Steamship service to Hawaii begins

Sept. 11, 1922: The S.S. City of Los Angeles left Los Angeles Harbor, heading for Honolulu “with 264 Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce excursionists in her cabins and 5,000 tons of Los Angeles freight in her hold,” The Times reported.

“Honolulu and Los Angeles are now only six days apart. Los Angeles has a new trade territory. And Los Angeles is now Hawaii’s nearest neighbor,” the newspaper said.

The steamship’s departure inaugurated fortnightly service between Southern California and Hawaii, with the City of Los Angeles and the City of Honolulu alternating trips, The Times said.

The departing ship had 32 kinds of California fruit in its hold, the newspaper said, adding: “While the Hawaiians have plenty of pineapples, bananas and other tropical fruits, they have a tooth for California fruits. The bulk of the cargo was oil, 3,000 tons of it, sent by the Standard Oil Co. .... There also was a large pipe organ from Van Nuys for the Princess Theater of Honolulu.”