100 Years Ago – Affordable Meals for Honolulu Stevedores

In 1920, the high cost of living (popularly referred to as H.C.L. at the time) in Hawai‘i was of great concern. To ease some of the burden of the H.C.L., stevedoring company McCabe, Hamilton & Renny established a restaurant for Honolulu poola.*

The restaurant opened at noon on 1 July 1920 in a room adjacent to the Hui Poola (organization of Hawaiian stevedores) members’ recreation hall.** The ceremonies included music by the Royal Hawaiian Band and various speeches.

An article (“Poolas’ Restaurant Opens Today; Square Meals Only 25 Cents”) in the 1 July 1920 issue of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin noted:

The menu for the opening day consisted of soup, rice, beef stew, coffee and bread, all for ‘two bits.’ The price of meals this month will stay at 25 cents, but if the company finds it is making money, the price will be reduced, as its aim is to serve meals to the stevedores at cost.

The new restaurant proved to be popular with stevedores and other waterfront workers. The following “review” was published in the 15 July 1920 issue of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

*Po‘olā is the Hawaiian word for stevedore or longshoreman

**The Hui Poola hall was opened on 7 June 1920. It was located at the corner of what was then Queen Street and the road [no name?] passing by Pier 16, Honolulu Harbor. Amenities included card and billiard tables, writing desks, and chairs. Soda, tobacco, and other items could also be purchased there at cost. (“Recreation Hall is Opened by Hui Poola.” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 June 1920.)

A small section of the 1920 map of Honolulu, based on data by M.D. Monsarrat, showing the Pier 16 area.