History buffs, this one’s for you with a sentimental journey of Hawaii 1940s. There is no doubt that the Hawaiian Islands have undergone monumental changes throughout the years. Life in Hawaii in the 1940s, in particular, was drastically different than it is today. Not only was World War II in full effect after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor but Hawaii was an American territory, not a state. Taken during the 1940s, these 13 historic Hawaii photos will give you a glimpse into this decade of uncertainty. Ready to take a step back in time?

1. The USS Yorktown receives repairs for damage sustained during the Battle of Coral Sea while sitting in Dry Dock No. 1 at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in May 1942.
Unknown, U.S. Navy Photo/Wikimedia Commons
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier left Pearl Harbor the following day in order to participate in the Battle of Midway.
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt, General Douglas MacArthur, and Admiral Chester Nimitz at Pearl Harbor in July 1944.
Unknown, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
3. Singer Betty Hutton performs for service members in June 1945 at Naval Air Station Kaneohe.
Unknown, U.S. Navy Photo/credited as "U.S. Navy photo" - James E. Wise, Jr., and Anne Collier Rehill, Stars in Blue: Movie Actors in America's Sea Services (Annapolis, Naval Institute Press, 1997), page 273./Wikimedia Commons
4. A historic-Hawaii view of Inter-Island Airways Sikorsky S-43 in flight past an unidentified mountainous coastline somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands between 1935 and 1940.
National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
5. A postcard from Hawaii in 1940 featuring hula dancers and women playing the guitar.
Unknown/Wikimedia Commons
6. A first-class machinist from Ohio, Andrew S. Horn, is photographed working on intricate wiring for a ship’s gun, along with R.V. Presby, a Tennessee native, and first-class electrician.
Unknown Photographer/Photogrammer

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7. Members of the 24th Marine Regiment celebrate the Marine Corps' birthday in 1944 on Maui.
USMC Archives from Quantico, USA/Wikimedia Commons
8. A brave U.S. Navy photographer took this dramatic shot of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, just as the USS Shaw exploded.
Unknown navy photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
9. Japanese forces captured these nurses on Corregidor Island in 1942, and they were liberated from Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila by the First Cavalry Division on Feb. 3, 1945.
US Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The "Angels of Bataan and Corregidor" arrive safely at Hickam Field in Hawaii.
10. A Hawaiian boy in a grass structure at Queen Emma's former residence in Nuuanu Valley, circa 1940.
Pan-Pacific Press Bureau, Hawaii State Archives/Wikimedia Commons
11. Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson inspects a regiment of artillerymen during his 1943 visit to Hawaii.
Unknown, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
12. Servicemen at Pearl Harbor repair and check instruments aboard a submarine that has just returned from war in 1945.
Unknown, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
13. A Navy band plays for civil service employees during their lunch break.
Unknown Photographer/Photogrammer

Have you seen any of these unique, Hawaii 1940s images before? What about the haunting footage taken during the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor?

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What are the oldest attractions in Hawaii?

Take a look at these six must-see historic landmarks in the charming town of Lahaina, Hawaii.

  • Waiola Church (535 Waine'e St., Lahaina, Hawaii) Built between 1828 and 1832, this interesting site of a historic mission will celebrate 200 years on May 27, 2023. Find out more about this cool event on Waiola Church's website.
  • Banyan Tree (671 Front St., Lahaina, Hawaii) The remarkable oldest-living Banyan Tree on Maui is located at Lahaina Banyan Court Park next to the harbor. The tree is more than 150 years old.
  • Hale Aloha (636 Luakini St., Lahaina, Hawaii) Otherwise known as House of Love, is a beautiful rebuilt structure constructed in 1974. It was originally built in 1858 as a tribute to God. Read more about the building's history on the Lahaina Restoration website.
  • Old Prison (187 Prison St., Lahaina, Hawaii) Construction began on Hale Pa’ahao which means "stuck-in-irons house" in 1852 to control the whalers running rampant through the town during whaling season. It is now an interesting outdoor museum and botanical garden free to visit.
  • Old Lahaina Lighthouse (675 Wharf Street, Lahaina, Hawaii) Standing proudly at the edge of Lahaina Harbor, Old Lahaina Lighthouse has been safely guiding ships and other vessels to the landing for almost two centuries. Discover more on the Lahaina Restoration website.
  • Pioneer Inn (658 Wharf St., Lahaina, Hawaii) The historic Pioneer Inn dates back to 1901. Beautifully renovated without losing the building’s original charm, and now a Best Western property, the inn magically captures that long-ago spirit of Lahaina’s whaling and plantation history.

 

What is the most popular restaurant in Hawaii?

Mama’s Fish House is one of Hawaii’s most famous eateries and in 2017 it was named the absolute best restaurant in Hawaii by Hawaii Magazine's 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards. This beach-front restaurant, which you might call an oasis, has fresh, local produce delivered daily, keeping a taste of Maui in every bite. One menu item, the New Zealand King Salmon, features rum-baked banana and charred Maui Gold pineapple. Can you believe all of that imagination baked into a scrumptious entree? Due to its popularity and excellent cuisine, the restaurant is booked months in advance, so plan ahead and reserve a table today on Mama's Fish House's website.

 

 

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