Fred J. Koehnen, Hawaii Island-born community and business leader, has had more than 90 years of action-packed experiences — but his unerring compass has always returned him to Hilo. ADVERTISING Fred J. Koehnen, Hawaii Island-born community and business leader, has
Fred J. Koehnen, Hawaii Island-born community and business leader, has had more than 90 years of action-packed experiences — but his unerring compass has always returned him to Hilo.
Koehnen’s just-published memoir, “Been There Done That Back to Hilo,” tells the story of his nine-decade odyssey. He’s hunted, fished, ridden, wrangled cattle, hiked, golfed and swum in every quarter of Hawaii Island. In business, government and community service, he has diligently done what was needed, leaving a lasting mark.
Koehnen, 91, will be honored at a dinner sponsored by the Lyman Museum on Sept. 27 at Nani Mau Gardens. A longtime member of the museum board, he is donating the proceeds from his memoir to the museum.
“Lyman Museum is a great repository of history, particularly of Hawaii Island, so it’s fitting that Fred’s book becomes part of the museum’s legacy,” said Richard Henderson, chairman of the Lyman board.
Tucked in the pages are historical tales and images of Hawaii Island from before World War II through statehood, the rise and fall of King Sugar, and the transformation of East Hawaii in response to devastating tsunamis.
As a boy, this son of German immigrants to Hilo saw glory and disgrace in the 1936 Olympics and Hitler’s pre-war Germany. He awoke at the University of Hawaii at Manoa on Dec. 7, 1941 to Pearl Harbor’s bombing. Active in two wars — World War II and Vietnam — he was in active or reserve service for 32 years.
Many recognize the Koehnen name from F. Koehnen Ltd., and the landmark Koehnen’s Building that housed a furniture and gifts store for decades. The store was begun by Fred’s father, Friederich Koehnen, who came to Hilo in 1909 as an apprentice of sorts to the Hackfeld and Company trading firm.
“We’re very pleased to be able to honor Fred and his contributions, both to our community and to the country,” said Barbara Moir, president and executive director of Lyman Museum. “He’s been instrumental in building the museum’s base. And as you’ll discover in his memoir, he’s also a heck of a writer.”
The book is available for $20 at the museum’s gift shop.
