Being 1974, it was a time of liberation and freedom but gay bars were typically delegated to the side streets. There, under the iconic big banyan tree began what would become a legendary establishment. With no more than $10,000 they put up a lattice fence turned the broken-down house/restaurant/laundromat/parking lot into Hula's Bar and Lei Stand. And although Jack tried to ration that they knew nothing about running a bar, Bob's "anything is possible" attitude eventually won out. The ever confident, Bob Magoon brought up the idea of opening up a bar.
Sitting across from the Kuhio movie theater on the corner of Kuhio Avenue and Kalaimoku Street sat what used to be a house and more recently a laundromat and small restaurant. Law continued to work in real estate when a piece of property belonging to the Magoon Estate became available.
He obtained his real estate salesman's license then soon after, his real estate broker's license. Being in the middle of a major real estate development in Honolulu, meeting with real estate lawyers, accountants and developers, Law quickly learned the real estate business inside and out. Magoon's real estate business was just about to start on a building called 1717 Ala Wai – a little shopping center at a space called Eaton Square. He once again found himself in new territory thrown into the real estate business through Bob Magoon. Bands were no longer needed and Law began looking for other opportunities.
The war ended and the liquor laws evolved. "The Vietnam war was going on and Hawaii found itself split between the Doves and the Hawks".Įventually, time went on. "This was a time when the country was split and one of the things that was important at the time was hair", Law recounts. It was while watching the Sunday Manoa Trio perform at the Outrigger Canoe Club that he was asked to leave because his shoulder length hair was in violation of the club's hair policy. Later the owner of the Colony Surf Hotel and Michel's Restaurant, Rainee Barkhorn wanted to start the first real disco tech in Hawaii called "Pavillon de Michel." Needing a live band to satisfy the liquor laws for dancing, the Potted Palm auditioned and found a home for the next three years.ĭuring this time Law found himself managing other artists and bands, among them were Lopaka, Ed Kenny (who was performing at the Monarch Room at the Royal Hawaiian), and the Sunday Manoa Trio. The Potted Palm was a regular act at the Diamond Head Restaurant which was located in the Colony Surf West (now the Lotus Hotel). During a time when the liquor laws required a live band to serve liquor and allow dancing in an establishment, live bands were playing on every block down Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues. Jack produced their record written by Magoon, titled House of Grass. He and Magoon put together a band, The Potted Palm led by Tina Santiago. While assisting Bob Magoon with his musical production, Law also started a record company called East West Productions. East West Productions- entry into the music business I really feel like I was predestined to come to Hawaii. I strongly feel that we have a choice and there's a dichotomy of being predestined for certain things. "I can't imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn't come to Hawaii. Although the third member of their trio lasted only a year before returning to Michigan, to Law and his buddy, John Dobovan, Hawaii became home. Seeking refuge from the depressing Michigan winters, Law and two of his buddies packed their bags and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii. Law found himself working at a record company in downtown Detroit as a young man, at the time when Motown Records was in its heyday. Unfortunately, the military life style of his parents sent the family back to the harsh winters of Detroit where he yearned for warmer weather.
He got his first taste of the tropical weather at the age of seven when his family moved to Florida.