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June 8th 2001 - Aloha Tower, 75th Anniversary. Hawaiian Lighthouses Part I in a series.
(See also Hawaiian Lighthouses Part II, and Hawaiian Lighthouses Part II1 issues)
Three stamps were issued on June 8th 2001 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the completion of the Aloha Tower on the Honolulu Harbor. This is the first in a series of Hawaiian Lighthouses.
The actual completion date was somewhat of a mystery to us at Hawai'i Post, as the newspapers and magazines of the time do not record the actual date. Although the Honolulu Advertiser did mention the removal of all the scaffolding surrounding the tower on May 26th 1926, but only because it fell in the wrong place (on Fort Street instead of a vacant lot). Phone calls and visits to various local Historical organizations and the offices of the "Aloha Tower Marketplace" turned up no definite information.
However, in researching the Hawai'i State Archives of the minutes of the June 9th 1926 meeting of the Board of Harbor Commissioners, it is noted in the minutes that letters signed by the Board Chairman, Lyman H. Bigelow, and dated June 8th 1926 were sent to the Territorial Auditor and the Harbormaster stating that the Board had accepted the final completion of the Aloha Tower by the National Construction Company. So June 8th 1926 can be acknowledged as the official completion date. It cost $190,000 to build the tower. Dedication ceremonies took place on September 16th 1926, when members of the Honolulu Rotary Club decorated the tower with leis.
Once the tallest building in the Territory of Hawai'i at more than 10 stories high, it is now dwarfed by downtown Honolulu high-rises. It was built primarily as a navigation aid for passenger ships and other ships entering Honolulu Harbor. On July 1st 1926, the Lighthouse Service (which was later absorbed by the U.S. Coastguard) installed a light atop the tower on the ocean side which could be seen at night up to 20 miles out to sea. Taken over by the U.S. Army in World War II and camouflaged, the tower was used as a control facility for military convoy shipping for the Pacific Theater of Operations. It was returned to its original use on January 1st 1948. The Aloha Tower is now part of a downtown Honolulu shopping center called the "Aloha Tower Marketplace " which opened in 1994. When in Honolulu, take the elevator to the tenth floor and absorb the wonderful view of the Harbor and downtown..
The $2 stamp (above left) pays for additional weight. The background shows a color gradient from pink to green.
The $5 stamp (above middle) prepays the Overnight rate. The background shows a color gradient from yellow to red.
The $8 stamp (above right) prepays the Same Day rate. The background shows a color gradient from light blue to royal blue.
WE ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS ON ALL ORDERS
Technical details of the stamps:
Colors: $2, $3 and $5 stamps - Multicolored
Size: 32mm x 48mm.
Stamps sheet size: 30 (6 across, 5 down)
Perforation: 12.
Stamps design: Enelani.
Layout & Pre-press: Enelani.
Printer: Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Printing Method: 4-color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) printing process.
Sheet margin markings: HAWAI'I POST (top middle), "Traffic Light" showing 4 colors used in printing (lower left side), © 2001 Hawai'i Post (lower right side) & Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i. (bottom middle)
Paper: GPA coated white stock with water-activated gum on the back.
(See also Hawaiian Lighthouses Part II, and Hawaiian Lighthouses Part II1 issues)
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