Treasured memory...we took the Lurline from SF to Honolulu when Dad was transferred (USN) in 1957. He declined taking a plane because he wanted his kids to experience an ocean voyage. Once again THANKS DAD! The aquamarine '57 Chevy Nomad station wagon came with us, and we have a photo of the car, bundled in a cargo net, being lowered into the forward cargo hold of the ship. Them's were the days. Lurline met by a band, hula dancers, coin divers, sailboats...and each passenger got a neck-full of leis. Thanks for wonderful video. Thanks for resurrecting the memories...choking back tears.
That's a beautiful memory to have of your father. I can only hope that my children will remember certain memories of their experiences with me once I'm gone. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. I have wonderful memories of this ship as well, but it was of memories after she was laid up and awaiting an uncertain future which led to her eventual sinking while being towed to her fate of scrapping in Alang, India. I researched her years later (around 2002-2003) and learned that she had sunk. I even saw pictures of her sad fate. It made me sad because she was such a beautiful ship. I have been a maritime historian for the past 32 years and I love all ships along with the ocean.
@@Brock_Landers as long as you keep making memories for them, they will remember....sadly they may not appriciate those memories as much as you would like while your still amoung the living...but they will one day. Just because you wont be aroumd doesnt make it any less important and even more selfless on your part
My Uncle was a Chef on the Lurline in the 60's/70's and her sister ships the Monterey and Mariposa. I remember so vividly catching the bus down to Honolulu Harbor to welcome him back home after a long time at sea. The fragrance of the lei, the sound of the Royal Hawaiian Band, watching the boys dive for coins, and all the happy reunions are in my memory. Boat days were so special!
As a shore based High Frequency radio (Morse) operator, I had comms with both the Mariposa and Monterey. As an Aide Memoire to remember their individual radio callsigns. The Mariposa was KFCP, thus the letter P; the Monterey was KFCN, thus the letter N, respectively, reminded us which was which ship.
I really enjoyed this wonderful video. I sailed on Lurline in 1966 as a young man and it brought back many happy memories. The girl I met on board was voted Miss Lurline so I enjoyed dating a celebrity. Looking forward to more of your videos.
Like George Foreman and his sons George, George, George, George and George. Makes the guy on Newhart with his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl seem a little less eccentric
I took the S.S. Matsonia to Hawaii in 1962 and returned to San Francisco on the Lurline three years later. Courtesy of the U.S. Army. That was my first and second cruise. I was 2 and 5 years old. One of mom's favorite stories was telling people that "the army gave us the option of a military transport ship or the Lurline." We took the cruise
Great video! I travelled on the Lurline as the Ellinis in 1965. The voyage from Melbourne, Australia to Piraeus, Greece. You haven't mentioned that, as the Ellinis, thousands of Greek immigrants were also carried to Australia. The revamped Ellinis retained the 6 luxury suites, as shown in your video and clearly showing as the three large windows on either side of the upper passenger decks. An unforgettable experience.
Thank you so much for this video. My late Stepfather sailed this ship twice as a child- first in 1940 when his family moved to Honolulu as his father was a Navel Officer and was assigned to Pearl Harbor; and again during WWII when his father was transferred back stateside, the return sailing during her time as a troop ship obviously. He mentioned her often as we love vacationing in Hawaii. he passed a few years ago and this video brought me great happiness as it gave new dimension to his stories about his experiences on this great Liner.
My father retired as Chf Engnr of the Hawaiian. He started as cabin boy on Lurline in 1925. Merchant Marines during war on Matson ships as supply carrier. After war, stayed with Matson. Worked on Lurline, Mariposa, Hawaiian Wholesaler, Californian, and finally the Hawaiian. Thank you for the great film!
I have an original photo of this ship, I found it at a garage sale and loved the lines. I've read a bit, but this had some interesting new information.
In 1960, at six weeks old my mom and dad took the family on the Lurline to Hawaii for one of dad's duty stations in the military. Mom spoke often of the ship and the passage - it made quite an impression. Thank you for sharing this.
Here in Honolulu there's Lurline Drive near the top of Wilhelmina Rise. The street below it is Matsonia Drive. BTW, across from Punahou School is Spreckels St. Just thought you might wanna know. 🏝🚙🤔
My mother was at Hickam Field, where her father was stationed, when Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941. She was evacuated to California abaord the Lurline. Thank you for the tear in my eye...
Wow! Can't believe i found this! My family boarded the Ellinis at Sydney in 1967, i was 8yrs old, we were moving back to the UK. I have fantastic memories of that journey. Thank you so much!
Thanks for this! I sailed on the Lurline (the '32 one) in 1959, when my family moved from Hawaii to "the States." I was five, but still remember it. So fortunate to have been able to experience this wonderful age of ocean travel, before the airlines began to dominate. My parents had framed six of the menus, and had them on the wall in the living room for many years. Too bad they disappeared. [When we moved to Hawaii in 1957, we sailed on the Leilani.]
When I was a teenager my parents and I moved to Brandon, Florida and one of my favorite fishing spots was a place called Seabreeze Restaurant in Tampa Bay. Well moored out back of Seabreeze was the SS Britanis (Ex Monterey, Ex Matsonia, Ex Lurline) and I always wanted to walk aboard her, but every gangway was roped off and guarded during the day. I thought that she was a beautiful ship. Moored along side her was a Canadian ship called the Bluenose. I would take my canoe between the two ships and catch all kinds of fish there. Right before I left Florida I noticed that they had renamed her Belofin-1. I moved back to Pittsburgh in early 2000 and I remember checking up to see the status of the ship because she was moored there for quite a while, and I saw that she had sank on her journey to India. A much more fitting end for a beautiful ship.
Love this I traveled on the Lurline in 1969, shortly after graduating High School, from Honolulu to San Francisco We also used to go on board to say Aloha and sneak a bit of champagne Someone would always give you a glass So happy to have been a small part of her exciting history 🌴🌴🌴🥂🍾
Loved the video!! My family and I sailed on the Lurline from Honolulu to Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 1953. I was just a baby, so I don't remember the voyage, but watching the video and story of the Lurline is great!
My Dad worked for Matson in San Francisco after having sailed during the war. He actually retired from Matson in the 1980's. My sister and parents made a couple of round trips on the Lurline back in the early 60's. Unfortunately I never had that opportunity! But I loved to go down to the ship on their sailing departure days. Lots of champagne and hors d'ouvres! It was all white gloves, mink coats and dark suits for the men. Matson was a one class ship. No cheap tickets!
I have the working blueprints that were used in the restoration of the Lurline after the war. My grandfather was the man in charge of installing air conditioning, among other things, and it was incredibly complicated. I also own several mess trays from her time as a troopship and a lot of original Matson Line menus from the 40's and 50's. My father in-law went to war on the Lurline and eventually served on the Gambier Bay. My grandfather was chief engineer on the S.S City of Los Angeles when she was part of the Los Angeles Steamship Company. Unfortunately his photos of his time with the Matson Line were lost before I was born. Thank you for posting this video.
I always find it amazing how things interconnect in life. I work in a warehouse here in Seattle and we're often loading or unloading from Matson containers. I would've never thought that Matson had such an interesting start. I must thank you for such an informative and entertaining short documentary. 👍🏾👍🏾
In 1966 my grandparents, my mother and myself at age 5 cruised to and from Hawaii from the port of LA (Long Beach), in a lovely suite (2 full baths). With Don Ho dining with us at the captains table, this was a true first class experience. The bon voyage party with silver sterling platters and yummy food was how things started. This cruise was about the best of everything. I still have a postcard (framed) that reminds me of an era where getting there was half of the great Hawaiian experience. Today’s ships are just floating hotels. The Lurline was about real cruising that still reminds me of the best consume I’ve ever had plus everything more. These were the days my friends, and I wish they’d never ended. A beautiful ship with impeccable service and luxurious accommodations made every hour aboard her a joy 🥰
Great video. As a boy (1959 - 1970) I lived on the tip of Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor. Whenever the Lurline was coming into port or leaving we would drop everything and run to the rocks at the entrance of the harbor to wave at the passengers on the rail. She would pass almost within rock throwing distance. Don't ask how I know that. Several times over the last twenty years I have had the good fortune to be one of those passengers waving at the kids on Reservation Point. Very nostalgic to say the least.
Thank you so much. This brought back many memories. I lived in Sydney and used to spend a lot of time at the passenger terminal Circular Quay. Times have changed in my opinion not for the best. I could never travel on the mega supermarket liners. I was fortunate to do a contact working on the Rotterdam. Hawaii remains my favourite destination. Cheers from London
Around 1960/61 my family and I sailed on the Lurline from San Francisco to Honolulu. It was a remarkable voyage for a young teenager and I loved every minute. I was impressed enough that on my honeymoon some 7 years later my new wife and I sailed on the Lurline, (ex Matsonia this time) to Hawaii. Another wonderful cruise. In the ships store I purchased a record album called "ports of Paradise that was sponsored by Matson. I still have it. Matson had two other ships, a new Monterey and new Mariposa, both single funnel, that cruised the South Pacific islands. I always wanted to take one of those cruises. I miss all those ships.
Really enjoyed this one. The fact that ship survived until 1987 is remarkable. A proper generation ship. Thanks for the fascinating content. Keep up the good work!
Thanks. I think one of the Matson liners had a bit part in the Pearl Harbor saga. A day or two before the attack, the liner reported some radio traffic where there shouldn’t have been any, but the report was ignored. Odd thing is, the Japanese attack fleet was maintaining radio silence.
I graduated from Cal Maritime Academy in 1965 joined The Masters Mates and Pilots union and got my first job on the Lurline as a Jr Mate. I was so stoked to get my first job on such a cool ship!
Thank you😢 just fills me with happy memories. I am from Lahaina Maui and Lahaina was a port a call. My sister would be getting ready to dance hula for the ship. I was maybe five years old. This would have been sometimes 65 maybe but I do believe the lurline was the matsonia conversion. You did a wonderful job. I’ve never knew that nor did I know they were that many Lurline’s. 😅😅 do you have anything on the Mariposa and the Monterey the double blue stack with the golden bear? My birthday cake came from the Monterey and they brought it on the tender to our home. We lived near the water Of course Those were fun times.
One of my long time ancestors travelled aboard the SS Lurline in December of 1949, and I am sure it was a treasured experience. Lots of ports in the Pacific that she could have gone to. Truly and incredible ocean liner.
I'm someone who loves to find unique corners of TH-cam to learn about the golden age of liners, and this is amazing! Your videos bring modernity to the amazing footage you've found, and walk the line between boring History Channel videos from the 80s and overstimulating "top 10 ships of the 1900s" type videos in a careful, entertaining and sometimes humorous way. My hat is off to you mate, great job! 👍
We went over to Hawaii in 1959 and didn't know untl 3 days into the trip everything was free. We were on there by mistake and my Dad was an enlisted man. Great video.
My parents did 2 round the world cruises, so as the youngest child I had to go, so I really loved ship travel and appreciate and enjoy these older ocean liners.
Our family also took the Lurline / ex Matsonia to Hawaii and back when we were posted to Schofield Barracks in 1967 - 70. My mother who also was an 'Army Brat' and sailed to and from Hawaii with her father and mother on the Lurline, she was at Schofield on 7 December 1941 - she and her mother were on the first trip off the islands - on the Lurline which she loved dearly as we all did. Our family was on the last voyage of the Lurline / ex Matsonia for Matson line from Hawaii to SF / LA in 1970 - the staff all winked at us when we stashed various things as memorabilia in our luggage before disembarking. They were actually informally giving a lot of things away "so we don't have to inventory it". I am ashamed to say that we have none of those items anymore as they disappeared over the years but seeing this video really brings back very fond memories!
My Paternal Great Aunt, Mary, used to dance the hula on the Matson ships to entertain passengers on the voyage between her native island of Oahu and Oakland, California
Cruised on the MS Lurline in 1959 Honolulu to San Francisco (I was 12 yrs old, and like WINCHANDLE in the reply below, my Dad also USN, got the chance to take the Lurline, instead of a flight back to California--what an experience!! 20 years later my wife and I jumped at the chance of a "2-times around the Caribbean" from Puerto Rico on a cruise ship name the Brittanus (spelling?).... When we got onboard, it was like going-back to the Lurline...the staircase, the dining hall, the cabin with the port holes THAT OPENED!!! Even the menus for dining were the same!! We just returned home after a 71-day World Cruise on Holland America .. Still got the bug and feel like a 12-year old when we go on a cruise.
Great video -- and it was most gratifying to learn of the history of the Matson Line and the burgeoning US West Coast - Hawaii trade including and leading up to statehood in 1960. (Yeah, I loved my Hawaiian inter-island cruise in 2013.)
Lurline has always been synonymous for Hawaii. I had the great pleasure of being acquainted with Lurline Matson Roth. I grew up just a few "doors" down from her country estate, Filoli, in Woodside. She was a very nice lady, who always had a bowl of candy in the living room. Of course I never addressed her as Lurline, she was definitely always Mrs Roth.
I live in Honolulu and every time I pass the Aloha Tower I picture the Lurline there. I met a man here who was one of the coindivers at the pier back in the day. Beautiful ship. We still (or did) get passenger ships, but not the same. Mahalo and aloha!
12:21 Now THAT is exactly how I want to remember SS Britanis. I will never forget going to the Seabreeze Restaurant in Tampa with my parents back in 1994 to eat dinner and seeing those two majestic blue stacks with the Celebrity Cruises Xs on the smoke stacks. They stood out for at least a mile before we got to the restaurant. To this day I've been researching Britanis's history and her life.
I heard about that ship all my life. My mother went on it as it was returning children who had been brought to mainland for safety during the war. She was visiting her uncle who was based as Schofield. She traveled with her friend and schoolmate a Robinson. She regretted never taking up the invitation to go to niihau w her. I also recall my uncle telling me that usually the 1st 1/3 of the voyage was bleak and grey off the California coast. I believe her 1st trip was in circa 1934 where she learned to hula as you mentioned. Just to think of Waikiki with just 3 hotels and still relatively wide open. You got pictures of hawaiians swing out to meet the ship by the aloha tower something I'd heard about also. Enjoyed the episode. My 1st trip to the islands was 1964 and Honolulu had completely changed by then. It was on pan am.
Hey thanks for this video! Around 1964 (I think), when I was about 4, my parents and I were transported from Hawaii to the mainland on the Lureline as part of a military charter to transport families. While I only have a couple of memories of that voyage, the name and voyage were thought of in the family over the years. Thank you for highlighting the history and lore about these ships. It was interesting to discover that the ship I was probably on was not the "original".
I am SO GLAD is stumbled upon this channel today…it was love at first sight. I love your voice, the way you tell stories, and your obvious passion for boats and history. Thank you for sharing this awesome content! ❤️🛳⛴🚢⚓️
Like @WINCHANDLE, my father was in the navy and got orders to Hawaii in 1969. My mother felt that air travel was going to replace ocean liners, so the parents decided to head to the islands on board the Lurline (version previously known as the Matsonia). I remember taking, the newly opened, San Diego Coronado Bridge for the first time to head up to San Francisco for the voyage. The Lurline departed around Aug 13th during a heavy groundswell that almost made me miss the end of 2001 A Space Odyssey, due to my first case of seasickness (I remember wishing I was in space at the time, instead of rocking and rolling). My twin sister and I celebrated our 11th birthday enroute to Honolulu and remember all the fun activities that the crew had planned for kids and families. The decision to travel via sea was the best decision ever! My family settled in Hawaii amongst one of the most beautiful cultures to have ever existed! Aloha Nui Loa
I fondly remember the Lurline. When transiting from the S. Pacific to the North Pacific, we would see her about every other year, going to or from Hawaii. Seems like most of the time it would be when we were heading for Yaquina Bay, and she would be heading West. Beautiful change from the freighters I usually saw.
Another really interesting ship to do a story on would be the Sitmar ship The Fair Sea witch was converted into an aircraft carrier during WW2 and then converted back to a passenger ship for the immigration of people from all over Europe to Australia. My family came from England on her in 1964.
I grew up on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and remember watching the big, white Matson liners going north to San Francisco or south to San Pedro. They were so distinctive being all white. In my adult years I’ve bought 2 of the menus from the Matson ships. The artwork is wonderful and reproduced due to the quality.
My aunts were lei greeters and dancers at Aloha tower to welcome the arriving passengers to the islands. They said it was one of the most fun times of their lives.
I worked in the Hawaiian Islands in the late 80s on the SS Monterey. I can't tell you if it was one of the original Matson liners, but I found an old menu from the 50s in one of my dresser drawes. I loved this video, anything cruise ship or ocean liner.
In the late 1950's I was a passenger on the SS Constitution, NYC to Cannes twice.. '62 was my first jet flight, ending boat travel until 2004 and that was a stormy cruise... [TS Rita] for the first day (out of Cape Canaveral to Nassau (Carnival) and I preferred the steam turbines over the large diesels.. The low hum verse the piston throbbing impulses..
I worked the Lurline in 1969 as an assistant storekeeper. I only took one trip as I was a relief sailor (a relief is someone who takes the job only until the regular gets back). I had just completed my training at the school in Santa Rosa CA. This was when the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union was strong, but because of corruption and other reasons the union dissolved and was absorbed into the Sailors Union of the Pacific. There were 3 kitchens on the ship and my job was to fill up the carts the scullery workers would bring down to the lower decks to fill up with food. The sous chef would always have a list of the food items to go to the kitchen and I would pile these carts up to where they would almost fall over.
Although I grew up in Miami, which always was a great place for spotting ships bound for the Caribbean, I always loved looking at the Matson ads that came in my National Geographic Magazine that came every month. I was enchanted by the art work, the pictures showing cruising in real style. Now I can only look forward to going on NCL's Pride of America.
I just found a group of 8 mm films, some B&W but mostly color, including well exposed color footage of Lurline leaving a foggy S/F and arriving Honolulu, including a major attraction n/e/w/s sightseeing tour of O'ahu: mountains, forests, the palace and (!) Hickham, Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, with warships moving and at anchor, sometime in March 1941 . . . 🎉
Stunning footage! I have some Matson menus. I bought them years ago intending to frame them, but I haven't yet. I feel inspired now and once the lockdown ends, I will arrange it. Thank you for the video! Have a fabulous week!
As a kid, used to watch the Lurline and Matsonia sail from Wilmington, Ca. It used to alternate between S.F., and L.A.on its trips to Hawaii. Those were the times L.A., S.F., and even Honolulu, were still nice cities!
Your a great communicator , informative, easy to listen to, and my favorite was the remodeled ship after WWII . Thank you for educating me about this historic liner.
Big Old Boats, I love your videos so much there so informative and educative and entertaining I love seeing your videos on ships I’ve never heard of because it’s just so interesting. Keep up the Amazing work. See you in the next one 😊
She was still in service when we arrived in Honolulu in 1964 on MSTS USS Mitchell. Dad had been transferred to Pearl Harbor and served on the USS Taylor
I have a complete set of Lurline menus for one week in the 1950s. My Mother was born in French Polynesia and relatives were regular customers of Matson. The menus are beautiful with 5 different color drawings of the South Pacific, one for each day of passage. I believe they were my Aunt Sara's as she was the real traveller in the family. But they are gorgeous and I can't throw them away.
Nice. Familiar with the (4th?) ship mostly through history of Hawaii leading up to Pearl Harbor; with various narrators recounting how they traveled to their postings in Hawaii on the ship.
Loved taking a trip over to the Pacific for a change! What liner should I cover next?
Got a idea for you!!!!
ss liberte of cgt
do a p&o aussie ship! like the london to sydney like the ss camberra!! from the 60s.
The MV Hikawa Maru, the last Japanese ocean liner in Yokohama, Japan. She is currently a museum ship there. She deserves some love.
The oceanic class 1870 of white star line
Treasured memory...we took the Lurline from SF to Honolulu when Dad was transferred (USN) in 1957. He declined taking a plane because he wanted his kids to experience an ocean voyage. Once again THANKS DAD! The aquamarine '57 Chevy Nomad station wagon came with us, and we have a photo of the car, bundled in a cargo net, being lowered into the forward cargo hold of the ship. Them's were the days. Lurline met by a band, hula dancers, coin divers, sailboats...and each passenger got a neck-full of leis. Thanks for wonderful video. Thanks for resurrecting the memories...choking back tears.
That's a beautiful memory to have of your father. I can only hope that my children will remember certain memories of their experiences with me once I'm gone. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. I have wonderful memories of this ship as well, but it was of memories after she was laid up and awaiting an uncertain future which led to her eventual sinking while being towed to her fate of scrapping in Alang, India. I researched her years later (around 2002-2003) and learned that she had sunk. I even saw pictures of her sad fate. It made me sad because she was such a beautiful ship. I have been a maritime historian for the past 32 years and I love all ships along with the ocean.
@@Brock_Landers as long as you keep making memories for them, they will remember....sadly they may not appriciate those memories as much as you would like while your still amoung the living...but they will one day. Just because you wont be aroumd doesnt make it any less important and even more selfless on your part
Man ! I’m so frigging jealous ! Lucky you !
Absolutely awesome memory and experience.
I forgot about our car getting unloaded.... That was fun...
Loved this one. My mother sailed on the Lurline in 1951 and had a terrific trip.
Normal shipping lines: Have unique names for their ships
Matson: Best I can do is LURLINE
"Lurline, take it or leave it. "
Reminds me of an old Simpsons episode when Homer manages a singer named Lurline Lumpkin
White Star: **gets critisized for using the names Britannic and Oceanic multiple times**
Lurline: *[nervous sweating]*
My Uncle was a Chef on the Lurline in the 60's/70's and her sister ships the Monterey and Mariposa. I remember so vividly catching the bus down to Honolulu Harbor to welcome him back home after a long time at sea. The fragrance of the lei, the sound of the Royal Hawaiian Band, watching the boys dive for coins, and all the happy reunions are in my memory. Boat days were so special!
As a shore based High Frequency radio (Morse) operator, I had comms with both the Mariposa and Monterey. As an Aide Memoire to remember their individual radio callsigns. The Mariposa was KFCP, thus the letter P; the Monterey was KFCN, thus the letter N, respectively, reminded us which was which ship.
I really enjoyed this wonderful video. I sailed on Lurline in 1966 as a young man and it brought back many happy memories. The girl I met on board was voted Miss Lurline so I enjoyed dating a celebrity. Looking forward to more of your videos.
The Lurline was the Ellinis in 1966.
@@OzSlowly seems like we have an impostor among us
@@isuzumysteriousutilitywiza5025 or perhaps he is just mistaken.
@xFTOxGold yeah , that’s what I’m sayin.
Wow,That's Cool😎
Matson: Lurline sounds like a nice name.
*Names nearly everyone and everything Lurline*
And here i am thinking Hornet, Enterprise and essex were the most used names for ships
You’re Lurline and you’re Lurline! And you’re Lurline too!
Like George Foreman and his sons George, George, George, George and George.
Makes the guy on Newhart with his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl seem a little less eccentric
My surname is Matson 😭😂😂😂
@@peaches5540 i diagnose your productions with "Lurline"
We sailed on the Lurline in the summer of 1958 from San Francisco to Honolulu. I still remember that cruise to this day!
Which lurline?
When u see a Big Old Boats vid you know it'a going to be good
I took the S.S. Matsonia to Hawaii in 1962 and returned to San Francisco on the Lurline three years later. Courtesy of the U.S. Army. That was my first and second cruise. I was 2 and 5 years old. One of mom's favorite stories was telling people that "the army gave us the option of a military transport ship or the Lurline." We took the cruise
My favorite of this line was the once existed SS Monterey. Underrated ship.
I'm at the cave of forgotten havanian ocean liners
The lines of steamships at that time looked so good.
You do a wonderful job on these videos. Thank you.
Great video! I travelled on the Lurline as the Ellinis in 1965. The voyage from Melbourne, Australia to Piraeus, Greece. You haven't mentioned that, as the Ellinis, thousands of Greek immigrants were also carried to Australia. The revamped Ellinis retained the 6 luxury suites, as shown in your video and clearly showing as the three large windows on either side of the upper passenger decks. An unforgettable experience.
Thank you so much for this video. My late Stepfather sailed this ship twice as a child- first in 1940 when his family moved to Honolulu as his father was a Navel Officer and was assigned to Pearl Harbor; and again during WWII when his father was transferred back stateside, the return sailing during her time as a troop ship obviously. He mentioned her often as we love vacationing in Hawaii. he passed a few years ago and this video brought me great happiness as it gave new dimension to his stories about his experiences on this great Liner.
My father retired as Chf Engnr of the Hawaiian. He started as cabin boy on Lurline in 1925. Merchant Marines during war on Matson ships as supply carrier. After war, stayed with Matson. Worked on Lurline, Mariposa, Hawaiian Wholesaler, Californian, and finally the Hawaiian. Thank you for the great film!
I have an original photo of this ship, I found it at a garage sale and loved the lines. I've read a bit, but this had some interesting new information.
In 1960, at six weeks old my mom and dad took the family on the Lurline to Hawaii for one of dad's duty stations in the military. Mom spoke often of the ship and the passage - it made quite an impression. Thank you for sharing this.
Here in Honolulu there's Lurline Drive near the top of Wilhelmina Rise. The street below it is Matsonia Drive. BTW, across from Punahou School is Spreckels St. Just thought you might wanna know. 🏝🚙🤔
My mother was at Hickam Field, where her father was stationed, when Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941. She was evacuated to California abaord the Lurline. Thank you for the tear in my eye...
Wow! Can't believe i found this! My family boarded the Ellinis at Sydney in 1967, i was 8yrs old, we were moving back to the UK. I have fantastic memories of that journey. Thank you so much!
Thanks for this!
I sailed on the Lurline (the '32 one) in 1959, when my family moved from Hawaii to "the States." I was five, but still remember it. So fortunate to have been able to experience this wonderful age of ocean travel, before the airlines began to dominate.
My parents had framed six of the menus, and had them on the wall in the living room for many years. Too bad they disappeared.
[When we moved to Hawaii in 1957, we sailed on the Leilani.]
When I was a teenager my parents and I moved to Brandon, Florida and one of my favorite fishing spots was a place called Seabreeze Restaurant in Tampa Bay. Well moored out back of Seabreeze was the SS Britanis (Ex Monterey, Ex Matsonia, Ex Lurline) and I always wanted to walk aboard her, but every gangway was roped off and guarded during the day. I thought that she was a beautiful ship. Moored along side her was a Canadian ship called the Bluenose. I would take my canoe between the two ships and catch all kinds of fish there. Right before I left Florida I noticed that they had renamed her Belofin-1. I moved back to Pittsburgh in early 2000 and I remember checking up to see the status of the ship because she was moored there for quite a while, and I saw that she had sank on her journey to India. A much more fitting end for a beautiful ship.
Great story for a grand old ship who's memory still lives on.Thank you very much.
Love this
I traveled on the Lurline in 1969, shortly after graduating High School, from Honolulu to San Francisco
We also used to go on board to say Aloha and sneak a bit of champagne
Someone would always give you a glass
So happy to have been a small part of her exciting history 🌴🌴🌴🥂🍾
Loved the video!! My family and I sailed on the Lurline from Honolulu to Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 1953. I was just a baby, so I don't remember the voyage, but watching the video and story of the Lurline is great!
My Dad worked for Matson in San Francisco after having sailed during the war. He actually retired from Matson in the 1980's. My sister and parents made a couple of round trips on the Lurline back in the early 60's. Unfortunately I never had that opportunity! But I loved to go down to the ship on their sailing departure days. Lots of champagne and hors d'ouvres! It was all white gloves, mink coats and dark suits for the men. Matson was a one class ship. No cheap tickets!
Well done video. My family took her from HI to SF in 66. One of my most cherished memories.
They shipped our cars to Hawaii! I love that they were able to modernize and survive, how nice.
I have the working blueprints that were used in the restoration of the Lurline after the war. My grandfather was the man in charge of installing air conditioning, among other things, and it was incredibly complicated. I also own several mess trays from her time as a troopship and a lot of original Matson Line menus from the 40's and 50's. My father in-law went to war on the Lurline and eventually served on the Gambier Bay.
My grandfather was chief engineer on the S.S City of Los Angeles when she was part of the Los Angeles Steamship Company. Unfortunately his photos of his time with the Matson Line were lost before I was born. Thank you for posting this video.
I always find it amazing how things interconnect in life. I work in a warehouse here in Seattle and we're often loading or unloading from Matson containers. I would've never thought that Matson had such an interesting start. I must thank you for such an informative and entertaining short documentary. 👍🏾👍🏾
In 1966 my grandparents, my mother and myself at age 5 cruised to and from Hawaii from the port of LA (Long Beach), in a lovely suite (2 full baths). With Don Ho dining with us at the captains table, this was a true first class experience. The bon voyage party with silver sterling platters and yummy food was how things started. This cruise was about the best of everything. I still have a postcard (framed) that reminds me of an era where getting there was half of the great Hawaiian experience. Today’s ships are just floating hotels. The Lurline was about real cruising that still reminds me of the best consume I’ve ever had plus everything more. These were the days my friends, and I wish they’d never ended. A beautiful ship with impeccable service and luxurious accommodations made every hour aboard her a joy 🥰
Great video. As a boy (1959 - 1970) I lived on the tip of Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor. Whenever the Lurline was coming into port or leaving we would drop everything and run to the rocks at the entrance of the harbor to wave at the passengers on the rail. She would pass almost within rock throwing distance. Don't ask how I know that. Several times over the last twenty years I have had the good fortune to be one of those passengers waving at the kids on Reservation Point. Very nostalgic to say the least.
My mom and her sisters really enjoyed those cruises on the matson lines.
I live in Hawaii. I got here in May of 1962. On the.............. Lurline. Great times. Memorable trip for a ten year old.
Thank you so much. This brought back many memories. I lived in Sydney and used to spend a lot of time at the passenger terminal Circular Quay. Times have changed in my opinion not for the best. I could never travel on the mega supermarket liners.
I was fortunate to do a contact working on the Rotterdam. Hawaii remains my favourite destination. Cheers from London
Sailed on the Lurline when I was all of seven years old. Don’t remember much of it.
Yep Greg. Same feeling
Was about 10. 1953
Went over on the Lurline
Then back home on the
Matsonia. Wow
Around 1960/61 my family and I sailed on the Lurline from San Francisco to Honolulu. It was a remarkable voyage for a young teenager and I loved every minute. I was impressed enough that on my honeymoon some 7 years later my new wife and I sailed on the Lurline, (ex Matsonia this time) to Hawaii. Another wonderful cruise. In the ships store I purchased a record album called "ports of Paradise that was sponsored by Matson. I still have it. Matson had two other ships, a new Monterey and new Mariposa, both single funnel, that cruised the South Pacific islands. I always wanted to take one of those cruises. I miss all those ships.
Really enjoyed this one. The fact that ship survived until 1987 is remarkable. A proper generation ship. Thanks for the fascinating content. Keep up the good work!
Thanks. I think one of the Matson liners had a bit part in the Pearl Harbor saga. A day or two before the attack, the liner reported some radio traffic where there shouldn’t have been any, but the report was ignored. Odd thing is, the Japanese attack fleet was maintaining radio silence.
I graduated from Cal Maritime Academy in 1965 joined The Masters Mates and Pilots union and got my first job on the Lurline as a Jr Mate. I was so stoked to get my first job on such a cool ship!
Delightful sense of humour with this video! Thank you so much!
Thank you😢 just fills me with happy memories. I am from Lahaina Maui and Lahaina was a port a call. My sister would be getting ready to dance hula for the ship. I was maybe five years old. This would have been sometimes 65 maybe but I do believe the lurline was the matsonia conversion. You did a wonderful job. I’ve never knew that nor did I know they were that many Lurline’s. 😅😅 do you have anything on the Mariposa and the Monterey the double blue stack with the golden bear? My birthday cake came from the Monterey and they brought it on the tender to our home. We lived near the water Of course Those were fun times.
🥰♥️
One of my long time ancestors travelled aboard the SS Lurline in December of 1949, and I am sure it was a treasured experience. Lots of ports in the Pacific that she could have gone to. Truly and incredible ocean liner.
I'm someone who loves to find unique corners of TH-cam to learn about the golden age of liners, and this is amazing! Your videos bring modernity to the amazing footage you've found, and walk the line between boring History Channel videos from the 80s and overstimulating "top 10 ships of the 1900s" type videos in a careful, entertaining and sometimes humorous way. My hat is off to you mate, great job! 👍
What a well narrated and explained video about a beautiful ship! I thank you for creating, uploading and sharing!
Sailed on Britannis (out of the Port of Miami) several times during the 1980's. Was a nice classic Pacific ocean liner. Greatly enjoyed those cruises.
I'm really enjoying this guy's commitment to the name Lurline.
Amazing video, I would love to see a video history of the forgotten large S/S Saint Paul from 1895.
When I was a kid we had “rich” Aunt and Uncle that we saw off several times - complete with streamers and leis - thank you for the memories
Every time you say the word lurline I absolutely lose it. Thank you for the quality video and entertaining commentary as always
I liked the part with Lurline in it.
That bit WAS particularly solid.
We went over to Hawaii in 1959 and didn't know untl 3 days into the trip everything was free. We were on there by mistake and my Dad was an enlisted man. Great video.
Great video celebrating a fine vessel and one that serverd a long life disaster free, retiring to scrap rather than on the ocean floor
My parents did 2 round the world cruises, so as the youngest child I had to go, so I really loved ship travel and appreciate and enjoy these older ocean liners.
Our family also took the Lurline / ex Matsonia to Hawaii and back when we were posted to Schofield Barracks in 1967 - 70. My mother who also was an 'Army Brat' and sailed to and from Hawaii with her father and mother on the Lurline, she was at Schofield on 7 December 1941 - she and her mother were on the first trip off the islands - on the Lurline which she loved dearly as we all did. Our family was on the last voyage of the Lurline / ex Matsonia for Matson line from Hawaii to SF / LA in 1970 - the staff all winked at us when we stashed various things as memorabilia in our luggage before disembarking. They were actually informally giving a lot of things away "so we don't have to inventory it". I am ashamed to say that we have none of those items anymore as they disappeared over the years but seeing this video really brings back very fond memories!
Your ocean liner videos are my favorites on TH-cam. You do a wonderful job of telling the stories of these lovely ladies. Thank you!
Loved all the Lurline’s! Another fantastic video - keep them coming! :-)
My Paternal Great Aunt, Mary, used to dance the hula on the Matson ships to entertain passengers on the voyage between her native island of Oahu and Oakland, California
Cruised on the MS Lurline in 1959 Honolulu to San Francisco (I was 12 yrs old, and like WINCHANDLE in the reply below, my Dad also USN, got the chance to take the Lurline, instead of a flight back to California--what an experience!! 20 years later my wife and I jumped at the chance of a "2-times around the Caribbean" from Puerto Rico on a cruise ship name the Brittanus (spelling?).... When we got onboard, it was like going-back to the Lurline...the staircase, the dining hall, the cabin with the port holes THAT OPENED!!! Even the menus for dining were the same!!
We just returned home after a 71-day World Cruise on Holland America .. Still got the bug and feel like a 12-year old when we go on a cruise.
My grandpa was a sea Captain for Matson. I have a nice letter from President Truman to grandpa thanking him for his service!
Great video -- and it was most gratifying to learn of the history of the Matson Line and the burgeoning US West Coast - Hawaii trade including and leading up to statehood in 1960. (Yeah, I loved my Hawaiian inter-island cruise in 2013.)
My favorite Lurline is probably Lurline. But I also LOVE Lurline and Lurline. But in the end, I think Lurline is the best.
While I mostly agree, I personally prefer the Lurline.
You forgot about the Lurline.
Lurline has always been synonymous for Hawaii. I had the great pleasure of being acquainted with Lurline Matson Roth. I grew up just a few "doors" down from her country estate, Filoli, in Woodside. She was a very nice lady, who always had a bowl of candy in the living room. Of course I never addressed her as Lurline, she was definitely always Mrs Roth.
I live in Honolulu and every time I pass the Aloha Tower I picture the Lurline there. I met a man here who was one of the coindivers at the pier back in the day. Beautiful ship. We still (or did) get passenger ships, but not the same. Mahalo and aloha!
12:21 Now THAT is exactly how I want to remember SS Britanis. I will never forget going to the Seabreeze Restaurant in Tampa with my parents back in 1994 to eat dinner and seeing those two majestic blue stacks with the Celebrity Cruises Xs on the smoke stacks. They stood out for at least a mile before we got to the restaurant. To this day I've been researching Britanis's history and her life.
I heard about that ship all my life. My mother went on it as it was returning children who had been brought to mainland for safety during the war. She was visiting her uncle who was based as Schofield. She traveled with her friend and schoolmate a Robinson. She regretted never taking up the invitation to go to niihau w her. I also recall my uncle telling me that usually the 1st 1/3 of the voyage was bleak and grey off the California coast. I believe her 1st trip was in circa 1934 where she learned to hula as you mentioned. Just to think of Waikiki with just 3 hotels and still relatively wide open. You got pictures of hawaiians swing out to meet the ship by the aloha tower something I'd heard about also. Enjoyed the episode. My 1st trip to the islands was 1964 and Honolulu had completely changed by then. It was on pan am.
Hey thanks for this video! Around 1964 (I think), when I was about 4, my parents and I were transported from Hawaii to the mainland on the Lureline as part of a military charter to transport families. While I only have a couple of memories of that voyage, the name and voyage were thought of in the family over the years. Thank you for highlighting the history and lore about these ships. It was interesting to discover that the ship I was probably on was not the "original".
I am SO GLAD is stumbled upon this channel today…it was love at first sight. I love your voice, the way you tell stories, and your obvious passion for boats and history. Thank you for sharing this awesome content! ❤️🛳⛴🚢⚓️
Like @WINCHANDLE, my father was in the navy and got orders to Hawaii in 1969. My mother felt that air travel was going to replace ocean liners, so the parents decided to head to the islands on board the Lurline (version previously known as the Matsonia). I remember taking, the newly opened, San Diego Coronado Bridge for the first time to head up to San Francisco for the voyage. The Lurline departed around Aug 13th during a heavy groundswell that almost made me miss the end of 2001 A Space Odyssey, due to my first case of seasickness (I remember wishing I was in space at the time, instead of rocking and rolling). My twin sister and I celebrated our 11th birthday enroute to Honolulu and remember all the fun activities that the crew had planned for kids and families. The decision to travel via sea was the best decision ever! My family settled in Hawaii amongst one of the most beautiful cultures to have ever existed! Aloha Nui Loa
I fondly remember the Lurline. When transiting from the S. Pacific to the North Pacific, we would see her about every other year, going to or from Hawaii. Seems like most of the time it would be when we were heading for Yaquina Bay, and she would be heading West. Beautiful change from the freighters I usually saw.
Suggestions for the next episode: Mauretania, Britannic II or III, Olympic, Morro Castle, Andrea Doria (and its siblings), or Queen Elizabeth 2.
Stella Solaris. Olympic cruises out of Greece
Another really interesting ship to do a story on would be the Sitmar ship The Fair Sea witch was converted into an aircraft carrier during WW2 and then converted back to a passenger ship for the immigration of people from all over Europe to Australia. My family came from England on her in 1964.
I'm almost finished binge-watching your whole channel to date!! You're making great content, please keep it up.
I grew up on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and remember watching the big, white Matson liners going north to San Francisco or south to San Pedro. They were so distinctive being all white. In my adult years I’ve bought 2 of the menus from the Matson ships. The artwork is wonderful and reproduced due to the quality.
My aunts were lei greeters and dancers at Aloha tower to welcome the arriving passengers to the islands. They said it was one of the most fun times of their lives.
Fab video, story & grand ending! Uplifting …
I worked in the Hawaiian Islands in the late 80s on the SS Monterey. I can't tell you if it was one of the original Matson liners, but I found an old menu from the 50s in one of my dresser drawes.
I loved this video, anything cruise ship or ocean liner.
I Was Traveled With The SS Ellinis From Greece And Australia On January 20th 1965!!!
In the late 1950's I was a passenger on the SS Constitution, NYC to Cannes twice.. '62 was my first jet flight, ending boat travel until 2004 and that was a stormy cruise... [TS Rita] for the first day (out of Cape Canaveral to Nassau (Carnival) and I preferred the steam turbines over the large diesels.. The low hum verse the piston throbbing impulses..
I worked the Lurline in 1969 as an assistant storekeeper. I only took one trip as I was a relief sailor (a relief is someone who takes the job only until the regular gets back). I had just completed my training at the school in Santa Rosa CA. This was when the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union was strong, but because of corruption and other reasons the union dissolved and was absorbed into the Sailors Union of the Pacific. There were 3 kitchens on the ship and my job was to fill up the carts the scullery workers would bring down to the lower decks to fill up with food. The sous chef would always have a list of the food items to go to the kitchen and I would pile these carts up to where they would almost fall over.
"Dad, why is my sister named Rose?"
"Because your mother loves roses"
"Thanks, dad."
"No problem, Lurline."
😆
Although I grew up in Miami, which always was a great place for spotting ships bound for the Caribbean, I always loved looking at the Matson ads that came in my National Geographic Magazine that came every month. I was enchanted by the art work, the pictures showing cruising in real style. Now I can only look forward to going on NCL's Pride of America.
Do the Olympic next, please!!! ❤️
Please keep up the awesome content!
Gotta always love when a Big Old Boats video realises.
I just found a group of 8 mm films, some B&W but mostly color, including well exposed color footage of Lurline leaving a foggy S/F and arriving Honolulu, including a major attraction n/e/w/s sightseeing tour of O'ahu: mountains, forests, the palace and (!) Hickham, Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, with warships moving and at anchor, sometime in March 1941 . . . 🎉
Stunning footage! I have some Matson menus. I bought them years ago intending to frame them, but I haven't yet. I feel inspired now and once the lockdown ends, I will arrange it. Thank you for the video! Have a fabulous week!
As a kid, used to watch the Lurline and Matsonia sail from Wilmington, Ca. It used to alternate between S.F., and L.A.on its trips to Hawaii. Those were the times L.A., S.F., and even Honolulu, were still nice cities!
had a cruise on this ship in 1973, it had been renamed Ellinis nice trip
Your a great communicator , informative, easy to listen to, and my favorite was the remodeled ship after WWII . Thank you for educating me about this historic liner.
Big Old Boats, I love your videos so much there so informative and educative and entertaining I love seeing your videos on ships I’ve never heard of because it’s just so interesting.
Keep up the Amazing work.
See you in the next one 😊
A road bears your family name along the Manasquan River in NJ
She was still in service when we arrived in Honolulu in 1964 on MSTS USS Mitchell. Dad had been transferred to Pearl Harbor and served on the USS Taylor
Great video. Nicely done with appropriate music . 👍
It’s sad to see these beautiful,gracious ships gone now. Replaced by ugly bulky ships
I have a complete set of Lurline menus for one week in the 1950s. My Mother was born in French Polynesia and relatives were regular customers of Matson. The menus are beautiful with 5 different color drawings of the South Pacific, one for each day of passage. I believe they were my Aunt Sara's as she was the real traveller in the family. But they are gorgeous and I can't throw them away.
Nice.
Familiar with the (4th?) ship mostly through history of Hawaii leading up to Pearl Harbor; with various narrators recounting how they traveled to their postings in Hawaii on the ship.
What a gem of a channel. Thanks for the content man.
Awesome jab at Pan Am Airlines !