Governor Poindexter signed the order transferring his civil government to martial law after the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. In many Hawaii histories, Poindexter is dismissed in that sentence.
Elk Joseph Boyd Poindexter’s governorship, based in Pres. F. D. Roosevelt’s social and economic programs, is more complex. Marking his death, an Advertiser editorial listed accomplishments of Poindexter’s administration:
- balanced budget;
- civil service and wage laws;
- Labor Dept.: regulated child labor; set up apprentice program; unemployment compensation;
- Public Welfare Dept.;
- Hawaii Housing Authority; built Kalakaua and Kamehameha homes, acquired Mayor Wright homes land;
- advocated public health measures;
- advocated larger airports;
- major public works: Wahiawa-Waialua and Kunia roads; parks and schools;
Ala Wai Golf Course.
Born April 14, 1869, in Oregon, Poindexter was raised in Montana. He relocated to Hawaii in 1917, appointed a US District Judge by Pres. Woodrow Wilson. He arrived a widower and daughter Helen served as his hostess and ran his household.
1933: Pres. F. D. Roosevelt needed to appoint a governor. The Organic Act, guide to Hawaii governance, mandated a Hawaii resident. Candidates lobbied vigorously for the job, but none pleased Washington decision makers. Congressional revision of the Organic Act to appointment a non-resident fizzled when the idea caused revolt in the President’s own party in Hawaii. Poindexter surfaced as a ‘sugar-free’ option. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes wanted no one with ties to the sugar industry and thought he could control Poindexter, already age 65.
Critics nicknamed Poindexter “Mahope Joe” (by and by in Hawaiian), for his no-hurry-to-decide approach. An oft-cited example is his slow cabinet appointments. A University of Hawaii graduate student used Poindexter to study territorial governors’ power, because Joe’s “unspectacular personality” did not “blur the nature of his office.”
Poindexter was strongly attached to his home lodge, Virginia City, Montana 390. Only as Governor did he accepted Honolulu 616 membership. His lukewarm acceptance speech reflects his famous indecision.
Mahope Joe, offered an opportunity and a short decision window, could take action. No, not December 7th, 1941. Several women recall being warned in their youth: “Never get into an elevator alone with the Governor.” Reliable sources report the long time widower was known for pinching lady’s behinds in the required closeness of elevators!
On December 7, 1941, Gov. Poindexter thought he needed to secure the islands, then under attack. The future unknown, advisors expected a ground invasion by Japanese troops in hours. Surely, civil powers thought, martial law would retreat when the emergency waned. Rather, civilian law returned 3 years and several court challenges later.[1]
Before deciding to sign, Poindexter spoke directly to Pres. Roosevelt - not to Secretary Ickes to whom it nominally reported. Already unhappy with Poindexter’s independence, Ickes was furious over the supposed slight. In mid-1942, Poindexter went to Washington, DC, to discuss his political future with, among others, Ickes. Poindexter told mainlanders “they needed a few bombs [landing nearby] to really wake them up” to Hawaii’s situation. Press releases say an agreement couldn’t be reached on Poindexter’s authority. Ease-droppers heard the two ‘plain-spoken’ men shouting behind closed doors. The Governor used “a mixture of Montana and Hawaii phraseology” to tell the Secretary “what he could do about the governorship.” Poindexter’s political career ended.
Although his Dec. 7 actions in effect brought an end to his governorship, Poindexter continued to contribute. At 74 he returned to law and served as a Bishop Estate Trustee.
On Governor Poindexter’s death Dec. 3, 1951, age 82, the world was again at war: the column next to Poindexter’s obituary reports Hawaii’s Korean War missing, prisoners, casualties. Debate on who shall govern and how continued: another paragraph reports Sen. Joseph McCarthy angry at attempts to “probe his actions” at the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Each generation debates and faces similar problems. When you need a break from today’s weighty questions, whack a golf ball across the Ala Wai greens, put your head back, and shout “Thank you, Governor Poindexter.”
Anita Manning, Lodge Historian
References:
Honolulu Advertiser Poindexter Dec 5, McCarthy Dec 7, 1951
Lane, J. B., “The Poindexter Administration: Hawaii in Transition”, UH master’s thesis, 1966; “Joseph B. Poindexter & Hawaii... ,” Pacific Northwest Quarterly, Jan 1971.
Men of Hawaii, 1917, Honolulu Star-Bulletin Printing.
Minutes 616: Mar 2, 9, 15, 1934
Star-Bulletin Apr 3, 1933; Aug 11, 1942; Jul 9, 1943; Prisoner of Reds, Poindexter Dec 3; Mendonca and Pineda services Dec 6, 1951
[1] For more on martial law and the governance debate see
Hawaii Under Army Rule, J. G. Anthony, UH Press.
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