Jan 23, 2011
Jun 13, 2010
Grandpa at the CCC
At Kohala in 1937 after a football game, played for Shell B.C.
She was our waitress, knew her brothers when I was at CCC.Grandpa in the 7th grade
Gabriel Manning Jr. in the seventh grade - 1929
Upright - kneeling - on the left.
Teacher Toma Tasaki.
May 17, 2010
Grandpa in the National Guard
Caption for this photograph reads, "At
Oct 27, 2009
Ho'okahi Makahiki
It's been one year Grandpa since you passed away, we still miss and think of you often. Mahalo for all you did for us and gave us a lifetime of memories.
God be with you 'till we meet again.
Me Ke Aloha Pumehana.
May 25, 2009
Gabriel and Virginia Manning - Family History written in 1977
The words that are penned upon the next few pages (family Book of Remembrance) will share some of the hi-lights that filled the lives of Gabriel Manning, Jr. and Virginia Martins De Santos.
To begin we will explore the life of Gabriel.
On April 25, 1916, a Tuesday, at 8:00pm, Gabriel and Emilia Manning became the proud parents of their first-born son. Keeping with tradition, they bestowed the name of Gabriel Manning, Jr. on the precious babe. Gabriel was to be only one of ten children. The Manning family was blessed with eight daughters and two sons.
The Mannings selected
Gabriel received his formal education in
Gabriel followed in the footsteps of his father in name and a warm and friendly personality, but made a name for himself as an athlete.
He was involved in competitive sports since the age of eleven! His first association was with the “Lincoln Wreckers” in a barefoot football league. Besides football, Gabriel was involved in bicycle racing, rowing, skating, basketball, boxing and just about any other sport that provided fun and excitement.
Being very active in various sports, Gabriel won acclaim to recognition in several areas. Some of the outstanding ones were:
1) On July 4, 1934, Gabriel won a sterling silver medal for the Bicycle Race championship around the
2) As an oarsman, Gabriel was also outstanding. He rowed for the Hawaii Rowing Club at 17 years of age. The nickname given to this kid crew was the “Million-Dollar Crew” because as a crew they coordinated things so well and were truly champions.
As a child, Gabriel practiced his rowing in a cardboard box, but on July 4, 1935 his million-dollar crew” won a bronze medal in competition. So all of his training in that cardboard box paid off!
3) During the years 1935-1937, Gabriel spent time in Waimea on the
During his reign as champion, he had as a contender his cousin. Certainly that was a difficult fight. No doubt Gabriel won but did he get a reprimand from his mother when she found out that he fought with his cousin. Grandma Manning was always such a loving and warm woman and very family oriented.
At this time also, Gabriel got involved in basketball and the members of his team were recognized as the “heroes of Waimea.” The team was just overflowing with talent.
It was through the sport of basketball that Gabriel made his first airplane trip to
4) While boxing for the Eagles Boxing Club, Gabriel was made an offer to fight professionally. People who scouted him felt he was a natural champ. However, because of injuries, a change of attitude and advice from his doctor, Gabriel declined the offer and retired from the ring.
From the few events that have been mentioned, we can readily see that Gabriel did indeed make a name for himself as an athlete and champion.
As a youngster, Gabriel filled his life with sports and also hard work. Hard work involved delivering newspapers in all kinds of weather and working in the family taro patch under the supervision of his dad.
However, there was still much to look forward to in Gabriel’s life. In 1939 he became acquainted with the woman he would spend the rest of his life with – Virginia Martines de Santos.
Her parents, Manuel and Virginia, built a family of 7 sons and 7 daughters. Jean followed the footsteps of her mother in name and personality also – warm, shy and family oriented.
Jean was educated at Kalanianaole Elementary and
Jean was raised in a very reserved and disciplined home. Each child was assigned a chore. Jean’s assignment was to clean the house. Everything was always orderly and neat. This experience and training was carried with her when she became a mother.
Jean had a very restrictive social life and therefore, most of her time was spent developing basic homemaking qualities.
One of her strongest talents was sewing. She sewed all of her clothes and always looked well. She also had very good posture and while in school was selected to be the model of good posture in all classes.
Both Gabriel and Jean loved to dance and that was the beginning of their relationship. They met at a dance and courted each other for about a year and were married on Nov. 16, 1940. They were married at
As newlyweds they were able to realize the dream of owning their own home. They were given a portion of the Manning estate and set up house at
Over the years this house developed into a home with the birth of three children: The first, Theron, was born on May 22, 1941; Second, Barbara, was born on Dec. 21, 1942; and third, Gaylene, was born on Aug. 18, 1950.
Not only did Gabriel and Jean raise three fine children but also developed themselves as individuals.
Gabriel continued outstanding as a leader. His interest turned from sports to politics, PTA’s, and church activity.
For 17 years, Gabriel served as a union leader in various positions. In 1947 he was a unit leader for the ILWU and attended a convention in
Of the most significant events was an auction that was held for the purpose of getting better and sufficient lighting for the school.
Gabriel was the auctioneer and in 4 hours he raised, $4,000 – how’s that for the gift of gab!
Gabriel worked in the MIA for many years and served on two bishoprics as a first counselor. He is now a high council member and an advisor to the Young Adult and Institute Programs.
Jean was baptized a member of the Mormon Church after her marriage and birth of three children on Dec. 30, 1950. She has involved herself in the MIA, Primary and Relief Society Programs. She is presently serving as a secretary in the Relief Society.
On September 3, 1969 Gabriel and Jean were sealed for time and eternity in the
Another dream was realized in Dec. 1969. They attended the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl Game in
Jean had won a trip for tow to the Rose Bowl in a Downtown Merchants Contest. They went royally. They stayed at the Mayflower Hotel and attended all of the events. The football teams vying for the crown was USC vs.
All his life Gabriel worked hard to support his family by working as a crane operator for Hilo Iron Works. He stared with the company on Oct. 28, 1940. To this date he has been there 37 years!
Meanwhile Jean has raised 3 children, maintained a home, managed the family budget and quietly supported her husband.
Jean and Gabriel are now entering the retiring years. Their three children are married and have families of their own. The posterity has grown to six grandsons and one granddaughter.
So now they are preparing for retirement and enjoying some of the luxuries that they sacrificed while raising their family.
They have had many opportunities to travel across the
In 1976 Gabriel had the opportunity of baptizing his first grandson, Theron, and blessing his first granddaughter, Nicole.
In 1977 they attended a family reunion of the Manning Family in
When not travelling, they keep in touch with their children through letters and the telephone.
So as we have briefly touched on some of the highlights in the lives of Gabriel and Jean we see individuals that have devoted the major parts of their lives to family, church, and community.
May 8, 2009
The Legacy of Gabriel Manning, Jr.
The Legacy of Gabriel Manning, Jr.
[written by him on] May 08, 2008
I dropped the Jr. after my dad, Gabriel Manning, Sr. Died.
I was born on April 24, 1916 at
I went to
All types of teams [played at] the county park and many public recreation sponsored different sports. Even the all the schools had sports.
When I got to the 7th grade, that’s when I started in competitive sports. The first team I played for was the Lincoln Wreckers A.C. [Athletic Club]. 75 lbs. Barefoot football team. There were many teams there Olaa Sugar Co., Waiakea Pirates, Hilo Sugar Co., Waiakea homestead team. We played every Saturday morning up at the
Why it was called
For the girls from the country, they could board at King Daughters Home next to
More Legacy:
Born April 24, 1916 Piopio St.
Moved to Waiakea Houselots in 1921 at
Houselots was like
Attended Kapiolani. Graduated from
Sports:
After graduation was depression years - no jobs
Went to Waimea Civilian Conservation Corps.
Was
In July 4th, 1934 was bicycle champion. Went around the
It was then 320 mile around the island.
The race was from the wharf to
Rowing: Rowed with
They called us the million crew because no crew could beat us.
We even rowed against our senoir crew in the work boat and left them way behind.
[During] July 4th, 1935 race, the closest crew behind [us] was Myrtle Crew from
They were 22 boat lengths behind.
Our crew consisted of David Napeahi (stroker), Johnny Spence (HS?) ,
Arthur Campbell #4, Eddie Bento, #3, Joe Broto #2, , Gabe Manning #1
We broke the record of Walter Victor by 2 seconds. He was on the kid crew years before us.
Then I went to Waimea CCC which means Civilian Conservation Corps. President Roosevelt made that to give us young boys jobs. Those were the best years of my life.
You stay in CCC for 2 years.
While at CCC, I went up and around the island many times because I was a mechanic and got paid $30.00 a month, the other boys got paid $25.00 a month.
We could keep only $5.00 and they send the rest home to help our families because it was the Depression years. While at CCC, I was the boxing welterweight champion, at 135 lbs. Football champions and
The basketball team was invited to Richard Smart the owner of Parker Ranch wedding or welding? We were well liked by the Waimea people. George and Thelma Lindsey were like parents to us. We went to church and MIA all the time. George and Thelma were our MIA leaders.
When we went to Kohala to play football, the Kohala seminary girls were our rooting section because they were from Waimea attending
Left the CCC in September of 1937 because my 2 years was up.
Worked for Ruddle sales and service played softball and was on the swimming team. We won the 100 meter relay race in June 1938.
In early 1939, Kid Salvador, who went to CCC with me, was a professional fighter. [He] urged me to go fight amateur for
Then, I join[ed] the Eagles Boxing Club. I won every fight until I thought I was too good and did not need road work until I met this one guy who was just as good as me and just as fast. Had a good fight and I was leading by a few points. Then I stared to get tired. Then he started to beat me to the punch. I was too slow for him. I took the worst beating of my life. He even knocked my mouth piece out of my mouth. I tasted my own blood. I knew I had to knock this guy out to win. I did every trick I knew but I was too slow. So, I did the last thing I knew to do. I made him follow me and used the ropes as a sling shot. It worked until I threw the punch with all I had. He ducked, I miss[ed] him, it was like my [w]hole inside was coming out. I swore to myself that I was going to quit football and train for boxing fully so I can meet this guy again. I was fighting on Saturday nights and play[ing] football on Sundays. I thought play[ing] football on Sundays was enough to make up for the road work training. But that is not enough. On Monday, I got up and took 4 miles of road work a boxer should. After that no one could beat me.
Then, I found out I was too vicious. My boxing coach told me not to hold back my punches. He said if the guy in the ring with me cannot defend himself, he had no business to be in the same ring with me. Then, I was a fight machine until one time our heavyweight ask[ed] me to spar with him. He said he want to develop speed. He was a Navy champion. We spared for 5 rounds. He weighed 195 lbs. and I weighed 142 lbs. That’s my best fighting weight. I put all the power I had in my hands. We train with 15 ounce gloves and fight with 8 oz. gloves. For every 4 punches I hit him, he hit me once and I would fly across the ring. After the sparing match, one of the seconds? came over to us and said, “What you guys trying to do, kill each other?” Both of us won our fight in Kohala.
Another time, I was fighting Guy Kueo from Pahala in Kau. When I walked in, someone told him. “That’s Manning.” He looked me over as I was going to the dressing room. This guy Kueo is 6 feet tall and had a long reach. When I looked him over, I knew I could beat him. He was too slow.
When it our time to fight we step into the ring, I told myself, “if this guy thinks he can beat me, he’s got to show me.” This has always been my attitude. When it started, he bent low and came in. I beat him to the punch all the time, he was slow. The 2nd round, I set him up for a knock out when he starte[d] to come in I dropped low and started my upper cut from the floor. The timing was perfect, I told myself I was going to either break his jaw or break my hand, but somehow he stopped. I put all the power in my right hand when I started the upper cut up. He stopped. My hand just clipped his jaw and his nose. I also flew up with the punch with all the power behind it. After the fight was over, my second came to me and told me what he said. “Boy, Manning almost kill me.” That’s when I decided it was time for me to quit boxing.
April 1, 1946 Tsunami
APRIL 1, 1946
HILO TSUNAMI
by Gabriel Manning
I did not know much about tsunamis. The only thing I knew about tsunamis was when I was a little boy about 8 years old. We were living at
I use[d] to tell a few of my friends about the 1946 tsunami when they talk about it and asked about it. It was Dr. Chalmers Hamasaki who was always encouraging me to write and tell the story about my life. Whenever we go to visit our grandchildren they always want to know the history of our lives.
Dr. Hamasaki always used to tell me to write about the 1946 tsunami. He told me that [it] is history and everyone should know about it. He said don’t let it die with [you]. I finally realized that I better write the story of my life, because I am getting older and my grandchildren and many of the younger generations should know about tsunamis and its danger and to respect the sea. I think of this guy who went down to
I would like to tell you my story of the 1946 tsunami.
As I got to work about 6:50am on April 1st, I was walking to the machine shop when I noticed the
I climbed up the machine shop crane ladder to watch the tidal wave. I never [saw] a tidal wave so I thought it was a safe place for me to watch the tsunami. I climbed up on the machine shop crane and watched.
The first thing I saw was the river receding. The sampans [boat taxis] were heading out to sea. There was also a ship that was tied up at Pier 1 that was also heading for the open ocean alongside the breakwater. I thought the ship would be grounded since the bay was receding. Whoever was piloting that ship sure was doing a good job. When he turned and headed out to the open ocean I felt happy for him. The bay did not get dry so the ship had a good chance.
The first wave that came was not too high. “Lefty”, a blacksmith from Yasikawa Blacksmith Shop, climbed up on the roof of the blacksmith shop. When [a] wave came in and hit [the] shop. It hit the beams that were holding up the roof. The beams flew out and “Lefty” fell into the water. It was sure funny. In fact, “Lefty” was grinning. As soon as that wave died down, the water started to recede again. This time it receded further out. As the wave was receding, the bookkeeping manager of I. Kitigawa drove in and ran upstairs to the office to get some things. He came down the stairs and jumped into his car and drove off towards Waiakea town. [When he got to the bridge] the wave caught his car and pushed it against the bridge. The car was like paper the way the water carried that car. He was lucky it did not throw the car into the river over the bridge. He got out of the car and ran.
We had a big door that lifts up and down for the trucks to come in to unload and pick up the sugar rollers and other large things that cannot be put on the railroad flat cars. During 1944 [in the] war, we used that door for the Army to bring their 90 millimeter anti-aircraft guns to be repaired. When the wave hit that door, it flew open and up just about touching the crane hook.
I believe that little girl about 10 or 11 years old from down by Mistuo Club, by
Another miracle is this old Hawaiian lady. This lady was about 75 years old, about 5ft. 9 inches tall. She was too tired to go anymore. She was just leaning on to the light pole and hanging on. When I saw the wave coming in I said, “Oh no.” It caught this old lady, carried her across Wailoa River on to Wailoa State Park and she got up on her feet and walked away. I told Manuel Arruda, “Look at that.” I never thought that I would see that woman stand up and walk away.
There were many moments also like the little children going by yelling, “Save me, save me.” And you can do nothing to save them. Boy, we just cried. There was also this woman living in this rooming house next to this warehouse where we were on. We could do nothing either to bring her up to where we were. We did not have anything to get her. She was only 10 or 15 feet below us. She told us she did not know where her husband and children were.
When we looked out in the bay, we saw Mitsuo club floating out in the bay next to Coconut Island and you know that guy did not know he was out there floating around until he looked out. He was asleep and felt the house moving around.
Another sad thing to see was this Portuguese woman who lived next to the Plate Shop. This woman was sitting by the living room window. Her house was going up and down in the river. Right in the center of the river. We were hoping that one of the waves would take this woman’s house to the mango tree so she would be able to get out and climb up the mango tree. This mango tree is across the river from the back of the Plate Shop. This mango tree was a life saver. Many homes were washed against the mango tree. Whenever a house would hit the tree people scrambled out of the house onto the branches and up the tree. There were many people up in the mango tree.
The turning railroad bridge. This bridge is turned to let the scows and boats and sampans that would park up the river beyond the bridge. The scows are used by Waiakea Mill to haul raw sugar to the dock to be loaded on the ships to take to the refinery in
About that Portuguese woman in the house floating up and down in the river. When the river receded for the third wave in which was the biggest of all, this house could not pass under the bridge. It just crumbled the house. It was so sad.
There was this new sampan hull on the dry dock flat bed just about ready to put the engine in. The wave caught this sampan hull, took it off the flat bed cart, up the river. When the river receded it came back down the river out into the bay and floated toward Wainaku side and out to sea and pass the breakwater and out to sea. When that big wave came in, the sampan hull floated in with the wave. It came over the breakwater, towards the old
Another amazing thing was the railroad track. I saw this railroad track against the coconut tree. Every time a wave would come in it would bend the railroad track a little. I could not believe my eyes. After all the waves had come through, the track was bent to a semi-circle. It’s amazing. That track is made of steel.
When the water receded for the third wave, the river was dry and the whole
As that big wave hit the buildings of ocean side of
Just before the wave got to us there was this woman who was living in this rooming house next to where Manuel Arruda and I were standing on the warehouse crane. She was only 10 or 15 feet below us, but we couldn’t bring her up to where we were because we did not have anything to get her up. She told us she did not know where her husband and children were. When the wave hit our buildings she was gone. We were hoping that the wave took her to the mango tree across the river, so she would be able to be safe. As the wave came through it was high. It came through the window. It was a wall of water. When I looked down into the shop I couldn’t see any machine. It was all covered up. The shops looked like a lake. As it kept coming through, our building sure trembled. I thought the building was going to fall. I started to loosen my shoes and clothes. I told myself if this building was going to fall, I was going to dive out. I was making sure I was not going to be caught under the building if it fell.
I knew our building was pretty safe because each one of our beams had [four] 2 inches anchor bolts. Plus all the steel braces. It was sure a surprise to me that our building trembled, but this water was powerful.
To give you an idea of how powerful the tidal wave is, I saw Tony Souza riding his bike to work. The wave caught him and took him through Shinmachi into the river and into the
We had a flat railroad car park in front of the office with 30 tons of pig iron. The wave picked the flat car up with the iron and threw it in
When that big wave receded, the building where that woman who was just talking to us was gone. You could see only cement floor. Yasakawa Blacksmith shop was gone. I. Kitigawa was gone also. Nothing was there but cement floor.
Here is another thing of interest. The soda water bottles that we had in the shop had sand in the bottom of every bottle. How did the sand get in the bottles without any salt water? Even the beer bottles that we picked up on the street had sand in it too. We are still trying to figure that out.
We were up in the building for about 2 hours before we could come down.
Another thing of interest is how the breakwater got that big gash. One of the waves was coming in and another wave going out. They were right on the break water. When everything cleared out there was a big gash in the breakwater. One of those boulders weighed 15 tons.
When it was safe to come down we started to go to Shinmachi to see what we could do. Manuel Arruda headed for home to see how his family was doing. Bill Ayala and [I] headed for Shinmachi. As we came out of the gate there was a dead baby boy about two years old. I checked him to see if he was alive but he was dead and he was naked. The funny thing about this wave if you are caught in it is it rips off your clothes.
As we got to the back of Shinmachi we saw this young mother standing on the sidewalk holding her young baby with a suitcase of carnation cream. It was to make her baby’s formula. She stood there saying nothing. She was just frozen with fear. I took the baby out of her arms. Bill Ayala picked up the suit case of cream. Toma Tasaki, who used to be my 7th grade teacher and scout master, grabbed the young mother’s hand. Then someone yelled that the wave was coming. We all started to run. I saw on the street that there was too much debris, so I cut into this house to get to the other side. When I came to the back door this six cubic foot refrigerator was right in the doorway. I backed up a little so I could get some speed to jump over the refrigerator. There was no doubt in my mind that I would be able to go over the fridge. When I ran and jumped the timing was so perfect, I went up and over the fridge. Only my left buttock and my left elbow touched the top of the fridge. I held the baby close to me so the baby wouldn’t get hurt. We went up and over and I landed on my feet and kept running. As I was running she thought it was lots of fun. She did not know that I was running for our lives. As I was running I had to watch for bottles and canned goods. It was canned goods that when you go to the store they tell you they did not have. The best foods like mayonnaise that were hard to get were there on the street. Whisky and beer bottles were all over the street. I wanted to stop and get some of those things, but every second counted.
I heard of a guy on
As I got to
When Toma Tasaki caught up with me he was dragging the young lady. She was out of breath. She was almost falling down. He kept holding her up and dragging her along.
Another thing I want to relate to you about 3 of our company cars. These cars were wrapped around the columns in the shop and they were smashed flat like pancakes around the column. You could see how much power that tidal wave had.
My advice to everyone is when you hear that a tidal wave is coming; don’t run down to the sea side to see it. Run away from it and get up to a high place and be sure your back is clear in case you have to run
No one knows how high the waves are going to be and you can never out run the waves. The best thing is to stay as far away as possible and the most important thing is to always say your prayers and trust in the Lord. I know, because if it wasn’t for the Lord I would not be here telling you all this.
The Hilo Massacre of August 1, 1938
The
By Gabriel Manning
The Hilo Massacre of August 1st, 1938 is another history in my life that I cannot forget.
On August 1st, 1938, I was working for Ruddle Sale & Service Co. It was a company that sold all Ford cars and trucks. They also was [were] selling Kelenva [Kelvinator] refrigerators. I just join[ed] the Garage Association Union. I was a member for only three days before the massacre at Pier #2.
In the morning of August 1st, 1938, we were told by our president George Cabral, that all the unions in
We were to all park our cars at Reed’s Bay and we were to walk on the railroad tracks at Reed’s Bay to go to the wharf. We were all to meet at the store on the corner of Kalanianaole and
During that time the police was controlled by big business and the Chamber of Commerce. Harry Kamoku and his longshoreman were at the head of the line. They just ignored Charley Martin and kept on marching. The fire department sprayed us with water and the police threw tear gas at us. We kept on marching towards Pier 2. I was walking with Hollis Lyman who worked for HT&T Co. As we [were] walking, a police officer, Kuroyama, threw a tear gas canister towards us, Hollis caught the canister and threw it back to the police officer. He did not catch it, he just took off. It was so funny to see the police officer run.
The whole line walked towards Pier 2. The leaders told us to all line up facing the front of Pier 2.
I was happy the fire department sprayed us with salt water. We gathered water from the road and washed our faces. The tear gas was choking us.
Most of the longshoremen were at the beginning of the line - they were close to where the oil tanker use[d to] unload their oil. In fact, they still do. They were all sitting down on the pavement. The whole line was sitting or standing. I was close to the SS Hualalai. Hollis Lyman and myself and two more guys were sitting on the fire engine main hose that was in the harbor to spray us. In case the firemen were going to spray us, we would pull the main hose out of the bay so they would not have any water. There were about 3 police officer[s] close to us. One of them was Walter Victor. Walter Victor had a Tommy gun and he held it ready to be used. I knew Walter Victor very well. He was the head of the Eagles A.C. (Athletic Club) I used to play basketball, softball, and I used to box for the Eagles A.C. I was talking to Walter Victor. All of a sudden we heard loud talking where the longshoremen were sitting. I saw Charlie Warren jab “Red” Kul[p?]oko with the bayonet that he held on his rifle. Then he jabbed Kai Uratani on his side above the hip. Then Charlie Warren started shooting at the crowd. Just then I saw Bert Nakano come from Pier 2 side and run towards where all the commotion was. Just before [he] got there, I saw him tumble in the air. Then all hell broke loose. I saw people falling. Some of them were White Star Laundry girls running past us and jump into the bay. Some of them got shot in their back side. Some longshoremen got shot on their legs, “Snowball” Nagao got shot in his head. He told me the doctor would not take out the pellet in his head because it was close to his brain. It stayed in there until he died. Another friend of mine from the garage union was “Take” Aona. He was shot just above his hip as he turne to run past a hedge towards the fertilizer plant. As I was crouching & walking towards Pier 1, the bullets was whizzing over my head & hitting the Navy ship that was docked at Pier 1. I saw the sailors bring out a machine gun & set it on deck & was loading. It was a good thing they didn’t shoot back at the police because many of us would be caught in the crossfire.
As I was walking to Pier 1, there was a Filipino longshoreman was crawling to get out of the way of the firing. I asked him “what was wrong.” He answered me and said, “no can walk.” He was about 25 yards from me. I then walked over to him and saw both of his legs was full of buck shots & he was bleeding so I picked him up and put him on my shoulders and carried him to the Sampan buses that was parked at Pier 1 and laid him on the seat so they could take him to the hospital. While carrying this Filipino man and taking him to the bus, I was not afraid I was cool as ever and all bullets whizzing over our heads. But when I got up to the corner where we started from, my legs sure trembled. It was sure a massacre and they did not indict the police. But if it was today, the police could be in jail.
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