In 1927, Belen native and movie stunt pilot Arthur C. Goebel took up the challenge by James D. Dole, the Hawaii pineapple magnate, to race with other pilots to be the first to fly nonstop from the mainland United States to the Hawaii territory in what is known as the Dole Air Race. Goebel flew the "Woolaroc". Of the 13 planes that qualified, seven were lost in crashes, killing ten people. Only two planes made it safely to Hawaii. Goebel landed first in Hawaii after a nonstop 26 hours, 17 minutes and 33 seconds, receiving the top prize of $25,000.