Beginning on November 1, 2024, 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, Wednesday February 5, 1941

Wednesday –

Ship day! And clipper day! – and a letter. A well timed one, too, because I was verging on a minor case of blues. Haven’t been out of the house & barely out of bed since Monday afternoon; thanks to a sore throat and tight sinusy head – but except for the nose am much better. I am so excited over the dress & shoes you are sending – they will probably not be in until next Wed. –but with two ships coming in today there’s still hope.

The Cohnrug show must have been a huge success – I’m so glad – hope the Dallas one follows up!

Honolulu, Thursday February 6, 1941

Thursday morning –

And still behind on reports. I overslept this morning & just finished lunch at three this afternoon. Had loads of fun yesterday – Max & I went down to the Pavilion Club about three, dropped in the Pacific for a small swim – then roasted in the sun on the club lanai & chatted with the usual assortment of DeRussy bar flys present on Wed. afternoons. Mat Kay Saudel & Blacker from Schofield & since Max had waited too late to make dinner reservations we all decided to go somewhere else to eat. So I came home & changed to a dress, & we met two more of max’s friends (civil engineers) & all six ate at “Pauls.” About eight we rushed home again to don evening clothes & get back to DeRussy for dancing. Saw Bob Dunlop there – every time he calls (since that little mix up with Adams Sunday night) he says “Hello, Cecilia, this is Adams & I’m still pretty mad.” So I proceed to shake in my shoes until I realize it’s from Dunlop.

Thought I could finish up to today on this sheet but guess I’ll have to stick in another one – After the club orchestra folded up at ten thirty we forded over to Trader Vic’s , chatted there until the 12 o’clock gong -- & so home and another day gone. But to get to the discussion and thought of the moment: Max wants to marry me. His promotion to 1st Lt. and 50 dollar raise next month – from there I don’t know what to say. Aunt Susan would say no because he isn’t sophisticated or particularly overladen with savoir faire – but hen, A. Susan wouldn’t be marrying him. It will be about three weeks before anything definite is to be said, anyhow – I don’t think I’m extremely serious right now about it because there are so many other grand people --- and so much to do and see and learn that I can’t quite get the consent of my mind to even become engaged when there’s still any question in my mind about it.

Then – as usual – I’m back to the ever present problem of clothes. The white chiffon evening dress – hasn’t gotten clicked so A. Susan & I have both been figuring ways & means of giving it the “umph” it lacks for some reason. I think it’s that too much of my shoulder & neck are out & so she made 2 suggestions. One is to get more chiffon & have the top fixed like the green chiffon & use the embroidered part for a belt -- & the other is – that I should take it to Tina Leaser here & get it remodel. Tina is the authority on clothes here & charges some ghastly price like $35 to make a dress. But Susan says if I should decide to go to her to listen & look & get all the hints & ideas I can on lines, fabrics etc., that I should wear & then spin on from that with my own initiative & the Jap dressmakers. The last idea was her choice & what she would do for herself or Susan or Dot. But having a little different idea of dollar value I think the first idea is better – because I’ve never had any drastic trouble so far selecting pleasing clothes & could do plenty else with a Tina price if I had it in the first place.

So much for problem – I’ll think back & see if I’ve omitted any news. None I think except Tuesday afternoon played tennis with Worley – then later we had dinner out & went to a lousy movie & home early. We can’t even keep each other awake.

No plans at all or tonight unless I go to the reception at the Gov’s for the new General Short – with Uncle Ed & Aust S. – don’t want to, but will if they think It’d be a good idea.

Editor’s Note: Both the Army and the Navy were unprepared for the attack on Pearl Harbor. In early 1942, Kimmel and Short were charged with dereliction of duty by the Roberts Commission, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The duo were unceremoniously ushered into retirement and sat out the war on the sidelines.

The bus strike is still on & I’m all out of envelopes & everything else – with no transportation to town.

I hate to think o all the wet cold weather you all must be having – wish I could pack up & send a little Hawaiian sunshine to Arkansas. Such beautiful days and night – I keep punching myself for fear I will get too used to living in a fairyland & believe it’s real & will go on forever. But I hope it will last until August and maybe through November if I don’t go back to school – margins running out so guess I’d better sign, seal & deliver another volume.

Love, Cecilia