he took my tour because I included Hawaii history, I was flattered.
For the wartime tours, the audience is usually locals. The ages range from 40s to 70s. Locals want to remember their youth in relationship to the old sites of downtown Honolulu.
Q: What is the most surprising revelation on either tour?
A: On my tours (ghost, wartime, Charlie Chan), I tell stories unique to the theme. On the wartime tour, I speak from the GI's point of view. On the Chan tour, I play a private investigator leading an investigation about the disappearance of Charlie Chan. The guests become involved with the theme of the tour by interacting with each other and myself. With small groups of guests, I can make the tours personal.
Q: Planning any more themed tours, maybe with "Hawaii Five-O" or "Magnum P.I." pegs?
A: Future tours? Maybe. I am always researching the old buildings of Honolulu. I am collecting articles, and stories, that peak my historic interests.
Q: Why are folks interested in the past?
A: The past is prologue. People are curious about their past. We learn from the past.

If you’ve sampled a tour, share your reflections here. Or suggest a tour option that Fredrick might explore in the future.

STEVEN FREDRICK’S
THEME TOURS
* The Charlie Chan Mystery Tour, on Thursdays and Sundays. Next up: this Sunday; meet at 1 p.m. at the Fort Street Mall. $35.
* Hawaii Wartime History Tour, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Next up: April 26, meet at 1 p.m. at Fort Street Mall. $25.
* Honolulu Ghost Tour, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Next up:
May 2; meet at 7:30 p.m. at ‘Iolani Palace. $25.
Note: Frequency depends on demand; military and group rates available; reservations required 24 hours in advance; call 395-0674 or e-mail filmguy54@hotmail.com.
Information: www.stevestoursandfilms.vpweb.com.

TIPS
• Wear walking shoes.
• Don comfy clothes.
• Wear sunshield or carry umbrella.
• Bring bottled water.