HONOLULU (KHON2) – In the ahupuaʻa of Waikīkī, which lies in the moku of Kona here on Oʻahu, stands a short road named for the son of a Chinese sugar plantation.
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We are speaking of Ena Road.
John Ena Jr, son of a Chinese immigrant, was born in Hilo and moved to Oʻahu, eventually acquiring land in Waikīkī.
He worked as a clerk at TR Foster & Company which eventually became known as Inter-Island Steam Navigation Company.
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Under the leadership of Ena, Inter-Island Steam and another steamship company named Wilder merged under the “Inter-Island” name.
Following the arrival of airplanes to the islands, Inter-Island Airways was then established, being renamed to Hawaiian Airlines in 1941.
Ena also served as under both King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani.
Following his passing, Henry Kaiser purchased his Waikīkī estate.