1970s Matchbook Cover "Yacht Harbor Restaurant"

1970s Matchbook Cover "Yacht Harbor Restaurant" is a vintage Matchbox Labels artifact by Advertising Specialties Hawaii, Honolulu from 1978, preserved in The Record Institute Ephemera Archive.

Category: Matchbox Labels

Brand: Advertising Specialties Hawaii, Honolulu

Year: 1978

Rarity Class: C

Last updated: August 18, 2026

An evocative artifact of late-twentieth-century Hawaiian hospitality, this matchbook cover from the Yacht Harbor Restaurant marries regal maritime iconography with the upscale promises of "Continental Cuisine." Bearing heavy liquid staining on its interior, the piece offers a deeply tangible, weathered connection to Waikiki's golden era of high-rise resort dining.

Quick Read

Era/Dating: Late 1970s (c. 1977–1980), verified by the "FOR SAFETY - STRIKE ON BACK" text, which aligns with CPSC regulations enacted in 1977, and the 1973 construction of the Yacht Harbor Towers. Subject: A promotional matchbook for the Yacht Harbor Restaurant, located in the Yacht Harbor Towers in Waikiki, Hawaii. Historical Context: Documents the era of "Continental Cuisine" and nightly lounge

Summary

An evocative artifact of late-twentieth-century Hawaiian hospitality, this matchbook cover from the Yacht Harbor Restaurant marries regal maritime iconography with the upscale promises of "Continental Cuisine." Bearing heavy liquid staining on its interior, the piece offers a deeply tangible, weathered connection to Waikiki's golden era of high-rise resort dining.

A flattened, vintage matchbook cover from the Yacht Harbor Restaurant. The exterior features a dark nautical blue background with a metallic gold logo of an eagle perched on a ship's wheel, flanked by stars and banners reading "YACHT HARBOR RESTAURANT". Gold text reads "YACHT HARBOR TOWERS / WAIKIKI, HAWAII", "946-2177", and "FOR SAFETY - STRIKE ON BACK*". The interior is printed on white cardstock with a wavy dark blue border, advertising "Gourmet Seafood & Continental Cuisine" and "Entertainment from 8 p.m." The interior is heavily stained with a large, organic brown liquid spill. The manufacturer's imprint reads "Adv. Spec. Hawaii, Honolulu, Hi-SM".