The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-07-18
HOOPER
AS A HOST
Mr.. Lakes EuIOgy
On Old Hotel
Man.
Famous for the Way
He Treated His
Guests.
Each Departing Guest Was Given
Lunch or Fruit and Flowers
by Major Hooper.

Major w. 3. Hooper's death means
the end OF the Occidental Hotel" said
II. W. Lake, manager of the Alexander
Young Hotel, yesterday.
81 met the Major first in 1882 and
he was the first to send me a letter of
reorganization when 1 assumed the
management of the Baldwin Hotel in
San Francisco. He stood at Nthe head
of the old hotel men and he dignifed
the profession. Major Hooper will al
ways be remembered in Hawaii, he was
almost over anxious to please his
guests. He really deserves everything
any hotel man can say that is good
of him. .He has won the kind express
sions of men from all over the world
who put up at his hotel. The Occidental
Hotel was known as a home hotel
Major Hooper always tried to make it
lhome-like, he advertised his place in
that way. and he was himself the liv-
ing personification of the old style ho-
tel-keeper.
He had been with the Occidental for
n long time before became acauainS-
ed with him, which was twenty-one
years ago. He must have been there
quarter of a century anyway. Major
Hooper's connection with the hotel
business was always gratifying to me,
for some people do not look upon that
business, with the opportunities ii gives
us, with the same feeling that they do
upon other professions, and Major
Hooper showed that it was just as hon.
ored a profession as any other.
II don't know whether he ever visited
here or not, though his son George was
in the islands about six months ago.
had heard too, that he was once in
terested with Mr.. Peacock in the Mo-
ana Hotel But he endeared himself
very much to Hawaiians, nearly all Of
whom stopped at the Occidental when
in San Francisco. He always tried hard
to please and he always made a sue
cess of his business. 1 remember one
incident when T. Stewart White OF |
Santa Barbara stopped at the Occi- |
dental with a large party. They had |
were leaving having already sent their
baggage ahead Major Hooper sent them
fruit and flowers. That was the finish
ing touch, they had been. well treated
during their stay, and with this last
token of appreciation, Mr.. White had
all the baggage sent back and they
spent the rest of their time at the
Occidental
MIR. Hooper was prominent in the
Episcopal church, a deacon, I think,
md he helped in church matters all he
.ouId He was an old army man, and
| member of the Loyal Legion.
Though all the hotels in San Fran
,isco had a custom Of giving flowers
II fruit to each new arrival, Major
Hooper, I believe was the only one to
olIow the custom on their departure
s we'll. For many years he used to
,repare a nice lunch with a bottle of
laret for each guest to take on the
rain, and to everyone leaving on ship
lie would send a punch of flowers or
,asket of fruit. Many Hawaiians will
emember him for this. This attention
o departing guests used to increase
is expense per capita from fifteen to
H,,4 he hound 70 r. |
Y out the home-like features of his
otel Major Hooper will be missed by
veryone who has an occasion to visit
an Francisco and the Occidental, and
only wish I could pay a just tribute
0 the man."