Growing up in Kapahulu was a kid’s dream. Hanging out at Paki Park, slush floats at Burgerland, the waves at Waikiki Beach, and good friends on every block. It’s no wonder that no matter how far they roam, the kids from Waikiki Elementary School will always have an enduring connection with the little town at the foot of Diamond Head.
At KHS’s 25th reunion, a nice showing of Waikiki El. classmates attended and got reconnected. C’mon Waikiki alumni, be a part of the 30th year reunion. It’ll be like coming home.
From left to right:
Richard (math is so easy) Hiraki, Joyce (I have to go to Japanese school) Mukai, Kurt (Diamond Head is pounding, wax up the board!) Kawaguchi, Iris (rock ‘n roll drummer) Shimizu, Wendy (when is it Spanish rice day?) Omonaka, Ermie (I dig being a JPO – when I grow up, I’m gonna be a cop) Barroga, Derek (will I achieve anything in life?!) Ho, and Grant (nobody lives closer to the zoo than me) Okimura.
These folks like to party so much, they had a 10 year reunion after graduating from the sixth grade!
Growing up in Kapahulu I remember: Kapahulu Theater (old time movies for cheap), The Dog House (great hot dogs), Love’s Bakery (the smell of fresh bread every morning), Alex Drive Inn (best ice cream sundae), and some slot car race track upstairs near the Thai restaurant. And where Bea’s Drive Inn used to be wasn’t there a Donald Duck Drive Inn? or Restaurant? Something like that.
Of course Leonards is still there (malasadas, pan-docé and guava chiffon cakes), Rainbow Drive Inn (dollar chili anyone?), I think the first Taco Bell in the state (wasn’t one of our classmates family involved with that?), Ono Hawaiian Food and more. I think there are more eateries on Kapahulu Avenue per mile than any other street in the state.
And Dennis Oda, the Star-Bulletin photographer, is a buddy of mine too. It’s a small world. Here we are a couple of months ago in Waikiki. http://www.aajaphoto.org/?p=11
Dennis Oda gave a presentation for a Newspaper in Education workshop that I attended. We marveled at his job when he told us that with his magic press pass, he had access to front row, courtside and sideline seats to concerts and sports competitions around town. What a job!
I remember when chili plates at Rainbows were a dollar (although my fave is still the veal cutlet plate!) but The Dog House? Now that’s nostalgic!
Wow, I might know some of you folks.
I attended Waikiki Elementary from 1969 to 1972.
I was the haole surfer and lived on Montserrat, Lakimau and McCorriston.
Hung out at Paki Park, climbed Diamond Head and surfed all of Waikiki.
Anyone remember me shoot me an email at metaverse7 at yahoo dot com.
Aloha !