Johnny

A Letter From Johnny

NOT too long before your note arrived I was looking through letters of my father to his uncle, brother and ten thousand other relatives in the States. I came across your name in one of them, and I thought of the times in Rarotonga when Papa read to me your letters. I wanted very much to write to you then, but postponed.

I was very happy to have heard from you. I feel like writing a whole story on the three of us for you.

I shall give a brief summary, and this coming Sunday when our picture appears in the local morning Advertiser, I shall send you a special one. I left Rarotonga for Honolulu in April, 1950; graduated from Punahou Academy in 1953; visited the States for the first time —went water skiing at beautiful Lake Tahoe, fishing at Eagle Lake and also visited the fabulous Yosemite Park. San Francisco was delightful: Los Angeles too much unnecessary colour and neon siens.

Early in 1954, I was becoming desperate to leave Hawaii, to see new faces and new places. I wanted to be on my own and make a little money and spent that money on whatever I desired. Judy Tudor,

I was so desperate I almost cried on James Michener’s shoulders to help me find a job overseas.

Luckily, both typing and shorthand had been as simple as walking to me (though I doubt that it is true now).

Five weeks later I was in Yokohama, Japan, a secretary to an Army Colonel. Japan was such a beautiful and different world—so mysterious because I was living and working among people so awkward in their thoughts and actions. But, still, it was beautiful, because I learned easily to accept them, to sleep in the futong (thin beds) and learn the language.

After two years I did not look forward to coming back to crowded, spoiled Hawaii. But Elaine and Nga were graduating from high school and being here was part of the fun.

I believe I finally grew up in Japan.

Nga came to Hawaii seven months after me. I shall never forget how shy she was. But now she has grown into what many men and women say to me, “Truly, Johnny, she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.” She is row dancing the Tahitian dance at Henry Kaiser’s Hawaiian Village.

She wants to go to the States i I hope she can.

Elaine, jolly old Elaine, came Hawaii in 1951, from New Zeals She went there the same time I Raro. She still prefers 1

This letter should give as much deligh readers who knew the Frisbie children in flesh or through the writings of their fa the late Robert Dean Frisbie, as it di ihe Editor of PIM, to whom it was addre It is from Johnny, eldest of the Frisbie girls—or, as the Honolulu "Advert calls them, "the Fabulous Frisbie Sisters".

With the letter came the photograph produced herewith, and a colour-supplemei ihe Sunday "Advertiser" carrying a sf cover and story of the girls, Johnny, and Elaine.

It is interesting to know that Johnr attempting another book, this time withou help of her father, who assisted substan with "Miss Ulysses of Puka-Puka ", a de ful story of the family's adventures in Cooks, Samoa and Fiji. The new boo pfanned as a memorial to her father died in the Cooks in 1949).

Doubtless the girls have inherited their rf dancing and their skill in the art their mother's people; but Johnny shows cl in this letter that she has inherited Pobe’-t Dean Frisbie his gift for stringing i together.

Rest wishes fo- success in their pi ,’nd mrfess’cna! I* ves 9° to the girls friends in the South Seas.

Johnny wrote on the back of this photo: "Carl, my in-laws and me. We took them to a luau (Hawaiian feast), and I danced. It was fun."

>he graduated from Punahou this nmer, the same time as Nga. en she started dancing at the een Surf, a swanky night club at likiki on the seashore. Then she it to Kona, Hawaii, to dance the Steak House, and fish with jlo, and hunt wild pigs in the untains of trees and lavas—with )10, of course. Pablo is a dark ivaiian boy, a typical beach boy, h an unmatched personality. j greatest nature boy in the yaiian Islands! [ow Elaine off and on dances television with me. You see, r months ago I married Ed livan’s television man, Carl >enstreit, who is known here on vision and radio as “Kini Popi,” ining “right on the ball.” igine, I was in Japan two years, ire all types of men are found, i coming back to good old vaii and falling in love within

;e weeks! .

have been working on a raphy titled Papa Ropati. I e so much fun working on this c. creating new sentences and ing with delight when by elf I discover my mistakes In nmar, which are numerous, but lually improving. vo more pieces of news: I am have a baby next June; but ire that, in February of ’57. we e for Europe via the Panama al. Spain, Portugal, England, ice, here I come!

Aloha, Johnny

olulu, , 16, 1956. r. M. Larsen, an employee of dana Enterprises, Honiara, was itted to hospital on October 28 ring from concussion and ■ations received when a van he driving crashed into a tree in dana Avenue.