The Manoa Gang

About the Book

In The Mänoa Gang, Collins relates many humorous anecdotes of growing up in Mänoa Valley on Oahu, Hawaii. He tells the story of a Hawaii long gone and the people and events that made up his life in those fascinating and formative times. The book contains many delightful tales of his “adventures and capers,” such as the time he and some friends repainted the median stripes down the length of Kaläkaua Avenue in Waikiki a bright green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

About the Author

George Francis Collins (1921-2004), resided in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaiÿi with his wife Nancy. He was the author of two previous books; Goodbye Saudi Arabia and Hard Right. In The Mänoa Gang, George relates many humorous anecdotes of growing up in Mänoa Valley on Oÿahu, Hawaii, as well as adult capers such as painting the median stripes down the length of Kaläkaua Avenue in Waikiki a bright green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. His business life involved joining a number of clubs and organizations including the Pacific Club (home of the three-martini lunch), the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce (he was president in 1964), the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and the Rotary Club of Kona, Hawaii. In Goodbye Saudi Arabia, George shares stories and personal observations about his years living there while working for Bechtel Corp. In Hard Right, he relates stories of his activities in the U.S. Merchant Marine for five years during World War II, along with stories of his years in South East Asia during the Vietnam War.