Historical Fact of the Month
On this page, you will find interesting individual historical facts about
The Outdoor Circle and our Lani-Kailua Branch.
It will be updated monthly. ENJOY!
For a more complete description of LKOC’s many accomplishments over the past 70 years, we invite you to visit our History Page.
For a pictorial history of The Outdoor Circle’s tree planting efforts over the last century, we invite you to visit our Outdoor Circle Tree Planting Page.
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Spoiler Alert ~ Check back here next month to see what role The Outdoor Circle played in the adoption of the Hibiscus as the State Flower of Hawaii!
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The Outdoor Circle and our Lani-Kailua Branch.
It will be updated monthly. ENJOY!
For a more complete description of LKOC’s many accomplishments over the past 70 years, we invite you to visit our History Page.
For a pictorial history of The Outdoor Circle’s tree planting efforts over the last century, we invite you to visit our Outdoor Circle Tree Planting Page.
****
Spoiler Alert ~ Check back here next month to see what role The Outdoor Circle played in the adoption of the Hibiscus as the State Flower of Hawaii!
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DID YOU KNOW?
Fact of the Month for August 2019
Just before World War II, as a fundraiser, the Outdoor, with the help of Don Blanding, Poet Laureate of Hawaii, produced a spectacular show entitled “A Night to Remember”. Especially for the show, R. Alex Anderson wrote the now iconic tunes “Lovely Hula Hands”, “White Ginger Blossoms” and “Say it with a Flower Lei”. Renowned local muralist Juliette May Frazier painted some of the sets. The evening truly was a night to remember and netted a remarkable $7000!
The Outdoor Circle was proud to have had a small part in bringing “Lovely Hula Hands” to the public. Shown here is the original sheet music and cover for “Lovely Hula Hands”, as published in 1940.
Incidentally, its composer, R. Alex Anderson, who was born in Honolulu in 1894, wrote, over 200 Hawaiian classics, including “Mele Kalikimaka” and “The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai”. He was also a World War I pilot, who was captured by the Germans and involved in a daring prison escape which was made into a movie called “Dawn Patrol”, released in 1930.
Incidentally, its composer, R. Alex Anderson, who was born in Honolulu in 1894, wrote, over 200 Hawaiian classics, including “Mele Kalikimaka” and “The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai”. He was also a World War I pilot, who was captured by the Germans and involved in a daring prison escape which was made into a movie called “Dawn Patrol”, released in 1930.
Fact of the Month for July 2019
Seventy years ago this month, LKOC participated in the first Kailua Fourth of July Parade in 1949. In those days, the parade was on Oneawa and Kuulei Road, where a “crowd of 4000 thronged the streets”, according to newspaper reports. Our theme that year was “Let‘s Make Kailua a Garden City”, and the float (depicted here) encouraged the community to keep their yards free of trash, and plant trees and shrubs instead. LKOC sponsored a “Plant Exchange”, where homeowners could deposit/pickup plants from/for their own yards to beautify them.
LKOC continues its tradition of participating in the Annual Kailua Fourth of July Parade, with spectacular floats each year depicting our Beautification and Educational efforts in the community. This year, 2019, on the 70th anniversary of the parade, our float was a representation of the Kalapawai Triangle, now a round-about, and the Banyan that LKOC planted there in 1954. We continue to maintain the landscaping at the site to this day, and the magnificent Banyan has become a landmark within Kailua Town. Shown next to the float is its designer Jason Hills and float driver Lori Lloyd.
Fact of the Month for June 2019
In 1949, 70 years ago this month, LKOC began planting trees in the Kailua Road median as shown in the photo below. Tecoma trees were planted at the time. In 1959, a major upgrade to the roadway occurred, and other trees, including Kamani, were planted. At that time, LKOC planted dozens of trees on Oneawa, Kainehe, Uluniu, Maluniu, Kihapai, and Hoolai Streets, with crews of LKOC volunteers out digging the holes, planting, and staking the trees. Many of these street trees are still there today, as exemplified by the beautiful elaeodendrons on Maluniu Street. During this time frame, LKOC planted over 2000 trees on the streets of Kailua’s newly built subdivisions and on the grounds of the new public schools being built,
Fact of the Month for May 2019
In 1912, the Outdoor Circle planted the 231 Royal Palms around the Palm Circle Parade Grounds at Fort Shafter. The Palm Circle was strafed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, but the trees survived. During Hurricane Iwa, in 1983, 100 fronds were snapped off, but not one tree fell. Royal Palms (Palmea Roystonea Regia) are named for Brevet Brigadier General Roy Stone, Battle of Gettysburg, who later became an engineer in Puerto Rico.
In the recent photo below, Tripler Hospital can be seen in the distance. When Palm Circle was originally built, Tripler Hospital was located as Quarters #1 along Palm Drive. While the configuration of the surrounding quarters has changed over the years, the stately palms remain to this day!
In the recent photo below, Tripler Hospital can be seen in the distance. When Palm Circle was originally built, Tripler Hospital was located as Quarters #1 along Palm Drive. While the configuration of the surrounding quarters has changed over the years, the stately palms remain to this day!
