Our History

1851

Pacific Club founded as The Mess, on Maunakea Street, with William Lowthian Green as President.

1867

Union Street clubhouse purchased for $2,000. Name of The Mess formally changed to The British Club.

1870

Kamehameha V becomes a member.

1892

British Club changes name to The Pacific Club.

1893

Liliuokalani deposed, monarchy ended. Clubman Sanford B. Dole heads provisional government.

1899

Princess Kaiulani dies at the age of 23.

1919

Billiard room converted into Lady's Annex.

1926

The Pacific Club buys old Cleghorn estate on Queen Emma Street.

1930

Pacific and University Clubs merge as The Pacific Club. First meeting of new Club held October 10.

1941

Pacific Club names emergency war committee, cancels New Year's party, authorizes air raid shelters on grounds.

1951

Pacific Club centennial celebrated. Service begins at pool terrace (grill and pavilion added the following year).

1954

Art Committee recommends relaxing racial policy. Denied by membership.

1959

Hawaii granted statehood. First jets arrive. Club member William F. Quinn becomes first elected governor of the new state. Contract signed for new clubhouse without cottages. Groundbreaking held.

1965

Vladimir Ossipoff receives Hawaii Society AIA award for design of clubhouse. Mortgage burned; Club clears debt.

1968

Racial policy scrapped. Philip Ching and Asa Akinaka join Club.

1970

Tiare Terrace built.

1980

Eileen Anderson, first woman mayor of Honolulu, elected honorary member. She returns membership in 1982 because of Club's stand against women members.

1983

State legislature threatens with “Pacific Club Bill.” Members vote 70-30 in favor of admitting women.

1984

After long years of debate, Club welcomes Andrea L. Simpson as first woman member.

1985

Men's and Women's locker and weight building constructed.

1989

The Pacific Club admitted as a member of Distinguished Clubs of the World, an organization of 22 major metropolitan clubs, each at least 100 years old.

1990

Gail Ann Chew elected first woman member of Board of Governors. Card Room opened to all members, men and women alike.

1991

Membership passed 1,000 mark.

2001

Club celebrates 150-year anniversary.

2002

Club undertakes major capital improvement plan to renew clubhouse and grounds. All-new state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems installed.

2004

The Garden Lanai renovated to Mangos Bar.

2008

The Lounge renamed to the Val Ossipoff Room in honor of Clubhouse architect Vladimir Ossipoff

2014

The Club celebrates Mangos restaurant's 10th Anniversary.