Hawaii was still under martial law in 1944 when my father and other members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce staged a Kamehameha Day celebration on Waikiki Beach. Thousands of servicemen and some local residents jammed the beach for the event, which included canoe and surfboard paddling competitions, although it looks like the beauty contest drew the most attention.

Pearl Lani Stone won the contest and was named “Miss Waikiki” before the appreciative crowd.

Click here or on the photo to see all 18 photographs, all cleared for publication at the time by Army censors.