Note: This is part of my (supposedly) Weekly AQ Wisdom special series. To see other posts in the series, click on the Best Bets tab at the top of any page here and scroll down to the “AQ McElrath” section. Material for this post was taken from information available at her Celebration of Life in February. “
“I first met AQ in 1948, and she kindly understood and showed this malihini not just the basics of the union office but also of Honolulu and Hawaii in general.
“Among the community features she introduced me to was the symphony. We went on a warm May evening, sedate in our cotton dresses among the ‘social set’ in decolletage chiffon and silk evening dresses.
“When intermission came, we fled the un-air-conditioned auditorium for fresh air and a cigarette. Midst the serious business of discussing the symphonic selections, etc., I noted AQ grinning behind her and – and I looked across the throng to see the ladies of that evening losing all dignity as they struggled with the clouds of May flies that came out at sundwon to crowd in huge numbers into hair, eyes, open blouses, and so forth.
“It was then I first learned that along with her serious commitment to the community at large, as well as the union, our serious and diligent AQ had a delightful, slightly wicked sense of humor. We laughed at the memory of that intermission ‘battle of the May flies’ for years after.
“She became a life-long friend. I miss her.”
-Theodora “Teddy” Kreps, Retired ILWU Research Associate
Mahalo!
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