From here on---we relax

"Here's Gracie!"

When I daydreamed about the book on Women in World War II in Hawaii being published, this was the cover photo I envisioned. To me it embodied the image of World War II Honolulu. Oahu wasn't a Pacific Paradise anymore. It was invaded by thousands of middle-class haole who came to defend, work and enjoy (Yes, enjoy) Oahu during the war.

The photo is of Grace (Powers) Staples flanked by admiring military men, walking downtown Honolulu, about 1943.

Grace Staples was one of the adventurous women who came to Hawaii and joined the civil defense force. I love Gracie! She lives on Oahu now. She still does laps in her pool, does stair-walking, sings, is active in church and enjoys three generations of her family. Here is a picture of her at Sea Life Park swimming with the dolphins.

Gracie was and is tough; and she knows it. It's her story and stories of women like her that I'm going to tell now---in a relaxed, no order, serendipitous, slideshow way. No more bibliographies and citations. I'll post them, but I'm not going to focus on them!

A Happy Relaxed New Year to us all!

Women of World War II Hawaii