"Honolulu: 100 Years in the Making" is a fascinating and informative look at a century's worth of the city's history. Hosted by Jade Moon, former Channel 9 anchor, the show uses voices of residents to recap historic events in a chronological format, with some familiar but much unseen footage.

The journey begins, more or less, in 1905, when Queen Lili'uokalani is powerless at Washington Place, five years after Hawai'i has become a territory of the United States. The story ends with hopeful reflections from a handful of residents on what lies ahead in the next 100 years.

In between, the show provides a volley of factoids and recollections on the changing industries of Hawai'i, from sugar and pineapple to tourism. It considers the impact of early immigrant laborers from China, Japan, Korea and elsewhere, who came here to work then stayed to open up businesses and share their culture.

Along the way, the benchmarks are all accounted for: the birth of transportation (rail, in particular) that enabled growth in urban areas, the launch of Boat Days, luring tourists, the arrival of planes (which redefined travel), and, of course, the single most life-changing moment in Hawai'i's modern history: the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who was brushing his teeth when the attack began, recalls seeing "pearl-gray aircraft with red dots," describing the Japanese planes.

Samuel King notes that residents had to blacken their windows during the war, and remembers Aloha Tower in camouflage.

Others recollect pop culture milestones: The 1957 Elvis Presley performance at the old "Termite Palace," the long-gone stadium in Mo'ili'ili, brought out screaming girls. The momentous event was "a little over my head," says Jon de Mello, who was 6 or 7 at the time. He remembers meeting the Lurline when "the King" arrived at Honolulu Harbor. "Elvis threw a hat. I caught it," and 20 people jumped on de Mello in a frenzy.

Andy and Ray Bumatai, as youngsters from Wai'anae, remember simpler times; they went to a town restaurant to eat, "and we took the plates to the sink ... we didn't know," says Andy.

Sports "moments" include University of Hawai'i football, Wahine volleyball, the Pro Bowl and the Little Leaguers from 'Ewa Beach.

Mayors Neal Blaisdell, Frank Fasi, Eileen Anderson, Jeremy Harris and Mufi Hannemann get air time. So does Gov. Linda Lingle, the first woman and Republican to take the office since statehood.

Part of the fun of watching the show is to see familiar faces like Duke Kahanamoku, Alan Wong, Genoa Keawe, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Hilo Hattie, Michelle Wie, Jerry Burris, Tom Moffatt, Walter Dods, Tom Coffman, Kui Lee, Harry Urata, Harry Owens, Olomana, Booga Booga, the Sunday Manoa, the KPOI "Poi Boys," Peter Apo, Ah Quon McElrath, Danny Kaleikini, Jake Shimabukuro and DeSoto Brown.

This one's a keeper, so fire up the digital recorder or VCR. The show was produced by Phil Arnone and Robert Pennybacker (who also wrote the script), the team behind documentaries on Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Eddie Aikau, Duke Kahanamoku and Kapi'olani Park. Appropriately, Keola and Kapono Beamer perform "Honolulu City Lights" over the end titles.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.