Letter from Italy

My dear sister, Mrs. George Lonohiwa.

Much love between us. I have time to write letters to you and to Papa Kekona. I am in fine health, and so are my British mates in the battalion. And I am confirming that each of you all are in good health. On December 25, 1918, was the birthday of the Child of almighty God, and it was a day of rejoicing for the whole world. We celebrated that day with joy and peace; there was all sorts of food brought in by the nation of [line illegible because of what appears to be a fold in the paper] from all over Europe; we ate to our fill. There was but one thing not seen on our dining table; there was no poi and fresh fish, and other Hawaiian foods like limu kohu. I was craving poi and the other things I wrote to you, sister. Here is some news: the soldiers are being released to go home, and I think that our regiment will return within the next months. And if I go back and am released from service, then I hope to return to Hawaii, should the Heavenly Father assent. Amen. Give my aloha to brother-in-law, George W. Lonohiwa, kuku Makalohi, Joseph and August Kekona, and papa Kekona, and the rest of my aloha goes to our Hawaiian people.

Send my letters to my home, 143 Baxter Ave., Kidderminister, England.

Aloha kaua,

Diamond Kekona.

(Aloha Aina, 3/8/1919, p. 2)