Hawaiian Steamship Company (1954-58)
The Hawaiian Steamship Co was formed in 1954 to compete with Matson Line in the California to Hawaii trade. The operating and pasenger agent was Pacific Far East Line. The laid up transatlantic liner LAGUARDIA was purchased from American Export Lines and after refitting by New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey she was renamed LEILANI as a result of a poll of travel agents. Her hull was painted green with white superstructure and a letter "H" on each funnel. She carried 650 passengers in one class. The service began in February 5, 1957 with LEILANI sailing from San Francisco to Honolulu. The service offered alternating departures and arrivals from San Francisco and Long Beach, with a stop over at Hilo on each trip. In June the company announced a program of "Hawaiianization", a redecoration of the liners staterooms and public rooms "to intergrate Hawaiian color and charm". The work was to be carried out without taking LEILANI out of service. Hawaiian Steamship also operated two 12 passenger cargo Liners, S.S. LANIKAI, S.S. KAIMANA between Hawaii and California. The LEILANI service, however, was not successful and unable to compete with Matson Line, the liner was laid up in San Francisco in December 1958. American President Lines bought her at auction and the Company was dissolved. Hawaiian Steamship Co., vessels:References: AMERICAN PASSENGER SHIPS, Emmons; HAWAIIAN STEAMSHIP Company literature; Gordon Ghareeb; Martin Cox.