Honolulu Star-Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • B6

I take a lot of things for granted. For instance, the major road around Oahu is called Kamehameha High- way. I assumed that was al- ways its name. I never really thought too much about it. But in looking in our news- paper archives for 1920, I came across several articles about the highway, its original name and dozens of proposed names.

As early as 1905, when there were just a handful of cars in Hawaii, planners be- gan considering an Belt as they called it at the time. Maui, Kauai and Hawaii counties were also building roads. A resolution on Aug. 25, 1905, by the Oahu County Board of Supervisors (it named Honolulu County until 1907) called for attention to a good road around the It was necessary for tourist travel, they said, and also good for commerce. They desired to nently improve the road commonly known as the Belt Road running around the Island of Oahu from the end of Nuuanu Avenue through Kaneohe, around to Waialua, Aiea and back to Honolulu through the Moanalua Gardens, forming a main continuous highway for travel around the The projected cost was around $1.5 million ($50 mil- lion in dollars), much too much, some crit- ics said.

Around 1920 it was time to give it a proper name. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin asked readers and promi- nent community members for suggestions. Rainbow Road Why not call it the bow water works Superintendent W.A. Wall asked. traveler on this road- way, as he wends a way through the showers which are constantly falling, is sur- rounded by an almost end- less procession of rainbows.

rainbow is one of the wonders of Hawaii and I think it ought to be recog- Wall mused. the highway the Rainbow Road would fix the matter in the minds of our visitors, telling them imme- diately what to look for, and be a constant reminder to ourselves that we have won- derful natural beauty which distinguishes us from other parts of the Lanakila Highway Benjamin P. Beckley, who had recently returned from France, suggested the name The word means Beckley believed Lanakila was a good choice, given recent participation in World War I and in view of the fact that the highway would be semimilitary in character (as part of coastal defense system). Lei Ilima Highway An anonymous reader suggested Lei Ilima Highway. A lei is a or some- thing that she said.

word should be readily understood by our visitors, who are welcomed to the islands with leis around their necks. Ilima was the flower of Oahu, and also popular among the Lei Ilima Highway encircles the island of she said, more poetically speaking, this highway adorns the neck of Oahu, taking the Nuuanu Pali for the (Some of what we call the Pali High- way today was part of Kame- hameha Highway in 1920.) the ilima plant flourishes wildly along some stretches of the Koolau coast and this fact will serve as a constant re- minder to those driving on the Lei Ilima Highway as to the origin of its The Belt of Love Mrs. A.G. Robertson of the Outdoor Circle sug- gested any one of the follow- ing: the belt of love; meaning road by the sea; which means circle. the spray of the ocean; liquid sun- shine or misty with the ocean spray; atmosphere of the early moon; the road or place of water; or the circling road.

Mrs. Lahilahi Webb, histo- rian of the Daughters of Hawaii, liked Belt because the highway would circle the Koolau Mountains. City Treasurer D.L. Conk- ling suggested in memory of our last queen, who had died three years earlier. Dr.

C. Montague Cooke, curator of the Bishop Museum, said he favored or meaning something fine or especially nice. Former Mayor John C. Lane thought the most ap- propriate would be naming the road after the island itself. Benjamin Marx, president of the Honolulu Art Society, thought Bou- would be appropri- ate.

road starts at the site of his famous battle at the Nuuanu Pali. I do not think there is at present any public road named after Kamehameha Mayor Joseph Fern liked which means the long path. Lincoln McCandless thought Kaapuni would be suitable. It means the road that encir- cles Oahu. Mrs.

E.W. Nakuina liked the name mean- ing around the circle or embracing everything worthwhile, as the road would embrace everything worthwhile on the island. John Hedges, secretary of the tourist bureau, recom- mended He was probably thinking of Sanford Dole, the politician, rather than James Dole, the pineapple king. Alfred Gurrey of the city planning commission liked County Clerk David Kalau- okalani liked Former Supervisor Harry Murray felt would appeal to visitors. Douglas Mossman, a clerk in the road office, suggested meha as it memorates the spot where the greatest Hawaiian battle was Other suggested names were shing High- nic high- (Kuhio) Drive and In January 1920 the Star-Bulletin released nomi- nations and votes by read- ers.

The top eight: Lei Ilima Drive: 874 votes Lei Drive: 712 Alaloa (long road): 566 Alanuipuni: 355 Moana Drive: 88 Lanakila Highway: 81 Aloha Drive: 24 Kamehameha Road: 20 It recommended Ilima the first choice, to the Board of Supervisors. Later that month the Daughters and Sons of Hawai- ian Warriors recommended the name They said this was appropriate Kame- hameha the armies marched up Nuuanu Valley to the Pali and it was there that Kamehameha fought his last The Warriors disputed the argument that haoles would not be able to pronounce Kamehameha. It is one of the easiest Hawaiian names to pronounce, once it is heard, they said. On Jan. 31, 1920, the Board of Supervisors re- Many people suggested names for good road (that would go) around the And although a 1920 poll by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin found Lei Ilima Drive to be the most popular with 874 votes, the Board of Su- pervisors chose Kamehameha Highway, recom- mended by the Daughters and Sons of Hawai- ian Warriors.

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Calvary Lot 853 Sect. A Site 4 2nd right of Interment 2-urns $15,000 Call Audrey Enanoria or Andrea Dudley 808-499-4641 Leslie Ako 70, of Waianae, died in Kapolei on Tuesday, November 26, 2019. He was born in Waianae, HI. Visitation: 9:00 am; Services: 10:00 am on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Hawaiian Memorial Park, Kaneohe. Burial: 1:00 pm at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery.

Jeanne Margaret Brady 84, of Honolulu, died in Honolulu on December 26, 2019. She was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Caridad Matute Cacayorin 85, of Waipahu, Hawaii, died in Waipahu on November 30, 2019. She was born in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Visitation: 5:30 p.m.

on Monday, January 6, 2020 at Mililani Mortuary, Mauka Chapel. Services: 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the 7th, at St. Joseph Church, Waipahu. Burial: 10:00 a.m.

at Mililani Memorial Park. Brian Simeon Demesillo 53, of Waipahu, HI, died in Ewa Beach on November 21, 2019. He was born in Honolulu, HI. Visitation: 9:00 am; Services: 10:15 am on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at Mililani Mortuary Makai Chapel. Burial: 11:00 am at Mililani Memorial Park.

Albert K. Haa, Sr. 89, of Hilo, HI, died in San Antonio, Texas on December 16, 2019. He was born in Kapoho, HI. Visitation: 9:00 AM; Services: 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Dodo Mortuary chapel, Hilo, HI.

Burial: 12:00 PM at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Hilo, HI. Harold "Hal" Michinobu Kawai 88, of Hilo, Hawaii, died in Hilo on December 28, 2019. He was born in Pahoa, Hawaii. Private services held. Joseph M.

Keohokalole Jr. 79, of Kaneohe, died in Kailua on December 18, 2019. He was born in Kaneohe, HI. Visitation: 9:00 am; Services: 11:00 am on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Kaneohe Congregational Church. Inurnment: 10:00 am on Monday, January 13 at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

Matilda Grace Kramer 83, of Kaneohe, died in Los Angeles on November 29, 2019. She was born in Honolulu, HI. Visitation: 9:00 am; Services: 10:00 am on Friday, January 10, 2020 at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Inurnment: 1:00 pm at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Roy Ipo Lopez 72, of Wailuku, Maui, died in Wailuku on December 3, 2019.

He was born in Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii. Visitation: 9:00 a.m. Services: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2020 at Ballard Family Moanalua Mortuary. Burial: 2:00 p.m.

at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery. Betty L. Lum 95, of Pearl City, died in Honolulu on December 5, 2019. She was born in Honolulu, HI. Private burial.

Francis B. Makaiwi 45, of Hilo, HI, died in Hilo, HI on December 18, 2019. He was born in Hilo, HI. Celebration of Life: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at Onekahakaha Beach Park, Large Pavilion. Gertrude Leimomi Opunui 85, of Lahaina, Maui, died in Lahaina on December 28, 2019.

She was born in Lahaina. Visitation: 9 am; Services: 11 am on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Lahaina. Burial: 1 pm at Maui Veterans Cemetery. Pomele 94, of Honolulu, died in Honolulu on December 8, 2019. She was born in American Samoa.

Visitation: 9:00 AM; Services: 10:00 AM on Friday, January 10 at Good Samaritan Worship Center, Waipahu. Burial: 2:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Park. Roy Shane Sakata 49, of Kapaa, Kauai, died on December 16, 2019 at his home. Celebration of Life: 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Hanamaulu Beach Pavilion.

David Joseph Santiago, Jr. 63, of Waialua, Hawaii, died in Wahiawa on December 1, 2019. He was born in Wahiawa. Visitation: 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 6, 2020 Services: 10:00 a.m.

on Tuesday, the 7th at Valley of the Temples Mortuary, Lower Chapel. Burial: 1:00 p.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery. Rosalia "Nanay" B. Tadeo 95, of Keaau, Hawaii, died in Hilo on December 26, 2019.

She was born in Waimanalo, Oahu. Visitation: 6 pm on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Services: 10 am on Monday, January 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo. Burial: Burial at 1 pm at Homelani Memorial Park (Ilima Section).

Robert Sisian Tee Tan 78, of Springfield, Missouri, died in Springfield, Missouri on October 10, 2019. He was born in Zamboanga City, Philippines. Visitation: 6:30 pm on Friday, January 10, 2020 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary at Valley of the Temples. Services: 11:00 am on Saturday, January 11 at St. Catholic Church.

Burial: 1:00 pm at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. Llewellyn K. Wailehua Jr. 59, of Honolulu, Hawaii, died in Honolulu on December 2, 2019. He was born in Honolulu.

Private Service held. Lily K.P. Wai 100, of Honolulu, died in Honolulu on November 27, 2019. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Visitation: Services: on Friday, January 10, 2020 at LDS Tabernacle, Honolulu.

ERNEST BALDONADO 64, of Kent, Washington, died September 1, 2019. He was born in Pahala, Hawaii, retired from United Airlines and was a U.S. Army Veteran. Survived by son Kainoa (Jenna); daughters Emma and Jessica; several grandchildren; brothers: Vince Tolentino, Tony, Lawrence, Raymond, Michael and Rudy; sisters: Lily Antolin, Clarita Corpuz, LaVerne Howard, Clarita Kamakura, Predeceased by parents Lazaro and Juanita Baldonado and sisters Evangeline Calbero and Davelyn Cantrell and sister-in-law Kathy. Visitation: 8:30 a.m.

Services: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Pahala. Lunch to follow at the Pahala Community Center. Seigi Yogi 97, of Hilo, Hawaii, died in Hilo on November 26, 2019. He was born in Hilo.

Private services. Download the FREE Honolulu Star-Advertiser App! FOR bReaking news: staradvertiser.com Kamehameha Highway possesses storied history B6 TA A I I DAY 1 3 2 0 LOCAL IN MEMORY DENOTES U.S. MILITARY VETERAN viewed all the suggestions and chose Supervisor M.C. Pacheco said, I was greatest warrior and ruler. He consolidated the various petty kingdoms into the Kingdom of Hawaii under one ruler and showed both in war and in peace that he was the greatest na- tive of the Pacific in all time.

I think it fitting, therefore, that the Oahu belt road be officially designated by this board as On Jan. 1, 1921, the new Kamehameha Highway was officially opened to vehicles. One part of the road was described in The Honolulu Advertiser as feet wide, with super-elevated turns, that are banked about 18 inches It had beautiful views of Pearl Harbor, one driver said, as well as lush sugar cane and pineapple fields, picturesque beaches, such as Waimea Bay, and passed right by the (pond) in Laie. Building the Nuuanu Pali Highway in the 1950s cut away that part of Kameha- meha Highway. Today, run- ning clockwise 66 miles, it begins near the Navy Marine Golf Course and passes Pearl Harbor before darting up Central Oahu to the North Shore.

There it turns right and heads to Kahuku before run- ning down the Windward side. It ends where Pali High- way becomes Kalanianaole Highway next to the Pali Golf Course. So next time on Kamehameha Highway, imagine if it was called Lei Ilima Highway or Rainbow Road instead. The Rearview Mirror Insider is Bob weekly email that gives readers behind-the- scenes background, stories that fit in the col- umn, and lots of interesting details. My Insider gives me ideas for stories and provides personal experi- ences that enrich the column.

I invite you to join in and be an Insider at RearviewMirror Insider.com. Mahalo! AR VI EW I BOB SIGALL STAR-ADVERTISER JUNE 1965.