Kailua Historical Society

Booklet Descriptions

Old Time Lanikai/Kailua

Jiro Tanabe recounts his life growing up in Kailua from the 1920’s to modern times–times when Lanikai was nothing but sand, when today’s Kailua town was mostly coconut grove and papaya farm and Enchanted Lakes was marsh land — times when few people lived in Kailua and Jiro knew where everyone lived.  Illustrated with photos from those early times.

Highlights of Kailua’s History

Beginning with its formation from a massive volcano and its early settlement by Polynesian explorers, major events in Kailua town’s history are recounted.  Learn about its early days as an agricultural community, a huge cattle ranch, its dairy farmers and the many events that led to its present day role as a residential community.  Illustrated with photos from the 1920’s to 1960.

Kailua way back when…Florence’s Restaurant was the place to go

Come along as we explore post-WWII Kailua where a newly wed Italian immigrant couple, Gerardo and Florence Jovinelli, fell in love with Kilua, bought a home on beautiful Kailua Beach and started Florence’s Restaurant which was to become a favorite eating place and center of social activities for Kailua’s people.  Richly illustrated with some nineteen photos from that era.

Kawanui Marsh: Past, Present, Future

This great fresh water march of some 1,000 acres sitting just mauka of Kailua town is explored as a significant archeological site of early Hawaiian culture, as a flood control and filter of the millions of gallons of water flowing daily from the Koolau’s to Kailua Bay and as a rich biological site of plants nd animals.  Illustrated with maps, photos of cultural sites and beautiful water cooler renditions by artist Tamara Moan of the Marsh’s four bird species native to Hawaii.

The History of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

This booklet traces the founding and development on one of Kailua’s early churches.  As the Kailua community of the 1920’s, a community of dairy farms, cattle ranches and watermelon patches, began to grow, pioneer residents drawn to the area included Portuguese, Spanish, Puerto Rican and Filipino immigrants.  These workers, from predominately Catholic backgrounds increased the drive to build a Catholic church to serve their families. Richly illustrated with photos of the church, its parishioners and line drawings by artist Mary Lineweber.