The memorial service that Mrs. Vitousek mentioned on the previous post was arranged by a civilian committee that was headed by Mrs. Petrie, wife of mayor Petrie. It was held at Nuuanu Cemetery. The service began with a prayer, imploring blessings on all the mothers, and widows of the dead. Then they laid a lei on each grave. Most of the lei were strung from "red lehua."
If anyone else has any input or opinion about the "red lehua" lei, let me know. I assume it is ohia lehua. Here is a photo of an ohia lehua lei.
Over 2,000 people came to the service. It started at noon. Many locals brought "backyard lei" strung from plumeria. They were there to honor the fallen soldiers, sailors and three Honolulu firefighers who died on December 7, 1941.
Young women from different Hawaii civic societies, sang. Among the songs they sang was MAI POINA I’AU, (Don't Forget Me).
Most of the bodies temporarily laid to rest were soldiers. Nuuanu ran out of space and could not accomodate the Navy's needs and those sailors' bodies were taken to Red Hill.
Below is a photo of Nuuanu Cemetery as it is now. The cemetery is right outside Honolulu. Take Nuuanu Avenue for about three miles. It will be on your right. (Oahu Cemetery is across the street.) You can see from the photo the cemetery is small and urban. It's flanked by Nuuanu Avenue on one side and the Pali Highway on the other.
Women of World War II Hawaii
