Mayor Frank Fasi Administration Canceled Honolulu Halloween in 1978

When Honolulu Canceled Halloween: The Storm of 1978

In 1978, the city and county of Honolulu took a step on the holiday itself, canceling Halloween festivities across Oahu as a powerful storm battered the Hawaiian islands, Hawaii News Now reported.

Halloween fell on a Tuesday that year, but the trouble began the preceding weekend. A powerful weather system inundated the region with torrential rainfall, flooding parts of Kauai and Oahu and forcing schools and businesses to close for public safety.

With Mayor Frank Fasi out of town, Managing Director and acting mayor Ed Hirata made the call. Michael W. Perry, who hosted the afternoon drive shift on KSSK and K59 at the time, recalled the administration’s decisive action as conditions worsened into Tuesday.

Perry recalled that Ed Hirata called him—since Mayor Fasi was out of town, he was the managing director and acting mayor—and said, “We’re canceling.” Perry noted that his people were telling him, “Don’t do it. We can’t do this tonight.”

The decision triggered an immediate political showdown behind the scenes. According to Perry, George Ariyoshi’s office contacted the administration to object. Hirata held his ground.

By all accounts, Halloween was officially over.

The Year With Two Halloweens

The shutdown proved short-lived. Weather conditions improved the following day, prompting Hirata to call Perry back at the station.

Listeners of KSSK and K59 received a surprising update: “Halloween is tonight,” Hirata announced.

The announcement was played throughout the rest of the day to spread the word. For Perry, 1978 would be forever known as “the year with two Halloweens.”