HistoryHistory
Pearl City was very different from its neighboring towns of Aiea and Waipahu because it was not built around a plantation. In the early days, it was a small community where wealthy families spent their weekends and summers. Two major events during this period was the visit of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in July, 1934, and the arrival of the China Clipper in Pearl Harbor on November 23, 1935. All of the residents lined the streets to greet the President, and 3,000 people showed up to watch the arrival of the Pan Am China Clipper.
MAKING A LIVING
Pearl City was settled by independent farmers. These families worked the wetlands raising watercress, rice, taro and lotus, and tilled the hillsides, growing pineapple and sugar cane which they sold to the large growers. Many residents recalled that, although this meant long hours of hard, back breaking labor, neighbors often helped each other and shared what they grew in their little gardens.
Others purchased land and developed rentals. There were many small businesses such as a dairy, a poi factory, a bakery, and the soda works. In addition, other businessmen served as shopkeepers and itinerant vendors. Some of the residents worked as housekeepers and gardeners for the wealthy families, while others made their living from catching fish and crabs in Pearl Harbor.
Many residents started working at an early age to help with the family's finances. A few worked at the Pearl City Fruit Company. Many recalled gathering kiawe beans and selling the filled bags for fifteen cents to feed the horses, or gathering white ginger to sell to the lei stands on Maunakea Street for ten cents a bundle.
THE TRAINS
The train impacted on every aspect of Pearl City life. It served as a connection to the rest of Oahu and the train station became the center of daily life on the peninsula. There was no mail delivery, so people had to come to the post office located in the train station. The train schedule also told the residents the time, as each engine had a distinctive sound and whistle.
A small bus that ran on tracks shuttled passengers from the peninsula to upper Pearl City. Originally called the "dinky," wooden sideboards were added to the small passenger car so as not to scare horses. It was most often called the "dummy," and it went all the way down, very close to the ferry landing. People recalled that a ticket was purchased and was good for several rides.
THE PLAYGROUND OF THE RICH
The wealthy families visited the peninsula on weekends or during the summers. They arrived with an entourage of 30-50 friends and servants and enjoyed parties and yacht races in Pearl Harbor. They maintained fabulous mansions on the peninsula and a lifestyle compatible with their wealth.
The Pearl Harbor Yacht Club was founded in 1924, and the members later purchased the home of Albert Fayerweather Afong to serve as their clubhouse. The activities of the Pearl Harbor Yacht Club came to a halt on Dec. 7, 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1944, the Waikiki Yacht Club was founded at the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor by former members of the Pearl Club.
The pleasures along the Pearl Harbor shore were not only for the rich, but enjoyed by everyone. There was swimming, crabbing, clamming, fishing, and boating in a Pearl Harbor that was still unpolluted. Pleasant childhood memories abounded for many of the residents. The area was full of fruit trees, with fruits apparently free for the taking. Children climbed the trees and neighbors never worried about the liability.
SMALL TOWN LIVING
Many happy days were spent at the Pearl City School. Students got more than a basic education; they also learned table manners, etiquette, and hygiene. Since the school was next door to the Miura Store, children purchased lunches there: 12 soda crackers in a package for five cents, deviled ham in a can for ten cents, and a soda for five cents a bottle. Most of the time, the children played barefooted, but usually wore slippers to school. Shoes were purchased once a year, usually at Christmas.
Since there were many Japanese in the area, a Japanese language school was established to educate the children. Children of this ethnic background had to attend an additional hour of language class. The teachers were very strict and thought nothing of slamming an eraser at the students, or whacking the fingers of naughty boys.
Games were invented using homemade equipment such as a broomstick or beanbags made out of Bull Durham tobacco pouches. Playing with marbles and milk caps was also popular, and children walked around on homemade stilts or tuna cans. The more daring ones used pineapple or tomato juice cans for the added height.
As the new generations of families become more Westernized, a few holidays were celebrated in the small community. The children eagerly looked forward to the Easter egg hunts and the costume contests held at Halloween. Some recalled carving jack-o-lanterns out of green papayas instead of using pumpkins. Christmas was the time to receive little paper sacks of nuts, an apple, and an orange. The New Year was celebrated with mochi pounding by the Japanese.
THE PEARL CITY THEATRE
A favorite destination was the Pearl City Theatre. It was built of galvanized tin, and showed a variety of movies, mostly Japanese and Westerns. Many happy hours were spent there and 15 cents would purchase a ticket, a bag of popcorn, and a soda. Next door to the theater was Esther's Diner, where one could have a cherry coke and listen to a few songs on the juke box.
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Reports page.
|
DMS16/A5-1/P Serial 0368 |
U.S.S. Trever |
At Sea, December 12, 1941. |
| From: | The Commanding Officer. |
| To: | The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. |
| Subject: | Japanese Air Raid on Pearl Harbor, T.H., Sunday, December 7 1941; Report of. |
| Reference: | (a) CincPac Dispatch 102102 of December 1941. |
Mine Division FOUR was moored at buoys D-7 and D-7-S, bows toward Pearl City, in the following order from north, Trever, Wasmuth,, Zane, and Perry. There were four men on liberty when the attack commenced three of whom returned aboard when the Trever made a magnetic sweep of Pearl Harbor in the afternoon.
The Trever went to General Quarters at 0757 at the time when the first bombs were dropped by the Japanese on the north side of Ford Island. The .50 caliber machine gun battery of this vessel opened fire on the first available targets at 0802. All machine guns had been in a ready condition with loaded magazines in the ready boxes at each gun.
The first enemy planes fired upon were not proper targets because of range. Control immediately ordered fire on close targets only, this order was carried out throughout the remainder of the raid.
Personnel not engaged at the machine guns took cover in accordance with the air raid attack bill of this vessel. Ammunition parties brought up additional .50 caliber ammunition for belting immediately after General Quarters sounded. In apparent disregard of the consequences these parties belted and distributed ammunition in and from the well deck. Personnel of the Gunnery Department at the same time armed depth charges and supervised the placing of 4" service ammunition in the racks.
As soon as General Quarters sounded preparations were made for getting underway. At 0840 the Engineering Officer reported the engineering plant ready. Although the Trever was on the northern outboard side of the nest she could not clear immediately because of ships astern clearing buoys D-3 and D-4. During the waiting period all planes coming within range were fired upon.
The first enemy plane brought down in the vicinity of Pearl City crashed just off the (Pearl Harbor)Yacht Club after having been fired upon by all ships in the nest as it crossed the bows flying low over Pearl City Dock strafing personnel on the dock. The second plane brought down dived on the nest from dead ahead just as it reached a position angle of about 30°, altitude of 600 feet and range of approximately 400 yards all forward guns in the nest fired at once. The guns literally blew the wings off the plane. The fuselage passed overhead crashed and burst into flames as the other targets were fired upon no other damage to enemy planes attributable to the offensive action of the Trever or Mine Division FOUR was observed. During the action the gun discipline was excellent and no friendly planes were fired upon.
The Trever got underway at 0930 with all guns manned and ready, depth charges armed and set and the ship in all respects ready for action. The entrance buoys were cleared at 0955.
The Trever incurred no casualties of any sort to personnel and no material damage to the ship. Later examination revealed one .30 caliber hole in the Gig and several more in sheet metal winch drive chain guards which were stowed in the searchlight tower.
At present one man, BAUGUS, A.E., #341-51-10, WT1c., USN, is still unaccounted for. He was on authorized liberty and had not returned to the ship prior to departure. The Trever has been continuously underway since.
No specific cases of individual distinguished conduct can be cited. It is with pride and pleasure that I cite the officers and crew of the Trever for conduct under fire which is worthy of the best traditions on the Navy. The remarkable promptness and coolness with which they went to Battle Stations under fire, and their quickness in engaging the enemy was excellent and most gratifying. There was no lost motion, no fear, and no shock exhibited by any personnel on board. Each and everyone performed his assigned task in the manner expected.
The gun crew of No. 4 gun of the U.S.S. Perry did an excellent job on the Japanese submarine which was sunk astern of buoy K22-S on the starboard quarter of the Curtiss. Just after word was received that an enemy submarine was in the harbor a periscope broke water between buoy K22-S and the new construction on Beckoning Point. The Perry's after gun fired immediately and apparently hit just alongside the periscope. Within a few second the conning tower broke water and the next shot from the Perry made a direct hit exploding in the conning tower. The Monaghan (354) proceeding out the north channel then made a superb attack and dropped one depth charge which rolled the submarine over.
[signed]
D.M. AGNEW.
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