The sections are my way of dividing the narrative to the various pages, Sections have no official significance.
The photo is stamped November 9, 1981.
I thought I would comment on the photo based on my observations of the time.
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Lagoon Drive was still years away from its redevelopment.
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1. The hangar /warehouse was developed by Pat Hart and others and the lease was Pacific / Paradise Helicopter (not Cal Dorn's Paradise H.) The building has had many tenants over the years. Will visit this later.
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2. Panorama Air Tour
It was an all island, all day
tour. All the vans are parked.
All aircraft are flying.
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3. Grumman Goose G21A
Tales of the Golden Monkey filmed in Hawaii '81 - '82
4. Air Molokai - Inter-island commuter / DC-3 and Cessna 402's For awhile we had the Molokai Grill serving a quick meal from breakfast to lunch.
5. Bob Ota's Rotor Wings - Helicopter maintenance facility. HPF /HPD helicopter ops. Instrument repair shop, as well as Frank Young's Goldwing Supply.
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6. Aircraft Sheetmetal Specialist, Inc. - Ed Like Many tenants since.
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7. Mike Hartley built the hangar and later sold it to Chris Hemmeter in 1984. Chris did a full make over to turn it into a first class private jet terminal.
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8. Air Service Corporation - Facility included FAA FSDO, Royal Hawaiian Air Service, Murray Air and others.
9. Bank of Hawaii - aviation ops
11. Hans Muller's Hawaiian Air Tour Service / Dehavilland Herons & Doves
1981
1983
Rainbow Islands Cargo had an 8' x 12' room at Panorama to begin ops.
Tom Anusewicz, Wally Dyer Jr. and Marian Kuzma washing the new arrival
photo credit Geoff Goodall
Kaulele Place
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Scott Frazier worked for Jeanie & Guy Davis of Federal Avionics until he started Pacific Avionics in 1992. It was a busy avionic repair station, not only covering Hawaii but traveled to many islands in the Pacific.
The above DOT-A diagram S01, of the south ramp from 2008 shows the various lots and tenants. I divided Lagoon Drive differently in order to provide a easier narrative of tenants between roads and taxi lanes. SO1 indicates lot numbers and tenant names when available.
Will continue to use this diagram on various pages.
1999
The above photo was taken when, as Exec. V.P. of Bradley Pacific Aviation, I negotiated with Pat Hart, the owner of the facility, to lease the second floor office space. Bradley utilized the ramp space to service transient aircraft.
When Pat Hart first built the building he was involved in an aviation business but closed the helicopter operations after a few years. Pat rented space to other aviation business over the years. Most of the interior was utilized by air freight forwarders. The offices upstairs had Cliff McCluney's General Aviation Services until he sold it to Hemmeter Aviation in 1986. Hemmeter was planning on building a hangar on the ramp in front for his Boeing 727 until those plans changed. Hemmeter assisted FedEx when they first came to Honolulu. They parked their B727 on the ramp and had offices in the second floor office. Flying Tigers' DC-8 also flew for FedEx startup . In a short period of time the FedEx DC-10 was parked on the ramp a few days a week.
Hemmeter Aviation continued to assist Fed Ex start-up operations and when they started the feeder operations with Cessna 208B Caravan, it bid on the contract to operate them. We lost out to Mike Overstreet from Billings, Montana, who already operated feeders for FedEx. Mike's Corporate Air arrives in Honolulu in 1988.
Beti Ward's Pacific Air Cargo started its operations in the eva (west) bay of this building. I knew Beti when she operated ABRE Freight in Hilo and she worked with Hemmeter Aviation, when we started a new operation called "Jet Freight Pacific" with a Boeing 707. It was short lived and Beti was frustrated with those involved and said "Ill do it myself" ... she did. She connected with Kalitta Air. I remember Connie Kalitta calling me to talk about my thoughts about a new facility. He flew in and met with Beti and I and I drove down the south ramp as we discussed their direction for what was to become. More about Pacific Air Cargo when I move down the road.
Pat Hart was having difficulty with the DOT-A regarding the lease he held with the state. As stated earlier, when he built the building along with partners, he was an aviation entity and complied with the terms of the lease. Once he closed the aviation business he continued to rent to all aviation entities but the state felt that it did not meet the original requirements and doubled his rent. Previously he was able to receive a 50% discount for being a general aviation lease but now he was considered a absentee landlord. He kept the rents to the tenants at the lower rate and continued to negotiate with DOT-A. I approached Pat Hart and told him I would buy him out and he was eager to see that happen. Bradley Pacific Aviation was already in the second floor offices and servicing aircraft on the ramp out front. As we approached the DOT-A with the proposal to replace Hart with Bradley, they made it clear that someone would have to pay the double rent going back for over 2 years. There wasn't a great deal of time on the lease and paying the state did not compute financially. Bradley Pacific would have put a lot of money into completely renovating the building including raising the height of the roof to allow the facility to be converted to a hangar to house private jets. Bradley was also interesting in taking on additional lease lots. The DOT-A wouldn't budge from wanting the mutiple years of arrears double rent. Hart continued to fight the state's position. Pat Hart passed away which turned over the fight to his sons who finally settled the case. The state took over the building when the lease ran out.
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I continue to find this building interesting. During the duration of the original lease and as required by the terms of the all airport leases, the lessee as well as tenants are required to be an aviation related business. But now that the DOT-A has taken back the expired lease, they have a new use for this property. Island Movers is the new lessee. They operate what is called a Central Examination Station.
I recognize the need for such a facility but how does it qualify to be at the airport? This is not air cargo but container freight arriving in Honolulu harbor. When Ford Fuchigami held the position of Deputy Director of Transportation (Airports) from 2011 to 2014, he got an understanding of the airports property. When Ford moved up to the Director's position he now over saw harbors and highways as well as airports. The harbors had a need for the "CES" and Ford knew of a building that the state now owned at the airport. Island Movers took on a new lease to operate the CES.
This move solved a problem that seemed to be present due to the lack of space near Sand Island that had an available building. This facility has no requirement to access the airport operations area (AOA) but takes up hundreds of feet of taxiway property. Without a rush to develop existing lots on Lagoon Drive, I can see that this move made sense but it should be a temporary move until another non-aeronautical lot can be designated. Island Movers has a lease that doesn't expire until 1944 and the new "South Ramp Redevelopment Study" (2020) indicates that this facility is one of a few that will not be relocated. If the study is looking into the future to maximize the aeronautical use, how does Island Movers and the CES remain intact. Just my thoughts.
Bradley Pacific also occupied areas in the above facility while it grew its business.
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Also in the building at the time was
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Anderson Aviation
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Dauphin Aero - Karl's aircraft repair
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Pacific Avionics
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Anderson Aviation
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Pacific Avionics
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Duaphin Aero, LLC
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The primary tenant going back a couple of decades was Air Tour Acquisition Corp dba Panorama Air Tours.
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Panorama had two owners over the years.
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Billie Anderson started Anderson Aviation in 1991 and passed away in 1999. The family was always involved but after Billie's death his wife Nida and daughter and son kept the business flying. Kelly took over the business and kept training new pilots for the nearly twenty years. Kelly is now with the FAA.
Scott Frazier worked for Jeanie & Guy Davis of Federal Avionics until he started Pacific Avionics in 1992. It was a busy avionic repair station, not only covering Hawaii but traveled to many islands in the Pacific.
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Karl Dauphin established a small aircraft repair in the hangar at 100 Kaulele Place. Dauphin Aero operated for 25 years.
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All four tenant rented from the state on a month to month basis (revocable permit)
Pierre Michael was the Director of Maintenance for Panorama. When I was with Rainbow Islands Cargo and operated a Beech 18, I would rent a little space in the back of their building to provide for maintenance. Pierre was good friend. When Pierre went to South Pacific Island Airways in 1984, he recruited me to join him as a flight engineer on their Boeing 707's. George Tanoue took over as Director of Maintenance. A few years later George moved next door and lead the maintenance for Aloha Island Air.
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Air MolokaiShuttle
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Before Blue Hawaiian Helicopters it was Air Molokai Shuttle. Henry (Hank) Younge, who started Air Molokai back in 1966, was back with his son Henry (III) to once again provide the necessary air service to Molokai. They had the aircraft but needed a facility. With the help of Ben Schlapack, Oahu District Manager (Airport) they acquired a lease and put up a new hangar/terminal/ office in 2005.
It was very unfortunate that some agencies and companies were not supportive of their renewed efforts to support the people of Molokai and the business closed in 2007.
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See more at
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99 Kaulele Place
Dave and Patti Chevalier's Blue Hawaiian Helicopters took over the Molokai Air Shuttle facility about 2009. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters started in Maui in 1985 with one Bell 206. Dave like a number of Hawaii operators, started flying helicopters for the military in Vietnam. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters expanded from Maui and flew on all islands. I provided Jet-A fuel to BHH during the early years. The Chevalier's sold Blue Hawaiian to Air Methods in 2013.
See more about Blue.
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Patti & Dave Chevalier
August 9, 1998
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Bell 206
EC130
Before the Kaulele Place hangars were built, the lots were utilized for aircraft parking and other uses. Bradley Pacific Aviation had one lot for its fuel truck maintenance and parking. Air Molokai also had a lot for future use. Both lots were comparable in size. Hank Younge paid $10,000 per month. Bradley Pacific paid about $500. Hank paid for the lot and I negotiated to pay a truck parking rate.
In time the lots were developed. See more below.
Taxiway 3
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of issues that has kept the facility from being occupied. for a number of years. This project like many at the state airports does not have the success rate that it should due to the fact the DOT-A partnership with its tenants lacks the engineering collaboration. I recognize that there was others that contributed to the lack of occupancy. This facility will be operational.
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118 Kaulele Place
Hyak Aviation
Gordon Smith initially entered into a lease for this property in 2012. Once he completed the lease with the DOT-A and approved by DLNR he started construction. The project was completed but with a number
Barbara Cox Anthony lived in Hawaii and inherited her fathers company which made her the richest person in Hawaii.
This hangar was originally built for Cox Aviation of Cox Enterprises of Atlanta, GA. The hangar at Air Service Hawaii - Nakolo Place was built by Cox for their G-IV and when they bought a new G-V it wouldn't fit in their hangar, so they built a new one in 2002 for $2 million at Kaulele Place. When Barbara passed away in 2007 the aircraft was relocated to Atlanta and the hangar was sold for $4 million.
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Sky River Holdings
140 Kaulele Place
The DOT-A transferred the lease with an assignment to Sky River Holdings from Cox Enterprises in 2007. This hangar was constructed with a concrete tilt-up construction (similar to the Castle & Cooke hangar) The hangar is home to N171EX Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft
with PW307A (turbo-fan) engines
The hangar was originally designed and built for Mokulele Flight Services, Inc. (Mokulele Airlines) for its new Embraer 170 jet aircraft. This was in partnership with Republic Airways. The hangar would accommodate the aircraft with little room to spare. The facility was to also accommodate their reservation system and administration. Before the facility was completed, the jet that saw little service in Hawaii left.
The hangar sat empty until Guardian Life (Hawaii Life Flight) purchased the facility. Once gain the hangar sat mostly empty until Pulama Lanai completed a purchase in 2017. Pulama Lanai's Lanai Air was the first tenant to actually occupy the space since it was constructed 10 years earlier.
Original lease Mokulele Flight Service, Inc.
Oke'e Aviation Services was contracted to assist Pulama Lanai in the acquisition of the hangar to support their Lanai Air operations. I facilitated the purchase from Guardian Flight and new DOT-A lease in 2017.
150 Kaulele Place
Lanai Air needed more than this facility to conduct its growing business, so discussions started with Richard Schuman to take over the
new Makani Kai facility.
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166 Kaulele Place
Royal Pacific Aviation
Ed Hogan
1927 - 2021
Gary Hogan established Royal Pacific Air, LLC in January 2012 but the interest in aviation started with his dad, Ed Hogan. Ed began his aviation career when he joined the Naval Air Corp in May 1945. After his military service he obtained his commercial pilot's license in 1948. The years to follow, he made a major impact on the Hawaii tourism industry. In 2004, the Hogan's started Pleasant Aircraft Leasing, LLC were they operate 2 Gulfstream 450's from Clay Lacy Aviation in Van Nuys, CA. for luxury private charters.
Gary Hogan
In November 2010, Pleasant Aircraft Leasing, LLC entered into a 30 year lease with the DOT-A for designated space #009-161, containing a land area of 23,686 sq. ft. In January 2012, Gary established Royal Pacific Air, LLC. as a private air charter service.
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1992
The 1992 photo shows the beginning of new lease lot development after the realignment of Lagoon Drive. Circle Rainbow Air started construction on their home that was too much to handle. CRA's Britten-Norman Islander BN2A's are lined up on taxi-lane 3.
FedEx's DC-10 was still operating from the open lot.
Scenic Air's Beech 18's still flying.
Somethings have changed in 30 years and some have just remained the same.
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Kapalulu Place
1993
155 Kapalulu Place
The Castle & Cooke Aviation facility is a great building that certainly catches your eye as well as your interest. The story of how this building came to be, is a drama of grand proportion. I was involved in the early stages of this development and will share more about Circle Rainbow Air,
Doug Ledet as well as Castle & Cooke.
Dave Murdock has been flying to Hawaii for many years. When I was at Hemmeter Aviation back in the 80's, he flew a Falcon 50. I was at Circle Rainbow in the 90's when he upgraded to a Falcon 900. I assisted with aircraft services throughout Hawaii until he established Castle & Cooke Aviation, and upgraded once again to a
Bombardier Global Express
Dole Foods - Dassault Falcon 900
Dole Foods - Dassault Falcon 50
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A leading provider of mission-assured cybersecurity solutions
The largest wine and spirts distributors in the United States
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Castle & Cooke Aviation - Van Nuys, CA
C&C Global Express
Circle Rainbow
Hawaii Air Ambulance
Hawaii Air Ambulance was the first tenant to rent space at the CRA facility in 1994. Flight ops and administration was on the second floor with maintenance performed in the hangar.
Hawaii Air Ambulance
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Sandy Apter - General Manager
Steve Henley- Director of Flight Operations
Steve Douglas - Director of Maintenance - more
Charlie Borden - Mechanic
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98 Kapalulu Place before realignment in 1998 > 216 Lagoon Drive
Mike Hartley was the first to develop a hangar at this location. It was a basic 10,000 sq. ft. hangar with maintenance shops and offices on either side. Don't have any photos of the earlier facility but there is more about Hartley.
Hemmeter Aviation was home for Hemmeter Corporation's aviation division. This little gem of a facility saw many celebrities and dignitaries come and go. Chris Hemmeter had many personal aircraft for inter-island as well as international travel. See more.
Century Aviation
"A riddle wrapped in an enigma"
Louise Miyasato became the president ,when a Japanese businessman acquired Hemmeter Aviation in 1990. Century lost millions over the years until bankruptcy in 2005. Read more.
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Bradley Pacific Aviation had been operating for about seven years before it was successful in acquiring Century Aviation in bankruptcy. It was only three more years before BPA was sold to Ross Aviation. Read More.
I find it interesting that I have had a relationship with many companies and properties during my years at Hawaii airports. This property was special in a number of ways. My first encounter was when I worked for Chris Hemmeter and his team of professionals. It was my best job during my career, When it was sold to Century it became one of my worst jobs...glad it only lasted a month. It took 15 years before I was back in the facility, when BPA was successful in acquiring Century in bankruptcy. Ross Aviation was up next and I lasted 6 months before we departed ways. Ross builds a portfolio of aviation service centers (FBO) and sells to a larger player as they did to Landmark (2014). Years later they purchased Air Service Hawaii (2022) and sell to Atlantic Aviation.
There is always more details in the stories and may get back to some later.
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99 Kaulele Place
Air Molokai
Air Molokai operated from Lagoon Drive / 99 Kaulele Place from ___ until 1990.
In 1988, Hemmeter Aviation required additional space and rented 2 floors of the corner of the Air Molokai building. The accounting department moved into the first floor and additional offices upstairs. When I took over as Executive Vice President in 1989, I occupied the second floor office with windows. I tried to convince Chris Hemmeter to purchase this building for $300,000. This would have allowed Hemmeter Aviation to have full ramp frontage from taxi-lane to taxi-lane. Chris's answer was not timely and Ted Kogoshima of Aloha Airlines closed the deal. With Aloha's purchase of Princeville and the beginnng of Aloha Island Air. Hemmeter Aviation needed to relocate their offices and moved to 110 Kaulele Place.
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Aloha Island Air
Island Air
Hawaiian Air / Ohana Air
110 Kaulele Place
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Aircraft Sheetmetal Specialist, Inc. - Ed Like
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Reeves Air / Charlie's Sheetmetal - Charlie
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Hemmeter Aviation - Accounting
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Goldwing Supply
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Bradley Pacific Aviation (Ross Aviation)
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Landmark Aviation
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Signature Flight Support
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Reeves Air
120 Kaulele Place
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Federal Avionics, Inc. Guy & Jeanne Davis
FAA Avionic Repair Station
more
Tradewind Instruments, Inc.
FAA Aircraft Instrument Repair Station
more
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Original Lagoon Drive
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Rotor Wings Hawaii Inc.
Robert Ota
Aircraft Maintenance & Repair - specializing in helicopter maintenance
Bob Ota established Rotor Wings Hawaii in March 1979 and continued to offer his services for over thirty years. Bob passed away in 2014 at the age of 65. Bob and his staff
Goldwings Supply Service, Inc. - Frank Young
more
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Nakolo Place
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Mokuea Place
In 1982, Air Hawaii leased a GAF Nomad N24a from Hughes Aviation Services (Las Vegas) and contacted me in the U.S. Virgin Islands to assist with its certification. I arrived in June and worked in this facility for 3 months before Air Hawaii gave up the lease and I moved to the north side of the airport for awhile.
This hangar and its small office became home for various operators over the years even though it was too small for large operators and too big for the smaller. It seemed to be empty most of the time.
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Gary Galiher
99 Mokuea Place
For those of us that have spent many years at this airport will always refer to this building as HATS. Hawaiian Air Tour Service started back in 1947 as Hawaii Air Transport Service. In 1953, Hans Mueller, along with Timmy Cooke resurrected the airline and operated successfully for over twenty years.
See more at HATS
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This facility was designed by HATS with maintenance bays on either side of the building with shops and offices in the center. There were no hangar doors, so there was so exposure to the weather. During the HATS years, the shops were capable of overhauling and repairing every aspect of the Dove and Heron aircraft. It was a unique facility.
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After HATS, the DOT-A took over the building and rented out the property on "revocable permits" to numerous tenants.
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As of November 2022, this building is once gain empty. With the "2020 South Ramp Redevelopment Study" this facility could continue on a short term occupancy but long term will make way for something new.
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Kahala Surf Corporation was incorporated on August 15, 2013. It spent a great deal of money preparing to secure airlines fueling contracts.
They had the capitol to be ready and then wait and then wait some more before they started pumping fuel into the wings of airline aircraft. Without having multiple airline contracts it was a matter of time before they closed. The filing of Articles of Dissolution was on Dec. 31, 2021.
shift calisthenics
Mike Willet spent many days in this building back in the late 70's and early 80's. As a young HATS mechanic, he got to understand everything about this very unique British airplane. I first met Mike when I brought Seagull Air's Heron there in 1982. Today, Mike oversees Honolulu Community College's Aeronautics School down the street. He has spent the last thirty years assisting the many students that have passed through those doors and into the maintenance departments of the local airlines.
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More about HCC -Aero and Mike as I work my way down Lagoon Drive.
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More to come soon.
