Ben Oostdam's Autobiography: 1960-1963

page 55

Hawaii I I I - oh! Oahu, Eve, Maui, Ricky Grigg early March, 1963

The first day of March - Friday - I was busy shopping and preparing for the arrival of Eve and her two small daughters. Their flight had been delayed and they only arrived after midnight rather bedraggled and loaded with luggage. That weekend, I built a playpen for Susy and took them to the beach and International Market, which they enjoyed a lot. On Monday, I drove to the University, where Doak signed my equipment list. After lunch with Eve, I met Ricky Grigg who had trailer problems with the University BW (Boston Whaler) we were to take to Maui. I met Dr. Zeitlin in Chemistry, who kindly gave me some dye. That evening, Eve left me alone with the kids on the beach and "sneaked" off (to Church-she said), but after 8 pm we diligently sewed sample bags and marker flags.
On Tuesday, Rick and I loaded up our cars and drove to Young Bros dock where the jeep had arrived from Maui in a horrible shape; we transferred its contents to our cars and conversely, and found out that the clutch had failed, so it would have to be towed and repaired . Back to University where Doak permitted repairs but asked me to sign Ralph's memo which I first refused but then did 'under duress' and with some reservations. Later, Dick Greenbaum asked me to look into the possibility of jetting 20 holes some 25 foot deep off Kaanapali, Maui, in water less than 25 foot deep. That evening, Eve had a fever and I saw her meet some funky guy with whom she held hands.
Wednesday morning we had an early breakfast,where I met a Dutchman, Smeenk, from Amstelveen. After I said goodbyes to Eve, Cindy and Susy for a week or so, I drove to the University where I found a nice letter from Shepard, and asked McCoy about jetting procedures and protocol. Late in the afternoon, Valery took me to the airport and I finally flew to Maui again, across the La Perouse Bay flow! Rented a cheap $ 5 p.d. car and stayed in a cheap $ 2.50 hotel in Wailuku where I talked a long time with an old Puerto Rican who had arrived here in 1900.

On Thursday, I drove to Von Hamm Young and made arrangements to tow and repair the jeep, which cost $ 15. At a photostore, I met a Mr Shinn, a boyscout, who gave me names and telephone numbers of potential diving buddies, Ohta and Joe Bova.

I also went to meet Mr. Ventura, the Kihei postmaster, who gave me some references for renting empty cabins along the south coast.While driving there, I saw a sign: "Shorecamp 1: Girls and Visitors Welcome!", where I met some of the USCGS crew who invited me to stay over - Crd. Holden was out on the boat, but I first had to find a Mr. Carter, married to an Eastman heiress, to get some kind of permit.

After that, I dropped by Cdr Holden for some after -dinner coffee , but turned down his offer to stay there, and, instead, camped and slept out alone on the chilly lava flow at almost full moon.
Following an exploratory swim along the rough lava coast, early Friday March 8, I dropped by the shorecamp to call and make an appointment to meet with Vic Tavaris who would rent me his Makena house for $ 10 per week. Next, I opened an account in Kahului and went to the Young Bros Pier where Ricky's UH boat had arrived, sitting on a ramshackle trailer (Ricky's own, I found out later)so I first had to arrange to weld a hook to the jeep. I then went to the airport to pick up a happy Ricky, and we drove to Lahaina to meet and stay with Larry Ackerman of Maui Divers. That evening after a cheap dinner we drank a Maitai at Kathe's pleasant "Whaler's Inn", then went to sleep on the bare floor overhanging the waterside. Someone took a leak righ off the balcony into the harbor water at full moon . . .Haughsay, ready to start work!