Post #563261 by Phillip Roberts on Wed, Nov 3, 2010 2:40 PM

On 2010-11-01 16:54, Dustycajun wrote:

Some questions that need to be resolved.

1. How many locations were there in Waikiki?

Maybe Phillip Roberts can help me out here.

Aloha,

I count 4, if you include the Colonel's Plantation Restaurant and Dagger Bar... (see below.)

Donn arrives in '46 in Waikiki. Wimberly builds him the 3 grass
shacks that comprise the first location in late '46/early '47 . Star-Bulletin says he's open for lunch in '48. (1) It appeared to be where Liberty House/Macy's is today on Kalakaua Avenue. These razed 2/25/57, as the Market Place opens...

The second one as seen in Mimi's postcard which became Duke Kahamamoku's on the Beach. (2) Donn sells it in '61 to the the Kinau Wilder family. Duke is installed as greeter and Kimo McVay-Wilder's act Don Ho headlines the room.

Donn moves to the other side of the Marketplace (3) where the Quicksilver shop is now and opens. Unclear, if this locale was known as an official "Don The Beachcombers." I think it was, but was also known as the "Colonel's Plantation Restaurant" housing the "Dagger bar" for a time.

Tourist at the International Market Place about 1962. Sign reads "Don the Beachcomber proudly presents Johnny Spenser and the Kona Coasters appearing in the Bora Bora Lounge."

Finally, your matchbook (4) is the shop at the Beachcomber Hotel.

1986 advertisment for New Years party there... from a tourist event's magazine...