Created by Alexis Rankine ʻ23, Jackie Lydon ʻ24, Raafa Elsheikh ʻ25, and Hannah Van Dusen ʻ25 Advised by Ella Weber ʻ25 and Joshua Worth ʻ25 Yvonne's Letters 116 Nassau Street Princeton, New Jersey March 7, 1946 Dearest folks, Lawrence and I have been prepping to visit the area of Honolulu for about three months now. He won’t stop drowning on and on about fissured molecules and ends mathematical terms that completely stump me. I think that he’s a bit worried about the success of Operation CrossRoads, he often paces the length of our living room, and it’s never seen without a pen in hand. Whenever he isn’t walking, he’s usually scribbling in that notebook of his, and I have only caught a couple of peaks at it and it seems to be full of mathematical equations like Galo theory I believe, and drawings of bombs that I can’t even comprehend. I’ve been trying my best, however, to calm his nerves as a due diligence, wife, and ensure that he can continue with the operation. Because it’s not just our families. I have sacrificed and are at stake, but it is also the livelihoods of all of you and the Princeton community that we’ve grown so close to. We are supposed to be leaving Princeton on March 15 and arriving in Los Angeles California. Lawrence hasn’t mentioned how long will be gone so I’ve been a bit stuck figuring out all the clothes and essentials that we might need because I’m not too sure what forms of stories are on that island or if it takes the same value. I’ve even asked the other ladies at the women’s club what to expect for this trip, but it seems this is the first time that something like this has happened to everyone on campus. S I am left to my own devices and it’s a bit scary, but Lawrence has assured me that there would be time for rest so I know that my efforts will pay off. Before I go off to the specific, I will ensure to give you all another ring Much love, Yvonne c/o A. L. Lyon - Vaiden Nuuanu and Judd Sts. Honolulu, J. H. April 7, 1946 Greetings, I come with great news! Lawrence and I have safely arrived in Honolulu by God’s grace. We’ve been staying at one of my good girlfriends named Evelyn and her husband‘s house. It’s a beautiful home with two floors, and lots of windows that blow in the tropical breeze. I tend to get cold easily, and they often have their windows open but I honestly don’t mind it because of the wafting smell from the trees in their yard. The windows also give me a great chance to cook, while being able to watch the kids play outside and intently listen out for the ocean waves. This place has been the ultimate paradise and I wish that I could stay longer, but I am trying not to dread our departure and focus on the present. Instead, I will be focusing on how soft their sheets and linen are. I’ve been thinking of packing some to take with me to Princeton. It would be a nice reminder of the little home that we’ve made so far. Another good thing is that Lawrence has seen better spirits. Rather than the dreadful pacing he used to do at Princeton, he has a smile on his face and has been energetic enough even to visit the beach nearby. I think the sun and closing days to the test day have done justice for his health, and I’m very excited to support him as he goes off to bikini to finish off this project and plans to finish his studies. After the operation, we plan to head back to Princeton and finish off his graduate studies. You don’t have to worry about me and the food out here, brother! I’ve been eating just well, and Evelyn has taken me around the town so that I can shop at some of the supermarkets and pick up some goods to cook for the house. Yes, Evelyn has taught me to make the best kind of baked chicken in the oven and I will be sure to whip some up for you when I return. Much love, Yvonne c/o A. L. Lyon - Vaiden Nuuanu and Judd Sts. Honolulu, J. H. 30 June Dearest Folks, Lawrence has been gone for a couple of days now and things have been pretty tense around the house. I think we’re all just a little bit worried about how well the next couple of weeks is going to go. Lawrence hasn’t said much about exactly what he’ll be doing on the islands but I’m pretty sure that it’s related to the war efforts because of the equations and drawings in his notebook. How are things back home? Has your rose garden started to blossom? I hear that the weather there has been lovely this past week but wish you all would have enjoyed the warmth here. I’m excited about the matter and if what Lawrence says is true then we will see fewer wars in the future. He told me that the ground shaking will be a symbol of the strengthening of our nation. Did you feel the ground from all the way over there? It felt like a slight hiccup from the ground that moved the cabinets a little bit. Evelyn and I made sure to prepare the home in advance and wrap the delicates for any possible fall damage. One plate broke despite our efforts but it is worth the security that Lawrence and his team will provide. No, I haven’t been able to get outside much because I fear what may become of the air. I saw a newspaper that talked about the potential radiation exposure and although Lawrence has calmed my worries, I can’t help but think about potentially bringing something back to you all. Are you both okay? I was scared to hear about the draft regulations but at sure that Thomas will be okay. We always seem to find a way to weather the storm and I must believe that God has a greater plan for us all. I will be returning in a matter of weeks and should be on Pan American on August 2nd. Miss you all, Yvonne Bikini Atoll January 1946 Io̧kwe, My neighbor, Jerana, told me that we would be evacuated soon by the United States because there is fear that the Japanese will bomb us in retaliation for WWII. I’m not sure why we would be targeted but most of us on the island are becoming scared. I don’t want to separate from our ancestors’ land but I’ve heard stories about the dangers of bombs and what it’s done to Japan. I don’t want the same future for my son so I’m afraid that I have no choice. Since we should be returning soon, we haven’t been given much space to pack our belongings. I can only afford to pack our documents and some clothes but will likely bring ‘Ehukai’s Bottle and blanket in hand. I’m nervous for the days to come but pray that this won’t be the last time I’m grounded in this land. Bar lo kom̧, Jaymiola Hawai’i June 1946 Io̧kwe, ‘Ehukai and I have been relocated to Hawaii and have been in a local shelter for a couple of weeks now. I haven’t been able to reconnect with Jerana or any other people in our community. It’s been isolating here without everyone and I’m anxiously waiting to return. The locals here have been lovely but it’s not the same spiritual connection that I have with everyone back home. I’ve been asking the people at the shelter when we would be returned but they all seem clueless and have no idea. It would be days or months from now but the longer I am away, the more I feel away…hopefully, I can feel the sun on my back soon. Bar lo kom̧, Jaymiola Hawai’i July 1946 Did you feel that yesterday? The ground felt as though it was letting out a cry. Was it the US or Japan? What are they doing to our land? I’ve seen newspapers that speak of a bomb being dropped. Our land cannot handle that magnitude and will be wounded. How can we return now? Is it safe? Are our homes just as how we left them? There are so many questions but no one seems to know what happens next. I can’t help but weep for the future that has been robbed from ‘Ehukai. What can I do now? Bar lo kom̧, Jaymiola Hawai’i November 1956 It has been a while since we last spoke. So many things have changed since we were evacuated. I heard that some of our neighbors had tried to move back to the island but were removed again because of the radiation. The US once told us that our migration would be a temporary sacrifice for the safety of humanity but who are they truly trying to protect? Our land has been filled with toxins that are slowly killing the life that it once nourished. Our people are suffering from birth defects and dying before their parents and grandparents. So much of our life has changed and I’m starting to lose hope that it’ll go back to normal. If our land is beyond saving, then what does that make us and our children? Where will they live? What grounds can they play on? How can they create bonds of friendship, kinship, and love if they do not share common land? How can we spread out culture while we’re separated? Bar lo kom̧, Jaymiola Related links Final Project Presentation Letter Transcriptions
