HOTEL HALEKULANI,
HONOLULU,
23rd August, 1958.
Our Dear Darlings,
VANCOUVER, Saturday, 16th August: This was indeed our day of rest. Except for a visit to the Post Office where we posted our letter to you all, we stayed all the day in the Hotel. As a matter of fact we had a feeling that we had seen enough. Another reason was that we felt very home sick - always thinking of you all and literally counting the days when we would be together again. We had definitely decided that leaving you all for three months was too long. At the most we could be away from home for two months- or only one month.
While in our room on the fifth floor we watched the streams of traffic below us. While in New York we saw only big cars on the road, here we could at least see a few small ones. The people here did not know much about Malaya. They still stare at Mak. I don't think they have seen many Malays in their country in the past.
The Chief Waitress one morning asked us whether Singapore was in China or India. What ignorance existed here!!
I just heard the firing of a gun. This gun was fired every day at 9 o'clock at night.
Sunday, 17th August: We had nothing to do this morning while we were waiting to leave for SAN FRANCISCO. We looked down the streets. They were decorated for the British Columbia's Centennial Celebration which began on 1st January for one year. There has been festivity in different parts of the Province.The room we have occupied here had been the best so far. There was a private sitting room and the bed room was bigger than the others we have occupied but there was one disadvantage. In Toronto we had Television as well as a Radio in our room but not here.
When we got to the Air Port, Mr. Walker of the Qantas Airlines introduced us to the Captain of the plane by which we would fly to San Francisco. It was a very smooth 3 hour flight. When we reached San Francisco a representative of Qantas was at the Air Port to meet us. We were taken to the Immigration and Customs Officials and we got through without any difficulties. Everyone was so pleasant when he knew I was having a Diplomatic Visa.
We stayed at the HOTEL FIELDING, a picture of which has been sent to you all. It was a decent Hotel situated centrally. A Restaurant, "Bob's", was attached to the Hotel and it's very convenient as it opened 24 hours.
When we went to dinner there, we sat next to a table where there were three old ladies. We got to talking
with each other. They were very humorous and they were very generous with their praises for Mak who they said was so attractive. Ooh, I hope Mak won't be conceited. These old ladies, when we told them that we had 10 children at home, were very surprised. Aren't we flattered!!SAN FRANCISCO, Monday, 18th August: We went to the Bank in the morning and walked about the City a bit. We found this City very beautiful. Its built on hill slopes overlooking San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
In the afternoon we went to MUIR WOODS NATIONAL MONUMENT. We crossed the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, worlds' longest and highest single-span bridge after going through picturesque scenery. The name of Muir Woods National Monument may be misleading. It was not just a monument. In fact, it was a national park, 424 acres of giant redwoods, some over 200 feet tall 2000 years old. When we walked around this park we thought of Templer Park. We hope something could be done on the lines of this natural park.
On our way back we went down the slope of Mt. Tamalpais where many lovely private dwelling houses were built with beautiful gardens.
Tuesday, 19th August: We did not go out in the morning but after lunch at Bob's we went to OAKLAND a few miles away from San Francisco. We crossed the
great BAY BRIDGE for where we could see in the Bay, TREASURE ISLAND. At Oakland we stopped at CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND. It's a wonderfully beautiful place. The entrance to the Fairyland was through the shoe typifying the tale, "there was an old woman, who lived in a shoe". Among others in the Fairyland were the "house where the three little piggies live" and "Noah's Ark". We thought a great deal of you while we walked about the place.We then went to BERKELEY where was situated the UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA. This University had a lovely campus. It was situated in a beautiful surroundings. This University had it's own Stadium which could accomodate 80,000. We passed later on along LAKE MERRITT and subsequently through a well-known residential area at PIEDMONT where lived some famous people including some film stars. Wonderful place - lovely houses and lovely gardens - on a hill from where San Francisco was in full view. We also stopped at CLAREDON HOTEL - an expensive Hotel situated on a hill in BERKELEY. One thing we were told was that the big carpet on the Hotel lobby cost $40,000/- (American). Wow! That's a lot of money.
Wednesday, 20th August: We left the Hotel at 11 o'clock and at the Air Port we met one Chinese couple whom I did not know before and also another Chinese, a Mr. Kok
with whom I was acquainted in Kuala Lumpur. What a small world! They were going to Honolulu too. The flight was smooth. It took us 9 hours and we got into HONOLULU when it was already dark. When we disembarked we were pleasantly surprised to be met by a gentleman from Qantas Airlines and a beautiful girl who placed a LEI (a garland of pretty flowers) around our necks and as she did that she put her cheek against ours - an old Hawaiian custom. Three of us took a picture at the Air Port before proceeding to our hotel - HALEKULANI. This hotel is on WAIKIKI BEACH and situated in very pleasant surroundings of tropical garden. The word Halekulani means "House Befitting Heaven". It's fairly expensive. We noticed that the charge for our room was $16/- (American). This, of course, was not the most expensive, which was $28/- (American). Newly arrived guests received cards written by the Hotel's founder, the late Clifford Kimball, which said, "You are more than a guest within these portals. Your visit honors us with a welcome obligation. For the time, this is your house. Its customs and ways we hope may measure up to your own standard. For our ambition is that you shall be happy here.... successful in your purpose.... undisturbed in your repose... and find pleasure in the recollection of your sojourn here".
Thursday, 21st August: We wandered the streets of HONOLULU in the morning. We also went to the INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE where articles of handicrafts from many countries were sold. We visited a shop, "THE THIEVES MARKET". Amongst all sorts of articles sold there we found a Malay Keris. We were later interviewed by a local newspaper who also took our pictures.In the afternoon, we went for a tour of the island. I might explain that HONOLULU is situated on the OAHU Island. We visited the DIAMOND HEAD, a monument which jutted on to the Ocean, the beautiful HANAUMA BAY, passed KOKO HEAD CRATER, stopped at BLOW HOLE where the sea water spurted through a hole in then rock and NUUANU PALI, a Valley overlooking from a precipice. As we went along we were shown a Hawaiian Reserve. It was sad to note the condition of the Hawaiians. They comprised only two percent of the population which was predominantly Japanese. The Hawaiians were said to be lazy and they were mainly taxi drivers, minor officials and running small flower stalls. Unless we are careful and become energetic enough this may be the fate of the Malays too.
After dinner, we watched HULA DANCES at our Hotel. They were very entertaining.
Friday, 22nd August: We went window-shopping in the morning. In the afternoon we went on a tour of PEARL HARBOUR. It was very interesting indeed. We went by "MISS HONOLULU" and a description of what happened during the attack on the Harbour was given vividly by Captain Jerry Collins. We saw the sunken "UTAH" and "ARIZONA" and we were asked to stand in respect of the 1102 - the highest ranking to the lowest ranking in the ship - who died and were still lying at the bottom of the sea with the gallant ship. It was a fine example of the sense of duty of the men.It was ironical indeed that as we were to enter PEARL HARBOUR, five Japanese Naval Ships came out - these Japanese who were the enemies and now the friends of America - from the Harbour.
We were talking about you all and were rather anxious as we have not received any letter since New York. We saw a girl who reminded us of KUNTOM - her size, her manner of walking and behaving.
Love and heaps of kisses to Sayang, Adek, Intan, Kuntom, Nor, Adek Shor, Nan, Nah, Ajid and Yong.
Yours ever,
Mak & Bapak.
