Kona Bridge Club Early Years

By Irma Catherine Bauer Watson

The Kona Bridge Club was founded in 1969 by Charles W. Watson and his wife, Jane. The first bridge club meeting was at the Hale Halewai on Alii Drive. Chuck as we called him, had worked for Aerospace Corporation as an engineer and had flown over the small village of Kailua on a project for his company and vowed he was going to live there one day. When he found that he had already earned pension rights he brought Jane for a visit and bought a lot on the ocean that same year.

After renting an apartment, they placed an announcement in the paper and showed up at Hale Halewai to welcome their only player, George Morrison. They played three-handed bridge and vowed to keep trying to interest others.

The threesome soon grew to a group of a few tables and the KBC, sanctioned by ACBL, became a reality. But the group was small and the work of setting up and refreshments made it unprofitable and bothersome so the Watson's discontinued the games after a period of time. George and Frank Prunesti, both enthusiasts, met with Chuck and offered to do the set-up if Chuck would direct the games. Chuck also decided not to charge for directing but instead took a small fee for the use of his equipment and the Tuesday night games were again regularly held.

During this time, Chuck also traveled to Hilo to conduct their games but when the gas crunch happened in 1974, he decided to let Hilo run their own game with Gary Post directing, but with the help from Don Von Elsner.

Unit 469 was established during this time and the Big Island Unit traded sites each month, alternating locations monthly. The directors were alternated as well with Chuck, Don, Gary, and John Paoule assisting.

Jane Watson passed away in 1976 and the game and its responsibilities was a healthy outlet for Chuck as he continued to direct the club. Most often running games of about 5 tables weekly, about the time awareness of the pool of players from the 'Snow Birds' was actively sought after and winter games grew rapidly. Of course, when they went home, there was the inevitable letdown, but that was enjoyed as well among the regulars.

In 1978, Kona hosted its first Sectional at the Hale Halewai with more than 20 tables in attendance. The ladies of the club prepared a buffet dinner and the group played in the auditorium, which proved far from acceptable because of poor lighting. On Saturday, and from then on, the sectionals were held at the Keauhou Beach Hotel alternating with Hilo for the events. An aside, the unit was in barren straights as to its treasure and Kona built a fine profit that put them in a positive position for the first time.

Chuck and I were married in 1978 and soon shared the responsibilities of running the club. There has been a policy of paying the 'first-time' membership in ACBL for new players (the purpose in that it soon became more understandable so that interest grew and players stayed).

In regard to the sectionals, we started the free buffets on Sunday mornings, which kept visitors there for the entire weekend instead of going off sight-seeing. We kept that up until it became too expensive with rising prices. But we continued to subsidize these meals and the idea was adopted by most of the others who held such events. We also decided that since we had to pay a full days rent for the facilities on Friday that we should utilize the space so we started holding afternoon games as well. Since this was not previously arranged we had no professional director and Chuck and his stalwart supporters directed the game. Scoring for that large a group was so onerous that we decided that Joe Baker would fill that space and he was worth every cent we paid him to do the scoring and the game became tradition.

Searching for a more acceptable and safer playing site led us finally to the new Kona Outdoor Circle Building, renting it for the two nights that games were held. Bob Bailey was instrumental for securing that site and Chuck, Bob and Frank Scholz installed the lighting that was needed as their contribution to both the KOC and the KBC.

Paul and Beverly Huston were among our regular players, along with Bev's mother Virginia Calhoun. There was room for another game so Paul agreed to direct that game and did so until they moved from the island. Suzanne and Bob Davis took over then. Shari Bolton was also a director as was Buzz Newman who also gave us free publicity in his weekly newspaper column. Before Frank Prunesti moved to Guam, he also took a hand in directing and always was a big contributor of enthusiasm and support. Pearl Rein was one of the first alternate directors and ran games when all trekked to Honolulu for yearly Regionals. Blaine Thomas moved to the island, living in Waikoloa and was a welcome experienced director, generous with his support.

Waikoloa became a club in mid-eighties and held games weekly, while the players from that area supported our Kona games faithfully through the years. Many of the snowbirds repeated their visits through the years attributing their return to the bridge club because of its friendliness and fairness of play. Bill Clausen, a player who was handy with woodworking, built the box that housed our tables and equipment, charging us $70.00 and threw in a revision when it was needed.

It is not possible to praise all the regular players who contributed so much through the years, and who so loyally followed the quest for master points. It was not easy to make life master when there was only one game a week so the competition could be fierce. Adding other games along with players with experience who later joined us made achieving this goal more possible.

A major benefit of duplicate bridge is not only the fun and challenge but in keeping the mind engaged to provide the stimulation needed for island living. Supporting the KBC was rewarding and fulfilling because it provided an outlet for excellence, or striving to accomplish a goal.

Among the many players were Larson's, Marent's, Marion Durant, Doris Lacey, Thelma Straight, Dee and Ken Woods, Claris and Jim Potter, Ormand Forte, Marjorie King, Frank Prunesti, and George Morrison, who died far too young. Gordon and Jean Donald were so special, as were the Davis', Sims, Scholz, Betty and Wally and so many more whose names elude me. It is so wonderful that the group has not only survived but forged ahead with such strong and energetic leadership that has made your very own playing site a reality.

We left the Big Island in June, 1990 to be closer to our families and look for new adventures, which we found aplenty. Chuck died July 1996, at the age of 78, still loving the game but no longer able to participate. We owe a debt of gratitude to all those members who made our 'island' experience so special and meaningful.

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