HONOLULU SETS NEW STYLES

Evening Star, Issue 23100, 28 October 1938, Page 12

HONOLULU SETS NEW STYLES

SHERIFF S GREETING Probably nowhere else in the world except Honolulu are visitors flattered by being met at the city gates by the sheriff (says the ‘ Christian Science Monitor’). During the three and one-half years he has been sheriff of the city and county of Honolulu, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku has performed his duties in accord with his own unique interpretation of their scope. It has been largely due to Duke’s interpretation of his role in public life that residents of Honolulu have learned to regard their sheriff as an official entirely different from the iron-fisted man of the law which movies and western novels have delineated with such indelible characteristics. When Duke entered the political arena three and one-half years ago to run for the office of sheriff he was overwhelmingly elected, chiefly because the people of Honolulu were eager for the opportunity to reward him in part for years of unequalled and unpaid-for service to Hawaii. He rode into office on his reputation as Hawaii’s most noted citizen, who from 1912 to 1924 won international fame but small fortune as the world’s greatest swimmer. Nobody paid much attention to his qualifications for office. As sheriff, Duke inherited a job which had for several years declined in prestige and community importance. Crime and law enforcement problems in Honolulu are largely the responsibility of the city’s rehabilitated and modernised police department, which underwent a thorough reorganisation five years ago. As a result of the reorganisation the duties of sheriff were limited chiefly to administration of the city-county gaol ( and the serving of sundry legal vp-its and documents. Many of his friends thought that in undertaking this assignment Duke might lose considerable prestige in community. The reverse has been true. Not only has Duke’s own enviable reputation been enhanced by this venture into politics, but the office he assumed has, under his administration, acquired a more favourable concept in the public eye. j To the prescribed functions of his office Duke has added one or two of his own ideas. During his administration Honolulu’s sheriff has become the city’s chief greeter. He is Hawaii’s ambassador of “ aloha,” the personification of Hawaiian hospitality. ' Visiting dignitaries are usually greeted by Duke off port before they reach Honolulu’s shores. Through him many a traveller has obtained his introduction to Hawaii. For example, when Shirley Temple came to town she rode down the gangplank and across the pier on the sheriff’s broad shoulders so that she couid see and be seen by hundreds of youngsters crowding the wharf to obtain a glimpse of her. The sheriff doesn’t offer all visitors such service, but he does make it plain that you’re welcome.