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 – March 12

Just in from another marvelous trek to Schofield Barracks, and about to now settle down with needlepoint or palmistry for a quiet evening at home.

Max was busy yesterday afternoon (being appointed by the major as a committee of one to plan the chow for the picnic) so Bob Hand came in to get me –looking very unhappy and badly cast in Walt’s 4-size-extra-big slack suit – a fire in their B.O.Q had smutted or burned all his clothes and all of Beavers, still crated, new furniture.

Being an hour late in leaving Honolulu traffic w “flew low” out to the north end of the island. At Pearl Harbor, a gigantic silver plane leaving the water and, in the darkness, it was gleaming by the last sun rays slipping through the Koli Koli pass in the mountain range – We got out to Waialua beach just at dark – all the 13th Field officers & their wives were collecting at the picnic site after playing softball. Max came rushing out to meet me & herd me into all the introductions – they are a grand bunch of people. The table was set up on a grassy slope, off the beach, and below the waves were roaring in upon the sand – and a full Hawaiian moon giving a picture light to the white beach and blue water with its white foam and caps. I’ve never seen such a beautiful, peaceful night. It was too lovely to even try to repaint – more of a dream!

But, back to the material – we were all given giant plates piled mountain high with rice, noodles (very crisp and fine as string) and chop suey with bean & bamboo sprouts, fish and all the “necessaries.” With paper sacks filled with rolls and pound pieces of butter with a community knife – we ate, and heartily, the best meal I’ve nearly ever tasted. Cherry & apple pie, and coffee in melting paper cups gave the finish signal – and everyone packed off to camp, and a few back to the post. We moved into a quartet with Bob Hand, Bob Beaver & settled down at the club to settle the war problems – and teasing me, but I found a partial ally in Beaver – who, having  only recently arrived, isn’t fully versed in 13th cousin hazing tactics yet – and after my good nature & sense of humor (such as be) were exhausted they called a halt with the usual “Pore little ole innocent Cecilia – but we love her dearly” and proceed with tri-strength to persuade me to marry Max.

Finally, they started back campwards, and took me to Elmores, Bobby (Mrs.) Elmore is very attractive – a N.Y. girl, quite young – dresses beautifully and has lovely things in their quarters. Slept until almost noon today – and left at one with Potts & Worley to come home – changed into Worley’s car in town & went to get a hamburger for lunch – tripped home to change to shorts & deposit my overnight bag – then down to DeRussy for tennis. Went over to the Pavilion for a coke afterward, weaving our way through the bare feet & legs, slacks, flowered trunks, cameras, sunglasses of the Wednesday afternoon off-duty crowd.

It's really wonderful now that the real Hawaiian warm weather & trade winds have come to stay for the spring and summer – cloudless days and balmy nights. Maybe I’ll stay until June or July?

Not much news, aside from these rambling two pages. Dunlop called yesterday – no go last night & he’s O.D. today so p’haps he’ll pop around tomorrow. Max’s camp moving to Ruger tomorrow. Got a letter from Grandmother & a birthday check ---