Captain Nemo’s Honolulu Hawaii Matchbook Cover Waikiki Discotheque Engine Room

Captain Nemo’s was one of Waikiki’s most talked-about nightlife spots of the early 1970s, blending themed entertainment with Hawaii’s booming tourist scene. Located at the Imperial Hawaii Hotel on Lewers Street, the venue offered a cleverly imagined “submarine atmosphere,” complete with nautical décor and a companion space called The Engine Room situated beneath the hotel’s aquarium. This discotheque became known for its dancing, cocktails, and novelty ambience at a time when Honolulu was rapidly evolving into a modern resort destination. The matchbook itself features bold red and black coloration with metallic gold lettering—classic early-’70s styling—along with the club’s phone number and branding from Universal Match of St. Louis. A surviving piece of Honolulu nightlife ephemera, it reflects the short-lived era when themed discos flourished in Waikiki.