Wednesday, April 23, 1997
What ever happened to billboards in Hawaii? There aren't any. Group brought down
billboards in HawaiiBillboards made their appearance in Hawaii after the turn of the century, eventually raising protests by the Outdoor Circle, a group of women organized to preserve Hawaii's natural beauty. They insisted billboards were a blot on natural landscapes.
When appeals to the advertising agency sponsoring the billboards failed, the Outdoor Circle organized a boycott of all merchants subscribing to this form of advertising and of products so advertised. This was in 1912.
The advertising agency eventually gave up. The victorious women, generous to their fallen foe, raised a sum equal to the advertising agency's losses, bought it out and closed up shop. The billboards came down and have never reappeared. This was in 1926. "It took 14 years to bring down the billboards," said Mary Steiner, chief executive officer, Outdoor Circle.
"In 1927, Act 195 in the Territorial Legislature was passed which forbid the erection of billboards," she added. This law has remained on the books ever since.
"It was a battle we won earlier in this century but one we still fight today," Steiner said. "We are celebrating our 85th birthday on May 7," she added.