Honeymoon 1957

Kauai, Territory of Hawaii

June 1 to June 6, 1957

Following our wonderful reception, Best Man Al Brewster hustled Dotty and me to nearby Honolulu Airport for our 4:40 p.m. departure.  We didn't miss the flight but had no time to spare.  It was a short 128 miles to the Lihue airport but our flight time was a good hour in the twin engine speed demon pictured below.  Who cared!  We were madly in love and on our way to our honeymoon.

Would you look at these round trip ticket prices; $23.10 for me and $17.33 for the new bride.  They must have offered a special price for spouses who accompany their husbands.

Upon our arrival we rented a 1957 Plymouth convertible, put the top down and headed to our resort, Coco Palms.  Only 3 years old, it was one of only two on the island.  We were greeted at the entrance by Hawaiian men and women dressed in native attire.  The men had conch shells and announced to all within earshot of the newly weds arrival.  I remember blushing!  The women put leis around our necks and somebody removed our luggage and drove the car away.  Everything happened so smoothly that we just fell into the rhythm and let it happen.  Next thing I knew we were in our matrimonial suite at the end of the lagoon below.

I had arranged for flowers and Champagne which helped make Dotty feel so special.  Our room with adjoining lanai was inviting and decorated Hawaiian style.  I remember toasting "Mrs. Guy Larry Brown," embracing my new wife and being the happiest man on the face of the earth.  Never before had I been so blessed.

Our conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a conch shell!  Turned out to be the traditional "Call to Dinner."  That was followed by drum beating and lighting of torches around the grounds and in the restaurant.

From our room we walked the short distance to The House of Singing Bamboo, the resort restaurant.  There we were serenaded with the Wedding Song, and I blushed again.  Why did all these people have to know we were newly weds!  

Behind the man in the boat below is the restaurant, not the small shelter but left of that.  It was covered with palm leaves and open all around and Dotty thought so romantic.  Charcoal broiled dinners and specialty cocktails made the restaurant famous.  We certainly thought they were good.  Must have been why I gained five pounds during the time we were there.

The ocean beach was just a short walk from our place so we enjoyed several visits there.  Here Dotty is adding her beauty to the lovely surroundings.

Among the island highlights was the Fern Grotto known for its acoustics.  Part of that trip was by a small boat.  Upon arrival in the cave like site we were greeted by a choral group singing the Hawaiian Wedding Song.  It never sounded more beautiful.

Pictured below is Dotty's chauffeur during the Honeymoon.  This picture was taken near the Wet and Dry Caves on the north side of the island.  At the time, there was a paved highway along the coast that ran north and west.  Just before Lihue, the highway cut inland then back along the coast to run west.  It stopped more than 20 miles short of completing the route around the entire island.

We didn't see a lot of folks around the island, or was it that we simply didn't notice.  There were some however and the evidence is pictured below. They sure don't look like serious fishermen and I suspect they gathered just for tourists wanting photos of the natives.  Seeing the flowers worn by the women reminds me of the wonderful fragrances that permeated the air everywhere we went.

On a paved road heading north off the coastal highway we paralleled the Waimea Canyon and River.  The picture below was taken at Canyon Lookout    as Dotty was getting prepared for a closer glimpse through the "pay" telescope at her left.  The colors were spectacular!

And this picture was taken from the same spot looking toward the ocean.

Further up the same road was Kalalau Lookout.  At a high elevation, it was adjacent to Alakai Swamp which was created by rains that fall on Mt. Waialeale, the World's Wettest Spot.  The entire time we were at Kalalau Lookout the surroundings were ghost like; a result of the misty clouds encasing us.  Can you figure who the monkey in the tree is?

Our Honeymoon ended the way it began; via Hawaiian Airlines but this time back to Honolulu, our starting point.  We'd had one of the most interesting and romantic places in the world to begin our marriage.  But the adventures were only beginning.

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