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BY J. ARTHUR RATH III - I was walking from the Waikiki Public Library with a book of Lewis Carroll’s “Nonsense” poetry in my hands and saw Coconut Willee shuffling dejectedly past the Chinese Restaurant on the other side of Kapahulu Avenue. “Hey Brah, I’ll cross over and buy you some coffee,” I called [...]
BY J. ARTHUR RATH - Willee Sings: “The Kapolei Choo-choo” I’m ready to be a singing conductor on Honolulu’s new train,” Coconut Willee said jauntily, standing under a tree at Waikiki’s Queen Surf restaurant. “Like my hat and train whistle puller?” “Archaic, but colorful,” I acknowledged. He was full of news: “Union workers are starting right [...]
BY RAY SMITH - Every December 7, the American media reports on the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thousands of remembrances. For Kauai residents, there is another significant day – April 1, 1942 – which was Easter Sunday. That was the day the first Regular U.S. Army units here to help defend our [...]
BY J. ARTHUR RATH III - Coconut Willee mused about his friend Dante Carpenter, head of Hawaii’s Democratic party, and the conundrum Ben Cayetano’s clear thinking is causing for those whose eyes and ears haven’t been seeing and listening clearly. Grinning, Willee said to me, in typical doggerel style: “When God gave out ‘brains’ They [...]
BY J. ARTHUR RATH III- When Hawaii visitors say “I’ve been to Waikiki” often they’re asked “Did you go surfing.” Many who say “Yes, and I stood on waves” learned from instructors across from the Zoo. Anyone who can swim and stand on the ground can be standing on a short board riding a waves [...]
BY J. ARTHUR RATH III - Hawaii’s Pink Palace in the shadow of recent neighbors. Stone wall enclosing Kiddie Pond, keeps surfers from intruding. --Photo by Doug Boyd, Zoo Fence Artist We were sitting on a bench at this picture site. After thanking Coconut Willee for weaving my new coconut hat I reminisced. “Kuhio Beach [...]
BY J. ARTHUR RATH - In the tradition of other immigrant groups, Filipinos glorified every achievement of their countrymen as they advanced from the fields into the mainstream of island life. The person making them the proudest was Benjamin J. Cayetano, who, after winning eight elections to public office, was twice consecutively elected governor of [...]
BY J. ARTHUR RATH III - At Christmas we are all children. Christmas is a lot like zoos. People always say they visit the zoo to take the children, but reliable surveys have found out that it’s the adults who really want to go. They take the children along as a kind of protective shield. [...]
BY J. ARTHUR RATH III - Excellent English skills were admittance requirements to classy Roosevelt Public High School when the three persons in the next paragraph were admitted. Thanks to a one of them, a punished gifted artist, generations of teenagers were surrounded with superlative art at mealtime. “The art provided an atmospheric experience, as [...]
BY J. ARTHUR RATH III - "Had a friend who was a trapeze artist," I told Coconut Willee. "He turned every flop into a success. Let's talk about the message Hawaii delivered with its Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit: "This a place where serious meetings can be held." Fidgeting, Willee replied: "Explain that to local folks [...]
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