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 Sunday, March 29, 1941

Sunday –

What a gala opening the Hickam Field Club had last night! Never have I ever seen such a gorgeous place as the gigantic Officers Club there.

We skimmed through the lines of M.P.s at the gate on my pass – so didn’t have to wait while they looked through the hundreds of entrance permits for our names.

Wandered through miles of modern new houses, lovely boulevards, airplane towers – their condition blinded noncom quarters look like generals quarters on other posts. Finally got to Manday’s – and joined the party of about forty – Navy, all branches of Army & civilians were there. The Ryans house is marvelous – has quite an air of “Gumps” with hand blocked bamboo prints on draperies and chair covers.

And all the lovely clothes! Honestly the most handsome bunch of people I have seen. Mandy had on a beautiful white fine organdie, with all-over embroidery and gorgeously shaded rosebuds – and a garland in her hair.

We all rushed over to the club to beat the serving deadline of 8:30 – rove into the circle at the entrance, were beautifully handed out and the MPs took the car. Inside an immense hall, dressing rooms either side, then into the main lounge – all mirror, new leather (white), carpets, glass, and indirect lighting. The lounge alone would more than cover the area of the courthouse block at Searcy, to give you an idea of size. It is truly the most immense, exquisite thing I’ve ever seen anywhere.

Across the lounge, down steps, into the outside dance floor, in a semi-circle, the edges lined with dinner tables sheltered by bamboo sheds – the walls were a solid “wall” of palm leaves. Dishes all had “Hickam Tower” pictured on them – dessert ice cream had the same mold. An Hawaiian orchestra played through dinner and until twelve – two hula dancers for floor show.

I sat “just off” the foot of the table, & practically between the devil & deep blue sea – Max & Bob Dunlop to be exact, were on my left and right. Some fun – but I costed through the evening without any unpleasantness, not that Max would have been so cordial had he known I date Bob about four times a week. So it really worked out very nicely. Randy, Holland & Bunker – the all powerful DeRussy trio were there stagging. I have a date with Holland next Sat. night. Saw jillions of people I knew at every turn. It was such fun. And my green dress certainly added one more to the array of lovely clothes on parade!