The Hawaiians were a professional American football team based in Honolulu that played in the World Football League (WFL) for two seasons, 1974 and 1975. Their records were 9–11 in 1974 and 4–7–1 in 1975. Their home stadium was Honolulu Stadium in 1974 and Aloha Stadium in 1975. The best known player to play for the Hawaiians was former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill, though quarterback Jim Fassel became better known as a head coach decades later. The Hawaiians' head coach was Michael Giddings who guided the Hawaiians through both the 1974 and 1975 World Football League seasons.
The franchise was originally going to be called the Honolulu Warriors, but a local team had trademarked that name. As a result, the team was known simply as "The Hawaiians", although the press frequently mistakenly called them the "Honolulu Hawaiians" or the "Hawaii Hawaiians." They were owned by real estate developer Christopher Hemmeter for the first season. He was named league president in 1975, and sold the Hawaiians to jewel merchant Edward Sultan Jr.
Though lasting for less than two seasons of play, the Hawaiians represented a serious attempt to form a viable professional football organization, one that at least had the potential for success had the WFL been better run. They were one of only three teams that did not miss a payroll during the league's first season. (False accounts had said some players released from the team could not afford to get to the mainland.) Hemmeter and his original partner, Sam Battisone (who also owned the NBA's New Orleans Jazz) were among the few owners thought to be capable of fielding a team in 1975.Marshall, Joe. World Bowl in crisis. Sports Illustrated, 1974-12-16.
It was the first and, to date, only major professional American football team to establish its home base outside the contiguous 48 states.
Schedule and results Key: Win Loss Bye
1974 regular season Source Week Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source1WednesdayJuly 10, 1974at Florida BlazersL 7–8Florida Citrus Bowl18,6252WednesdayJuly 17, 1974at Southern California SunL 31–38Anaheim Stadium32,0883SundayJuly 21, 1974Detroit WheelsW 36–16Honolulu Stadium10,0804SundayJuly 28, 1974Chicago FireL 29–53Honolulu Stadium12,6085ThursdayAugust 8, 1974at Jacksonville SharksL 14–21Gator Bowl Stadium43,8696WednesdayAugust 14, 1974at Birmingham AmericansL 0–39Legion Field43,2977WednesdayAugust 21, 1974at Memphis SouthmenL 8–60Memphis Memorial Stadium25,1238SundayAugust 25, 1974Jacksonville SharksL 8–14Honolulu Stadium10,0999SundaySeptember 1, 1974Houston TexansW 33–15Honolulu Stadium10,248 10FridaySeptember 6, 1974at Portland StormL 6–15Civic Stadium15,55111WednesdaySeptember 11, 1974at Houston TexansW 24–17Houston Astrodome9,061 12WednesdaySeptember 18, 1974New York StarsW 17–14Honolulu Stadium12,169 13WednesdaySeptember 25, 1974Philadelphia BellL 16–21Honolulu Stadium14,493 14WednesdayOctober 2, 1974Birmingham AmericansW 14–8Honolulu Stadium12,039 15WednesdayOctober 9, 1974at Philadelphia BellW 25–22John F. Kennedy Stadium4,900 16WednesdayOctober 16, 1974at Portland StormL 0–3Civic Stadium11,30217WednesdayOctober 23, 1974at Chicago FireW 60–17Soldier Field20,20318WednesdayOctober 30, 1974Memphis SouthmenL 31–33Honolulu Stadium20,54419WednesdayNovember 6, 1974Southern California SunW 29–8Honolulu Stadium13,78020WednesdayNovember 13, 1974Portland StormW 23–0Honolulu Stadium14,245
Playoffs Game Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source Quarterfinals Thursday November 21, 1974 at Southern California Sun W 32–14 Anaheim Stadium 11,430 Semifinals Wednesday November 27, 1974 at Birmingham Americans L 19–22 Legion Field 15,379
1975 regular season Source Week Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source1SundayAugust 2, 1975at Philadelphia BellL 15–21Franklin Field3,2662SundayAugust 9, 1975at Portland ThunderW 25–24Civic Stadium7,7093SundayAugust 16, 1975Southern California SunL 19–37Honolulu Stadium15,8624SundayAugust 23, 1975Chicago WindsW 28–17Honolulu Stadium10,3135SundaySeptember 7, 1975at Memphis GrizzliesL 17–37Memphis Memorial Stadium15,1326SundaySeptember 14, 1975Jacksonville ExpressW 33–15Aloha Stadium18,4797SundaySeptember 21, 1975at San Antonio WingsL 11–30Alamo Stadium10,871 8SundaySeptember 28, 1975at Shreveport SteamerL 25–32State Fair Stadium21,3499SaturdayOctober 4, 1975Birmingham VulcansL 16–29Aloha Stadium18,894 10SaturdayOctober 11, 1975Philadelphia BellW 14–13Aloha Stadium10,78911SundayOctober 19, 1975Southern California SunL 7–26Aloha Stadium15,905
See also 1974 World Football League season 1975 World Football League season
References
External links The Hawaiians on FunWhileItLasted.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/5886/Honolulu_Hawaiians/1975/Primary_Logo