December 1970 Hamra is a cross between Main Street, U.S.A., and Rome’s Via Venetto plus more neon, bazazz, and clamor. Signs are in English or Arabic transliteration – not translation – of the English reads “Splendid Store;” and its “Famous Hamburgers.” Girls flutter by in
Anh Hai’s frequent talks with us were conversational in mood, but one-directional. For the most part he spoke, and we listened, made non-committal comments, or asked questions. Hai’s tone was one of relating self-evident truth, which was exclusive and all-encompassing. It allowed for no alternative
Honolulu March 25, 1970 It is Noumea, the capital of French New Caledonia. A small, bright, and very black Solomon Islander, in town for the South Pacific Commission meeting, shivers in the chill night air despite his unaccustomed suit. “You know what I
Honolulu December 1, 1969 It’s easy to assume not much has happened this past year in the Samoas, the Polynesian island group divided in the days of gunboat diplomacy and big power bickering at the end of the last century. Astronauts back from
Honolulu, Hawaii October 5, 1969 Tahiti is far more than just the capital of French Polynesia — six small island groups scattered over a Europe-sized portion of the Southeast Pacific. Despite time and tarnish, it remains the capital of the Pacific dream —
