Charles Crane

Charles S. Crane in 1905

Charles Spencer Crane (January 4, 1869 – September 13, 1958) was a businessman and politician in Hawaii.

Life

Crane was born in Honolulu on January 4, 1869, the son of a whaler captain E. D. Crane. He started working at the Honolulu telephone company. In February 1897 he worked in the business department of the Hawaiian Gazette Company, became assistant manager of the Gazette in 1900, and in November 1905 became manager of the publishing company.^[1] From 1908 to 1919 he published a Hawaiian language newspaper called Ka Nupepa Kuakoa.^[2] Crane married Emma Spurrell Thompson on October 16, 1922 at Hilo.^[3] He eventually became executive vice president of what would become the Honolulu Advertiser.^{[4]:127–128}

After Advertiser owner Lorrin A. Thurston died, his son Lorrin Potter Thurston took over in October 1931, and Crane resigned from the newspaper to go into politics. He was elected to the board of supervisors for the City and County of Honolulu.^[4]:173 He was appointed Mayor of Honolulu July 15, 1938 upon the death of George F. Wright, and served until to January 2, 1941. He was elected to the Territory of Hawaii senate 3rd district in 1943 and 1945.^[5] He retired for a while to California, and then returned to live with his son Ezra Crane who was editor of the Maui News.^{[4]:127–128} He died on Maui September 13, 1958.

Crane is memorialized in Honolulu by Crane Playground in the Kaimukī section of Honolulu at 21°17′9″N 157°48′53″W / 21.28583°N 157.81472°W.^[6]

References

1. "Chas. S. Crane Elected Gazette Co. Manager". Hawaiian Gazette. Honolulu. November 7, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
2. Joan Hori. "Background and historical significance of Ka Nupea Kuakoa". Retrieved October 10, 2010.
3. Hawaiʻi State Archives (2006). "Marriage records Hawaii island (1911–1929)". Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
4. George Chaplin. Presstime in paradise: the life and times of The Honolulu advertiser, 1856-1995.
5. "Crane, Charles S. office record". state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
6. Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel Hoyt Elbert and Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of Crane ". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved October 10, 2010.