The 50th State Fair is in Town

Plus, take a trip back to 1949 and see photos from the 49th State Fair.

PHOTO: Steven Worster

Live stock exhibit was popular with young and old.
Frank May, left, and Alex Castro, chairman of Honolulu Junior Chamber of Commerce fair committee.
"B.J." delighted audiences with her graceful performance of the hula.
Winner of the first prize for attractive and interesting booths was that of Hawaiian Airlines, shown above.

Winner of the first prize for attractive and interesting booths was that of Hawaiian Airlines, shown above.

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Leo Carrillo, one of the Hollywood headliners.
Audiences reacted enthusiastically to the shows.
A section of the "midway" at night.
A clown greeted children outside of the tent shows.
"Queen" Betty Jane Johnston represented Hawaii in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City.
Miss Hawaii and the runners-up. Left to right: Gloria Kanemura, third place; "Queen" Betty Jane Johnston; and Janice Hawkins, second place.

Miss Hawaii and the runners-up. Left to right: Gloria Kanemura, third place; "Queen" Betty Jane Johnston; and Janice Hawkins, second place.

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Audiences reacted enthusiastically to the shows.

You know it’s summer when the 50th State Fair sets up shop at Aloha Stadium. The fair will be in full swing each weekend through the end of June, with everything from old favorites like the Ferris wheel and the Zipper to new rides brought in from the Mainland like Area 51 and Fun Factory. The Fair has been an annual tradition on Oahu since 1937, when it first popped up as a trade show.

For more than a decade, starting in 1947, it was known as the 49th State Fair—the Territory of Hawaii was optimistic it would beat out Alaska in its bid to become the next state in the union. Ah well, “50th State” sounds cooler anyway. For more information, visit ekfernandez.com.

This article appears in the June 2013 issue of HONOLULU Magazine.