From Our Files

March Archives

February 28, 2008

Ronna Bolante,

In 1888, King Kalakaua issued a royal charter, commissioning a magazine. Then titled Paradise of the Pacific, this publication became HONOLULU Magazine, making it the oldest magazine west of the Mississippi.

1948

Over the past year, Hawaii has seen fewer deaths due to communicable diseases than ever before, writes Paradise of the Pacific in an article titled “Hawaii’s Progress in Public Health.” “Even in the case of tuberculosis, the one communicable disease … which Hawaii has not controlled so well as have the majority of the states, a drop occurred, with 256 deaths, as compared with 281 for the previous year.” The Territory has also seen increased life expectancies, with the average Honoluluan expected to live to 66 years, compared with 49 in 1900 and 40 in 1850.

1958

An ad for Primo beer that appeared in Paradise of the Pacific. Hawaii Brewing Corp., which produced the popular local beer, closed in 1979, and a Detroit Brewery acquired the Primo name in the early ’80s, continuing the line until 1998. In 2007, Pabst Brewing revived the brand by introducing a new Primo Beer in Hawaii bars and restaurants.

1963

Paradise of the Pacific profiles architect George “Pete” Wimberly, who designed some of the Islands’ most distinguished buildings—Tripler Hospital, the Coco Palms on Kauai, the Waikikian hotel and, recently, the Sheraton Maui. “He could probably be called, with all accuracy, the man most responsible for restoring sanity to Hawaii’s architecctural scene,” Paradise writes.

“Wimberly decided long ago… that what is wonderful in New York may be passable when copied in Detroit but when built in Hawaii it is as much out of place as an igloo on the Nile.”

1993

HONOLULU Magazine publishes its third annual “Best of” issue. Among readers picks:

Best local politician: “Even though Honolulu voters voted for term limits last year, they gave Frank Fasi his sixth term in office,” the magazine writes.
Best New Restaurant: 3660 On The Rise
Best Happy Hour: Studebaker’s
Radio Personality You’d Like to Kiss: KSSK’s Linda Coble and Michael W. Perry
Favorite Local Entertainer: Karen Keawehawaii
Best Place to Meet Singles: Restaurant Row Bar