A story from a friendly old timer
Luelle NickelI was raceing horses in Winnipeg, Canada in l962 when I received a letter from my sister Grace in Spokane, Washington asking me if I would like to go on a trip to Hawaii that the state was sponsoring, of course I would love to go, but taking care of the horses is a full time job, and as much as I would have liked to go, I never even thought I would have a chance to go. My husband Walter Schoen thought it would be a good time to go and I would have company, so it took little erging to make my mind up to go on the trip. I called Grace and told her I would go with her and her daughter Betty Jean. Bettys son Bruce was stationed there at that time so we all were looking foreward to the trip. We were given Leis on the plane before we landed and of course the usual bottle of whisky for a farewell party from the plane. Bruce met our plane with Leis for us all, so were all decked out with flowers. as most tourists were, though we had a little more with Bruces extra flowers. We went on most tours of the island and Bruce took us places where the normal traveler did not get to go. One trip we were shown how to do the Hula, we were by the ocean so I coaxed Grace to go in the sea with me, and when the waves came in we would jump in the air and the waves ?rode? us up annd down, She got tired and went back shore, but I kept on and got further and further out in the ocean, until finally it seemed some voice seemed to say ?Luella, go back? I looked toward shore and the people were very small so I turned to go back. It was not so much fun returning as it had been going out to sea, Another day we went over in a large canoe to see the sunken ship which was sunk when the Japanese came in, that was interesting, as we traveled along we could see large fish in the murky water. We viewed the names of the trapped men that had been caught in the ship and perished. We visited the north shore of the island which had very rough water, and where we were instructed not to swim as many people have lost their lives there. On the island were many water falls, and the flowers were beautiful, we saw many of their famous buildings about the history of their land, the only island we did not visit was the Lepard island, but the trip was one to long remember and historical of the native people. They really go out for their Luaus, beautiful dances, and shows. It was a opening to a completely different word, and I was very appreciative to have been allowed to go and visit the island. and see the many places of interest. If I was as healthy now as I was then, I would gladly go again, but alas, those so called ?Golden Years? have taken there toll. I was 45 at that time and my sister Grace was 66. Thirty eight years makes a lot of difference.
Grace and Luella on the airplane to Hawaii, 1969
Luella Nickel (window seat) and Grace Lunder 