Jean O'Hara

Jean O'Hara was a famed prostitute in Honolulu's "vice district" during World War II. Miss O'Hara violated the so-called "10 commandments" (for prostitutes) and demanded to own choice real estate, which landed her in jail for a period. O'Hara made a fortune by openly flouting the "rules" and helped force a head with the police which insisted on turning the Vice district over to the military, who had intervened on the side of striking prostitutes. This gave the prostitutes special protection from prosecution. After martial law ended in 1944, O'Hara's "My Life as a Honolulu Prostitute" was the straw that broke the camel's back, and led to a complete shutdown of the brothels.

References

* [http://thehistorychannel.com/global/listings/episode_detail.jsp?EAirId=8369705&hp=THC] - June 3 broadcast of The History Channel's "XY Factor: Sex in World War II: The Pacific Front." Written & Directed by Rhys Thomas
* Chernin, Ted. My Experiences in the Honolulu Chinatown Red-Light District. Reprinted from The Hawaiian Journal of History, vol. 34 (2000) pg. 203-217. http://www.chinatownhi.com/myexp.asp
* Greer, Richard. Dousing Honolulu's Red Lights. Reprinted from The Hawaiian Journal of History, vol. 34 (2000) pg. 185-202. http://www.chinatownhi.com/dousing.asp