Evening star., 1943-03-30
Everyday Life in Honolulu
Is Grim, Not Glamorous

must be checked by civilians as well
as the armed forces-during parties
in Mrs. Littell's home, they were
neatly piled on the stairs.
The Hawaiian Islands have been
under martial law, though some OF
the civilian functions of government
are now being resumed with limited
military control.
At Christmas this year there was
turkey, thanks to the Army and
Navy, and the girls wore long eve
ming dresses at the parties to make
them festive (short dresses are
usual, Mrs. Littell says). There were
no Christmas trees brought to the
islands, local palm trees and bushes
were decorated to give the usual
Christmas decor.
Honolulu, like many of our de-
fense centers here, is bothered with
housing shortage, there are not
enough rooms to take care of all
the men there. Another similarity
between us is the local food pro-
duction campaign planned in the
hope that 1t may relieve the food
shortage in Hawaii this summer.
Sometimes the girls go to U. S. O..
dances (when they can be arranged)
directly from the classroom. There
are not enough girls or hostesses
for all the dances (as many women
left the islands right after Decem-
ber Z, and those who remain are
doing essential war work.. Conse-
quently, dances for the boys are
few and far between. The principle
amusements for the men in service
are moving pictures and radios, and
not enough of the boys have radios
to make even this amusement wide
spread. You can't use them in fox
holes and pillboxes, Mrs. Littell
comments, and that is where many
of the boys spend the long hours
of the day.
The boys stationed on the islands,
as well as civilians. enjoy a once
a-month symphony concert ar
ranged through the cooperation of
the Army and Navy bands who
supply the brasses and repercussion
instruments. The boys love to sing
familiar songs. One photograph in
Mrs. Littell's. vivid collection shows
a group of soldiers singing hill
billy" songs to the accompaniment
OF an accordion played by charm
ing young hostess. They badly
need trained entertainers sent off,
cially from this country by the USO
like those who have visited the
European and African camps, says
Mrs. Littell. Joe E. Brown went to
the islands to help entertain the
men. but more visits from equally
well-known entertainers are needed
Mrs. Littell repeats.
The foresight of the Red Cross
In building blood bank on the
islands long before Pearl Harbor
saved many lives. Today in caring
for the sick and injured there, this
organization is doing q magnificent
job, says Mrs. Litte,l. The USO
Is also doing fine work, she reports,
but Is working with far too little
material.
One plea Mrs. Littell makes to
all mothers and families Of men In
the service: Write to the. boys often
and write buoyant letters. Our SOL
diers standing watch on the lonely
islands Of the Pacific suffer more
from ennui than from the rigors
Of Army life, and letters from home
are precious stun. When the BOYS
come home on leave, don't smother
them with affection and plan every
moment for them. Let them
stretch themselves IN their own
way. let them plan their own recre-
alton. Don't ask them to talk. The
boys have orders not to talk and
they know the Importance Of milf
tary secrecy, 20 Be considerate.