Kelly's Drive-In, Honolulu 1950s
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Kelly's Drive-In was a well-known landmark diner located on Kamehameha Highway (Kam Highway) in Honolulu, Hawaii. It opened in 1941 and closed in 1998 - a 47-year run.
A nostalgic mid-century drive-in, it featured an attached lounge called the Bronco Bar, a famous watering hole and meeting place.
Because of its proximity to Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base, Kelly’s was a major hub for American service members. Hawaii Air National Guard members famously packed the diner for quick breakfasts on training weekends because the staff knew exactly when they needed to head out for morning formations.
In the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, Kelly’s was also the place to cruise after high school football games at the old Honolulu Stadium (nicknamed Termite Palace) or Aloha Stadium. Families and friends would park, order from carhops, and pass the evening away.
Kelly is an Irish surname and the shamrock, a type of clover, is often used as a symbol of Ireland. Note too, the distinctly un-Hawaiian uniform of the car-hop.
Perhaps Kelly’s was established by an Irish owner living on the Big Island but it was operated by Spencecliff, a famous family-run restaurant corporation in Hawaii.
Founded in 1939 by brothers Spencer and Clifton Weaver, it grew to include over 50 coffee shops, lounges, and themed dining spots across Oahu and Maui before the company was sold in the 1980s.
Each order includes a print of the interior menu.
All printed in USA.
