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, Sunday, December 29, 1940

I went to sleep before getting further last night.

A day late – so Ill have to summon up a few events of the yesterday. Sat. morning I went over to Barnwells because they were taking me to their dressmaker (who I have pledged to keep her identity, location & existence secret). I was at a loss as to how to fix the dresses but Mrs. B. jerked here, pulled there -- & boom! They were just fitted beautifully! Mrs.  B. is vice- pres. Garner’s niece – quite aggressive, spontaneous & vivacious. Her step dau., Lee, is 18 & an extremely attractive girl – rather about the average in every way of the usual Army “brat.” (A few days later! I feel like censoring the attractive gal & her dear mama clear off the page) We wandered through streets and blocks of little identical modernistic cottages until instinct bade them stop -- & went in to the funny little Jap woman & her three helpers – all in barefoot sandals. Four little slant eyed, dark skinned brats playing around.

Had a late lunch at home – and slept all afternoon (had to get up at 7:30 this morning to go to Barnwells). By the way, Le is starting me on an introducing campaign to ensigns, Annapolis style. The first is from “Geoga” – to go to the “exotic” Lang Wee Chow or what-ever-it-is next Sat. night. Lee & M-in-law also are quite interested in guiding me away from the wicked ways of little Miss Hefflebower. After a conference with several men who had met me – they issued this ultimatum – that I was a sweet, lovely, innocent girl & should be kept in the straight narrow path of right –avoid all of Helen’s wicked leads & “play their game.” So I immediately formed a halo and began a new career. Seriously, they were lovely to me & know I will enjoy Lee & Mrs. B. very much -- & am very appreciative of their interest in my getting acquainted.

Sat night Joe & I (after working the afternoon cross-word puzzle here) went to the Young Hotel. At the parking lot we stopped to get me a tube-rose lei from one of the many “wahines” with armloads of their wares. (I wore my shirt-waist chiffon & new wrap – it was just exactly the right thing – don’t know how I got along without it before it surprised me at Christmas). We met five other Air Corps jobs & their dates so all were at one table. Had a lot of fun – but it was quite amusing when – on the jammed dance floor – the little Air C runts were pushed here & yon by 6 foot ensigns – the orchestra played all navy songs – so our runts sat & growled all night but were too little to bite at their pet hates – the ensigns. The most insulting thing they could think of to do was to inquire, “what boat are you on?” And then run (the worst faux pas (no doubt it’s spelled wrong) one can make is to speak to the Navy about boats instead of ships.

Well – anyhoo – that’s about all of last night (except a hamburger & milk shake at Kau Kau on the way home). Joe wanted to take me to the Wheeler Field party New Years – but I had the other date (& a tall one too, thank goodness!) but I am going to the movie with him Wednesday night.

Sun: got up about noon & we sat out on orange crates in the shade of the front hedge for a lunch of ice cream. If there is anything I dislike absolutely & thoroughly – its strawberry ice cream. I always have chocolate for dinner but called for vanilla to be congenial this morning – so what should Uncle Ed beamingly present me with, but a pint of strawberry ice cream. So I gurgled appreciatively & choked it down & have had indigestion ever since.

This P.M. we went to Lymans at Schofield for a cocktail supper – but U. Ed & A.S. had a dinner engagement in town so we only stayed a jiffy. Left just as I saw Westy come in the door --- and practically a whole regiment of engineers. It was cool – with a fire in the fireplace, but all the doors open & two tables of drinks, canapes, etc. on the large screened in porch – an Hawaiian orchestra playing just outside the patio. Loveliest tables – all kinds of drinks (five tables) from egg nog and tomato juice to a mysterious rather deadly native punch – a Jap woman, in native costume, passed out little dainty toasted canapes – Col. Lyman is part Hawaiian of royal descent, so there were many natives present also. Mrs. L sister is the one who knows Bill Petres family so I’m going to do a little detective work on that score – next time I see her – this (Cavello) in-law has just resigned from the service to accept a $40,000 job at Crossett, Ark (lumber, maybe) & it’ quite the gossip of the service. His dau. Is staying with Lymans -- & is coming to the 25th party.

Editor’s Note:Col. Albert K.B. Lyman, a native Hawaiian who was later the first ethnic Hawaiian to attain the rank of general or admiral in the U.S. Armed Forces, was the Army’s Hawaiian Department Engineer during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He commanded the 34th Engineer Combat Regiment, the 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion, plus the 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division; and worked on building anti-aircraft gun sites and bomb-proofing bunkers and coastal fortifications. https://www.poh.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/473596/army-engineers-fought-and-lived-through-the-attack-on-pearl-harbor/
So we rushed away from there & quickly home. Pearl harbor looked prettier than ever before as we drove by tonight – the rose, orchid, and apricot of the sunset was a background for all the ships, but yet dark enough that the lights of the anchored ships in harbor were reflected on the smooth water.
Oh – I must tell you, before I forget, the idea from one of the punch bowls today. Ice, frozen in a huge bowl, then dumped out, then scalding water poured in the center of the biggest end to make a slight hollow hub leaving a rim about 2 or 3 in. wide as a border. The hollow filled in with cherries, pineapple, etc. Looks like a crystal flower with colored center (looking down into it – as it floats in center of punch bowl) –

That’s about all the news today – I was crossword puzzling ate peanuts & candy until the family got home from dinner.