It was my second trip to Hawaii. I had been here 8 years ago. Filled with amazement I feel as though I had a fast tour and didn’t really get the full experience. It would probably take me a good 2 weeks to really experience the island.
I arrived at Nashville International Airport at around 4:30AM for my 6:30AM flight. Security was not a big concern as it seemed to flow quickly, but there was always potential for backup. There were alot of people at the airport at 5AM. Just think, while you were sleeping, hundreds of people are already up and going at Nashville International Airport.
My trip over here was broken up into 2 parts: A 4.5 hour flight from Nashville to Los Angeles followed by a 5.5 hour flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu. I had approximately 45 minutes in between the flights and there was potential I could be in another terminal for my arrival and departure flights. This would require me to use a shuttle bus or tunnel. But I was pleasantly surprised this was not the case as I arrived at terminal 4 and just had a few hundred feet to walk to my departure gate.
On my flight over to Hawaii, there were quite a few “old school” movies available including 1989’s “Batman,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Goonies,” along with a few new movies like “The Martian,” and “The Dark Knight.” I proceeded to watch “The Dark Knight” and found it to be quite a bit dark (hence the name). Beside me sat a middle aged couple on their first trip to Hawaii. I raised the shade during take off, but I thought I might be disturbing them, so closed it quickly when I saw them looking at the window. Then the thought occurred to me that they might like to see out and I had just kept them from seeing a nice view. I have a tendency to overthink things.
When you arrive at Honolulu, you see what amounts to the same decorations that you would see at the tiki room at Disneyworld…that is carved dark wood with colorful flowers accenting the decorations. I noticed an “Amnesty” bin for those bringing in fruit before going through agricultural customs. I really should have taken a photo of it, but alas I did not.
Rebecca and Brad met me in their Dodge Minivan curbside. Rebecca gave me a lei and made me feel very welcomed. Since I had only had pretzel for a good ten hours I was anxious for a meal. Our first stop was Boston’s Pizza which was in an old Pizza Hut building. I ordered a slide of pepperoni and sausage which amounting to a quarter of an extra large pizza – very filling. We opted for water which allowed us to have unlimited refills of the glass water dispenser.
Next we went onto the Hickam Military Base. We stopped at the grocery store and Wal-mart clone. The food store has somewhat discounted food compared to the high prices of Hawaiian groceries. Due to abuses of non military people going into the grocery store and reselling the food, only those with military IDs are allowed to go in. Brad and I went into the Wal-mart clone searching for a GoPro tripod adaptor which I thought I had forgotten (as it turns out it was in my backpack all along).
The Rudders live on Hickam Joint Military base. All the houses look the same. They have been told that this house had been occupied by the base dentist during the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. Due to lack of doctors on that day, the dentist himself became a doctor, having had the medical training while studying to be a dentist.
We napped before commencing with a light snack and conversation before calling it a night. My hosts have a sick dog which they are very concerned about. They were trying different medication to try to get him back to normal.
I awoke early due to jet lag. After a light breakfast of juice and mini muffins we made it to church at around 8:45AM. I met the preacher and was given a shell lei. Pearl Harbor Church of Christ really made me feel at home. It is very laid back church with some members wearing t-shirts and shorts. I had on jeans and a Hawaiian shirt and did not feel the least bit out of place.
As it turns out the preacher was a missionary in Albania, which I would eventually like to go. I wish I could have spoken more to him, but there wasn’t enough time before Bible class.
In Bible class we watched a video about Baal. The most impactful aspect of the video was how the Israelites sacrificed their children to the Baal idol. The narrator asked some important questions like “Does Hollywood have too much influence on our society?” “Does New York as a financial center have too much control on our society?” He also connected abortion which in ways is a decision made for financial considerations (“I don’t have enough money to care for the child”) to a comparison to sacrificing a child to the Financial Baal idol. In my own head I supposed that even those who put their child’s sports activities ahead of God are in a way sacrificing their children to Baal in a spiritual sense.
Before worship they announce the visitors and ask them to stand. Then there is somewhat a meet and greet. Being an introvert I would be somewhat apprehensive at home doing this, but at Pearl Harbor Church of Christ, I am always interested in meeting new people, finding out why they are in Hawaii. This time I met an American couple who had just moved from Perth Australia after 8 years. The wife was from South Green Street Church of Christ in Glasgow and we had many of the same mutual friends. What a small world.
Tropical Storm Darby hit the Big Island on Saturday and was due into Oahu on Sunday. So I decided after church to visit some indoor museums. I stopped by the Bishop Museum which tells the early history of Hawaii and the Polynesian Islands. Very informative. I was again confronted with the history of human sacrifice…that is how 1000 prisoners of war were sacrificed by early Hawaiians before a campaign of war. Humans can be very cruel.
Afterwards I drove to the Punch Bowl which is a military cemetery in a dormant volcano. Very peaceful. At the top of the stairway leading to a female statue reads “The Solemn Price That Must be Yours to Have Laid So Costly a Sacrifice Upon the Altar of Freedom.” How appropriate knowing the lives which were lost in those laid to rest in this cemetery. As I drove down the volcano I stopped to take photos of downtown Honolulu which had become overcast with the clouds of Tropical Storm Darby.
Since I did not have a pass to get back into Hickam, we had agreed to meet at church for the evening service. On the way to church in the morning I was intrigued about an abandoned BMW left on the base. It had been there so long the tires, BMW logo, and headlights had been taken. The city of Honolulu wouldn’t tow the car since it was on Hickam property. The military didn’t seem to care and it seemed to be a lot of military red tape to get it towed. So I stopped to take some photos of it.
I arrived early at Pearl Harbor Church of Christ and was greeted by the deacon in charge of youth ministry who invited me to share in extra pizza after a youth event. They had stayed around the church building watching some religious themed movies. They had planned on going out to play glow in the dark golf at a local mall, but Tropical Storm Darby had made them change their plans. While eating pizza I had a nice conversation with a native Hawaiian lady who originally grew up on Kauai. She told me some good things about the island and where to stop and eat.
It was a singing service for PM services. Men were encouraged to lead their favorite song. I almost lead a song, but was somewhat apprehensive about it as I was a visitor.
Tropical Storm Darby did not dump much rain on Oahu until the evening when a flash flood warning was issued. As we drove back to base Brad mentioned that these streets were not made for so much rain. Back safe and sound to base I proceeded to watch the first episode of “Making a Murderer” on Netflix before retiring to bed at around 9PM.
I’ll have a day of touring Oahu today with a borrowed Dodge Minivan. Driving in Oahu can be rough, but I am up for it.