1939
1939
The 75th anniversary of the Kilauea Volcano House and the 75th birthday anniversary of George Lycurgus, kamaaina hotel man and present manager of the Volcano House, will be appropriately celebrated Saturday, September 16, and Sunday, September 17, according to plans now being formulated by Gavien Bush, Big Island representative of the Hawaii Tourist Bureau, and Harry Irwin and Gordon Scruton, president and executive secretary respectively, of the Hilo Chamber of Commerce. The first Volcano House was opened to the general public during the month of September, 1864, and it is quite a coincidence that Mr. Lycurgus, who has managed the present Volcano House for many years, should also be celebrating his 75th birthday in September. It is estimated that over 100,000 persons have been guests of the Volcano House since it was founded 75 years ago.
The tentative plans now being worked out are for the various island Chambers of Commerce to send delegations to the Big Island for this two-day celebration, and if possible, to have the Inter-Island Steamship Co. offer special round trip rates. It is tentatively planned to have a testimonial luncheon at the Kilauea Volcano House to open the two-day celebration. This would be followed by an afternoon of sight-seeing around Hawaii National Park and some appropriate ceremonies at Halemaumau. A banquet or luau with special entertainment with Mr. Lycurgus as host, is scheduled Saturday evening followed by a dance.
On Sunday, there will be a formal dedication of the old Volcano House as a public museum. A number of kamaainas throughout the territory have volunteered to contribute articles for such a museum, which would be an added tourist attraction for visitors to Hawaii National Park.
1964
Fifty-eight per cent of those returning ballots in a Tribune-Herald poll think the job of reapportioning the Legislature should be done by a State Constitutional Convention. Thirty-nine per cent of the respondents think the job should be done by the Legislature. Seventy-four per cent of the respondents believe the present system under which the State Senate is apportioned on the basis of geography and the House on the basis of registered voters has worked satisfactorily. Eighty-one per cent of the respondents, the largest percentage in the poll, are opposed to the suggestion that Neighbor Islands be allowed to keep their present seats and that Oahu’s representation be increased proportionately. …
Ballots were returned by residents from Pepeekeo, Hakalau, Paauilo, Honokaa, Kamuela, Kohala, Halaula, Kealakekua, Captain Cook, Kurtistown and Hilo. The Tribune-Herald acknowledges the cooperation of those who took time out to fill out their ballots. They have shown their concern over an issue that will have a significant political and financial impact on the Big Island.
1989
The Wahaula area, with its ties to the culture of a bygone era, has meant many things to many people over the years. Since 1968 interested visitors have been treated to insights about the area via informational exhibits and National Park Service employees at Wahaula Visitor Center. The visitor center complex was destroyed by lava from Kilauea Volcano in June. A community fund drive is under way to raise $45,000 to build a “mobile visitor contact station.” The park service last week agreed to pay half the cost. So far, donations from sales of a special videotape and other private sources total $14,204. The fund drive is being coordinated by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
A portion of the proceeds from a new Ka `Io Productions video is being donated to the fund. People may order the 19-minute video by sending $23 per tape (specify Beta or VHS) payable to the Hawaii Natural History Association, P.O. Box 74, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718. In addition to the purchase of the tapes, other individual and corporate donations also will be gratefully accepted, said Park Superintendent Hugo Huntzinger.
This Day in History is compiled by Brandon Haleamau for the Tribune-Herald using newspaper archives. Whenever possible, the news accounts provided in this column were taken verbatim from the newspaper.