Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-06


Herald. Young McCleary, 4 Will be
seen. has already become a strong
booster cor the mid Pacific islands
and his letter will undoubtedly prove
interesting to many OF lis friends
in the Warren district.
Dear Mothers, Sis and Dad:
Well am now on my third day out
from Honolulu. We mad a three day
stay at Honolulu. Went ashore TWO OF
those days: had fine time there.
Spent both days IN visiting the city,
went to see the Volcano. was IN
swimming at Waikiki. On our last
day at sea before We reached Homo
lulu it was posted that they would
drop anchor at Honolulu at O'Clock
in the morning. so We al! slept up on
the deck so rs to see the sights. |
went to sleep and sent sound until |
vas awakened blythe noise of the men
on deck | looked cut on the water
and saw that the boat was still: the
first time it had been still for eight
days Then looked over to the
other side Of the boat and noticed
in the dim morning light the outline
of mountains and on each point
right and left i could see the lighted
city of Honolulu
Then as it became more lighted
the lights of the city went out and We
could see the green trees and grass
all over the mountains. We were
about mile Cot IN the bay. The ship
was quarantined so We had to wait
tie quarantine sdoctor before going
into port re finally came in a motor
boat and told the captain to pull
down, the yellow flag and give us all
liberty to see the town. Everyone was
glad and gave cheers.-Then the boat
steamed slowly in and as it did We
could see in the water all kinds OF
fish. SeV eral sharks came near. Then
when we entered the docks there
came dozens of little Hawaiian boys
swimming around the boat and we
were throwing nickles and dimes to
them. They would dive for them.
Then when We tied in at the dock
there were fruit peddlers all around
the boat selling pineapples, bananas
pies and cakes at the lowest prices.
Then we all put on our uniforms and
were given passes for shore. The first
place l went was down King street.
It was about $50 a. m. l walked all
over town until got up good appe'
tite and then | went down to res
taurant called The City and had a
good feed of pork chops and hot
cakes. Then l thought l would see
some of the town SO ! took car and
went out to the beach at Waikiki.
Then. Il went in swimming and saw
the Hawaiian surf board riders and
saw them come in on the surf canoes
Then l went through the 700 and saw
all the animals. | saw birds that
never were seen in the United States
and many queer animals and then
went through the aquarium or fish
pond.
Il went over to the old Diamond
Head volcano and then the rest of the
afternoon l spent in roaming around
the streets of the residence district.
The homes are beautiful. You can see
a beautiful home with coral fence
in front covered with vines and in
the yard a slopinS lawn with beau
tiful garden and palm trees. The
yards are like Paradise and each
home is so different you can hardly
tell which you like best, for each is
beautiful. In the evening | went
down into the Japanese district and
saw the customs and ways Of the
Japanese women and children. Met
a pretty Jap girl. She could talk
good English and wanted me to take
her to the states with me. Stayed
around there for part of the night.
Saw several roughouse fights and af-
ter having all the ice cream and good
things wanted l returned to the boat
and went to bed. The next day a
bunch of us bought pineapples and l
climbed a coconut tree and got some
eoconuts and we had feed in the
shade OF a palm. Then in the even
ing | went down to a few of the
shows and another restaurant. | met
a bunch of Hawaiians with ukuleles
and they let me play so l can say |
played the 'uke.'
Il went in and had a dish of Ha-
waiian poi 1t doesn't agree with me.
They made this poi out of a plant
called the taro plant. The stalks
look to me like celery.
Say, I guess you and dad have
read Of the Hawaiians believing in
human sacrifice. Well, when they
make this sacrifice, which is part of
their religion, they throw themselves
into the hot lava of the volcano pit.
While | was there in Honolulu 26
led by a l4-year-old girl,
went to the volcano and jumped into
the hot lava and were burned to
death.
Just now had little excitement on
the ship. Two colored soldiers had
a fight and one tried to throw the
other overheard. He was locked up
in the brig for it. Lots of the boys
bought ukuleles in Hawaii and have
been showing them every evening
how to play Have never been sea-
sick yet and have felt fine the whole
so far. Am now about $500
miles from Bisbee Today is tho
of the month. Well. as
there is nothing to tell you of but blue
water all around | guess | will close !
for today and go read some maya !
zines | bought in Honolulu.
Your loving son.