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, Thursday, December 19, 1940

Thurs. 19th Dec.

More + more Christmas! It was simply wonderful yesterday when I came in & there was another package for me – when Santa had already been so perfect.

The dress is a fit to the inch – length & everything -- & is beauteous – and shoes are – well it was all such a grand surprise! I’m completely outfitted for evening & feel like an Astor of the first degree. Think I’ll hop right into the whole outfit to welcome 1942 with a bang.

I didn’t get to write yesterday – we came in so late & I was just dead I was so tired. Joe brought Helen in yesterday then we went to DeRussy (Helen is quite a canary – she is barely 18 & just broken her third engagement – red hair – vivacious – and a little “off” on the subject of air corps & ensigns). Well anyway we met two of her air c. specimens at the club & they brought us home – then came back later to go dancing. Both were runts (I felt like a giant hovering over Jack the Killer when we danced. They were so short). “Iggie” had no sense of humor and Earl giggled all night. Earl may take me over beyond the Pali – swimming on the north beach Sunday – he’s awfully silly, but I am told to go (regardless of personal preference) for political reasons.

We went to a place last night, down by the Japanese pier – a large floor, with tables around & all surrounded by tropical gardens – rather grand orchestra & hula dancer in cellophane “hula” skirt & bra.

Slept until noon today & this afternoon Helen decided to stay over to go on the “canoe” trip with me. Col. Lambert’s pride & joy is his outrigger canoe so I was very flattered by an invitation to go out in it today. It was loads of fun. We paddled right through the big wavs out about a mile – then two miles parallel to the beach down to DeRussy Club – had a coke there & I jumped in for a swim. Coming back the “swells” & waves were so huge & choppy that we barely made it in. When w re farthest out I was so thrilled to see one of the Japanese fish net floats (like Kerhart had) so we picked it up & brought it home – it had ben in the ocean apparently for years because water had penetrated some of the pores of the glass, barnacles were on the outside & a little clam attached itself & shell – he was very alarmed & suck his head out inquiring all the way home. ‘Tis a sad tale right now – tho – because I’m covered with sand flea bites & aching all over from the paddling.

One of Hope Toulous’ friends called tonight for bridge but Helen doesn’t play so I had to ask for a rain check.
We had dinner at Ruger tonight then played roulette for hours here. It makes me sleepy & nervous to the extent that my enthusiasm is getting a little thin but they enjoy it so much I just keep hopping up with “goodie” at the suggestion.