HULA'S BAR & LEI STAND,
WAIKIKI CLOSES
Former Hula's Banyan Tree
looking down Kalaimoku Street towards
the Pacific Ocean
For 24 years, Hula's Bar and Lei Stand, a
very popular drinking place, had remained open serving the Gay and Lesbian
community of Hawai'i and visitors from all corners of the globe. It was
world famous because of its ambience. This was mainly due to the friendly
owner and staff and the location under a big spreading Banyan tree (see
photo above) in the heart of Waikiki. Dancing and socializing outdoors is
the true spirit of Hawai'i. 25 years ago, the bar was the site of a taxicab
stand. The taxis would park under the shade of the Banyan tree waiting for
sailors and their girlfriends to come out of the Kuhio Theater (now demolished)
across the street. They would then drive them to their hotels or back to
base.
Hula's started out as a modest bar, but was very successful over the
years. The lot that Hula's stood on was sold to developers in 1998 who plan
to build yet another Shopping Center for Waikiki which opens in 2001. The
last night at Hula's consisted of dancing and socializing outdoors as usual,
plus a slide show of previous events and also celebrities and ordinary folk
who had visited the bar over the years. Just before the doors were shut
at 2am on Monday July 20th 1998, everyone held hands to form a circle around
the Banyan tree to say goodbye to the tree everyone loved. Sadly, the developers
plan to tear down the beautiful tree sometime in 1999 despite many objections
from Waikiki residents and former bar patrons.
A cacheted cover and 2 different cacheted postcards were issued in memory
of the closure of Hula's Bar & Lei Stand.
UPDATE: Saturday March 20 1999 6pm.
Very strong winds uprooted the old Hula's Banyan tree. It fell in the direction
of the the old Canlis restaurant site and partly blocked Kalaimoku Street
and the sidewalk. City street crews were removing the branches around 7pm
Saturday. It is a sad ending to a great era. It's great that the tree died
of natural causes (high winds) though rather than at the hands of the developers.
For over 50 years the beautiful Banyan tree graced the heart of Waikiki
and brought shade and enjoyment to the many thousands of people who passed
under its branches.
ENVELOPE: White. Size 6.5" x 3.5"
(165mm x 92mm)
CACHET: Hula's Bar and Lei Stand logo (Hula
girl) in a yellow box with text underneath.
CACHET TEXT: "At 2am on July 20th 1998,
Hula's Bar and Lei Stand closed its doors after celebrating its 24th anniversary
at the same location in Waikiki. The world-famous Gay and Lesbian outdoor
bar and its banyan tree are to be torn down by the new landowner to make
way for a shopping center. Hula's is relocating to an indoor location elsewhere
in Waikiki."
STAMP: various 32c Flowering tree stamps (Scott
# ).
CANCELLATION: Circular date stamp cancel "HONOLULU
HI WAIKIKI STA - JUL 20 1998."
CACHET MAKER: Enelani
NUMBER MADE: 50
ITEM # 98JUL20-E
PRICE: $3.00
POSTCARD: Size 5.5" x 4" (140mm
x 100mm)
CACHET: None, just text on message side.
TEXT: "At 2am on July 20th 1998, Hula's
Bar and Lei Stand closed its doors after celebrating its 24th anniversary
at the same location in Waikiki. The world-famous Gay and Lesbian outdoor
bar and its banyan tree are to be torn down by the new landowner to make
way for a shopping center. Hula's is relocating to an indoor location elsewhere
in Waikiki."
STAMP: 20c Bluejay stamp (Scott # 3048).
CANCELLATION: Circular date stamp cancel "HONOLULU
HI WAIKIKI STA - JUL 20 1998."
CACHET MAKER: Enelani
NUMBER MADE: 40
ITEM # 98JUL20-PC1
PRICE: $3.00
Hula's interior from an original drawing by
Michael Beebe
POSTCARD: Yellow card stock. Size 5.5"
x 4.25" (140mm x 108mm)
CACHET: None, just text on message side. (Back
is similar to previous postcard)
TEXT: "At 2am on July 20th 1998, Hula's
Bar and Lei Stand closed its doors after celebrating its 24th anniversary
at the same location in Waikiki. The world-famous Gay and Lesbian outdoor
bar and its banyan tree are to be torn down by the new landowner to make
way for a shopping center. Hula's is relocating to an indoor location elsewhere
in Waikiki."
STAMP: 20c Bluejay stamp (Scott # 3048).
CANCELLATION: Circular date stamp cancel "HONOLULU
HI WAIKIKI STA - JUL 20 1998."
CACHET MAKER: Enelani
NUMBER MADE: 40
ITEM # 98JUL20-PC2
PRICE: $3.00
Place an order for
covers & postcards
return to introduction