A women’s volleyball league started play in Honolulu in February 1949. It was apparently organized as part of Honolulu’s Parks and Recreation program.
This article appeared in the Honolulu Advertiser on February 3, 1949. At that time, the league had 11 teams and was looking for another to round out the league play.
Teams entered were Waipio AC, Kukui AC, Hui O Wahines, Unknowns, Kalakaua Homes, Kuliouou AC, Waikiki Surf Club, Rainbows, Kamamalu AC, Kapiolani Annex and Roosevelt.
The photo below is of women who were members of Waikiki Surf Club’s entry in the 1949 league play. I found it among my dad’s papers after his death. He’s the guy in the back with white shirt and tie.
Click on either the clipping or the photo below to see a larger version.
I don’t know where the photo was taken. The league games were played at Crane Community Park, next door to Kaimuki High School. But I don’t know if that’s where this was, or at a place where they may have practiced.
This was all brought to mind by a chance meeting yesterday afternoon. Meda and I needed a new set of towels, and we headed to the Bed Bath & Beyond store in Ward Center. As we came out of the store, a woman came out from a nearby store calling to us. Cathy Kahoohanohano introduced herself and said she had been wanting to contact me about the photo, which I posted sometime back.
Cathy was excited to be able to identify two people in the photo. She identified the laughing woman in the front row as Joan Cooper Kaaua, who died in Hilo in November 2016 at age 83.
According to her obituary: “She worked at Punahou School for 29 years and retired as the Alumni Coordinator in 1998. Joan also served for many years as Merchandise Director and Historian for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association.”
She also identified the woman in white dress and lei, on the far left in the photo, as Mary Friel Ciacci, who is still living and enjoyed seeing the photo.
She said both women were in the Punahou Class of 1951.
Perhaps others will be able to identify additional people in the photo?
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Enjoyed this read + the outfits of the day—like saddle oxfords and rolled up jeans—was way cool.
Dovetails into how cool it is that the UH men’s volleyball team has accomplished so much this season. The fans and players / coaches have enjoyed the feel-good spirit. Go Bows!