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, Monday, March 17, 1941

Monday morning –

Had the most marvelous time last night – even though we did hit a few snags before we got home. Bob’s car was still in the garage so we taxied out to Waialai for dinner – the dining room, usually open, was “closed up “because of a north wind. Had a delicious five course dinner, and the entertainment was the best I’ve ever seen anywhere. A marvelous Hawaiian band (the Royal one) – good hula dancer – and Clara Haili (Hilo Hattie).[1]She was excellent – doing burlesques on hulas, herself, the Japanese – and with her hula horse, she was a scream – then she always picks one of the diners & takes him up on the band stand for a public lesson in hula. The whole “concert,” so called – was absolutely tops. They closed at 10:30 – and still feeling go-ish we decided to trek down to Trader Vic’ (clear into, and across town) before coming home – then came the trouble – which was the final blow of the taxi driver when he said, “$2.50, please.” So Bob drained his pockets & paid, but with his remaining 50 cents and my 20 cents we just made an about face to the nearest bus station and climbed in among the sleepy gouks[2]and peanut hulls & headed for home. Ten dollar evenings are inspiring to any 2nd Lt’s frame of mind, including Bob’s --  So we lived & learned not to take any more Matson Line cabs – we have a date Tues. night, but will probably settle down at the nearest hamburger stand for a quiet evening.

This afternoon Aunt Susan and I are going to see an exhibit of rare orchids – down at one of the lovely homes on Black point Road. I may call on Mrs. Hudson later.

Within the next few days I’ll get schedules & prices etc. from the President Line ships -- & send you an airmail about them. Will probably leave about the middle of May. I’m pretty anxious to get home. Hope someone will meet me in Los Angeles or Frisco.

Well – guess that is all the news & thoughts of the day – and the last “back” page so had better drop this outside in the mailbox.

Have just gained several pounds – which makes 122 pounds of me – isn’t that terrible? And all my clothes are skin tight – could barely get into the pink crepe last night (by the way – with the blue belt, purse & new blue shoes – it looked awfully nice).

So – signing off –

Hope the LR training school continued such a success (give you a good excuse, by the way, to take a little vacation on the West Coast in mat)

Love, Cecilia

Footnotes:

[1] Hattie was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She loved to dance the hula and sing in the church choir. She began teaching at Waipahu Elementary School] in 1923, entertaining her students with what would become her comedy hula routines. In 1930, she married Theodore Inter. By 1936, she had joined Louise Akeo's Royal Hawaiian Girls Glee Club] singing at venues around Oahu. The group got $25 per appearance to distribute among the 25 members. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilo_Hattie)
[1] Cecilia was probably referring to Asians, which she also referred to as “gooks.” Gook (/ˈɡuːk/ or /ˈɡʊk/) is a derogatory term for people of East and Southeast Asian descent.[1] Its origin is unclear, but it may have originated among U.S. Marines during the Philippine–American War (1899–1902).[2][3] Historically, U.S. military personnel used the word “to refer to any dark-skinned foreigner, especially a non-European or non-American.” [4][5][6] The earliest published example is dated 1920 and notes that U.S. Marines then in Haiti used the term to refer to Haitians.[7] It was widely used in Asia in both the Korean and Vietnamese Wars. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gook)