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.

Kilauea Military Camp. Tuesday, May 20, 1941

Tuesday –

Tonight are only three of us as Ruth (Mrs. Boyd) left today as her husband’s ship is due in the week – she was such fun and a lovely person! We just came back from the post movies (Tall, Dark
& Handsome) in the cars sent to take us to & from the club. Tonight was a blackout in all the territory – all islands, lighthouses, ships in these zones (how I’d hate to suffer through a blackout on the Frank) and we missed all the air raids et al as we were
in the movies. The last two days we’ve had lovely mornings & played tennis, then slept or read through the afternoon (the club has a wonderful library). Last night was the perfectly mazing awful movie of the have run into almost 2 ½ times what I figured on
— but have chosen the trips and experiences rather than material memories (which, I’ll admit, were tempting enough),

I’m so hoping your letter will give me some encouragement of seeing you all in Los Angeles – seven more weeks in Honolulu will fly by night and be glorious – but being home will be even better.

Krakatoa eruption – very exciting — & most enlightening with screen diagrams & explanations of volcanic eruptions, etc.

Tonight at dinner was an Aloha for the leaving C.O. – marvelous chicken dinner, candled cake – everyone in gorgeous gardenia and orchid leis.

Got a nice letter from Aunt Susan today – can hardly wait to get home & get yours.

Mandy & Bunt are having a heated discussion of the merits of the “ski blessing” Catholic service in Truckee and Switzerland where they have vacationed for skiing season. They relate the most
marvelous adventures of years in England, Egypt, Paris & Germany. More fun!

I almost forget the most magnificent part of our trip around the islands – Akata Falls.^[1]
Wending through narrow roads bordered on each side by tall sugar cane fields we came to a quiet damp opening where we got out of cars — & followed a steep winding rock path into a perfect Eden of luscious green grass and ferns, heavily sheltered by moss covered
trees and “gold cup” blossoms, waxy snaky vines, and orchid and lily plants in the trees. Simply breathtaking in its quiet serene beauty. Past small sparkling brooks and falls into the depth of the gloriously green glade where the great roar of mountain water
fell five hundred feet into the pool below. So inadequately I tell of it, and the other beautiful things, yet felt that I should try to give you a breath of the wonderous things. All this detail has been only a
small part of them, and I’m afraid even this bit will be cold and boring as I put it on paper.

It’s quite late now – and I’m left alone here before the fire – much as I could write and say what I think, perhaps the better idea will be bed.

This week has been so full of beautiful things, grand people, that even if I must sacrifice something else to pay for it, feel it is well worth whatever the other might be. My expenses

Love, Cecilia

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