Military, Books, and Radio Station "Saucers"

Dear W,
I so enjoyed your long newsy letter. That haiku you wrote was lovely. I was so pleased you wrote it to and for me. Thank you. I shall watch for the one you sent to our paper. Don't be impatient. I understand there are hundreds received daily from all over. I am sending you a few more.

Now - about the Island of Kohoolawe. That is a sore point over here. The military uses it to test bombs and for other practices; and the Hawaiians are furious. They consider it a holy place, and want it back so that groups can go there to pray and meditate and maybe use it as a cemetary. it is a bleak place I've heard with nothing there but wild goats. Every once in awhile, a boat with some six or eight people go over there during the night when they can't be seen and scatter in all directions. When the military discovers the boat, it has to stop all its work until the people are rounded up, captured, and returned to Honolulu. On the whole, there is always friction between the Hawaiians and the military. The former resent the fact that many of the best parts of Oahu (beach property right on the ocean) were taken over by the Federal Government. Not only that, but we have thousands and thousands of military people some of whom get acquainted with us ordinary people. The Hawaiians don't like this. As a result, there are many assaults and muggings. The military was more than welcome, I guess, when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

As far as music goes, I like opera, old waltzes, big name bands of the 30's and 40's. I gues I'm not up on modern music.

Reading is my greatest joy: biographies, autobiographies, travels, modern novels, and mysteries. I do not like science fiction at all. You will get to them all someday. I remember Joy Adamson's books on those gentle lions, and Carolyn Keene, but I don't know Weaver and Kenny.

My handwork, for some reason, has always been with large pieces: afghans, intricate sweaters (with scenes, animals, flowers, quips - all knit in rather than put on afterwards) dresses, etc; and in needlepoint and bargello covers for chairs. I have never made the small things your Mom does, and they sound so attractive - especially the baby clothes. Fortunately I have always been able to do handwork while I read or watch television.

I'm always trying to think of unusual or different things to tell you about Hawaii. For instance, on this small island of Oahu (608 square miles) we have not only five TV channels but twenty-seven (27!) radio stations: Included are two Japanese (all talking, commercials and music are in that language); one Filipino (as with Japanese); one western-country; two religious, one "educational radio" (like education TV - no commercials); one Hawaiian ( just the music is Hawaiian - everything else in English - favorite of tourists); two "good" music (operas, concerts, sumphonies, etc); two talk stations (one local only, one has calls from all over the nation. Ihear many from New England); one of the Big Band music from the 20's, 30's, 40's (silky smooth). I guess all the rest are of one kind or another of the popular music of today. So, as you can see, there's something for everyone. Because of those large aluminum "saucers", I believe most all of these stations (and the television stations) can be heard and seen on all the Islands.

How's your weather? Do you get a vacation in February? It will soon be April with lilacs, tulips and a warm day here and there.

Love,
E.R.G.