4 Responses to “Where have all those icons gone? Ah, memories...”

1. Wayne Harada:
   July 26th, 2009 at 10:06 am

   Some responses, fetched from my personal e-mail:

   From frap@hawaii.rr.com:

   Aloha Mr. Harada,
   I enjoyed reading the Memories of Hawaii now-gone icons. I like to walk down memory lane, especially Hawaii's. I was born in 1952, the "territory of Hawaii" and have seen our islands change drastically in a short time. Back when we rode the Kaneohe taxi to town over the old Pali road:)
   I thought of some other items which I didn't see listed.

   I remember Arthur Lyman

   I loved to eat at the Tropics. My mom was a "divorcee" and dated a fellow named Johnny, he was a detective in charge of confiscated goods at the old police station on Beretania, the old Sears. He was one of those guys that knew everyone then turns out he got busted for confiscating goods for his own personal use! He used to give my brother and I silver dollars to go spend while they ate and drank. We'd hang out at the old A-1 Superette on the corner of Kalakaua and Royal Hawaiian, he had great selection of comics, 10 cents! We'd walk back to Tropics only to stop and look at the golden fish in the pond in front of the old Waikiki theatre.

   My mom re-married, my stepdad used to hang out at Honey's in Kaneohe. Also Don Ho and Kui Lee hung out there, I was to young to go but was told there was always Primo and good music. Kui Lee rented a house up the street from ours and I remember Don coming over a lot and I remember lots of pretty girls always visiting....:)

   Thanks for the ear and I thought I'd jog your memory of Honey's and Arthur Lyman:)
   Aloha,
   Dianne (Murakami) Reilly

   From xb_@mac.com

   I'm sure you're getting lots of emails from folks!

   Here's another that I think should have been on the
   list of restaurants and who could ever forget him? Michel Martin & Chez Michel! I have 2 great sets
   of recipes illustrated by his dear friend (and mine) Guy Buffet on our dining room walls.
   Thanks for the memories - my husband already emailed about our beloved Club Jubilee or "Jubes" if you will.
   Aloha and a hui hou - Marianne

   From blinn@hawaii.rr.com

   Mr. Harada...Thank you so much for writing the article Memories of Hawaii, in Honolulu Advertiser July 24, 2009. It brought back so many memories. I came to Hawaii in 1960. Those were the day's my friend!

   Mahalo and Aloha,

   From fquinabo@hawaii.rr.com

   Was just reading your story in the Friday paper, "Memories of Hawaii's now-gone icons endure"
   As I looked over the 5 pictures you had, I immediately noticed an error. The top left picture which you identify
   as Studebaker's is in fact The Hard Rock Cafe. Studebakers did not have a Woody hanging the ceiling,
   Hard Rock does. Studebakers was known for their Red Studebaker in the front entrance.

   But I do agree with you, where did all the fun go.

   Aloha,
   Frankie Quinabo

   From arthurr@hawaii.edu

   You left out the House Of Hong in your memories piece on July 24. It was a leading restaurant in the center of Waikiki on Lewers Street for 40 years.

   Regards, Art Richardson - husband of Gayle Hong

   From leeve3311@aol.com

   WAYNE.............Don't forget Rosalie Stevenson (she sang
   the greatest 'Hawaiian Wedding Song' w/Alfred Akpaka

   ..................also, going way back, into the 1940's a
   restaurant (where the Ilikai stands now) called
   P.Y. CHONG'S..............only place in town to get a steak
   dinner.
   Lee Van Epps (ex Kaneohe resident for 32 years)
   now in Sacramento

   From morgand002@hawaii.rr.com

   Nice article on closed/gone places/people. Brought back a lot of memories.
   Aloha Don

   From michael.david.wheeler@gmail.com

   Clay Wheeler was the hottest action in town in 1954 through 1968...All of the Hollywood's finest made sure the saw my dad...If you didn't do Canlis you were a schmuck

   Mike Wheeler

   From sandywheeler@hawaii.rr.com

   HI: My name is Sandy Conrad (daughter of Connie Conrad) and I loved your column about all the missing restaurants and night spots...But what about M's on Merchant Street and Rex and Erics on Kuhio.....I loved both those places...Aloha Sandy -in fact it is hard to find a good place to eat now that all those great places are gone...

   From millerj001@hawaii.rr.com

   Greetings Wayne, I loved your Memories column in this morning’s Advertiser, but how could you forget Clay Wheeler the pianist at Canlis when it first opened in 1954..

   That was the classiest act in town…oops! Sorry , that may have been before your time…Anyway, I am so glad you did not really retire, you are always a pleasure..Aloha, Jane Miller

   From skip@lulushawaii.com

   Aloha Wayne,

   Very glad you are keeping your byline active. Today's compendium
   of now gone icons was amazing. May I add two? Infinity under the
   Sheraton Waikiki, and Nicholas Nickolas atop the Ala Moana. I was
   the Maitre D' at NN for more than 20 years, and honestly believe
   that for 5 or 6 years, late 80's-early 90's, we were THE spot in
   Honolulu. Thanks for a wonderful trip down memory lane.

   Mahalo,

   Skip Lambert
   Marketing and Events Director
   Lulu's Surf Club Waikiki Beach

   From fkam64kam@yahoo.com

   Wayne Harada's July 24th Show & Tell Hawai'i "Memories of Hawaii's now-gone icons" column was freshingly memorable of those Hawaii times days! Bring back Night Spots Duke Kahanamokus, Hana Hou Showroom, Trappers and Keone's! Bring back Restaurants, Coco's, The Ranch House, Golden Dragon and Flamingo Chuckwagon! Bring back Entertainers Alfred Apaka, Hilo Hattie, Martin Denny, Don Ho and The Aliis! \Hawaii Long Ago, I Do Like For Its' Fun-Fifties Era Spike!
   Hawaii Long Ago - Frankie Kam



2. Wayne Harada:
   July 26th, 2009 at 2:37 pm

   This response, from KennyG:

   Some notable people, clubs and restaurants you have missing from your July 24, 2009 Honolulu Advertiser article.

   Night Spots:

   Captain Nemo

   Bobby McGee's

   La Mancha

   Hawaiian Hut @ Ala Moana hotel

   Territorial Tavern

   Bully Haynes

   Oceania

   Zanzabar

   Saigon Passion

   Hula's Bar & Lei Stand

   Infinity

   Rex's

   Annabelle's

   Opus One

   Polynesia Palace

   Sugar Mill lounge-Hale Makai hotel

   Merry Monarch

   Red Noodle

   Restaurants:

   Cavalier

   Black Angus

   Bryon II

   King's Bakery

   Kuhio Grill

   Blue Goose

   Little George

   Bistro-Kapiolani

   Nicholas Nicholas

   Nick's Fishmarket

   Matteo's

   Westeria

   Chunky's

   Washington Saimin Stand

   Entertainers:

   Country Comfort

   Kalapana

   Booga Booga- Rap Reiplinger

   Melveen Leed

   Augie Rey

   Brother Noland

   Jimmy Borges

   Ohata-San

   Ginny Tiu

   Carole Kai



3. Lee Van Epps:
   July 28th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

   ALSO don't forget that tiny place WONG'S OKAZUYA in Ala Moana,
   they served the best saimin, Nabeyaki Udon and Cone Sushi in the
   Pacific......also everyone's favorite THE TAHITIAN LANAI (sob) they
   served the best Eggs Benedict in the world, and their Bloody Marys
   weren't bad either, and at night in the Tahitian Lanai Bar, you could
   listen to Betty Loo's tinkling on the piano, sometime bringing tears to
   your eyes........Anybody remember the Waikiki Merry-Go-Round Bar,
   the perfect place for us airline types to lunch, and if you were there when
   the beer truck came, guess what, free beer!



4. David In Oregon:
   July 28th, 2009 at 6:30 pm

   It's too bad you don't have pictures of these places. That would have been absolutely incredible. Sadly, with this down economy, I think more and more places will join the list of icons no longer around.