MARCIA GERMAINE / 1925-2003
Entrepreneur’s luaus
reflected the islands’
old style of life
During a visit to the isles in the early 1970s, a friend invited Marcia Germaine to an old-style, backyard luau.
That experience served as the seed for her company, Germaine's Luau, now one of the state's largest and best-known luau operations.
Germaine -- who died Sunday at age 78 -- disliked the kitsch-laden luaus offered by local hotels at the time, longtime friends say. She believed that a luau should reflect the old style of life in Hawaii.
"She wanted tourists to get away and experience the true Hawaii, not the one that the one you see in Hollywood," said Charland Chun, comptroller at Germaine's Luau.
"She didn't believe that the luau should be commercialized."
A native of Chicago, Germaine formed her luau company in 1972 at Sea Life Park with the help of friends in her hula halau.
She later teamed up with acclaimed hula master John Piilani Watkins and moved the luau company to a 1-acre beachfront site at Campbell Industrial Park, which was a big risk at the time due to the distance from Waikiki and other tourist venues.
In 1986, Germaine sold her company to Zippy's Restaurants, which continues to operate the luau at Campbell Industrial Park.
Today, Germaine's Luau employs about 140 people and entertains more than 400 visitors each night.
"She really had great vision," said longtime friend Kim Higa. "And when she started making money, everybody started to copy her."
Germaine, who was born Marcia Germano, worked as a secretary with the United Steelworkers of America union in Chicago prior to moving to Hawaii in 1971. Her father, Joseph, was a top official in the union.
She also worked in public relations before starting her luau company, according to her daughter Monica Gruszynski.
Gruszynski described her mother as a sharp entrepreneur who "touched many people's lives."
"It's pretty gutsy to come here with just two suitcases and end up with one of the biggest luaus in Honolulu," Gruszynski said. "She put her heart and soul into it."
Germaine is survived by daughters Gruszynski and Sandra Walpole, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services are pending.
