Four photos from my friend, Jim Lindblad, with questions and comments.
That’s Jim, in the booties, with his mother and both sets of grandparents. Photo probably in 1952. He’s wondering about the location, and whether those big shells were found here in Hawaii. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Then he has two different photos of Tripler hospital dating from the same year.
Jim comments:
“There are very few photos of Tripler before it was pink and I happen
to have two of them, proving it was not always pink.”
Then there’s this emblem.
Jim explains:
“The emblem is from envelopes at Pearl Harbor Navel Shipyard, just after December 7, 1941.
I discovered it in my grandfather’s collection of things.”
Anyone familiar with this?
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The Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) shown in the photo is not native to the Hawaiian Islands.
My father was a clergyman at a church just outside Pearl Harbor in the 50’s; most of the congregation were high-ranking military and their families. He was given two sets of large tridacna shells by some Navy types who had brought them back from Kwajelein. I’m sure that was a common route for large shells to take from all the Micronesian islands as they could be shipped basically for free, and when the families transferred back to the Mainland they often gave them away.
There is pink on the main building. Perhaps the ugly part at the front is an addition. Adjusting the white balance of the photo brings up pink around the awnings especially.
I suspect that it was not indeed pink, as alleged, or that there wasn’t money to renew the paint, or the photo has just faded.
When the car in front (a Nash?) becomes white, pink does appear on the main building, and another car turns black, indicating maybe the procedure is fair to try.
Perhaps someone over there knows how to answer this question.
Giant clam shells were a staple for the decor and tourist business. Yes, tourists bought them. but of course not a often as plastic ersatz tiki dolls and fake hula skirts. They were imported from the different islands of Micronesia. One of my jobs back small keed time (teens) was uncrating shells and coral of all sizes imported to Hawai’i, prepping them for distribution to the shops. I have many old slides and much footage showing gift shops displaying shells of all sizes, all kinds of shells and coral. So it was a commonality then. many coral pieces were painted multicolored. very un natural. but the tourons like it. That ki’i, (or tiki as some have it) ended up at the Ulu Mau Village. don’t know where it is in the pic, tho.
General Richardson, back in 1944, chose coral pink for the color of Tripler Army Medical center. He borrowed the color & numerous other design elements of the complex from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. As we know, The Royal Hawaiian was one of the main recreational locations for US military personnel.
First pic is the back side of Tripler. Note how the wing on the right angles toward the viewer.
Tripler looks pink in the second pic, especially after adjusting the levels. Probably the reds have faded in the originals.
i’m gonna hazard a guess and say the first pic is possibly the somewhere on the grounds of the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Of course back before the day clamshells and carvings would be ripped off.
“there wasn’t money to renew the paint,”
Larry. It’s the Military.
Thank you all for the help and observations on these photos. Kimo, that roof line does look like Academy of Arts. These two Tripler photos were off 35m slides.
ah. slides… I have tons of slides dating back to the 40’s/50’s. they are subject to color fading and such….
What wonderful tidbits into the lives of those that lived in a era of trial and tribulations. I am thinking that a book would be in order considering all the wonderful finds. Would be a great time line of history. Love reading and viewing the tidbits into the lives of others.
Wow. Brings back memories. I was a medical corpsman and stationed at Tripler back in 1984-86. I loved that place. I worked in the E.R. under the leadership of Major Karen Bell RN. I’m an RN myself now and am planning a trip back to Hawaii.
I was also stationed at Tripler between the years of 1986 and 1991. What an experiance. I was an E-6 and then transferred to Ft. Campbell KY and then left the military in 1992, as an E-7. Have wonderful memories of Tripler as my youngest daughter was born there in 1990. I am sorry I left as I went to Ft. Campbell, KY and left the military in 1992. I worked in the civilain sector for many years then applied for a job at Veterans benefits administration in 2001 in Nashville Tn. I have worked from then into the present. I am looking for many people who i have had prior communication with. Such as Carlos Delgado; Willie Freeman and family; Charlie Wilkins; SGM Albertine T. Butler; Col. Baker. I would love to talk to any of you an your family. My most memorable days were at Tripler Army Hospital.
I was born at Tripler in 1952. My parents always told me I was born in the big pink hospital. Perhaps that picture is a little earlier than 1952?
I was born in Tripler Hospital in Honolulu also 01/26/1952. I was a preemie at less than 2 lbs. It’s amazing I survived.
My wife worked at Tripler Army Hospital two different times (1981 – 1983 and 1987 – 1991) while on active duty in the Army Medical Service Corp. She was the Administrator for the Dept of Psychiatry, Dept of Surgery, and a couple of other departments. Dr. Barcia (Col.) was one of the main leaders. The local grounds keepers always said it was easier to keep clean on the exterior due to the paint color. The big shells are common in the Marshall Islands and were imported as I recall. I did get out to Johnson Atoll on a regular basis and to Kwaj. a few times and even over to Bikini Atoll for a few days one time. All courtesy of Uncle Sam.