Curious about Monterey's history?

Join local historian Tim Thomas as he explores Monterey’s rich past. Each Magical History Tour, Tim covers a new topic, sometimes inviting guests for conversation.

Roy Hattori and his Amazing Discovery of the White Abalone!

with Tommy Hattori and Tim Thomas

In September of 1939, nineteen-year-old Monterey Nisei (second generation Japanese American) abalone diver Roy Hattori, was diving for Red Abalone in about sixty-feet of water, just south of Point Conception when he came across some unusual looking abalone. He knew right away that these abalone were different and perhaps even a new species. Roy collected several of them and sent them to the surface in his abalone basket. As it turned out, he was right, it was a new species.

Historian Tim Thomas first met and interviewed Roy about his abalone diving days in 1992 and for close to thirty years they continued those discussions about diving abalone and the diversity of Monterey Bay.

Tommy Hattori is the grandson of Roy and has been researching his grandfather’s history and his discovery of the White Abalone for several years now. He is currently the Director of Global Studies at the Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, California.

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Are you interested in seeing past Magical History Tours? 

Visit our YouTube Channel to see our archive of Magical History Tours with Tim Thomas.