The Honolulu Blues: The Fans and The History of What It Means to Be a Detroit Lion

The Detroit Lions! Winners or Losers? That’s your call to make. At the end of the day, the fact remains that the Detroit Lions did some amazing work this season. Making it to the NFC Championship game is major! So, no matter how you feel about the final results, there’s always next year to try it again. Keep your hopes that we make it all the way.

Now, here’s an interesting fact, did you know that the city of Detroit, is the only place where the Sea of Honolulu exist? Think about it. Either you were in the middle of the festivities downtown Detroit, maybe you had a watch party or you could’ve just caught the highlights on the news. Either way, you saw it with your own eyes; the city streets, bars, and in your houses especially. Everywhere you looked, Lions Jerseys, Jackets, Shirts or Hair that bore the color Honolulu Blue was right there. Here’s a kicker for you, did you know that it wasn’t always like that?

Flashback to the 1920s, when the team was created. The location during that time was an area somewhere between, Cincinnati and West Virginia. In an interview of the past, according to team historian and previous longtime vice president of communications for the NFL, Bill Keenist, said, “To learn about why the Lions chose blue, you need to go back to the beginning”.

To date, the Lions history has always been a big deal but not everyone knows that information of the past. They are considered to be a part of the group that built the foundation for pro football. Despite the years of the past when no one desired to root for this team, they’re elite still! They made up the NFL’s original eight and the color that we have grown to love so dearly, came nearly close to 30 years after the team was created. Radio executive, G.A. Richards, who ran WJR during that time, wanted to bring Pro football to Detroit and he made the purchase of our beloved team. Now what makes this Honolulu Blue so special, according to Keenist, he said, the purpose was to create an identity unique to the Lions and Mr. Richards came up with the colors. When the time came to pick colors for the team, it is said that Richards was into a new color and Honolulu Blue was a mix because it matched the Pacific Ocean. This was after a trip he took to Hawaii. Here we are 100 plus years later and our color has been Honolulu Blue and Silver, ever since. From my research, there were two years of a different color but we won’t discuss that, it’s a non-factor, just know it was as great as Honolulu Blue and Silver.

At this moment, let’s talk real deal facts and realities. It was the score crushing and body crashing days of the 1990s, when running back Barry Sanders, linebacker Chris Speilman and Lions center Kevin Glover played. Now I am no sports analyst but having only been at this level once before in 1991 when they lost to Washington. It was when the complete experience, that never-before-seen heights happened for the Detroit Lions and this franchise. This was after the merger. It’s unfortunate that our home team has never reached the Super Bowl, we’ve come close but we’ve fallen short. One thing that has remained constant are the die-hard Lions fans. They are the individuals that even with the many years of loss, they have remained faithful and consistent the whole way through. Detroit Lions fans some say are crazy but, one thing remains true and that’s the love and respect that fans have no matter what! It’s the camaraderie that keeps the flames lite. It is the very reason why; a stranger is never met in the streets or in the stands at Ford Field. It’s the bond! This season that bond became like quick-sand, stronger as the season progressed. I can only imagine what next season will bring. Will the momentum that brought on new fans, young and old, Michiganders or those who live across the US. What will the outpouring of fans look like next year. I bet you this, season ticket pricing has just increased substantially. So, get ready fans, to pay a little more for the 2024 season. Start saving now!

Until then, let us all remain confident in our Detroit Lions and let’s continue to speak positively about their season. We don’t want to dismantle or devalue all of the players’ efforts to make it to the playoffs and the NFC Championship. In all rights and respect, they are still Winners. Will you make the first game of the year in the Fall? Only time will tell.

Next up in Detroit Sports, the Detroit Tigers opening game and the second half of the Piston’s season! Are you jumping on the band wagon?