Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories
Interviewee | Collection Sort descending | Description | Interviewer | Date of Interview | Location of Interview | Affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leroy Mollena | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
Born in Halawa Valley, a part-Hawaiian man remembers his family's subsistence lifestyle based on taro farming. He describes the 1946 tidal wave that damaged their home and the damages caused to the taro patches. |
Jeanne Johnston | Ho'olehua, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Keola Hueu | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
Maui-born man describes his traditional Hawaiian upbringing, fishing and growing taro for subsistence, in isolated Keanae. He touches on his various jobs, including county and Civilian Conservation Corps work. Although he only saw the aftermath of the April 1, 1946 tsunami, he recounts the experiences of his family and neighbors. |
Jeanne Johnston | Kahului, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Wallace Miyahira | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
The son of Okinawan immigrants describes his Haiku lifestyle. After graduation from Maui High School, he worked at Maui Pine and Libby, McNeill & Libby, where he met his wife. He describes his observations of the 1946 and 1957 tsunamis. |
Jeanne Johnston | Pukalani, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Matthew Kalalau, Sr. | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
A man of full Hawaiian ancestry describes growing up in Waikoloa, Kainalimu Bay, Maui and subsisting by growing taro, fishing, and gathering shellfish. He describes how he and his family were caught in the 1946 tsunami, how they survived, how their home was destroyed, and how it was rebuilt. He also speaks of his father, a minister, and his religious faith. |
Jeanne Johnston | Hamoa, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Jan Priest Wysard | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
Born in Puunene, a woman describes growing up in a plantation town, Japanese domestics in the household, and schooling at English-standard Kaunoa School. A Punahou School alumna, she describes her Mainland college experiences, including witnessing racial discrimination. She details the Speckelsville beachfront house her parents built with the help of a Japanese stone mason. A child in 1946, she explains how she, her family, and house guests escaped the tsunami. |
Jeanne Johnston | Paia, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Otto Meyer | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
A Molokai-born man tells of his family background, schooling, homes, and jobs. He also speaks of the changes in Kaunakakai. Working in Maunaloa on April 1, 1946, he remembers his concern for his family, trip home over muddy roads to Kamalo, and tidal wave damages on the east end. |
Jeanne Johnston | Kamalo, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Roland Enos | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
A part-Hawaiian man recalls living in Kahului with his musician grandmother and businessman grandfather. Six years old on April 1, 1946, he tells of running with his grandparents from the tsunami that washed into their Kahului Beach Road home. He also outran the 1960 tsunami and witnessed the damage it caused in Kahului. |
Jeanne Johnston | Kahului, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Thomas Wright | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
A former Marine Corps officer describes the Spreckelsville beach neighborhood where he lived in 1946. He explains his duties inspecting the Naval Air Stations at Puunene and Kahului. He shares anecdotes and observations on the 1946 tsunami, including the ensuing damages. |
Jeanne Johnston | Kihei, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Clare Merrill | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
A woman recalls the lifestyles of her mother, a teacher; father, a plantation engineer; uncle, a plantation manger; and aunt. She also describes Lahaina town and Lahainaluna School and the effect of World War II on her daily life. Safe at school when the 1946 tsunami hit, she relates how the ocean looked that day and how the tidal wave affected Spreckelsville and Mala village. |
Jeanne Johnston | Kahului, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History | |
Roseline Brito | Tsunamis in Maui County: Oral Histories |
A woman recalls her parents and growing up in Hana, Maui. She tells of moving to Molokai and meeting her husband. On the beach with family members when the 1957 tidal wave arrived, she describes the receding ocean, their getaway in a truck, and a near accident. |
Jeanne Johnston | Kaunakakai, HI | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Center for Oral History |