One Century Ago: Moonlight Picnics, Dances, Costume Parties and Rollerskating
“The Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club was organized on April 5, 1910, in the rooms of the Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce.” This quote is attributed to Guy H. Tuttle, club historian in 1911. This month we will be taking a look back at what the club was doing in the 1920s and 30s. Ray Jerome Baker, a photographer, filmmaker, lecturer and publisher of fine books, was President of HTMC for five years during the 1920s and 30s. He also wrote “A Brief History of the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club compiled from official and other records in 1960.” In it, Mr. Baker writes:
“After a period of quiescence during World War I, the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club was reactivated on May 9, 1919.” and “The year 1920 opened with the announcement of a full schedule of trips for the month of January.”
Skipping forward to 1922 through 1927, we have in our club archives, original typed documents titled “SCHEDULE OF OUTINGS”. These brittle and faded documents list the club’s monthly hikes and other activities. This article will share some of those “other” activities which harken back to earlier times and remind us of a bygone era. For example, club members often “assembled” at the end of an electric street car line, or at the O.L. & R. Railroad station. Hikes, picnics, swims and bonfires were often planned for the full moon every month. There was a Thanksgiving Day Picnic at Waialua Fresh Air Camp, and outings to “Liliuokalani Falls and Japanese Tea Gardens”, “Salt Lake and Moanalua Gardens” and “Moanalua Valley to old lakes”. There were overnight camping trips at Waianae, Makua and Barking Sands, and in Makaha, “”No shelter provided – campers will sleep on the beach” is what the “Schedule of Outings” said. Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July were celebrated holidays, many with parties at the original clubhouse which was completed in 1926. Additional details about this time period are taken from Ray J. Baker’s written history, as mentioned above.
Following are some of the activities that HTMC club members used to enjoy:
- Nov. 25, 1922, Saturday:
“Moonlight Picnic” at the Nu’uanu Pali. Assemble at end of Nu’uanu car line 5 P.M. Bring lunch and canteen.
From 1901 until 1941, the Honolulu Rapid Transit and Land Company owned and operated 22 miles of electric street car lines in Honolulu. The Nu’uanu street car line ended at Puiwa Road which is just past the Queen Emma Summer Palace. Consequently, this Moonlight Picnic would have included a 7.6 mile walk up Nu’uanu Valley and back.
The following photo is captioned: “Cars, Pali Lookout – (HSA)-ca. 1920”.
It can be found at the following website:
https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/the-pali/#jp-carousel-8577
- May 5, 1923, Saturday:
Outrigger Canoeing at Waikiki Beach from 2 to 5 P.M. Bring bathing suit and lunch. Eat under hau tree at 6 P.M. Coffee and chocolate free. Book with Secretary. $1.00 per hour.
I suspect that this activity was held at the original Outrigger Canoe Clubhouse location just ewa of the Moana Hotel because Alexander Hume Ford, who founded HTMC, also founded the Outrigger Canoe Club in 1908. According to OurtiggerCanoeClub.com:
“In May, 1908, the Outrigger Canoe Club came into being on an acre and a half of choice beachfront land located between the Moana and Seaside Hotels (site of the present Royal Hawaiian Hotel) leased from the Estate of Queen Emma for $10 per year. On the land was … where some of the best surfing locations in the Islands could be found.
The first Clubhouse consisted of two grass houses purchased from a defunct Kaimuki zoo and transported to the grounds by Club members on a borrowed truck. One was used for storage of outrigger canoes; the other for dressing rooms. The broad länais of both structures were used for social activities. Not long after, … a hau terrace became a family gathering place.”
This photo can be found at the following website: https://photos.outriggercanoeclubsports.com/outrigger-canoe-club-19081940/First-O
The photo below is of the second iteration of the Outrigger Canoe Clubhouse, the first being a Hawaiian hale. The two story structure housed the canoes, or wa’a on the sand underneath the second floor open air pavilion. This is what Waikiki Beach looked like in the 1920s!
- Dec. 6, 1924, Saturday:
Mr. and Mrs. R.J.Baker, 1911 Kalakaua Ave., invite the club to spend the evening at their home, from 7:30 to 10:30 P.M. A KID PARTY (dress in child’s attire, if possible) and a “Ye auld tyme schule” will be given. Nursery rhymes will be in order.
Mr. Baker hosted many club activities at his home on Kalakaua Ave. which was on the makai side of Kalakaua Ave. where McCully Street currently intersects Kalakaua Ave.
- April 1, 1925, Wednesday:
April Fools’ Costume Party (Dancing) Pan-Pacific Research Institute (Castle Home) Manoa Valley. Get off at next to last stop on Manoa car line and go to left up the hill. 7:30 P.M.
Built in1900 and demolished in 1941, the Castle home was a large home located on the Tantalus side of lower Manoa Valley. The Castle home also housed the offices of the Pan-Pacific Research Institute, an organization which Alexander Home Ford founded.
Sc
The above photograph can be found at the following website:
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/5014564.pdf
- June 5, 1925, Saturday:
A moonlight Dancing Party at the Roof Garden Studio. 2043 Kalakaua Ave. (Sta. 28). 50 cents per person. 8:00 P.M. Book with secretary.
Currently there is an Aloha Petroleum at this Waikiki address!
- Feb. 9, 1927, Wednesday:
ROLLER SKATING AT WAIKIKI PARK. Learn sense of balance. It comes in handy on narrow ridges. Meet at park 8:00 P.M. Admission and skating 50 cents.
Who knew there was a roller skating rink at Waikiki Park? For that matter, where was “Waikiki Park?”
- Feb 27 1927, Sunday:
LUAU (Hawaiian Feast) AT WAIMANALO CLUBHOUSE. Swim, feast, and dance. Dinner at noon. Autos leave Y.M.C.A 8:30 A.M. Members $1. Guests $2. Cost of feast will be prorated among the participants, between $1 and $1.50. Bookings will be closed Tuesday, Feb 22. BOOK BY TELEPHONE – 79580
I believe this is the first Luau ever held at the Waimanalo Clubhouse! The club did have an earlier Luau on New Year’s Eve 1921, well before the Waimanalo property was purchased. That Luau was held at the Kapiolani Park home of Jimmy McGuire, whose brother Tom was a HTMC club member. According to Ray Jerome Baker’s history, directions to the McQuire home were as follows: “Get off at the park, go out past Daisy’s (the elephant) house, and take the second turn to the left, and go into the biggest house you see.”
The early photo of the clubhouse below is attributed to Ray Jerome Baker. The photograph can be found at the following web address:
https://htmc1910.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/HTMC-Clubhouse-Photo-Ray-Baker.jpeg
- June 10, 1928, Sunday:
WAIMANALO BEACH CALLS YOU. Leave the city and spend the day at the Club House. Swimming, Hiking, Horseshoes, Quoits and Volleyball are available. Those, to whom the strenuous life holds no appeal, can find here a book, a lazy beach, and peace.
Quoits is a game in which rings of rope or other material are thrown from a distance to land over or near a spike.
- Sept. 18th 1929, Wednesday:
Hanauma Bay, Moonlight. Sing songs around the bonfire. Bring your own lunch, Entertainment Committee in charge. Bus will leave Hotel and Richards Streets at 5:45 P.M. Members 50 cents, non-members 75 cents.
The bus to this activity left from the Army and Navy Y.M.C.A., located on the corner of Hotel and Richards Streets. Today the building houses the Hawai’i State Art Museum.
Below is a photo of the Army and Navy Y.M.C.A. which was built in 1927 on the site of the original Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
The photo below can be found at the following website:
https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/royal-hawaiian-hotel-the-first-one/#jp-carousel-22218
Punchbowl Crater, which Hawaiians call Puowaina, at one point had a large cross in it, where Easter Services were held. The photo below is captioned: “Historic Easter Sunrise at Punchbowl Crater, Honolulu c. 1910” and can be found at the following website:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/468163323763492286/
I hope you enjoyed your trip from the past. I leave you with some additional lovely sentences found in these original typed documents from one hundred years ago:
“A special invitation is extended to all strangers.”
“Come and get acquainted with the unusual yet picturesque and delightful.”
“No outing postponed on account of the weather.”\
“Strangers are cordially invited to participate in club activities.”