Dating to 1958-59, this home movie from a trip to Hawaii shows the final cruise of the venerable liner SS Matsonia to that island state. The film begins with a parade — possibly the Grand Parade held every March — in Honolulu at 13:15, complete with floats and clowns. At :30 a melting pot themed float goes by followed by one for Dole Pineapples. At 1:21 father time comes past in a jeep. At 1:36, hula dancers perform. At 3:04 the Matsonia is seen off Diamond Head on its way into Honolulu. At 3:46 tugs rendezvous with the liner, which comes in very close to the shore. At 5:13 the ship is seen near the Matson Lines terminal. At 5:50, more “native” dancing is shown…
Originally christened SS Monterey, the ship was completed in 1932. Monterey was the third of the four ships of the Matson Lines “White Fleet”, which were designed by William Francis Gibbs and also included SS Malolo, SS Mariposa and SS Lurline. Monterey was identical to Mariposa and very similar to Lurline. During World War II Monterey was used as a troopship operated by Matson as agents of the War Shipping Administration (WSA). Monterey was a large, fast transport capable of sailing independently and was allocated to serving Army troop transport requirements. The ship was involved in an attack on a convoy near Cape Bougaroun.
After WWII, Matson was enjoying fair post-war success with Lurline and was looking to expand their passenger operation once more. Matson bought the old mothballed SS Monterey back from the US Government on 3 February 1956 and had to come up with a new name for her: she was rechristened SS Matsonia, replacing their earlier Matsonia which had been sold to Home Lines in 1954 and subsequently renamed. The new Matsonia (ex-Monterey) first sailed from New York to San Francisco on 22 May 1957 to team up with her sister Lurline on the San Francisco – Los Angeles – Honolulu run.
Within five years, profits from passenger service had fallen to the point where Matson decided to anchor Matsonia indefinitely in San Francisco Bay. Sister ship Lurline continued to operate but suffered a major turbine problem in February 1963; one that would require costly repairs. Instead of repairing Lurline, Matson sold the well-loved ship to Chandris Lines to be rechristened Ellinis. Stung by poor public opinion regarding the maneuver, Matson rechristened the former Matsonia (ex-Monterey) as the new Lurline on 6 December 1963 and returned her to service.
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