The S.S. Waialale was built for the Inter-Island Steam Navigation Co. by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co at Pier 70 in San Francisco. It was completed in May 1928 and arrived at Honolulu in June.
She had a gross weight of 3,088 tons and a net weight of 1,803 tons. She was 311 ft. long, 48 ft. wide and had a hull depth of 27.5 ft.. She was powered by two geared 2,000 horsepower steam turbines driving twin screws which gave her a top speed of 15 knots.
In the postcard photograph above, the ship is docked at Pier 2, Kahului Harbor as she would have been on the day of the shelling.
As shown in the schedule below, on Dec. 15, 1941 (a Monday) the ship arrived at Kahului at 6:00 am was scheduled to leave at 9:00 pm.
S.S. WAIALEALE SCHEDULE
| DAY | ARRIVE | PORT | LEAVE |
| Sunday | | Honolulu | 8:00 pm |
| Monday | 6:00 am | Kahului | 9:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:00 am | Honolulu | 4:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30 pm | Lahaina | 9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:00 am | Hilo | 4:00 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30 am | Honolulu | 9:00 pm |
| Friday | 6:00 am | Nawiliwili | |
| Saturday | | Nawiliwili | 9:00 pm |
| Sunday | 6:30 am | Honolulu | |
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