Honolulu, Wednesday, November 13, 1940

Wednesday night in Honolulu

Dear Daddy & Mother,

I’m just like the Indian for Colorado now – “Gosh, I don’t know where to begin/” But maybe 5:30 this morning would be a good idea. I felt just like it was still dark on Christmas morning & waiting until daylight to creep down & see the lighted tree. So, after staying in bed a long as I could humanly stand it – even with the fruit juice & coffee the steward brought to keep me company – I dressed & went out on deck to get my first glimpse of the Hawaiian Islands. To the left – a few blue peaks out of the ocean. Far to the right Oahu (& Honolulu) – a few blue & white mountains – fading into the clouds. Closer & closer – many trees & mountains & little beaches of white sand – and shaded with palm trees to the shore – aqua water – the famous Aloha Tower of Honolulu – dozens & dozens of Navy destroyers, flat decked airplane carriers on every side far as one could see – flying fish skitting & dipping across the waves. Twenty minutes from the pier – three launches came alongside ship & families, friends & hotel representatives came aboard laden with leis of all sorts. I could hardly picture Uncle Ed & Aunt Susan standing on one of the tugs & climbing through a porthole on F deck to sail in with me – so went to take a last look around the room & comb the wind out of my hair & grab a hat.

Back out into the hall & I bumped right into Uncle Ed – I was practically senseless I was so surprised & glad to see him/ On down to a lower deck where Aunt Susan was waiting with ten leis! Most fragrant, dainty & beautiful – orchid leaf Like flowers – yellow blossoms & berry-like buds, tiny white “crown” flowers (look like minute crowns), small fragrant tube roses, brilliant scarlet & flame posies --- Coin divers alongside ship  -- don’t bother with pennies – only solver. I said a hurried good bye to Mrs. Nelson, the Russian, the psychologist & engineer and we went down the gangplank onto the pier below the balcony where a band & singers had greeted us with native music. Baggage confusion – jillions of people – and myself being bundled to a nearby photographer to have “pitchers” made. Someone shouting & lugging at my elbow & a fuzzy scarlet lei landing over my head and Louise Kehart – practically jumping up & down over seeing an Arkansan. Introductions, etc.

Aunt Susan & I sitting on my bags in front of a refrigerator store waiting for Uncle Ed to pick us up – can you see her plopped down on a bag – being pushed over every time the swinging door opened? She did.

Then the drive home – palm and coconut trees, waxy plants, red hedges, millions of all colored flowers everywhere – everything clean, green & fresh. And not into the formality & chilliness of the Sheridan house – but to a little white tropical cottage with jumbled furniture & packing boxes – they had just moved in and all the furniture is either lost or broken – she is sleeping on a canvas army cot tonight – I on a hospital bed. Am unpacked but using cardboard suit boxes for chests of drawers – my makeshift dressing table piled two feet high with stuff to be deposited in the chest of drawers that Uncle Ed will bring tomorrow (a little green & white number of his own selection) Aunt S. dresser is a very fancy orange crate set on end. My hats are carefully placed on the closet shelves – each on a separate milk bottle –

The maid only comes for dinner at night so we have self helped breakfast & lunches.

Tonite a drive around the city – many Japanese people in native costume – jap. Temples – stores all have English and Japanese signs both. To Ft. DeRussy – the officers club there is an open pavilion over the beach – to Ft. Shafter – their officers club is a perfectly round rock golf shack & club combines ---

Aunt Susan took me on a tour around the house showing various buggy spots. The black scorpions are to be killed instantly as they sting – and shaken out of each shoe cautiously – there is a family of lizards – one big one & several babies  (baby on ½ life size) living in the stamp box inside the tin mail box outside on a pole. These are helpful in killing insects & so protected & admired as they chase around the walls and ceilings of the house.

I am still afflicted badly with land sickness – that is I can’t readjust myself to being without the ship’s motion. I have to cling to doors & beds as I walk through the house – the ceilings roll and toss & my feet can’t quite focus on the ground. They say it lasts several days after leaving the ship.

Across the street and down a bridle path is the beach – I waded in a wee bit this afternoon. All beaches (at the request of the Hawaiian gov. when the islands were released to the U.S) are public property and no one for any reason can prohibit their being used by the public at large. Many beautiful estates on the shore – driveways down long hilly winding ways bordered & buried in palms & other tropical plants.