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Elks Honolulu Lodge No. 616
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Hawaii’s First Presidential visit
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In 1934, the US President and Hawaii Governor were Elks. Franklin Delano Roosevelt [1](FDR) visited Hawaii July 24-28, 1934, the first President to do so. The visit was a stop over on a cruise starting July 1, 1934 at Annapolis, through the Panama Canal to Portland. Local headlines in every language used in Hawaii heralded his visit.
July 24: Elk Governor Joseph B. Poindexter, who had sailed to Hawaii Island especially to greet FDR, was rushed in and out of his presence. FDR, dressed in “old fishing togs” was eager to go Kailua-Kona deep sea fishing. Expert guides were engaged; the Hawaiian Tuna Packers stood ready to can his catch; Honolulu’s Japanese Casting Club and Japanese Fishermen’s Association took out newspaper ads wishing the President “Good Fishing.” The press discussed his fishing loudly in headlines like: Pres. only anxious to hook fish. When FDR hooked only a few small fish, fishermen agreed he’d broken the first rule of fishing in Hawaii – never talk about “it” in advance. The fish heard and they left.
A disappointed FDR sailed from Kona side to Hilo, where sampans and Emma Nawahi’s chant greeted him (Kaulana mai nei o Roosevelt). Geologist Dr. Thomas Jaggar gave him the volcano tour. Dawn July 26: he arrived off Diamond Head aboard the USS Houston.  A canoe flotilla with Duke Kahanamoku posed as Kamehameha I greeted him. 10,000 lei bedecked children lined the road. To control 60,000 people along miles of presidential motorcade police called in island Boy Scouts, directed by Elks S. W. Robley and W. W. Thayer. Among the troops chosen to help was Elks Lodge 616’s Troop 69. From 6:30am the boys stood smartly to attention restraining Bishop St. on-lookers from Halekauwila to King Sts. Oahu businesses closed so employees could greet FDR - 250,000 people in 2 days: children threw flowers in his path; Kaneohe built an arch of ti leaves over the highway; Kahana pulled in a hukilau as he watched; at Laie Samoans sang and danced in greeting. An unexpected stop was Shriner’s hospital, to visit with children with whom the President shared a bond – polio[2]. Before a Governor’s dinner at Washington Place, the Daughters & Sons of Hawaiian Warriors and Order of Kamehameha honored Roosevelt with a hookupu (gift giving). “Aloha to you Mr. President,” put words to an unused melody by Queen Liliuokalani. A multicultural, 10,000 person lantern parade showed the President Hawaii’s Americanism. The local press commented on the smallest detail of his trip: what he ate, what he saw from his Royal Hawaiian Hotel window, what he said about pineapple or squid. Instant celebrities: the fishing boat deck hands who baited his hook, the Iolani Palace elevator operator who took him up to the Governor’s office, waiters, lei maker, the postman bringing who brought him forwarded mail. Divers retrieved the President’s lei cast upon the water as his ship left Hawaii. KGU broadcast every detail to the world. The visitor industry “got yards and yards of copy...much favorable publicity at no cost” as the press cabled stories home.
Roosevelt was and is a polarizing figure, viewed as a devil or an angel. During his Hawaii travels he displayed his election-winning attention to the ‘regular Joe’. Honolulu Times warned planners not to think “that only those of social, financial and industrial prominence shall come near enough to touch the hem of the presidential robe.” At the dedication of Moana Park[3], surrounded by dignitaries, he reached out to the workers who’d built the park, but were kept off to one side. At Bishop Museum, he was driven through the courtyard, viewed special outdoor exhibits, met dignitaries, and then greeted employees exiled at the makai gate. In both cases ‘those of prominence’ didn’t plan to recognize the ‘regular Joes.’
The Joes reciprocated: When the two English daily newspapers put out special issues, corporations bought large, patriotic ‘welcome FDR’ ads. Liquor interests, grateful for prohibition’s recent repeal took a full page: “To your Health Mr. President: That rare type of man who keeps his campaign promises.” Contrasting are 2” sq. ads: Asahi gas station, Yamada’s Lunch, Sing Sing Meats. 10 beauticians located from Kaimuki to Waipahu paid scarce depression era dollars for a joint ad. The ads are signed with names reflecting Hawaii’s population: Berg, Carvalho, Goo, Kai, Kamaka, Kamazawa, Puu, Remigio, Serrao, and more. As the trip plan developed regular folks wrote the Governor suggesting a stop at their hibiscus garden; FDR would want to employ them as a driver – they’d been unemployed so long; he would want a tour of their brewing operation; he’d want to see their team play baseball. Regular folks sent him gifts: a stuffed humuhumunukunukuapuaa, fresh avocadoes and flowers, canes, bowls, art and poems.  The reasons for FDR’s trip are plentiful. FDR needed to ‘make nice’ with Hawaii having recently attempted to force legislation allowing appointment of a non-resident as Hawaii Governor, angering residents of both parties. Most infuriating to business was the Jones-Costigan “sugar control bill” supported by FDR. The bill favored mainland and Cuban sugar, but held down Hawaii production. Rumors swirled over which politicians and Wall Street investors were to profit by Hawaii’s loss. Headlines reflected the anger: Our Back to the Wall, Hawaii Gets Raw Deal. Hawaii Democrats tried to use Jones-Costigan as a lever to exact concessions from the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association and the Big 5 corporations: American Factors, Alexander & Baldwin, C. Brewer, Castle & Cooke, T. H. Davies. Statehood began to seem the answer to labor and management’s frustrations. The new President, amid growing America-Japan tension and Hitler’s rise in Europe, reviewed Hawaii’s preparedness. He inspected Schofield Army troops and Pearl Harbor Navy ships, and talked with commanders.
Roosevelt no doubt was checking for himself charges that Hawaii’s multi-ethnic population made the Territory a security risk and somehow not ready for statehood. The community was sure their sincere outpouring of welcome, “made clear we are an integral part of America.” Most importantly, the community hoped having seen, heard, tasted, felt Hawaii, the President had “a better understanding of this American Territory.” Hawaii Hochi hoped when people told FDR “dreadful tales of the menace that lies in the Oriental elements of Hawaii,” he would know the true loyalty and Americanism of Hawaii’s population. For whatever reason, instead, when the worst days came after Dec 7, 1941, FDR was one of those who pressed to intern the majority of Hawaii’s ethnically Japanese residents.
Despite the intense interest of all Hawaii, Elks 616 apparently did not acknowledged FDR’s visit. Why? 616 members were mostly Republican businessmen, making Democrat FDR not their favorite visiting Elk. More importantly, the Lodge was planning an interaction with another visiting Elk. They were preparing to mix milk, magic, and comedian Elk Will Rogers.
Anita Manning, 616 Lodge Historian
IN PERSON
Visit Iolani Palace grounds & find Kukui tree Roosevelt planted [look in makai-ewa grass]
See video of Roosevelt’s arrival at Hilo; visit Bishop Museum Archives
Tue-Fri 12N-3pm and Sat 9am-12N, and ask to watch video 1982.0033.0081
Good summary of the visit in detail is given in: Paradise of the Pacific August 1934 page 5 +
Available - Hawaii Public Library (Downtown) Hawaii Collection, Bishop Museum Library reading room, UH Manoa, & on microfilm - most regional public libraries & community colleges
References:
616 Minutes 1934 Apr-Aug
Advertiser 1934 Jul-Aug
Alakai o Hawaii 1934 Jul-Aug
Friend 1934 8:355-6
Hawaii Hochi Jul 1934 24-28
Hawn Annual 1935 1934, 39-43
Hoku o Hawaii 1934 Jul-Aug
Honolulu Times 1934 Apr-Aug
Paradise of Pac 1934 7:1, 5ff, 8: 5ff
Nawahi Roosevelt Song BPBM MSGrp 81
Nippu Jiji July 1934 24-28
Poindexter; HSA Gov 8 Bx 22, Pres. visit to Hawaii
Star Bulletin 1934 July-Aug; banner drawing by Nash Witten, 28 July 1934; ads in July 1934 special issue
United Chinese News 1934 July.
Thank you to elders Patience Bacon and Frances N. Frazier for their memories of FDR’s visit.
[1] FDR was a member of Elks Lodge 275 in Poughkeepsie, NY, [2]Roosevelt, rarely seen on crutches and never seen in a wheel chair, spent his public time seated in an open touring car. He even “planted” trees at Iolani Palace & Hilo’s Liliuokalani Park while seated in the car. [3] It was renamed Ala Moana Park in 1947.
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