Aloha Airlines closes

 

 

There was little notice on the closing of Aloha Airlines.  March 21, 2008 Aloha Airlines announced it had enough cash to operate for ten more days and it was filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.   The company was also looking for potential buyers.  For about a week there was nothing in the newspapers or on tv news about Aloha Airlines.  Suddenly on Sunday, March 30th Aloha announced that March 31st would be their final day of business.   How could this have happened?  We just didn't think the March 21st announcement was that serious.  After all, Aloha had… Read Full Post

Varsity Theatre destroyed

When Honolulu's Varsity Theatre closed in June, 2007 the owners had planned to renovate the building and use it for another business. Subsequently they found that there were structural problems - cracks going up the walls all the way to the ceiling.  Thus the owners decided to destroy the landmark building.

I wish they had given us some advance notice.  The first time I learned about the demolition was the day after it started.  On the second day of demolition (March 26, 2008) I was there with my camera.  I returned on March 27th and got a few more pictures.

Varsity Theatre March 26, 2008 View  from across the street Look at that big… Read Full Post

W&M Bar-B-Que Burgers

This drive-in is tucked in at 3104 Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki.  What, you haven't seen it before?  W&M is pretty well hidden.  You can find W&M by driving to the intersection of Waialae Avenue and Saint Louis Drive (you'll see City Mill on the corner).  Continue Kokohead-bound (east) just past City Mill and there's W&M, right next door.

What kind of food do they serve?

It's pretty much American style with Hawaii style added in.  Hamburgers, friench fries and teriaki burgers.  As you can see from the lunchtime crowd, this place gets busy!  They are open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch.

Remember how McDonalds was in the old days (before the Big Mac)?  Hamburgers, fries and a coke.  That's what W&M is like, but add in some teri…

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The Garden House opened its doors in 1947 where the Honolulu Police Station is currently located.  Later it moved to Sheridan street and then settled in at the corner of Pi'ikoi and Beretania streets in 1955.  It's a local landmark that provided customers with plants, lawn and garden tools and supplies for 60 years.  The Garden house closed its doors on July 11, 2007.

I set foot in the store for the first time on July 7, 2007.  Having driven by Garden House countless times and using its parking lot (legally) in the evenings to eat at Quintero's across the street, I wanted to see this business while it was still operating and also look for last-minute deals.

Most of the company's inventory was sold but there were some bargains to be found.  I picked up an…

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The Varsity Theatre is located at the corner of University Avenue and Coyne Street near the University of Hawaii (UH) campus.  It opened in 1939 and is a one of the few reminders of an era that has passed.

The land parcel is 1.7 acres in size and owned by Kamehameha Schools, a charitable trust for children of Hawaiian ancestry.  Kamehameha Schools has not disclosed what they intend to do with the property.

As a student at UH in the 1980's I used to watch movies at the Varsity Theatre periodically.  It was within walking distance from campus housing and across the street from Buzz's Steak House, where I worked as a waiter.

Last night the TV news mentioned the closing of the Varsity Theatre with a brief history.  Originally it was one large theatre and at…

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