War Preparations 1940

PHOTO: Civilian defense workers at The Breakers Hotel, 1940. (Hawaii War Records Depository)

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS 1940

To continue with the chronology, we move to 1940 when Hawaii is "invaded" by masses of civilian defense workers and military personnel. Their overwhelming presence brought prosperity in the form of their disposable income, a housing shortage, rent gouging, and a brisk prostitution business confined mostly to Chinatown. It was also the first time many Hawaii residents were exposed to a population of middle-class white workers and African-Americans.

February
The Navy announces its plan to triple capacity of Pearl Harbor Naval Station.

March
General George C. Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, visits Hawaii and announces the expansion of Army units in territory.

April
130 ships of U.S. fleet arrive at Honolulu. Secretary of Navy Charles Edison says Hawaii facilities are “completely reassuring.”

May
Entire territory participates in a black out drill.

June
American Red Cross begins production of surgical dressing and other items for European war zones. Navy establishes base on Maui. War Department directs commanding generals to alert 25.000 troops on Oahu to deal with possible transpacific raid.

June 8, 1940
General Short reiterated the need for people to start a systematic and gradual accumulation of food. He stressed that this should be “everyone’s patriotic duty” to which the University Experiment Station responded with a recommended list of nutritional staples for home storage by civilians.

July
Major General Charles D. Herron, Commanding General, Hawaiian Department of Army, asks mayor, chief of police and managers of sugar plantations to plan for civilian participation in defending Hawaii against attack.

August
Fingerprinting and registering of aliens under federal Alien Registration Act is implemented. Navy plans to expand Kaneohe Naval Air Station. Mayor’s Food Survey Committee reports Oahu could survive 45 days should outside food sources be cut off.

September
Pineapple Producers’ Cooperative Association appoints emergency food committee to work with Army on schedule of pineapple lands usable for truck crops should outside food sources be cut off.

October
S.S. Mariposa and S.S. Monterey make trip to the Orient to evacuate Americans. The National Guard starts active duty, scheduled to last one year. Men register for Selective Service. The Army gives plantation managers secret plan for close control over production, storage and distribution of food in the event of war.

November
The U.S.S. Washington arrives from the mainland with the first group of defense workers for Pearl Harbor and Midway. 750 members of the 251st California National Guard Coast Artillery Regiment arrives for service in Hawaii. The ship continued to Asia to evacuate Americans. Hawaii residents vote for statehood by a two-to-one majority. Governor Poindexter drew the first draft number in the Territory of Hawaii.


December
The Navy opens its new base at Kaneohe. Hawaii construction workers begin building ammunition storage magazines, radar stations, railway track and fixed fortification under the auspices of the U.S. Army Engineers. Admiral C.C.Bloch, Commandant of the 14th Naval District advices Washington of "the inability to meet hostile attack with the equipment and forces at hand." He cited no planes for long-range reconnaissance and the Army's lack of fighter planes and anti-aircraft guns as well as an uncompleted antiaircraft warning system as serious deficits.