The Hawaiians (WFL)

For the 1970 film of the same name, see The Hawaiians (film).

The Hawaiians
Logo
General information
Founded1974
FoldedOctober 1975
StadiumHonolulu Stadium (1974)
Aloha Stadium (1975)
HeadquarteredHonolulu, Hawaii
ColoursBrown, Gold, Scarlet      
Personnel
OwnersChristopher Hemmeter and Sam Battisone (1974)
Edward Sultan, Jr. (1975)
General managerDanny Rodgers
Head coachMike Giddings
League / conference affiliations
World Football League
Western Division

The Hawaiians were a professional American football team based in Honolulu that played in the World Football League (WFL) for two seasons, 1974 and 1975. Their records were 9–11 in 1974 and 4–7–1 in 1975. Their home stadium was Honolulu Stadium in 1974 and Aloha Stadium in 1975. The best known player to play for the Hawaiians was former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill, though quarterback Jim Fassel became better known as a head coach decades later. The Hawaiians' head coach was Michael Giddings[1] who guided the Hawaiians through both the 1974 and 1975 World Football League seasons.

The franchise was originally going to be called the Honolulu Warriors, but a local team had trademarked that name. As a result, the team was known simply as "The Hawaiians", although the press frequently mistakenly called them the "Honolulu Hawaiians" or the "Hawaii Hawaiians." They were owned by real estate developer Christopher Hemmeter for the first season. He was named league president in 1975, and sold the Hawaiians to jewel merchant Edward Sultan Jr.

Though lasting for less than two seasons of play, the Hawaiians represented a serious attempt to form a viable professional football organization, one that at least had the potential for success had the WFL been better run. They were one of only three teams that did not miss a payroll during the league's first season. (False accounts had said some players released from the team could not afford to get to the mainland.) Hemmeter and his original partner, Sam Battisone (who also owned the NBA's New Orleans Jazz) were among the few owners thought to be capable of fielding a team in 1975.[2]

It was the first and, to date, only major professional American football team to establish its home base outside the contiguous 48 states.

Schedule and results

Key: Win Loss Bye

1974 regular season

Source[3]
Week Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source
1 Wednesday July 10, 1974 at Florida Blazers L 7–8 Florida Citrus Bowl 18,625 [4]
2 Wednesday July 17, 1974 at Southern California Sun L 31–38 Anaheim Stadium 32,088 [5]
3 Sunday July 21, 1974 Detroit Wheels W 36–16 Honolulu Stadium 10,080 [6]
4 Sunday July 28, 1974 Chicago Fire L 29–53 Honolulu Stadium 12,608 [7]
5 Thursday August 8, 1974 at Jacksonville Sharks L 14–21 Gator Bowl Stadium 43,869 [8]
6 Wednesday August 14, 1974 at Birmingham Americans L 0–39 Legion Field 43,297 [9]
7 Wednesday August 21, 1974 at Memphis Southmen L 8–60 Memphis Memorial Stadium 25,123 [10]
8 Sunday August 25, 1974 Jacksonville Sharks L 8–14 Honolulu Stadium 10,099 [11]
9 Sunday September 1, 1974 Houston Texans W 33–15 Honolulu Stadium 10,248 [12]
10 Friday September 6, 1974 at Portland Storm L 6–15 Civic Stadium 15,551 [13]
11 Wednesday September 11, 1974 at Houston Texans W 24–17 Houston Astrodome 9,061 [14]
12 Wednesday September 18, 1974 New York Stars W 17–14 Honolulu Stadium 12,169 [15]
13 Wednesday September 25, 1974 Philadelphia Bell L 16–21 Honolulu Stadium 14,493 [16]
14 Wednesday October 2, 1974 Birmingham Americans W 14–8 Honolulu Stadium 12,039 [17]
15 Wednesday October 9, 1974 at Philadelphia Bell W 25–22 John F. Kennedy Stadium 4,900 [18]
16 Wednesday October 16, 1974 at Portland Storm L 0–3 Civic Stadium 11,302 [19]
17 Wednesday October 23, 1974 at Chicago Fire W 60–17 Soldier Field 20,203 [20]
18 Wednesday October 30, 1974 Memphis Southmen L 31–33 Honolulu Stadium 20,544 [21]
19 Wednesday November 6, 1974 Southern California Sun W 29–8 Honolulu Stadium 13,780 [22]
20 Wednesday November 13, 1974 Portland Storm W 23–0 Honolulu Stadium 14,245 [23]

Playoffs

Game Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source
Quarterfinals Thursday November 21, 1974 at Southern California Sun W 32–14 Anaheim Stadium 11,430 [24]
Semifinals Wednesday November 27, 1974 at Birmingham Americans L 19–22 Legion Field 15,379 [25]

1975 regular season

Source[26]
Week Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source
1 Sunday August 2, 1975 at Philadelphia Bell L 15–21 Franklin Field 3,266 [27]
2 Sunday August 9, 1975 at Portland Thunder W 25–24 Civic Stadium 7,709 [28]
3 Sunday August 16, 1975 Southern California Sun L 19–37 Honolulu Stadium 15,862 [29]
4 Sunday August 23, 1975 Chicago Winds W 28–17 Honolulu Stadium 10,313 [30]
5 Sunday September 7, 1975 at Memphis Grizzlies L 17–37 Memphis Memorial Stadium 15,132 [31]
6 Sunday September 14, 1975 Jacksonville Express W 33–15 Aloha Stadium 18,479 [32]
7 Sunday September 21, 1975 at San Antonio Wings L 11–30 Alamo Stadium 10,871 [33]
8 Sunday September 28, 1975 at Shreveport Steamer L 25–32 State Fair Stadium 21,349 [34]
9 Saturday October 4, 1975 Birmingham Vulcans L 16–29 Aloha Stadium 18,894 [35]
10 Saturday October 11, 1975 Philadelphia Bell W 14–13 Aloha Stadium 10,789 [36]
11 Sunday October 19, 1975 Southern California Sun L 7–26 Aloha Stadium 15,905 [37]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Head football coach". Football Digest. August 1974.
  2. ^ Marshall, Joe. World Bowl in crisis. Sports Illustrated, 1974-12-16.
  3. ^ "1974 World Football League Game Results". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  4. ^ Mizell, Hubert (July 11, 1974). "Blazer debut only lukewarm". St. Petersburg Times. p. C1. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "California Sun rises in the west". The Desert Sun. UPI. July 18, 1974. p. B2. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Third straight loss for Detroit Wheels". San Angelo Standard-Times. Associated Press. July 22, 1974. p. 5B. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Chicago Fire burns up Hawaiians". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Associated Press. July 29, 1974. p. 17. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "McAshan sparkles". The Columbus Ledger. Associated Press. August 9, 1974. p. A15. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Burleson, Al (August 15, 1974). "How about a nice Hawaiian punch?". The Huntsville Times. p. 30. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Covitz, Randy (August 22, 1974). "Happy Hawaiian holiday fulfills Huarte's dream". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. p. 24. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Late Oliver pass aids Sharks 14–8 victory". Nevada State Journal. UPI. August 26, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Hawaii sinks Texans, 33–15". The Houston Chronicle. September 2, 1974. p. 4-1. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Rufus runs Storm to win". Independent Press-Telegram. UPI. September 7, 1974. p. C2. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Hawaiians win 24–17". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Associated Press. September 12, 1974. p. 2D. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Reedy, Fred O. (September 19, 1974). "Hawaiians knock off Stars in kick fest". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. p. 15. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "4 interceptions aid Bell's win". Courier-Post. September 26, 1974. p. 53. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Americans suffer 14–8 loss in Hawaii clash". The Selma Times-Journal. October 3, 1974. p. 7. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Hawaiians nudge Philadelphia Bell". The Indianapolis Star. UPI. October 10, 1974. p. 59. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Storm nips Hawaiians". Independent Press-Telegram. UPI. October 17, 1974. p. C2. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Hawaiians tie WFL mark in 60–17 win". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. October 24, 1974. p. D1. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Huarter flips for 3 scores". Omaha World-Herald. Associated Press. October 31, 1974. p. 38. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ McGuire, Dan (November 7, 1974). "Sun goes down, 29–8". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. F1. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Storm in playoffs". The Columbian. Associated Press. November 14, 1974. p. 14. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Roberts, Rich (November 22, 1974). "Sun loses game, three stars". Press-Telegram. p. C1. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Americans win World Bowl berth". The Dothan Eagle. Associated Press. November 28, 1974. p. 14. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "1975 World Football League Results". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  27. ^ "Corcoran, Kwalick team for Bell". The Patriot-News. Associated Press. August 3, 1975. p. C11. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Richard, Terry (August 10, 1975). "Hawaiians thwart Thunder, 25–24". The Sunday Oregonian. p. F1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Ex-Troy pair lead Sun win". The Sacramento Bee. Associated Press. August 18, 1975. p. C5. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Sixkiller guns down Winds for WFL Hawaiians". The Daily Pantagraph. Associated Press. August 25, 1975. p. B2. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Kiick's TDs lead Memphis". The Miami Herald. Associated Press. September 8, 1975. p. 3C. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Express toppled by Hawaii 33–15". Tallahassee Democrat. Associated Press. September 15, 1975. p. 18. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Wings no easy mark". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. September 22, 1975. p. C1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Woodson, Rick (September 29, 1975). "Offense wins, eh, Steamer?". The Shreveport Journal. p. 1C. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Cargile, John (October 6, 1975). "Vulcs win 'biggest' road game". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. A12. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ McGuire, Dan (October 12, 1975). "Hawaiians win 14–13". Honolulu Star-Bulletin & Advertiser. p. G1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Suns roll over Hawaiians". The Desert Sun. UPI. October 20, 1975. p. B3. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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