5/30/17

ALOHA


Coming or going, it's never a sure thing when a person was aboard a Matson liner wearing leis. You got them when you arrived in Hawaii and then again when you left.

Click on image to see it larger.

This family appears to have been visiting Hawaii in the 1930s which means that they were doing pretty well back on the mainland and not suffering through the Depression. Arriving in Hawaii aboard a Matson ship meant they stayed at one of two hotels: the Royal Hawaiian or the Moana. This photo was taken by Luke Photo Studio located at 1240 Nuuanu St, Honolulu. I'm guessing that this indicates it was probably taken upon arrival and sold to them during their stay. You can find another photo here from the same studio name.

From the Matson website:
The decade from the mid-20s to mid-30s marked a significant period of Matson expansion. In 1925, the company established Matson Terminals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, to perform stevedoring and terminal services for its fleet. With increasing passenger traffic to Hawaii, Matson built a world-class luxury liner, the S.S. Malolo, in 1927. At the time, the Malolo was the fastest ship in the Pacific, cruising at 22 knots. Its success led to the construction of the luxury liners Mariposa, Monterey and Lurline between 1930 and 1932. Matson’s famed “white ships” were instrumental in the development of tourism in Hawaii. In addition, beginning in 1927, with the construction of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Matson’s Waikiki hotels provided tourists with luxury accommodations both ashore and afloat. In order to generate excitement and allure for Hawaii as a world class tourist destination, Matson developed an ambitious and enduring advertising campaign that involved the creative efforts of famous photographers such as Edward Steichen and Anton Bruehl. In addition, Matson commissioned artists to design memorable keepsake menus for the voyages, as well as during their stay at the Royal Hawaiian. The Matson artwork created by Frank McIntosh, Eugene Savage, John Kelly and Louis Macouillard continues to be popular today. Reproductions of the some of the more famous and memorable ads and art can be purchased through Matson’s ArteHouse website. (Source: Matson)
Our local Costco occasionally sells orchids leis. I'm always tempted to buy one. Living in Hawaii was a world full of flowers. I miss the colors and the scents. Oh to have a white ginger plant growing outside my window with its scent drifting through the window with the trade winds.

5/26/17

Off to WAR


This is the weekend we in the U.S. honor those who have fallen victim to the follies of old men far from the front. I'm not one to say that war is never required, but it should be the very last option, never the first.

This photo shows a line of men about to be sent off to fight in World War I. On either side of them is full on flag waving patriotism. It's easy to wave the flag when you're not the one carrying it into battle.

Click on images to see them larger.





How many of these young men returned unscathed? How many suffered with nightmares for the rest of their lives and the label "shell shocked"? They were labeled as being weak, unmanly for not just getting on with their lives. The war was over, let it go. It took a long time for humanity as a whole to understand the mental damage done by war and be willing to openly talk about it and give it a name: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

So as we celebrate those who have passed don't forget to look around for the walking wounded amongst us. Those old men, still far from the front, continue to make life decisions for those they'll never meet.

I will be spending part of this Memorial Day with a group of World War II veterans. So few of these veterans are left and I know of many who still refuse, or cannot, talk of what they saw and did, let alone what happened to them. Their stories are dying with them and they will soon be forgotten.

Memorial Day is not just about BBQ's and good sales.

This post is my completely off topic contribution to Sepia Saturday.
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5/22/17

BIG WHEEL Keep on Turnin'


Anyone have any idea what sort of boat he might be steering? And I'm guessing he's actually holding part of the braking system.

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