Auction Ends: Jul 23, 2017 07:00 PM HST

Art

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Large Vintage Diamond Head Photo

Item Number: 269

Sold: 155 USD to bsedcd774

Number of Bids: 4 - Bid History

Item Description

(please note that "stripes" seen on photo are a reflection from the ceiling and not on the photo itself)

This photo was taken from Gray's Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii towards the famous landmark, Diamond Head. It was named for Gray’s-by-the-Sea, a small two-story boardinghouse near the beach that was operated by La Vancha Maria Chapin Gray from 1912 to 1929. The boardinghouse closed when Juliet and Clifford Kimball, one of the earlier waves of profiteers, bought the property to build the Halekulani Hotel. The beach was also known as Kawehewehe and, in ancient Hawaii, was a place of healing where sick people sought relief by bathing in the water here. The channel in the reef in front of the beach where fresh water bubbled up was a place where Hawaiians who were sick came to be healed. A person would wear a lei made from the seaweed called limu kala, then walk with it into the water, leaving it there as an offering in hopes of receiving healing and forgiveness for past transgressions, which were thought to cause illness.

The framed photo, measuring 50"x70", was given to our donor by his brother, who was stationed at Treasure Island in San Francisco, when he retired from the navy. The background story is uncertain but they assume that when the navy took over the San Francisco airport at Treasure Island before WWII, the picture was probably hanging at the Pan Am terminal when that airline was flying their Clippers and his brother acquired it from there.

This item includes a photo history of the Halekulani Hotel: "Memories of Our House Befitting Heaven".

Item Special Note

Proceeds benefit Kona Historical Society, a 501c3 nonprofit. Winning bidder is responsible for Hawai`i State tax (4.166%). Due to the size and/or weight of this object, it is only available locally for pickup at a storage location in Kailua Kona. As with all auctions, item is sold “as is” with no refunds available. That being said, if you are not in this area and are the winning bidder you must be willing to arrange for packaging and shipping yourself through our local moving company. Please call Kona Trans at 808-329-4111 for an estimate.