When Elks and their guests walk to the lanai of the Lodge or along the makai (sea side) railing near the pool, they look out at the fine ocean view or a sunset over the Waianae Mountains. If, at that railing, they instead looked down, they could look into the past.
In the sand, constantly washed by the waves, are 6 flat-topped black basalt rocks set in cement. The rock is said to come from the Kaimuki Quarry. Also visible is one round, bowl-shaped object. These are the last remnants of the James Castle home purchased by Lodge 616 in June 1920.
The multi-sided stones were the footings for pillars holding up the Castle home’s dining room. Facing the ocean, 9 tubular wooden pillars sat on the round cement footings, and in the rear a second row of heavier pillars sat on the lava rock.
Second floor diners got a great view and the sound of the ocean lapping beneath the building. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the over-the-ocean placement also provided an unusual dinner time amusement for children and pau-hana benefit for employees.
Past Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight Ray Medley recalled his son, Gaines, went fishing from the window of the dining room. Gaines kept a pole in the basement, and then harassed minnows with his pole while his elders dined. Nicholas Czar, past member of the House Committee, recalled members also fishing in this way, but not during dinner!
There wasn’t much sand then and the bottom was rocky. Ray recalled employees torch fishing for squid on the reef using a kerosene pot on a pole. Diners could see the picturesque scene as they ate.
Past District Deputy GER George Adams recalled that after the dining room closed and guests had departed, the dining room and kitchen workers sometimes fished. They used cane fishing poles baited with balls of white bread. Stuck out of the open dining room windows, the poles caught small and medium sized reef fish.
These senior Elks said no one objected to the unconventional fishing spot. Perhaps today they remember only the fun and food “window fishing” brought.
“Window fishing” was possible because the dining room was on the second floor of the building. Most of the upper rooms were rented out to members as living quarters. The main bar was in the basement or first floor at that time. Ray Medley recalled, “My son kept his fishing pole in the basement, near the slot machines.”
“Slot machines?”, asked the startled and naïve historian. Seems the Lodge had ‘slots’ during and after World War II. Adams and Czar agreed that slot machine profits played a major role in helping the Lodge pay off the mortgage. After the one-armed bandits were declared illegal even in private clubs by a federal court ruling, the Lodge machines, along with those from military clubs, were dumped into the ocean from a barge.
As part of the refurbishing of the Lodge and Heritage Corner exhibits, photographs of the lodge and grounds have been mounted in the lobby and stairway to the second floor. Take a good look at an ocean-view photographs of the Castle home mounted on the pillar near the Heritage Corner. Then walk out to the ocean and look down - into the past.
Anita Manning, Lodge Historian
References:
Adams, George T., PDDGER, Interview May 2001
Czar, Nicholas, Interview May 2001
Honolulu Advertiser 4 May 1959
Medley, Ray G., PGELK, Interview May 2001
Members Only
Trustees
