Jim Nolan's Blog

Hawaii Surfing Postcard, 1957

A postcard to Hildegard Paul from her daughter, my mother, Christa Paul. Mom and Dad were living in Honolulu while Dad was serving in the Navy. Who knew there was a market for Hawaiian postcards aimed at Swedes in 1957? Click to enlarge. Postcard by Watkins & Sturgis, Ltd., Honolulu. 

Homemade Postcard, March 27, 1969

My grandfather Bengt Paul (Benekiki) was an amazing photographer, and used to send some of his shots as postcards. This one, of my mom and brother Chris, says: "Dear Christa and Jim—today 42 years since mother and I were married and yesterday it was 9 years since you got engaged. So my thoughts quite naturally go to you with all their hearts and pockets full of love. Hope you are all well and enjoy life. Next time I hope to send a new enlarging. P&K (Puss och kram: kiss and hug) yours Benekiki." It was nice that he wrote it in English so my dad could follow. Bengt picked up the name Benekiki in Hawaii, when he visited my parents there after his wife Hildegard's death in 1957. I've included the story below. 

 

Brenda Lo dresses Miss Chinatown Contestant, Honolulu 1950s

Click on photo to enlarge.

I recently posted a video essay that had a photo of a beautiful dress my mom wore to go to a party in Honolulu in the 1950s. Turns out my sister-in-law Francesca's boyfriend Cy's mother was an important dressmaker there at the same time.

Franny writes:

"Here's some back story. In the 50s, the Miss Chinatown contest was a big deal in Honolulu. Brenda, Cy's mom, made beautiful silk cheongsam (also known as qipao) dresses for the contestants. (That's the tight style you see her wearing in the photo. It originated in Shanghai, where she grew up, in the 20s.) Her husband, Wyleon Lo, was an artist. When she finished making a dress, he would paint it with all kinds of decoration.  Soon it was de rigeur for a Miss Chinatown contestant to have a dress made by Brenda Lo and painted by Wyleon Lo.

The restaurant Brenda is in is Lau Yee Chai in Honolulu, said at the time to be the most beautiful Chinese restaurant in the world. Wyleon painted the columns, outside & inside. The table she is standing on is by the bar (with mirror behind) on the 2nd floor." 

Franny continues:

"In the photo with Linda & Cy, she is standing in the courtyard of  the same restaurant. The column they are standing beside was painted by Wyleon. That occasion was the wedding of Wyleon's brother Waituck (also an artist), 1959. Cy, age 5, is wearing a Chinese outfit made by Brenda. He had wanted to wear his cowboy boots, and put them on for the actual wedding. 

The restaurant is now gone. It was at the beginning of Kuhio Avenue and the junction of Kalakaua Avenue on the spot now occupied by the Ambassador Hotel. Who knows, maybe your parents went there when they lived in Hawaii?"

Waikiki Beach Photo, 1956

I like the deckled edges of old photos, and how my dad put "outrigger canoe" in quotations, as if it were some unusual object. Guess he didn't grow up watching "Hawaii 5-0" and "Magnum, P.I." I believe that's the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in the background. Click photo to enlarge.

Barking Sands Beach, Hawaii, 1956

Photo by Christa Nolan. Click to enlarge. 

Ericofon Flier, 1957

Before the iPhone, there was the Ericofon. The handset and dial were combined into a single unit. It came in 18 colors. This is a flier my mom found in Hawaii and sent to her Dad in Sweden.

Before iPhoto

Dad's index of the slides he took in Hawaii while in the Navy from 1956-58. It's clipped onto the inside lid of the sturdy metal box that holds them. Digital may be easier, but it don't look like Kodachrome. 

Bengt a.k.a. Benekiki

My grandfather Bengt Paul visited my parents in Hawaii in 1957, right after his wife Hildegard died. He was still wearing a black suit and black armband when he got off the plane. My mother took him straight to the PX where he got Hawaiian shirts and sandals. He also got new name, "Benekiki," Hawaiian for Bengt. He never wanted to go back.

Kodachrome Treasure Box

Dad and Mom gave me an old metal box of Kodachromes from Hawaii in the late 1950s. Here's  their story.