I greet you with "Aloha," because my heart is pure Hawaiian, even though I am haole. I am a native Californian.

My friends at the Cafe know me as Ruby, but during the late 60's to the mid 80's many knew me as Ewalea. My Sister Lanikea and I danced with a Polynesian dance troupe.

During these years my family (Mom, Dad, sister,and I), travelled to Hawaii at least once a year. And my Sister and I managed to squeeze in an extra trip now and then

Those were the good old days. I quit counting, but twenty or more of our trips were aboard the Matson Lines Ships. The Lurline, The Matsonia, The Mariposa. and The Monterey. The Lurline, was my sentimental favorite. But as I look back, every trip was special.

During one trip we were in a full gale.   You don't know what you have missed until you have been in a full gale! :-) My poor Dad was always sick the first two days out of California, but he still loves ships and Mom refuses to fly.

On another trip one of our fellow passengers suffered a heart attack on the second day out of California.   A huge Sikorsky Coast Guard helicopter came out to the ship and plucked him off the bow of the ship in very high seas, while the passingers looked on. It was a very scary situation.

During these trips we became very good friends with many of the crew members. My sister and I signed up for the passenger talent show on our first trip, and after the rehearsal were informed that the show was for amateurs. But much to our surprise we were invited to join the cruise staff and to perform in their show.

The cruise host and hostess were Bob Davis and Margaret Kainoa, Don't let Davis fool you; Bob's Hawaiian name is 26 letters long, and Margaret's husband wrote the beautiful love song "Kainoa" for her.

It was an extreme honor for us to be invited to perform with them. After that trip we were expected to perform whenever we were aboard ship. And we made several trips just to perform.

One of the funniest things that ever happened on board ship, happened one night when a guest performer, a comedian, was performing in a lounge show.

The tables were very close and the waiters had to squeeze through the audience to serve the customers. At one of the tables were Bill Cosby's mother and a friend. The ladies were being served, and as the waiter straightened up to move on to another table his belt buckle snagged Mrs. Cosby's wig, and off it went dangling from his belt!   Well, you get the picture. It was hilarious, and Mrs. Cosby was laughting harder then anyone. She was a very good sport about it. The waiter just about died.

I snapped the picture at the top of this page on Maui in 1995. If I ever get my own web page finished I will share some more of the hundreds of photographs I have taken , and more tales of Hawaii.



ALOHA, EWALEA