Shifty exec zapped hopes for isles to host pro football

Forty-five years ago a professional football team called the Hawaiian Warriors was set to play in the islands. A head coach was hired, season tickets were sold, a season schedule was set and a training camp was established. This month we look back at the football team that never came to be.

During the mid-1940s, the Pacific Coast Professional Football League had one of the best teams in the country right here in Hawaii — the Hawaiian Warriors. The Warriors boasted first-place finishes, led the league in offense and defense and played to sold-out crowds of 24,000 at the old Honolulu Stadium. But it all came crashing down when several players were involved in gambling and eventually the league folded after the 1948 season.

In 1968, Los Angeles attorney Rex Ellis approached Frank Fasi, who at the time was running for Honolulu mayor, about building a sports stadium with private capital.

Ellis’ background was unique in itself as he was a former FBI agent and former Notre Dame basketball player. Investors were on board, but the deal could not be struck. So Ellis turned his attention to bringing professional football back to the islands after a 20-year absence.

The Continental Football League, formed in 1965 after the collapse of the United Football League, was interested in expanding into Hawaii for its 22nd franchise. The league had previously expanded into Canada and Mexico, so Hawaii was a logical choice given the organization’s wide geographical base.

In 1969, the CFL awarded Honolulu with a franchise and named Ellis president of the Hawaiian Warriors football team. Chuck Fenenbock, a 52-year-old former Detroit Lions running back and UCLA standout, was named head coach. Hawaii fans knew Fenenbock as the 1939 MVP of the inaugural Pineapple Bowl.

Training camp was to be held in San Diego in July. The Warriors were scheduled to play one preseason game on Aug. 21, 1969, against the Fort Worth Braves and their season would consist of seven home games at Honolulu Stadium and five road games.

Prospects were good for the upcoming season because the Warriors inherited the former CFL franchise the Orange County Ramblers, who were runners-up for the championship in 1967 and 1968.

Unfortunately, training camp was never held in July as planned. Local businesses and fans had purchased $14,000 worth of season tickets, but the money disappeared. Debts mounted for rental fees for the Warriors’ posh downtown offices and Ellis’ Kahala apartment.

Fenenbock, his coaching staff and other personnel were not paid. CFL commissioner James Dunn had no choice but to revoke the Warriors franchise and remove Ellis.

Ellis seemed to not skip a beat whatsoever and showed up at a CFL owners’ meeting in Indianapolis with $50,000 checks to prove he was legit. But the checks bounced like a fumble on the field.

Then KGMB-TV/radio owner Cec Heftel, restaurant owner Nick Nickolas of Nick’s Fishmarket and other local investors attempted to save the franchise. The final hopes for the team were dashed on July 17, 1969, when it was announced the investors could not raise $200,000 of the expected $300,000 to run the ball club.

The Warriors relocated to Portland, Ore., and became the Portland Loggers, posting a 3-9 record under Fenenbock. The CFL ceased operations after the 1969 season.

Heftel aired 13 regular-season games live via satellite on KGMB. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers played in 11 of those 13 games.

"The key point to remember is that we are in effect a California outlet as CBS is concerned. This means the Rams and 49ers are our primary teams," Heftel said in a 1969 Honolulu Advertiser interview.

Hawaii would not field a professional football team for another five years until the World Football League franchise The Hawaiians was brought to the islands in 1974. The Hawaiians will be covered in an upcoming column.

A.J. McWhorter, a collector of film and videotape cataloging Hawaii’s TV history, has worked as a producer, writer and researcher for both local and national media. Email him at flashback@hawaii.rr.com.