This oral history interview is a project of the Historical Committee of the Outrigger Canoe Club. The legal rights of this material remain with the Outrigger Canoe Club. Anyone wishing to reproduce it or quote at length from it should contact the Historical Committee of the Outrigger Canoe Club. The reader should be aware that an oral history document portrays information as recalled by the interviewee. Because of the spontaneous nature of this kind of document, it may contain statements and impressions that are not factual.
An Autobiography
August 1, 2006
Since 1985, I have been the Dolan Family genealogist. Over the years I have collected data on 1,198 individuals from my wife’s and my family. I have decided to compile my notes and photos from my personal genealogy, since the information contained would be more detailed than any oral history could achieve. I now contribute my autobiography to the Outrigger Canoe Club’s Historical Committee library for the enrichment of the oral history program.
THE BEGINNING
I was born to Christine Nilsson and Louis Andrew Dolan, Sr. on Wednesday, December 27, 1933, at 4:16 a.m., weighing 7.5 lbs. I was reared at 2193 Round Top Dr., Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, USA. I am the youngest of seven, with four older brothers and two older sisters. I am “tail-end-charlie.”
Christine Nilsson Dolan (9/28/1887-7/5/1977) was born in Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii, to Capt. Charles Nilsson, (1853-8/19/1888) a Swedish sailing captain and Amelia Mary Lucretia Swift (5/30/1850-6/28/1931) who had arrived in Hawaii on August 4th, 1880 with her first husband, William Moriarty (1845-1883) and daughter, Amelia Mary Alexis Moriarty (1880-1881). Amelia Mary Lucretia would end up marrying four husbands, all dying of various causes.
After many years sailing in the South Pacific and soon after marriage on July 21, 1886, my maternal grandfather purchased the 58-foot schooner WAIEHU, secured by a mortgage on Amelia’s real estate.
On August 19, 1888, my grandfather was sculling out from shore in his gig after attending Mass at Paia town. He fell over the side somehow and was drown at Ku’au Bay, Maui. Only his top coat was found in the half sunk gig. After several days of searching the Bay by his crew and the constabulary, his remains were never found. The schooner was sailed to Honolulu by his first mate and turned over to Amelia, his widow.
My father, Louis Andrew Dolan, Sr., (6/9/1889-7/24/1972) was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He had joined the Army in 1907, assigned to the 5th Cavalry stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, chasing Mexicans across the border. (Is history repeating itself?) In 1909, the whole unit was transferred to Schofield Barracks which was established in 1908. He was a mule skinner and was discharged a corporal on December 23rd, 1910. He had various employments with the most significant being Pearl Harbor Navy Yard with 35 years of service. He retired as foreman, Public Works.
My parents are buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as Punchbowl.
EARLY EDUCATION
I attended kindergarten at Maryknoll School on Wilder Avenue.for a brief period until I was scared out of my mind due to a puppet show depicting a mean old wizard.
My brothers had all graduated from St. Louis College as follows: Louis Andrew, Jr. ’33 (5/22/1914-7/1/1957); Robert Frederick ’35 (6/17/1916-4/12/1990); Philip Kendrick ’36 (6/17/1917-3/21/1966); John Bertram ’37 (3/20/1919-4/4/1996) and finally Paul ’51 (12/27/1933), all being 12-year students. This is the reason that there was no question where I would attend school. My two older sisters, Louise Amelia (12/29/1920-) and Christine Hildegarde (9/26/1926), graduated from Maryknoll ’40 and Sacred Hearts Academy ’44/Dominican College ’50, respectively.
I began my formal education in September 1939 in the first grade at St. Louis College, a school run by the Brothers of Mary or Marianists. My teacher was Brother John Gardner, SM. Some of the best memories were of this year. Christmas time was the highlight when Brother John put up the decorations, nativity scene and Christmas tree, which included a working model train. All the students in school would visit the first grade classroom just to see the decorations.
In second grade, Brother Francis “Frank” Berbach, SM. was in charge, and I was able to make it through to the third grade.
In third grade, Brother William Haas, SM. was an amazing man for his age, in his 70’s. He entertained the class by playing the violin and drooling down on his black 3/4-length coat, which some of the Brothers wore in those days.
WORLD WAR-II
I was in the third grade just before my 8th birthday that “The Day of Infamy-December 7, 1941” happened, greatly changing my life thereafter. Waking on Sunday and expecting to go to Church at the 9 A.M. Mass never did materialize. The Japanese attack commenced at 7:55 A.M., and as I stood on the front porch at 2193 Round Top Drive, I could observe the U.S. Navy patrol ships zig-zagging offshore to escape friendly and foe gun fire, and I saw a number of Japanese planes flying across Honolulu to various targets in Pearl Harbor.
At 10 A.M., my father, a journeyman electrician, worked at Shop 03-70 at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard since 1925, was called to duty. He was driven to the Oahu Railway Land (OR&L) Depot at Iwilei by my mother. He then rode the train to Pearl Harbor, seeing lots of machine guns stationed along the route. He was not seen at home until three-weeks after the attack. There were occasional phone calls from him that kept the family informed of his condition.
Three of my four brothers, Robert, Philip and John, before they were drafted, had joined the Navy in April, 1941, as yeoman second class. They were assigned to the 14th District Naval Intelligence Office on active duty.
My oldest brother, Louis, Jr., was exempt for service due to having polio in his younger years, leaving him with a leg one inch shorter than the other. He soon joined the Business Men’s Training Corps (BMTC) in early 1942 for the duration of the war. There were many units organized. The BMTC was made up of men too old or 4F for service in the armed services and were truly the definition of a militia. They did close-order drills throughout the Islands. The one that Louis was assigned to did their drills at the Makiki Pumping Station grounds.
My brother John was transferred in September 1941 to Hilo and was stationed at the Hilo Federal Building in the 14th District Naval Intelligence office.
That morning listening to the two radio stations (KGU and KGMB) with their reports of devastation concerned everyone. My brothers, Bob and Phil, had reported for duty to their stations at the Naval District Intelligence Office on the 6th floor of the Young Hotel building in downtown Honolulu. My brother John stationed in Hilo, experienced gun fire into Hilo town from a Japanese submarine offshore.
The neighbor islands were subjected to submarine gunnery attack at Hilo, Hawaii, Kahului, Maui and Nawiliwili, Kauai, to demoralize the populous.
At around 11 A.M., a 2-1/2-ton Army Air Corps truck pulled into the driveway at Round Top with four women and two children from Hickam Field. My mother was acquainted with one of them who was a former renter of her properties. An Army Air Corps corporal was a driver with a Colt 45 cal. strapped to his side with orders to “shoot if stopped”. They were to stay until the first transportation was available to the mainland in January.
There was not enough food to feed everyone so the corporal and I went shopping for food at Piggle Wiggle and other shops in the Makiki district. The shops were open for business, even with fires in and around the areas such as the ewa makai corner of King and McCully Streets. After an hour, we returned with the “booty.”
On a request over the commercial radio stations for medical help, two of the women volunteered to report to the old Tripler Army Hospital at Fort Shafter.
After lunch at around 2 P.M. the corporal returned to Hickam Field, taking along with him two of the ladies to Tripler Army Hospital.
The afternoon and evening of the 7th was filled with rumors of landings and airborne assaults, which were unfounded. The next door neighbors had armed themselves with rifles, shotguns and pistols.
Sleep that night was at a premium when all slept on the beds crossways. It was a fitful time not to be experienced again.
To summarize – Martial law was declared by the afternoon of the 7th and initiated rationing, nightly blackouts and curfew from sunset to sunrise. Automobile head lights had to be “black and blued.” Schools were closed until February, 1942. Civil defense preparations were promulgated with air raid wardens at their designated stations, first aid training, training with fire-fighting equipment and demonstrations extinguishing all types of fires and general self defense. Gas masks were issued and mandated for everyone. I was issued a “bunny” gas mask which was provided by the government, being modified with foam rubber to fit a small face and head. I was not allowed to attend school without it.
In addition, everyone had to be vaccinated, fingerprinted and issued I.D. cards. Martial law was lifted in October of 1944, followed by an investigation as to why martial law remained so long. After the victory at Midway Island (June 1942) Hawaii became a rear staging area. It was adjudicated to be unconstitutional after the fact.
The wailing or undulating of sirens was used to alert the communities of an “air raid attack.” The long steady wail of the siren notified the “all clear.”
In case of a poison gas attack—attached on selected utility poles in all the communities were old metal auto wheel rims with a metal striker. The “air raid” warden, who lived next door to us, was designated to sound the alarm. One could hear it for maybe one-hundred yards.
RADAR INSTALLATION
Soon after December 7th, a radar station was established at the summit of ‘Uala-ka‘a, better known as Round Top. It consisted of a tall steel skeleton tower with a very large “bed spring” type antennae that rotated and was operated 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. It remained at that location until about 1944 when a station was established at the summit of Koko Crater and was operated until Mount Ka‘ala was developed for early warning and air traffic control.
THE SECOND ATTACK
In an incident that occurred within three months of the attack, at about 2:12 A.M. on Wednesday morning, March 4, 1942, the air raid sirens sounded and we were roused from a deep sleep. Dad, Mom, my sisters Louise and Christine, and I bolted for the air raid shelter across the street at Bill Sack’s former single-car garage. From the shelter we could observe the search lights scanning the skies, and then antiaircraft guns started to blast away from Fort DeRussy and Ala Moana Park. Then we heard the bombs explode in the Makiki Heights area.
Bob, who was separated from his first wife Mary Lou, on active duty status in the Navy, was sleeping in the same room as me. He didn’t attempt to get out of bed and slept through the whole raid.
Just uphill on Tantalus Drive, above the Hawaiian Homestead Lands of Papakolea (two miles west from the Dolan residence), four 500-lbs bombs were dropped by a Japanese 4-engine “Emily” flying boat.
Two flying boats had departed Wotje Atoll in the Marshall Islands for French Frigate Shoals, 350 miles west of Oahu, Hawaii, refueled by submarine, and then flew on to Oahu. The aircraft had become lost in the clouds at about 10,000 ft. (no electronic navigation) and thought that they were near the area of Pearl Harbor. One of the aircraft turned early and headed southeast down the Waianae coast and unknowingly dropped four 500-lbs bombs in the offshore ocean waters. The other flying boat flew on and turned in the area of Kaneohe and headed southeast over the Ko`olau mountains and when at Tantalus (thinking it Pearl Harbor) dropped four 500-lb bombs. The explosions broke windows in the residences for miles around.
P-40 fighters were dispatched, but no intercept due to clouds. The two flying boats returned to Kwajelain Atoll, Marshall Islands. This operation was aimed at Pearl Harbor for demoralization purposes. Note-1: This Japanese operation was to have been copied after the theme in the fictional article “RENDEZVOUS” written by Alec Hudson (aka Jasper Holmes) published in 1938. (Re: Honolulu Magazine, Nov. 1980 & Honolulu Advertiser Sunday-3/4/84) Note-2: Holmes Hall on the UH-Manoa campus is named after him where he taught engineering. After all the excitement and the all-clear sirens were sounded, we all returned to bed.
In later months, I viewed from my porch on Round Top Dr. the staging of large ship convoys (100+ ships), proceeding over the southern horizon to the forward southwestern Pacific combat areas.
Kewalo Basin was dredged and improved to become a Landing Ship Tank (LST) harbor. Many LST’s would be loaded with war materials from the many warehouses that had been built in the Kewalo area.
GUN EMPLACEMENTS
During mid-1942, the construction of three concrete gun emplacements was begun, along with ammunition bunkers, just up the road from 2193 Round Top Dr., in the area called Judd Hillside. The purpose was to quickly install 8-inch coast artillery batteries for defense in the event of an amphibious invasion on the south shore of Oahu.
It was a place of interest for a number of kids who lived in the neighborhood. Lots of “make believe” war games were conducted. In 1945 all of the emplacements were removed. Thereafter an expensive subdivision was developed in the late 50’s.
SCHOOLING DURING WORLD WAR-II
I returned to school in February 1942 at St. Patrick’s from 7:45 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. daily for the remainder of my 3rd grade and my entire 4th grade, because St. Louis College had been taken over by the U. S. Army for the 147th Army General Hospital. In October of 1943, Renee’ Louise DuMontier, my oldest niece, was born in the OB/GYN section on the second floor of Henry Hall.
In September 1943 in my fifth grade year, St. Louis grade school moved to a then former Japanese language school at Waialae-Kahala where the present Kahala Apartments now stand. In Sept 1945 in my sixth grade (Bro. Michael Resch, SM) and first half of my seventh grade (Brother Ralph Schmitt, SM) school was conducted at Cathedral School on Nuuanu Street, which still exists. The St. Louis High School was accommodated at McKinley High School throughout the war years. It wasn’t until January of 1946 that I returned to school at “Kalaepohaku” for the remainder of my seventh grade and thereafter.
HIGH SCHOOL
Some of the brothers (teachers) that I admired were Brother Edward Hayward; Brother Joseph Dangel (who spanked me with a razor strap when I was in third grade, because during recess I threw a rock and hit a student in the head in violation of rules set); Brother David Paaluhi; and Brother Harold Hammond to name a few. Discipline was foremost at SLC, which is so lacking in our public schools in this day and age.
In the JROTC Department, there was SFC Gottlieb Coleman, SFC Joseph Silva, and “lover boy” S/SGT Clarence Silva. I was in JROTC for three years. In my junior year I was appointed to head the color guard with the rank of cadet sergeant first class. In my senior year I was designated the regimental adjutant with the rank of cadet captain.
In the Music Department, Professor Eric Karl was the musical director and I took violin lessons for six years. I played second violin for three years and then first violin for another three years in the SLC Orchestra. On graduation night three other seniors and I were in the orchestra pit and walked up on stage to receive our diplomas at the McKinley High school Auditorium. I obtained my letter for four years in music.
OTHER MUSICAL EDUCATION
In addition, I began piano lessons when I was five-years old. My first teacher was Robert Vetelsen, from whom I took lessons with until I was 10-years old. Old Robert turned out to be a pedophile and was run out of town, supposedly to Brazil. I next took lessons from a Mrs. Cannon who had taught my sister, Christine. Thereafter I took from several other teachers until I was seventeen. One of them was Jack Pitman, who was a chain smoker and finally died from lung cancer. Jack’s claim to fame was that he wrote a well-known haole Hawaiian song, “Beyond the Reef.” I still play a piano/keyboard to this day.
SCHOOL SPORTS
I participated in varsity swimming in my junior and senior year (two year letter). I was coached in swimming by Yoshido Sagawa, who also coached Ford Kono. I trained at the Central YMCA on the corner of Alakea and Hotel streets, which became the Merchandise Mart Building later. It is now a modern commercial building.
I was a freestyle sprinter and participated in the 50 and 100-yard events, including relays. I also swam and liked the 150-yard medley.
In addition, I participated in intramural sports. Volleyball was my favorite; and track and field, where I participated in short distance races and broad jump. My high school years were filled with various events, including athletics, scholastics and social challenges. I was best at the social challenges in chasing the Punahou wahines on the beach at the Outrigger Canoe Club.
I finished high school in 1951 and entered the University of Hawaii, taking a course of study that was the least demanding (12 credits).
THE CLUB
One of my outstanding Christmas gifts was membership in the Outrigger Canoe Club, joining at 11 years old. From there on it was FUN, FUN, and more FUN! All of my brothers had belonged to the Club, joining in the late 20’s and early 30’s. When each married they resigned from the Club to take up family responsibilities and chores, except for Bob, who stayed on until his 1951 move to Burbank, California.
My maternal grandmother, Amelia Mary Lucretia Swift Smith, and my mother did not let my two sisters join the Club, stating that it was not “lady-like” for young girls to associate with individuals who belonged to the Club. My brothers may have contributed to that thought. They were rascals.
An Outrigger Canoe Club member since Jan. 17, 1945, I was sponsored by my brother Robert F. Dolan and Herbert M. “Yabo” Taylor. I participated in board and body surfing, Hawaiian canoe surfing, racing and sailing, volleyball and other beach sports. I was designated a Senior Member in 1993.
CLUB SPORTS
I had begun to use the Club as a guest of my brother Bob around the age of nine in mid-1943 when the barbed wire and machine gun “pill boxes” were still in place. To access the beach through the wire was a chore with a redwood plank, but became easier as time went on. When it came to surfboarding, I was very fortunate that during WW-II Johnny Hollinger ran the “beach service,” mostly renting surfboards and giving canoe rides to the armed servicemen. Most of the regular beach boys had joined the armed services. It was the older beach boys who provided the services since they were not eligible to join the armed services.
Johnny knew the whole Dolan family, including my Dad, because they both worked at Pearl Harbor. Johnny worked the night shift and had some “shut-eye” in the back room of the Beach Service Office when he would arrive in the morning. I would come to the beach and the first place I would head for was the Beach Service Office to bum a surfboard from Johnny. No problem! I had my favorite board and I would head out to Cornucopia (now called Baby Royals) Surf fronting the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
That poor surfboard would really catch hell while I was learning. It would “pearl dive” and the wave would take it into the beach. It also received a lot of “dings” from crashing into other learner’s boards. Being in the water for four or five hours was no big deal and then to come in and have rice and gravy at the snack bar.
In my late teens and early twenties I entered several Makaha surfing acrobatic tandem events with nice light young ladies whom I could toss around. With all the competition and talent that showed up I was lucky to place.
Normally, I would surf at Canoes fronting the Club—it was a short distance to paddle to. When the waves got big I would be at “First Break,” “Queens,” “Cunah’s,” or “Populars.” I liked “Public’s” because at low tide the coral reef would show itself causing a surfer to ride (slide) high on the wave so as not to destroy one’s board. I did not surf at Waimea Bay. That was for the “gutsy” guys and professionals. I only body surfed the shore break.
I met a lot of like-minded guys in those days. Tommy Schroeder, Bobby Witham, Peter and Tommy Balding, Charley Martin, Chuck Schrader, Mark and Hank Auerbach, Pat Wyman and others who were just plain beach rats. Some of the surfer gals were Pam Anderson, Pat Honl, Gwen Davis, Doris and Anita Berg, Helen Haxton and Eva Hunter and several others.
Some of the older members, who were interested in the kids learning to surf, steer and paddle canoes were: Duke Kahanamoku, George David “Dad” Center, Charlie Amalu, Lukela “John D” Kaupiko, Bob Fischer, Johnny Hollinger, Sam Fuller, Yabo Taylor, Albert Edward “Toots” Mineville, Jr., Wilmer “Bill” Morris, Edric Cooke, Bill Mullahey and others.
Sometime during WW-II a public address system was installed to notify the armed service members of phone calls or messages concerning their military duties. The system was very effective being heard throughout the Club, the Uluniu Women’s Swimming Club, both hotels, the beach and in some weather conditions, out into the surfs fronting the Club.
The kids would go to a pay phone (10¢) located in the business arcade between Kalakaua Avenue and the Club entrance and would have the receptionists, either Eva Pomroy or Malia Lutz, page their name over the PA system, just to hear their name being called. In the late ‘40s the system was disconnected and peace and quiet reigned again at the Club.
I participated in volleyball and joined in many Club tournaments in six-man and doubles winning a few and losing many. One of the more notorious events was to take on “brother” Ernest T. Chase, a retired Punahou teacher and past president of the Club (1918) to a one-man volleyball game on the “baby” court. No one could win a game against him. A gallery would form just to watch the challenger get “trashed.”
I participated in paddle boarding events such as the Waikiki Surf Club’s Christmas events that started at the Moana Hotel beach out to and around the Diamond Head buoy and return. I placed in several of the events, but never won.
I owned a number of surfboards, most of them redwood planks. The last board I made was of balsa wood hollowed out in the interior and covered with fiberglass and sported a great skeg that really held the board in the “white water.” It was a great tandem board, which I used frequently.
Over the years the art of surfboarding has changed greatly. Due to the invention of high-tech foam material and the art of shaping boards, along with the use of skegs and leashes; the antics that are now done in the surf far exceed the antics done in years past with the old redwood planks. The catching of big waves using the “tow-in” method with a Wave Runner has brought about great excitement and State rules also. “Shooting the tunnel” with the wave breaking overhead and “making” it all the way is a great art form. The matter of “surf rage” has popped its ugly head in the surfs around the Islands. It is the result of the increase in the number of participants surfing and in the exploding population. Some of the rage is racist. Physical harm is usually the result.
MY FIRST CANOE RACE
On July 4, 1945, at the Walter Macfarlane Memorial Canoe Races, sponsored by the Outrigger Canoe Club, I first paddled in the “11 and under” outrigger canoe race with fellow paddlers Randolph Lee, Robert Witham, Doug Philpotts and John “Squeeze” Kamana, Jr. OCC came in first place with Hui Nalu, second. From thereon over the years, I was on various four-man or six-man crews, usually as stroke, advancing through the various age groups. I also steered canoes in the girls’ races (lots of fun). I stroked the senior men’s crew from 1951 to 1958, until marrying in 1959 and moving to Kauai.
FIRST COLLEGE YEAR
In my first year (1951) of college, I signed up for courses that least took me from my beloved Waikiki Beach. My grade point was outstandingly flunking at the end of my freshman year. I also swam for the University of Hawaii and was coached by Soichi Sakamoto, Hawaii’s famed swimming coach. That was just a fun thing for me to do and I didn’t break any records.
In 1976, the only time the race was started from Kaunakakai. I had custody of a 32-foot twin diesel vessel and volunteered to escort a team from Kauai. Well, at the end of the race, there were watermelon seeds throughout the vessel and it took a week to clean and clear the bilges. Never again was I to volunteer to escort.
SEA TIME
I had entered the U.S. Naval Reserve, sworn in by my brother Philip, then a LT (jg) (Supply Corps) in the Reserve, in December 1951 on my 17th birthday. In May of 1953 I was called to active duty as a quartermaster signalman (navigator’s assistant and all types of visual signals – flashing light, flag hoist and semaphore).
I was able to evade “boot camp” because I was a seaman first-class. Active duty was from May ’53 to May ’55, stationed at Pearl Harbor in the USS PC 1590 and then USS PC 1141. I was a Korean War era veteran. The former ship, after decommissioning, was torpedoed in 1954 by the submarine USS TIRU, twenty miles southwest of Barber’s Point, Oahu. The ship’s magnetic compass is in my possession. The latter ship was turned over to the Indonesian Navy in 1958. My surfboard was on the signal bridge ready to be tossed over the side to surf at any port.
I was honorably discharged in December 1958 as a quartermaster second class, serving a total of seven years seven months and five days. I was the only one of the four men in the Dolan family in naval service to go to sea. My brothers were captains of LSDs (Large Steel Desks). Upon being separated from active duty on May 18, 1955, I departed in the ALTAIR, a 48-foot ketch, belonging to “Slim” Lambert, sailing from Honolulu to Newport Beach, CA, for the 1955 TransPac Race. It took 31 days for the passage, running out of food twice. The first time, we received food from the STEEL ADMIRAL, a C-3 freighter, out of San Francisco on it way to Manila. The second time, the rations in the life raft was broken into. The vessel finally docked at the guest pier of the Newport Yacht Club, looking like a “rust bucket.” The four-man crew was in no better shape with beards and “BO.”
I visited my brother Bob and family in Burbank for a month and returned to Honolulu to attend UH-Manoa.
BACK TO COLLEGE
I returned to the University of Hawaii under the “GI Bill” and completed my studies in geography. In 1958, I attended summer school so I could complete my studies that August. I actually graduated with the Class of 1959 with ceremonies at Andrew’s Amphitheater.
Because of my knowledge learned from the beach and my Navy experience I qualified as a Coast Guard licensed charter boat captain. During the period 1956-58, I skippered part-time the following charter boats: STELLA MARIS, ISLANDER, AUKAKA and in 1969-CORRINE-C II.
MOLOKAI-OAHU CANOE RACE
On October 16, 1955 was the Molokai to Oahu Canoe Race – I was a member of Outrigger Canoe Club’s crew as stroke in the canoe HANAKEOKI. It was the second year the Club participated. The race originally began in 1952. The race departed Kawakiu Nui Bay, Molokai, to the Moana Hotel Beach, Waikiki, Oahu. The race start was changed in later years to Hale-O-Lono Harbor. The morning of the race, there were big northwest swells causing big shore-break waves at Kawakiu Bay, making it difficult to launch the canoes. Once launched and into the Kaiwi Channel there were Kona winds and swells from the south, which made for confused seas. The chance of capsizing was ever present.
There were only two crew substitutions allowed. Two-thirds across the channel all the subs had been utilized. I was in good shape, but was feeling very weak after four hours of paddling. I gave up the stroke to #2 Robert Muirhead and lay in the bottom of the canoe to rest for about fifteen minutes and took up the #2 position for the remainder of the race. OCC placed 4th. It took me three days to recuperate. I had no further interest to participate in the Molokai-Oahu Canoe Race thereafter. Some Club members have paddled the race forty or more times and I commend their spirit. The Club won its first race in 1956
ON THE BEACH
During the summers of 1956 and 57, I was also a beach boy as an individual contractor with the Outrigger Beach Services, giving surfing lessons and canoe rides. Louis “Sally” Hale was the manager of the Service. I would solicit surfing lessons on the beach in the afternoons for lessons the next morning. In the afternoons, as canoe captain, I would comb the beach for interested tourists to ride canoes in the surf. The beach boys were paid daily without withholding taxes. The average daily earnings were $30 to $35. It was good money in those days. The commission schedule was as follows:
Surfing Lessons – $2.50 per person
OCC would receive $ .50 for the board.
Beach boy would receive $2.00
Canoe Rides – $1.50 per person (3-waves)
OCC would receive $ .25
2nd captain – $ .50
Captain – $ .75
Surfboard rental – $1.00 per hour
The current prices in the present day have increased to:
Surf lesson – $75 per person per hour
Various prices for group lessons
Canoe rides – $15 per person (3-waves)
Surfboard rental – $15-1st hr.
$7 per hour thereafter
Some of the more business-like beach boys were Harry “Curly” Cornwell, Earl “Oil’ King, the lomi-lomi specialist, Harry Robello, Allan “Turkey” Love, Robert “Rabbit” Kekai, both Samuel “Steamboat” Mokuahi, Sr. and Jr., “Splash” Lyons and several others. The remainder loved to chase women, drink and play music.
There were some great characters who worked as beach attendants for the three hotels in the ‘40s and through the ‘50s, namely William “Chic” Daniels at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Jimmy Hakuole at the Moana-Surf Rider Hotel and Philip Kaaihue, at the Princess Kaiulani. The three earned a nice livelihood in their profession. They could sing, dance hula and talk stories to the tourists. They also were not too bad at hoisting a few.
Prior to WW-II, the beach service was known as the “Waikiki Beach Patrol-OCC.” After the war, the name “Outrigger Beach Services” was adopted. The Club always ran the beach services since it began in 1935 and was a profit center for the Club. Louis Salisbury “Sally” Hale was the manager from late 1935, less WW-II, to about 1960 when he moved to Kaanapali, Maui to run a beach service.
A LEGITIMATE JOB
It was very difficult for me to decide to look for a job. The beach was very enticing and the money good. My parents and brothers guided my decision. Thereafter, feeling a “sense of accomplishment” I proceeded to work for Bishop National Bank, as a management trainee, and subsequently married. I had worked during the summers of 1949, ’50 and ‘51 for Bishop National Bank as a vault boy. So taking the line of least resistance I applied at the bank for a management trainee position, I began on September 1, 1958 at $350 a month.
MARRIAGE
Gail Teall (Punahou ‘53) and I met and knew each other since 1956. We were married on January 24, 1959 at a Nuptial Mass at Sacred Hearts Church, Punahou, with a reception following at 2310 Oahu Ave. (Philip and Joyce Dolan’s residence). Thereafter we departed for Kauai for a honeymoon at the Coco Palms Hotel where Gail’s mother once was assistant manager. At the same time, I was transferred to the Lihue Branch of the bank.
While I was employed by Bishop National Bank (later known as First Hawaiian Bank) at Lihue, Kauai from February 1, 1959, Gail worked part-time micro filming documents for about a year.
We soon bought a home just behind the coconut grove adjacent to Coco Palms Hotel and lived there until December 24, 1964. Working up to Assistant Branch Manager under the mentoring of Samuel W. Wilcox, vice-president and branch manager, I was a “big storm in a small tea pot.” I volunteered for everything including the following: 1960-64 – Treasurer, Vice-Pres., President, Kauai Community Players, 1962-63 – Disaster Relief Chairperson, American Red Cross – Kauai; 1963-64 – President, Kauai Chamber of Commerce – Member, Hawaii State Chamber of Commerce.
CHILDREN
Our first two children were born at Wilcox Hospital, the first being Peter Nilsson Dolan on May 5, 1960 and a daughter, Andrea Scott Dolan On October 28, 1961. Our second son, Jeffrey Teall Dolan, was born after our return in July from Australia at Kapiolani Children’s Hospital in Honolulu on November 16, 1965.
AN ADVENTURE
On January 24, 1965 we sailed from Honolulu in the P and O vessel SS ARCADIA in first class. It was an exciting voyage of twelve days, visiting Suva, Fiji and Auckland, New Zealand, with arrival in Sydney on February 5. We met two nice families on the voyage who had children our age. Warren and Clare Lennon (both deceased) with three daughters and John Shumate with wife and two kids were fun to be with. Warren was a captain in the Australian Army returning after two years exchange at Schofield Barracks. John was with the American Embassy reporting for duty in Canberra, Capitol Territory, Australia.
The Dolan family was met at the Sydney pier by Al and Ned Pearson, who I had met via “ham” radio, Al being an avid “ham” operator. We then proceeded to the Oceanic Hotel in Coogee Beach, New South Wales. We stayed for a week during which time we bought a 1959 Holden station wagon at auction.
We then drove from Sydney up the Pacific Coast Highway to the Gold Coast, staying at motels along the way and settled in Surfer’s Paradise for several days. We then stayed with Warren and Claire Lennon in Toowomba, Queensland, where she had grown up. We then returned to Sydney on the inland New England Highway to Sydney.
We rented a home at 125 West River Road in Lane Cove, North Sydney. Peter was enrolled in school and wore a uniform. Andrea wanted very much to join him, but she was too young.
I had met a gentleman by the name of Owen Traynor at the Outrigger Canoe Club two days prior to our departure. He was a managing director of three corporations in Sydney. He said to look him up when I was ready to go to work, which I did. I was employed by Seeburg (Aus) Pty., as of March 1, selling background music throughout the city. Rugby clubs, rowing clubs, RSL (Returned Servicemen League) and many other clubs and restaurants were sought-after customers. My boss was John Mooney who has become a long-time friend.
I SHALL RETURN
Winter rolled around and the weather was turning cold. I was getting homesick. If I was to fight the big city I was going to do it in paradise. On June 22 we boarded the P&O vessel SS ORIANA for the return trip to Honolulu, visiting the same ports on the return. Arriving in Honolulu on July 2, it happened that a tsunami (seismic wave) warning was given after disembarking. The ORIANA pulled out of Honolulu Harbor and stood offshore until the “all clear” was given and returned to port to pick up outgoing passengers, sailing that evening for Vancouver, BC.
In between jobs in 1969, I was Acting 2nd Officer in R/V TOWNSEND CROMWELL, a Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Research Vessel. It was turned over to NOAA and decommissioned in 1999. Lots of fishing and steaming through the islands was done.
THE COMPUTER AGE
In 1983, or thereabouts, Gail and Peter brought home an Atari 400 computer. It was a game computer with “Pong” and “PacMan” programs. About a year or so later, an Atari 800 showed up with more programs to run. The kids were going nuts playing all of the games with their friends. Finally, I got interested in the machine and started to learn word processing, spread sheets and databases. I was totally hooked!
In late 1984, I programmed a 49-lot subdivision in Pakukalo, Maui, on the database program, including property, lease, loan and summary information. It was the first database that the Department of Hawaiian Homes ever saw.
Since those early days there have been a number of desktop and laptop computers in the family. When e-mail and websites were available, it took some time for me to learn, but I did learn. Now, I can’t live without the systems.
A VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT
I became a member of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 2-23 (Hawaii-Kai), in February 1972, serving as vice flotilla commander, flotilla commander, district rear commodore, district vice commodore
and district commodore, 14th District, in 1977-78, covering the State of Hawaii, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. I was the first OPAUX (Operational Auxiliarist) in the 14th District. I attained the qualification of “Auxiliary Coxswain” in 1990. I was designated a Life Member, retiring from active participation in 1994.
EMPLOYMENT
In my later years I was working for the following:
Dec. 1976 – State of Hawaii – Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, (DHHL) – Land Development Coordinator.
Oct. 1985 – State of Hawaii – Department of Transportation (HDOT), Harbors Division, Boating Branch, State Boating Regulation Officer.
July 1992 – State of Hawaii – Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Boating & Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), State Boating Regulation Officer. I retired on December 27, 1995 after 20-years of service.
THE CHILDREN GROW UP
In the meantime my children attended college and married. Gail and I have six grandchildren. Following in the foot steps of Dad, my sons, Peter and Jeffrey, experienced duty in the armed services. Peter, after graduating from Punahou in 1978, did a year at UH-Manoa, then joined the Navy ending up as a fire control-missiles 2nd class on a fast frigate for three years. He then attended college and received his bachelors in electrical engineering.
Jeffrey graduated from Kaiser High School in 1983. He skippered a number of dinner cruise vessels such as the Navitech I. He also became a commercial submarine skipper for the “yellow” submarines no longer in business offshore Ala Moana Park. He joined the Coast Guard Reserves as a “boot.” Thereafter, he qualified for OCS with a commission as an ensign. The Monday after 9/11/01 he was called to active duty. In 2004, Jeffrey graduated from Phoenix University with a bachelor’s degree. He is presently a full lieutenant, and in August 2006 graduated with a master’s degree from the Joint Military Intelligence College at Bolling AFB, DC. His next duty station is the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut as an instructor.
Our daughter, Andrea, graduated from Punahou School in 1979. She received her degree from Pepperdine University in 1983 in journalism. She then worked in advertising in Los Angeles and New York, for several years. In 1986 she took leave of business to obtain her MBA at UH-Manoa. She then went back into the advertising business. Andrea is now married with two daughters. She has formed her own business called “Shoestring Marketing” and is presently very busy.
All three children became members of the Club at various ages. They enjoyed the sports and fellowship that the Club afforded. Presently, only two of them are Nonresident members. Peter resigned because he did not visit Honolulu as much as the other two did.
THE BIKER
I had been riding motorcycles since 1966 to and from work, come rain or shine. In the rain I looked like “Big Bird” in my yellow rain gear and waterproof boots. I didn’t like riding for pleasure as the biking gangs do, because my butt would fall asleep and I had to stop and walk around to wake it up. I first owned a ’65 Yamaha 80cc motorcycle and ended up with a ’91 Yamaha Virago 750cc bike. I have owned six Yamahas and one Honda. I had one bike stolen out of a municipal parking lot on Richards Street in the early 1980s. It was found in Kalihi Stream two years later. I have had no major disasters, but have laid down my bike on major highways twice without incident. In January 2004, Gail told me to sell the bike, because I was getting too old to fool around with that type of gear. I bought a 2002 Suzuki “Grand Vitara,” which I enjoy very much.
ANOTHER VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT
I had never participated in committees or the board at the Outrigger Canoe Club until April, 1994. Bill Barnhart, chairperson of the Historical Committee, convinced me to join the committee because of my computer expertise. Later, I was appointed chairperson in April, 2000 for two years and a member thereafter. I have been a member of the Ad Hoc Centennial Book Committee, which was a learning experience. The book should be an outstanding achievement. Within several years of joining the Committee, I was able to create databases, using RBASE, an old DOS program, with exhaustive research as follows:
1. Subject: Archive Newsclippings database
Description: Newsclippings & articles from 1908>
Number of items reported: 282
2. Subject: Audio Tapes database
Description: Beach boys party & OCC song by R. Alex Anderson
Number of items reported: 2
3. Subject: Autobiographies/biographies database – Included in oral histories
Number of items reported: 2
4. Subject: Books, Magazines & Pamphlets database
Description: Information on various books & pamphlets donated to OCC
Number of items reported: 115
5. Subject: CD-ROM & Floppy Disc database
Description: Listing of CD-ROM disks in archives
Number of items reported: 12
6. Subject: Charter Member database
Description: Listing of charter members of May 1908
Number of items reported: 104
7. Subject: Club Captains database
Description: Listing of Club Captains and dates served
Number of items reported: N/A
8. Subject: Committee Chairpersons database (EXCEL FORMAT)
Description: Listing of Chairpersons from 1945 to present
Number of items reported: 448
9. Subject: Documents, Letters & Misc. database
Description: Various documents & letters pertaining to OCC business
Number of items reported: 26
10. Subject: Index of OCC “Forecasts” database
Description: Index of editorials and interesting articles from the Forecasts from May 1948 to Dec. 1959
Number of items reported: 486
11. Subject: General Managers database
Description: Listing of Gen. Mgrs. by name and dates served
Number of items reported: N/A
12. Subject: Honorary & Life Members database
Description: Listing of Honorary & Life members
Nmber of items reported: 74
13. Subject: Menus database
Description: Various lunch/dinner/special events menus
Number of items reported: 33
14. Subject: Military Honor Roll
Description: Listing of members serving on active duty in the armed forces
Number of items reported: 333
15. Subject: Movie database
Description: 16mm film on volleyball and Molokai-Oahu Canoe Races
Number of items reported: 8
16. Subject: Nickname database
Description: Nicknames of OCC members & individuals of Waikiki prior to 1964 (moving to new Club)
Number of items reported: 585
17. Subject: OCC Officer & Directors database (EXCEL FORMAT)
Description: Listing of officers & directors of OCC from 1945 to present
Number of items reported: N/A
18. Subject: ODKF Officer & Directors database (EXCEL FORMAT)
Description: Listing of officers & directors from 1986 to present
Number of items reported: N/A
19. Subject: Oral Histories (OCC) database
Description: Transcribed oral histories of OCC members from 1969 and thereafter
Number of items reported: 69
20. Subject: Oral Histories (UofH) database
Description: Oral histories of OCC/Waikiki of individuals from 1900 to 1985 (4-volumes)
Number of items reported: 50
21. Subject: Photos database
Description: Listing by category of all photos in OCC library
Number of items reported: 3520
22. Subject: Presidents database
Description: (1) Listing by dates served (2) Listing by names
Number of items reported: N/A
23. Subject: Sheet Music database
Description: Listing of sheet music in the library
Number of items reported: 19
24. Subject: Trophies database
Description: Listing of all trophies of OCC sorted by events & asending dates
Number of items reported: 304
25. Subject: Video & DVD database
Description: Listing of videos in library
Number of items reported: 51
26. Subject: Winged “O” database
Description: (1) Listing by name (2) Listing by date inducted
Number of items reported: 42
One other database I have gathered information on is the listing of veterans from WW-I, WW-II, Korea, Vietnam and subsequent campaigns to the present. The listing is accessible on the Club’s internet website.
In addition, the Boardroom was running out of space for the past presidents’ portraits. The Board of Directors had previously given approval to reduce the size of the portraits to 8” x 10”. In March of 2006, I took on the project as coordinator. By the end of May, the task, with the assistance of Photoplant, Inc. (scanning and printing the reduced portraits) and Frame Masters (mounting and framing–100% koa) and hanging of the portraits was completed by Domie Gose and Billy Yasay (OCC maintenance staff).
There still remains much to do as a member of the Centennial Book Committee, which should be completed by May of 2008, the Club’s centennial anniversary.
REMEMBERING CLUB MEMBERS-PAST & PRESENT
In my later years at the Club I have been a social member. I remember some of the fun members such as: Wilmer “Bill” Morris, Ernest “Tommy” and Harriet “Rusty” Thomas, Bill Barnhart, Dean and Bonnie Eyre, Peter and Tommy Balding and their respective families, Tom and Marilyn Haine and family, Jack and Leslie Mattice and family, Jim and Sue Caldwell and family, Tay Perry, Jim and Doris Stackhouse and family, and members of the Historical Committee, Norman Dunmire, Kawika Grant, to name a few. Also some of the members that used to belong to the Club such as Louis “Beanboy” DuMontier, Edgar Nash, Johnny Peacock, Jamie Dowsett, John Honl and a number of others
I will always remember the good-looking wahine that used the Club over the years and excited all the “bulls” as the young ladies were playing volleyball, catching a tan on the beach, by the volleyball courts checking out the guys, paddling canoes or out in the surf enjoying life. I have enjoyed the Outrigger Canoe Club to the nth degree over the years. Egad, I have lived in a golden age.
ADDRESSES
The Dolans have resided and enjoyed living at the following addresses: (’59-’65) Wailua River Lots, Wailua, Kauai; (’65-’69); 125 North River Road, Lane Cove, NSW, Australia (1/2 of ’65); 2193 Round Top Dr. Honolulu, HI (1/2 of ’65); 1948 Dole St.; (’69-’83); 556 Poipu Dr.; (’83-’92); 501-2H Hahaione St. (’92-’97); 501-8L Hahaione St. (’97 to 8/31/01); 501-8H Hahaione St. (8/31/01 to present) 501-8K Hahaione St.
THE FUTURE
Gail and I are looking forward in the future to traveling to see our children and especially our six grand-children, presently all living on the mainland. We are also planning, along with our children, our 50th anniversary on January 24, 2009, with a return to the reconstructed Coco Palms Hotel at Wailua, Kauai, which was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992.