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An anonymous reader asked me about longtime Honolulu Advertiser reporter Bob Krauss (1924-2006).
“Even as a kid, I used to enjoy reading his column,” the reader said. “To me, he was to Honolulu as Herb Caen was to San Francisco.
“I still recall one thing he wrote. I don’t know whether he was a participant in this caper, or whether he was simply reporting on the antics of others. It went something like this:
“As we read in school, Thor Heyerdahl rode the Kon Tiki raft on the Humboldt Current to demonstrate that the people of Polynesia might have originally come from South America.” The prevailing point of view was that they came from Asia 30,000 years ago.
“So Bob (or someone else) rode a raft down the length of the Ala Wai Canal to prove that the members of the Waikiki Yacht Club originally came from Kapahulu. Still makes me laugh.”
Kon Kini
Yes, that was Bob Krauss. With him was Kini Popo. It’s one of my favorite stories of his. It took place in 1954.
Krauss and Kini Popo — Carl Hebenstreit — were newbies in 1954. Krauss had been writing for The Honolulu Advertiser for only three years at that point.
Hebenstreit was the first voice islander ever heard on TV on Dec. 1, 1952, when KGMB-TV went on the air at 5 p.m. “Hello, everybody,” he said. “Welcome to the first official broadcast of KGMB-TV.”
Hebenstreit had started as a deejay at KGMB radio. Bob Costa, the station manager, told Hebenstreit that his name was too hard to pronounce and suggested he get a more local one. They considered several possibilities.
Maydell Taitano, the secretary, said, “Why can’t he be Kini Popo?”
At that time a popular expression was “right on da kini popo,” which meant “right on the ball” or “exactly.” Visually, it looked like a hand making an OK sign.
It was something beachboys used to designate something cool, before “shaka” came about a few years later, Hebenstreit told me. “So I became Kini Popo, and many still call me that today.” Kini is 91 and lives in Kaneohe.
Kon Tiki
Their escapade was inspired by Thor Heyerdahl’s story of his 101-day journey from Peru. It became a book, then a popular movie.
Kon Tiki was a raft sailed by six Scandinavian scientists in 1947 and named after an Incan deity.
Kini Popo and Bob Krauss decided to postulate a similar — but totally wacky — theory “that members of the Waikiki Yacht Club, in the dim, distant past, may well have migrated down the Ala Wai by raft from the low-rent district in Kapahulu.”
It was Wayne Collins’ idea, Krauss said. Collins was Hawaii’s first television news anchor and produced Kini Popo’s morning TV show, both on KGMB.
“Popo was the most sophisticated of the early radio-TV stars, and a gentleman at the same time,” Krauss said.
Planning the excursion was complicated. For instance, how would the two communicate with those on shore? Smoke signals were out. A radio transmitter would work but wouldn’t leave room for the potato salad and other refreshments.
Shouting was the most practical, but it didn’t match the calm, cool demeanor of serious scientists. Given that neither was a serious scientist, shouting was chosen, they decided, should the need arise.
Thousands of people lined the banks of the Ala Wai Canal to see the duo float past on a 4-by-6-foot wooden raft. It had a mast and sail with the words “Kon Kini Expedition” emblazoned on it.
They had stocked the raft with a case of beer, sashimi — a practical snack at sea, Krauss thought —- and potato salad. Their only concession to modern navigational equipment was a bottle opener.
Pan Am World Airways provided a bottle of Champagne to christen the Kon Kini.
Setting off
Peaches O’Rourke — Kini Popo’s chimpanzee sidekick on KGMB’s “Sunrise Show” — blessed the endeavor, and they set off.
A huge cheer erupted from the throng of onlookers as Krauss paddled away to begin their 1.5-mile journey.
It took them nearly an hour to make nine blocks (they reached a point opposite Nohonani Street at 1:05 p.m.), the Advertiser reported.
Ten minutes later, the speedboat Miss Pukapuka came roaring up the Ala Wai. Aboard the Miss Pukapuka was officer Al Cantrell, who tried to serve a “warrant” on Bob and Popo for “littering the Ala Wai.”
Officer Cantrell handcuffed Bob and Popo together, but a close examination revealed that the warrant was misdated and “thrown out on a technicality.”
Mystery solved
Their next challenge was the McCully Bridge, where Krauss had to dismantle the mast in order to sail under it. No wonder, he surmised. That explains why the Lurline doesn’t dock at the Ala Wai Golf Course! Another great scientific mystery solved!
Their next obstacle was a pair of scuba divers (Earl Bowersox of KHON and Pete Throckmorton of Underseas Hawaii), hiding behind a section of the Kalakaua Avenue bridge, just where the Ala Wai Canal curved to their left and headed toward the sea.
But the waters of the canal were so murky, the two divers had to stay near the surface and were spotted by skipper Popo.
Kapu Aku
The divers kept their distance until the raft reached a point opposite KHON’s studio near Ala Moana Boulevard, when a banner suddenly appeared across the entire canal proclaiming, “Kapu Aku.”
A barrage of tomatoes (thrown by Aku and his publicity man, Buck Buchwach) rained down upon the raft’s crew.
The aqualungers shoved the raft close to shore, where disc jockey Don Chamberlain, with an assist from diver Bowersox, succeeded in dumping Bob into the canal, spilling most of the raft’s supply of beverages. Thirsty onlookers absconded with them.
Finally, the Kon Kini arrived off the Waikiki Yacht Club at 2:23 p.m. without further interference, and Popo fired his flare gun, signaling a successful conclusion to the expedition.
A bevy of beautiful models embraced the tired pair. Duke Kahanamoku congratulated them on their fruitful voyage of discovery.
Advancement for science
There wasn’t much left of the raft after eager youngsters began tearing it apart at the yacht club anchorage. Still, the duo mused that it might be put into dry dock to recondition it for a sailing to Tahiti.
Then the Kon Kini’s tiny sail, with the legend “Kon Kini Expedition,” would be donated to the Bishop Museum for scientific purposes.
The sailing was a success, Krauss said. Waikiki Yacht Club members may have very well migrated from Kapahulu. It was a huge advance for da kine local science an’ li’dat.
Then Krauss and Popo adjourned to the nearest bar for refreshments.
The Rearview Mirror Insider is Bob Sigall’s now twice-weekly free email newsletter that gives readers behind-the-scenes background, stories that wouldn’t fit in the column, and lots of interesting details. Join in and be an Insider at Rearview MirrorInsider.com. Mahalo!
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