Honolulu experienced boom times after Hawaiian statehood in 1959 and the viability of commercial air travel to the island. Tourism started to dominate the city’s economy, followed by defense expenditures and agricultural exports. Today, Honolulu is known for its world-famous Waikiki Beach, luxury shopping, and proximity to Pearl Harbor. The airplane age made Honolulu a popular tourist destination. Most visitors to Oahu arrive at Honolulu International Airport nowadays. The airport was named after Commander John Rodgers in 1932. In 1925, he became the first person to fly from the mainland to Hawaii. Getting to Hawaii and traveling to the other islands by cruise ship is possible, but most inter-island travel is handled by airlines.
Historically, the 1960s were a significant decade for Honolulu and Hawaii. The decade was shaped by volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, political change, and environmental activism. Here are some fascinating vintage photos of Honolulu in the 1960s.
Also, check what Honolulu looked like in the 1940s and 1950s.
#1 Honolulu’s 1959 Ala Moana Shopping Center seen from above the intersection of Kapiolani Blvd and Piikoi Street, 1960
#2 Ale Ale Kai Kewalo Honolulu, 1962
#3 Kewalo Basin, Honolulu, in front of the old Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant out of the frame to the left, 1968
#4 Ala Moana Center Piikoi, 1962
#5 Honolulu Harbor Mauka, 1961.
#6 Ala Moana Honolulu Birdseye, 1964
#7 Looking east to Diamond Head over Honolulu. Vintage slide marked, 1961
#8 Looking Diamond Head over Honolulu from the old lookout at Punchbowl Crater, 1961.
#9 Overlooking Honolulu south to the harbor and west out to the Ewa plain, 1961
#10 Ala Moana Birdseye, 1966
#11 Downtown Honolulu and the harbor area viewed from Punchbowl Crater, 1967
#12 UH Manoa Birdseye Honolulu, 1960s
#13 Birdseye view from Halekoa Drive on Waialaie Nui Ridge (then known as Waialae Uplands), 1965
#14 View is from Halekoa Drive on Waialaie Nui Ridge (then known as Waialae Uplands) looking Diamond Head, 1965
#15 Birdseye view from Halekoa Drive on Waialaie Nui Ridge (then known as Waialae Uplands) looking Waikiki, 1965
#16 Diamond Head Wilhelmina, 1962
#17 Waikiki from Wilhelmina Rise, 1962
#18 Looking towards Punchbowl Crater and Honolulu Harbor, 1962
#19 Looking makai along Wilhelmina Rise above the Honolulu neighborhood of Kaimuki, 1968
#20 Birdseye view looking mauka towards Manoa Valley from the McCully Street bridge over the Ala Wai Canal that connects Waikiki with the rest of Honolulu, 1960
#21 Moilili Rainbow Honolulu, 1967
#22 Honolulu’s University Avenue near the intersection with South King Street in Moiliili, 1968
#23 On Pali Highway at Vineyard, built 1963 and still there today looking much the same, 1960s
#24 Hawaii Hall UH Manoa, 1961
#25 The University of Hawaii’s 1949 administration building viewed from Dole Street near University Avenue, 1961
#26 UH Hawaii Hall McCarthy Road, 1961
#27 Exterior view of Mary Dillingham Frear Hall, the oldest women’s dormitory at the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Valley campus, 1961
#28 Webster and Snyder Halls (built 1962) at the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Campus in Honolulu, 1963
#29 Looking mauka along East-West Road at the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Campus in Honolulu, 1967
#30 Looking more or less south over the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Valley Campus towards Honolulu and Waikiki with Diamond Head Crater in the distance, 1960s
#31 Pawaina Street in upper Manoa Valley, Honolulu, with Pinao Street on the left, 1968
#32 Oahu Avenue in upper Manoa Valley, Honolulu, 1968
#33 Kapiolani Palms Honolulu, 1960
#34 La Pietra School Hawaii, 1968
#35 McCully at Ala Wai Honolulu, 1961
#36 Looking ewa along the Ala Wai Canal between Waikiki on the left and the Kapahulu neighborhood in Honolulu, 1960
#37 Ala Wai Yacht Harbor on south shore Oahu viewed from the Ilikai Hotel deck, 1965
#38 Hawaii Yacht Club Ala Wai, 1965
#39 likai HHV Towers Ala Wai, 1968
#40 The waterfront at Ala Wai Yacht Harbor on Oahu’s south shore, 1967
#41 Makai (seaward) view of Ala Wai Yacht Harbor at the mouth of the Ala Wai Canal which divides Waikiki from the rest of Honolulu, 1968
#42 Ala Wai Harbor Birdseye, 1961
#43 Ala Wai Harbor Ewa View, 1961
#44 Wooden “sampan” tuna boats docked at Fisherman’s Wharf on Kewalo Basin in Honolulu, 1960
#45 Aku Boats Kewalo Basin, 1967
#46 Kewalo Aku Boats Honolulu, 1960
#47 Still Life Kewalo, 1960
#48 Kewalo Sampans Honolulu, 1967
#49 Fisherman’s Wharf Kewalo, 1967
#50 McWayne Marine Honolulu, 1963
#51 Kewalo Basin Peninsula, 1963
#52 Admiral’s Barge Kewalo, 1960s
#53 Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser’s big pink catamaran Ale Ale Kai V moored in Kewalo Basin on south shore Oahu, 1968
#54 Ale Ale Kai Cat Kewalo, 1968
#55 Sunset Dinner Sail Kewalo, 1962
#56 Looking mauka (inland) from a tourist boat docked at Kewalo Basin on Oahu’s south shore, 1964
#57 Kewalo Waterfront Mauka, 1965
#58 Catamaran Ale Ale Kai Kewalo, 1969
#59 Sampans moored at Kewalo Basin in Honolulu, 1968
#60 Looking inland from a boat leaving Kewalo Basin on Oahu’s south shore, 1960
#61 Mauka (inland) view from a cruise boat leaving Kewalo Basin on Oahu’s south shore probably headed for Pearl Harbor or possibly Waikiki, 1968
#62 Barkentine California Offshore, 1968
#63 Barkentine California Harbor, 1960
#64 Barkentine California Sails Up, 1960
#65 New York Maru Honolulu, 1960
#66 Freighter at Honolulu Harbor, 1963
#67 Kaiwo Maru Pier 6 Honolulu, 1960
#68 Slightly shifted birdseye view of Waikiki and Diamond Head apparently from the 23-story 1961 Ala Moana Towe, 1962
#69 Birdseye view of the Ala Moana area of Honolulu and Waikiki looking Diamond Head from the LaRonde revolving restaurant atop the 23-story 1961 Ala Moana Tower, 1962
#70 Ala Wai Harbor Panorama, 1962
#71 Detailed panoramic view of Honolulu and Waikiki looking Diamond Head from La Ronde revolving restaurant atop the 23-floor Ala Moana Building at Ala Moana Shopping Center, 1965
#72 Liberty House Ala Moana BEV, 1965
#73 La Ronde Ala Moana Birdseye, 1967
#74 Honolulu from La Ronde, 1967
#75 Ala Moana Birdseye, 1962
#76 La Ronde Ewa Birdseye, 1964
#77 Coco’s Honolulu BEV, 1960s
#78 Rainbow Rollerland Birdseye, 1967
#79 Keeaumoku Aerial La Ronde, 1967
#80 La Ronde Mauka Honolulu, 1962
#81 La Ronde Panorama Honolulu, 1967
#82 La Ronde Honolulu Birdseye, 1967
#83 Ala Moana Shopping Center seen from Ala Moana Blvd just Ewa (west) of the Ala Wai Bridge, 1967
#84 Ala Moana Mall Level Stores, 1960
#85 Early days at Honolulu’s 1959 Ala Moana Shopping Center, 1960
#86 Ala Moana Mall Level Stores, 1960
#87 Ala Moana Upper Level, 1961
#88 Honolulu’s 1959 Ala Moana Shopping Center looking Diamond Head (more or less east) along the interior of the upper level, 1963
#89 Mall Level Shops Ala Moana, 1967
#90 Tutu’s Gifts on the street level of the 1959 Ala Moana Shopping Center, 1963.
#91 Ala Moana Fountain of Gods, 1960s
Mall Level (second floor) next to the escalators at Honolulu's 1959 Ala Moana Shopping Center. The view here is looking mauka (inland) at the “Fountain of the Gods” (1959) by noted Hawaii sculptor Bumpei Akaji (1921-2002). This fountain was apparently demolished during construction of the third level expansion 1990.
#92 Sears Ala Moana Honolulu, 1963
#93 Ala Moana Upper Deck Makai, 1960
#94 The ocean-facing storefronts along the upper level at Ala Moana Center, 1967
#95 Upper level makai side at Ala Mona Center looking Diamond Head, 1966
#96 Kind of unusual to see a photo of the parking garage at Ala Moana Center, 1966
#97 Ala Moana Center Drive-by, 1960
#98 Honolulu International Center, 1965
#99 Beretania Street at Ward Ewa, 1966
#100 Honolulu Harbor Downtown, 1965.
#101 Merchant Street at Bishop, 1966.
#102 Hob Nob Bishop St Makai, 1966.
#103 Fort Street at King Makai, 1960.
#104 Busy Fort St at King Honolulu, 1961.
#105 Looking mauka along Fort Street in downtwon Honolulu from just above the Hotel Street intersection, 1961
#106 Princess Theater Honolulu, 1961
#107 Looking mauka (inland) along Fort Street from Beretania Street towards the 1922 Princess Theater in downtown Honolulu, 1960
#108 Hotel Street at Fort Honolulu, 1960.
#109 Union Mall Kress Honolulu, 1966.
#110 Masonic Temple on Alakea, 1966.
#111 Manila Cafe Chinatown, 1966
#112 Queen Emma Street Honolulu, 1960.
#113 Auld Lane Kapalama Mauka 1961.
#114 Courthouse Kamehameha, 1963.
#115 Merchant Street Honolulu, 1960.
#116 King St at Richards Honolulu, 1969.
#117 Paterson Cottages Black Point 1960s.
#118 Kahala Hilton Beachfront, 1968.
#119 Kahala Ave at Royal Makai, 1960.
#120 Kahala Ave at Royal Mauka, 1960.
#121 Waialae Avenue Kaimuki Ewa, 1963.
#122 Harding Ave at 21st Kaimuki, 1960.
#123 Kalanianalole Hwy Waialae Iki, 1968
#124 Kalanianaole Hwy East Oahu, 1968.
#125 Portlock Road at Lawai, 1968.
#126 Koko Crater from Portlock, 1960s.
#127 Koko Crater from Portlock, 1960s.
#128 Slightly shaky airplane view over south shore Oahu looking inland at the east Honolulu neighborhoods of Waialae, Kahala, and Kaimuki, 1961
#129 Nice detailed airplane view of the east Honolulu neighborhood of Waialae Kahala, 1967.
#130 Ahua Approach, Honolulu, 1960..
#131 Looking across lower Manoa towards Waikiki and Diamond Head, 1962.
#132 New Capitol Bldg Honolulu 1966
#133 Kewalo Basin Old Piers, 1966
Punchbowl view of the 1964 Honolulu International Center on Ward Avenue Between King and Kapiolani in the mauka section of the Kakaako District. Renamed the Blaisdell Center 1984 in honor of 1955-1969 Honolulu Mayor Neal S. Blaisdell. Kewalo Basin can be seen in the distance on the right.
Thank you for sharing your great photos of Honolulu, similar to my memory in the later 60s. Wow it was like just yesterday and now these photos bring back those memories so wonderfully. Much Aloha, from the Kakaako Kid.