BURL BURLINGAME / BBURLINGAME@STARBULLETIN.COM The Pacific Club, founded in 1851, banned Asian members until 1968 and women until 1984. But through the years, it has remained a place that promotes "friendship and the mutual exchange of opinions among its members."

Pacific Club has always
been a place for food,
drink and deals

One of the legacies of the Victorian era was the "gentlemen's club," a quiet place where, in relative seclusion and armed with good food and liquors, well-placed men could make private deals, dividing up society between them. Then they'd enjoy a good cigar.

That place in Honolulu is the Pacific Club, founded in 1851, making it the oldest organization of its type west of the Rockies. In many ways, it still performs that function today, becoming a neutral meeting ground for either dealmaking or simply to enjoy the company of others like yourself.

First called "The Mess," and the "The British Club," the original charter proclaimed the Club was created for "promoting friendship and the mutual exchange of opinions among its members, and for providing a place for the reception of strangers, travelers and residents of the kingdom."

Members included Hawaiian royalty, and the current site of the club on Queen Emma Street is the birthplace of Princess Kaiulani. It was purchased from the Cleghorn family in 1926, and a few years later, the Pacific Club absorbed the similar University Club.

The Club's status-conscious members had a no-Asians and no-women policy for years. A Club committee recommended scrapping the policy in 1954, but it was voted down by the members.

As the '50s drew to a close, the current structure -- an AIA-awarded design by Vladimir Ossipoff -- was built.

In 1968, the first Asians --Philip Ching and Asa Akinaka --joined the Club.

In 1980, Mayor Eileen Anderson was elected an honorary member, but sent back her membership later because of the Club's policy against females.

The legislature got involved, and members voted overwhelmingly to admit women. The first female member was Andrea L. Simpson, in 1984, although women were stilled banned from the "Card Room" until 1990.

Since that time, the Club has built advanced exercise and gaming facilities for women on the grounds.

The Pacific Club is a member of Distinguished Clubs of the World, 22 clubs in leading cities, each at least a century old.