Dr. Marvin Brennecke

Brennecke Beach, a popular bodyboarding and bodysurf site at Poipu, is named after longtime Kauai physician Dr. Marvin Brennecke (1906-1994), whose house once stood above the beach.

Originally from Missouri, and educated at Missouri University and Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Brennecke arrived on Kauai in 1931, where he acquired his Hawaii medical license and became assistant physician to Dr. J. M. Kuhns at Lihue Plantation Co.

Two years later, he took over from Dr. A. H. Waterhouse as plantation doctor for McBryde Sugar Co., Koloa Sugar Plantation and Lihue Terminals.

During 1935 to 1937, he also served with the United States Public Health Service at Eleele Dispensary.

In 1942, when Dr. Burt Wade was called to active duty in the U. S. Navy for the duration of World War II, Dr. Brennecke replaced him at the Waimea Dispensary as plantation doctor for Waimea Sugar Co., Kekaha Sugar Co., Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation and Olokele Sugar Co., and he remained in that position until his retirement in 1972.

Dr. Brennecke bought his Poipu beachside house lot in 1934 from Antone Kona Vidinha, who would later serve one term as Chairman of the Kauai Board of Supervisors during 1967-1968 and two terms as Kauai’s first mayor – 1969 through 1970, and ‘71 through ‘72.

Brennecke built a small beach house on his lot in 1936, and finished work on its extension and renovations on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941 — the day Imperial Japanese air and naval forces attacked Oahu.

From 1944 until his death, his main residence on Kauai was on Ola Road, Waimea.

His beach house — which he occupied occasionally and ultimately rented — stood until it was destroyed by Hurricane Iwa in 1982, after which Brennecke deeded the lot to his alma mater, Washington University Medical School.

Dr. Brennecke was married to India Brasel, a nurse who worked at Eleele Dispensary. There were no children.