Our Honolulu
The past need not be repeated
By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist
Any two people who have managed to stay married for 50 years are qualified to cope with the kind of stress we face today. Let me, therefore, tell you the story of Joann and Gordon Morse at Volcano on the Big Island, who renewed their vows on Sept. 8.
The first time they exchanged vows was in Boston on Sept. 8, 1951. At that time, Joann worked as an artist for the Christian Science Monitor and Gordon attended the Boston University School of Journalism.
"After living and sleeping together for 50 years, you learn some valuable lessons about life," said Gordon. "We've decided the next 50 years are going to be different.
"For one thing, we're not going to have children. Four is enough. Look at what we went through; diapers, preschool.
"The second thing we're not going to get involved with is a mortgage. Our friend, Thurston Twigg-Smith, saddled us with a mortgage when we bought his mother's house after we got married. We sold the house but the mortgage came with us to the Big Island. We paid on it until two years ago.
"Finally, we've worked for 50 years so we're going to stop. It's a heck of a job to work."
From almost the moment Gordon landed a job as a reporter-photographer at The Advertiser in September of 1952, he began breaking the law of averages. Two months later, President Elect Dwight Eisenhower stopped in Hawai'i on his return from Korea.
Joann had written him a letter inviting him to dinner with just plain folks who wouldn't ask him about the Korean War. While every other reporter in town was trying to figure out how to interview the president, Gordon and Joann got a personal invitation.
Gordon has an amazing ability to be at the right place at the right time. Once the cops arrested a thief in Kailua. The thief broke free and the police ran after him. Gordon just happened to be there with his camera in focus.
Covering the Kilauea Iki eruption infected him with a virulent case of Volcano Fever. He and Joann moved to the Big Island where they started Holo Holo Campers, renting recreational and four-wheel-drive vehicles.
This led to contracts to house, feed and transport teams of archaeologists and engineers in the wilderness.
Gordon and his family supported six archaeological digs on the Big Island and provided base camps for engineers building Honokohau Boat Harbor, Keahole Airport and the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway.
When astronomers built observatories on Mauna Kea, no company bid on the mountaintop field camp contract. Gordon finally had to.
He and Joann tried to retire and relax in their five-bedroom house at Volcano, but neighbors kept asking if they could put up guests. "We could get paid for doing this," said Joann.
They opened Our Island bed and breakfast in 1985. There's been a waiting list from around the world ever since.
