Beginning on November 1, which is the date of my mother’s first letter from her Hawaii trip 84 years ago, I am serializing day by day, the book, Cecilia King’s Extraordinary Senior Trip, which you can obtain from Amazon in either Kindle or paperback.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming nine-months in Hawaii 1940-41. You can order the entire book from Amazon in either paperback or Kindle format, click here.

Honolulu, Tuesday, November 26, 1940

Nov. 26

Dear Daddy & Mother,

I was so relieved & happy to get your letter today. Guess the Col. Kings were relieved too –because I’ve been mooning around wondering where we live and how you all are.

Sound as if you had quite a whirl in Jonesboro – you both must have had a nice week. And after all the “fancy” dress you tell about, I don’t feel so badly about my new pink hat. And my congratulations to Pauk on her “circling.” Now I’ll have to put a crow bar under my social register number and give it a little jog.

Wish you’d tell me a few more details of the conference come-out. I know Beebe was glad to hear the results – or rather they should be, to have the best Methodist minister in captivity.

Was sorry to hear about Aunt Ida. And hope Judy is better. Would you send me Cousin Jack’s address (Christmas one—I’d like to write them a Christmas greeting note). I still have just millions of letters to write – but have already done the indifferent ones so don’t mind from here on out but will rather enjoy them – Uncle Arthur, the Garrets, Susan, etc.

About the violin lessons –when Uncle Ed came in this afternoon, with your much-waited-for letter, I was sitting in Aunt Susan’s room rocking away on “Orientale” and the only accompaniment she could give was the counting – so we squeaked and squayed to 1-2-3-4-5-6. But anyway, when I read your suggestion I laughed and said I was afraid I would have to spend the violin lesson money on pink hats this winter. Aunt Susan is interested not at all in my “book” education – but solely in my being a good & clever conversationalist, looking pretty, and being a socially successful butterfly (which isn’t exactly down my present line – but it's fun trying).

I’ve written you about silks, chests, etc. that I have seen – but haven’t seen across any petit point bags. Shopping here for such things is really higher than on the mainland (the reason they were so cheap in China & Phillp. Is the exchange was 4 to 1 -- & of course here it’s dollar for dollar). The only advantage is that one can get genuine oriental things since they are sent here for the Japs & Chinese who demand them for living.

The petit point bag, and Elizabeth Arden bags I wanted are out of sight now. There are so many expensive frivolous necessities that my pennies don’t run to frivolous luxuries. Every time I go shopping I come home with my heart in my toes & my pennies in commercial slots.

About Christmas – I have decided to save enough cash (everything has been charges – so I will wait on your money to pay back Uncle Ed) to get these presents – they’re everything in the world I can see they want & I don’t have. “The Boss” (formerly known as “old Dragon” but elevated to the new title of late) I will give a box (large) of Whitman’s chocolate, her favorite candy and a large bunch of her pet flowers – lotus. Uncle Ed will receive a box of licorice gum. Homely – but fits my purse and creative (now inactive) sense.

Can’t write too heavily on this as I want to send it airmail Wed. with my months statement (take a deep breath before you inhale my profit and (deleted) loss.

This morning we “bussed” through the muggy, steamy sun to Tripler – also at the Shafer off. Restaurant & home via Kresses. I am getting all excited over Santa Claus & Christmas wrapping & tree decorations – the poinsettias are “natural” all over the place – brilliant red tipped trees of it. In the flower curb markets are calla lilies, orchids, lotus & dreams in general.

Bus report of day: a fat Jap wrapped in a long gingham with a sack (paper) & purse wobbled onto the bus & into the front seat. One orange slipped out of the sack – onto the floor & back under each seat with every occupant grabbing at – to the backmost seat where it was finally recovered and returned – gossip fashion – to its owner who smiled a thank you down the line & dropped it in her purse.

I can’t think of a thing either of them wants for Xmas --- except the things I mentioned & white curtain rods & custard molds – make it a surprise if you send them anything or else (& maybe better) don’t send anything right now but save their presents until I can find something they’d really like to have. Mail is so slow it would take at least a month to get here so be late anyway.

We always enjoy the rides – especially “Kahala” on the home stretch – everyone is so amiable & neighborly – and easy going.

Tonight Uncle Ed and I cut menus & recipes out of old papers & pasted them on little index cards& into a file – so Aunt Susan can just say “This little pig----” and there is a dinner suggestion.

Aunt Susan & I went to see “Rebecca” tonight & it was a beautiful picture (at the Paroaa Theatre – then a coke at the “Swanky Franky” owned and operated by Mr. Ona Ona). Our grocer is Chien Haow. One more month here & I’ll be speaking gorgeous broken English – far East fashion.

Will have the rest of sheet for finances on a 20-cent air mail basis.



Checks indicated “already paid” charges are approximate as I don’t know exactly until statements come in. Am starting keeping a strict-to-the-penny account of all I spend. Got both your letters today & check – THANKS! – will start a new letter tonite but must get this off.

Editor’s Note
You can read the footnotes by hovering the curser over them. There are a lot of footnotes. On this page:
Cecilia’s father, Rev. Harry King had been moving from job to job (some church-related, some not) since Galloway Women’s College in Searcy, AR had closed and merged with Hendrix College in 1933 (See https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/galloway-womens-college-4593/ and Appendix 1)
2 See Appendix 1. “It was necessary to leave the new house for the very lucrative and lucky job offer of an oil distributorship in Jonesboro. There, after many months of brooding depression, Harry realized he must somehow get back into church-connected work. He asked to be reinstalled as a minister with the North Arkansas Methodist Conference and assigned to a pastorate. This was accomplished, and he was sent to Hoxie -- a small town adjoining Walnut Ridge.” He also served churches on Beebe and McCrory.
3“Cousin Jack” was John Blanks (“Jack”) Campbell (1877-1954), a third cousin who became famous as a horse racing handicapper and racing official. Helen King and Jack Campbell shared great-grandparents, James Smith (1799-1876) and Elizabeth Jones (1802-1874)