Tuesday 26 November 2019

Kamalii History

I have recently been in touch with David Silverman, an architectural historian based in Los Angeles. David recently worked on a history of the David O. Selznick house in Beverly Hills where Larry Doheny lived for 11 years, including when Kamalii was being built. As a result David did some investigation into Larry and Kamalii, and eventually made contact with me.

David has just sent me a carton containing all of Kamalii’s log books for approximately the first 10 years of her life, as well as some pieces of memorabilia such as medallions from the ‘59, ‘61 and ‘63 Transpacific races and a decanter given to Larry by the crew of the ‘71 Transpacific race. This has all come courtesy of the Doheny family.

This is amazing. I can’t express enough gratitude to David and the Doheny family for sending these items to be reunited with Kamalii. It’s fantastic to have this history, and even though I have only had a chance for a quick flick through the logs I have already been able to connect entries in the log books with stories told to me by past Kamalii alumni.

These babies will be staying with Kamalii from here on.



Medallions from the ‘59 to ‘63 races. The Transpacific ran every 2nd year.

Decanter inscribed with the names of the ‘71 crew.
A clipping of a newspaper article from 1955 about  the entry of  Sea Belle in the ‘55 Transpacific, a
35’ ketch, the smallest boat in the fleet.
Note last entry on page. No further information given. Perhaps they ran out of rum?