HB Archives

1960
The Changing Chamber

In 1960, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce (JCC) moved into a new building at 2454 S. Beretania St., reported Hawaii Industry. Although the location remains the same today, many changes have been made to the mission of the JCC over the years.

"The center is based on almost opposite ideas from which the Chamber originated," according to Hawaii Industry in 1960. From the onset, the Chamber focused on helping Japanese immigrants assimilate to life in Hawaii. As the needs of the community evolved, however, so, too, did the emphasis, focusing on preserving the culture and the "old way" of life.

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii was incorporated under the laws of the state of Hawaii as a nonprofit in 1987. From that point on, the duty of preserving the Japanese culture was passed on to the Cultural Center and the JCC shifted its emphasis toward business development and opportunities in Hawaii.

1965
Racing the Night Away

In July 1965, Hawaii Raceway Park was expanding. The raceway, owned by Jimmy Pflueger, hired its first full-time employee and added races on Saturday evenings, instead of just Sunday mornings. Attendance doubled as a result. At $1 for general admission, the 50,000 paid admissions in the first five months more than covered the $40,000 worth of special floodlights installed for the night races.

A track for sports car races, a motorcycle track and a dirt track for stock car racing were contained in the 80-acre parcel in the Campbell Industrial Park. The center of attraction was the quarter-mile speedway - "a far cry from the various improvised facilities used by Island dragsters in the past," Hawaii Business & Industry reported.

Also, police were reporting less trouble with illegal racing since the park began its night races. Michael Oakland, general partner of Hawaii Motorsports Center, the master leasehold for the entire raceway property, says the park serves a similar purpose today. "Without the park, the incidents of street racing would expand beyond the imagination," he says.

1990 Color My World Fifteen years ago, this ad ran for the NEC ProSpeed 286, a "laptop that's superior when it comes to power and screen image." The main selling point of this technologic relic? Its "bright, crisp, black and white display." Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.