My flight was at 6 a.m. to Molokai so I knew I needed to get up by 4 in order to be there an hour before. It really wasn’t all that difficult to get up that early because my sleeping schedule still has not gotten back to Hawaiian Time.

Has arrived at the commuter terminal I was given a boarding pass which looked more like a receipt printed on receipt paper rather than the cardboard type of boarding passes. There was already a moderately long blonde for the TSA checkpoint but after the line opened it moved really quickly. Looking back on it I figure I probably could have waited a good 30 minutes before actually getting to the airport but I wanted to be sure to catch my flight.

When it was time to depart the mokulele airlines Personnel lined us up in two rows. There were five passengers including myself on the flight Plus two pilots. The plane itself could hold 10 passengers. After a moderately long time waiting on the runway we finally took off. Our flight was around 40 minutes. We arrived at the Molokai Airport. I found my way to the Alamo rental counter outside near the parking lot. As it turns out one of the passengers who had flown on the same flight as me was there too. He explained to the rental car agents that he was there to look at an elementary school’s fire extinguishers. I figured he flu there a lot because he also knew the Pilot’s name when it was time to take off.

I got a white Hyundai 4 door car. I had a bit of trouble finding it but once I found it I was on my way. I stopped by a little town on the way to the middle Stables to try to find a breakfast meal. Unfortunately the place that I had planned on eating at was closed for renovation and only their gift shop was open. I bought my obligatory bottled water to use on the way down the mule ride. I stopped by a public park and use the restroom and took a few pictures.

I figured now would be a good time to head toward the mule Stables. Thankfully they were other people already there at the mule Stables before I got there. I had worried that due to the poor service of the people taking down my name and information that I would not be given a mule ride. In the past month I’ve had to call them 3 times to confirm my reservation. In each of those three times I had to give the lady the same information over and over again. I’m not particularly thrilled with their customer service.

I seem to be the youngest person taking a mule ride as all the other people seem to be in their fifties and sixties. We had people from the Big Island, California, and Indiana. They matched us up with mules that would be a good match for our height and weight. My black mule was called “long stick” in Hawaiian.

Along the trail there are 26 switchbacks. He can be a bit daunting to begin with even though you or hanging on to the mule at times. My legs and thighs took the brunt of the grasping has the mules sure-footed down the trail. I really wanted to get a GoPro video of the trip down but my GoPro seem to not be working. I later changed out the card and the battery which seem to fix it. Along the way I took pictures of the Peninsula which would be visiting. It seemed way far down.

After about 90 minutes of trail riding we got to the bottom. We met are very enthusiastic Damien tour guide who explained to us a little history about the place as we waited for others to come. It seems that some of the younger folks and our tour decided to hike down and thereby they would probably be hiking back up. This is something that I couldn’t fathom doing as I was tired after the tour.  One of the girls was very much out of breath on the way down.  I wondered how she was going to make it back up.

We all piled into the school bus and he took us to our first stop. It was the equivalent of a convenience store. I decided not to get anything cause I feel like the drinks and snacks were a bit overpriced. The older ladies who are running the store also made Koozies for drinks for $5 and beanies for $10. Again a bit overpriced.

I have seen this before.  Whether on a trip to the Great Wall when your taxi driver stops at a particular restaurant coming back….or on a bus tour of Stonehenge and Bath, England…and stopping for lunch at a particular fish and chips place.  There’s strong suspicion that the tour company is getting kickbacks from the restaurant.  I’m not saying its happening here in Kalaupapa, but I suspect the tour company operator is mindful of the shop owners’ plight and therefore is throwing some business her way.  I think this because there was a grocery story which we as a tour group was not allowed to go into.  Maybe because there could be a chance there might be a (former) leprosy patient there.  Or maybe the prices are much less than the convenience store we stopped at.  Regardless I’ll never know.

Next was a stop at a bookstore.  I was thinking this was becoming a trend.  Buy our snacks and sodas.  Buy our books.  But where was the story of Father Damien?  To the tour operator’s justification there was a former leprosy patient – “Boogie” there to sign books as he was featured in one of the books.  He was old and I’m not sure if he was quickest on the cash register.

As a side note, if you go to the Damien Tours website, it strictly forbids taking photos of any former leprosy patients or their property, unless you have written permission from the said individual.  Boogie, a former leprosy patient gave no one in our group written permission, unless signing books was his form of permission.  The only time which anything was said about not taking photos was when we drove by the hospital, when our tour guide said some folks did not like their photos being taken.

Next was a church in town that Father Damien help build/establish.  It was a small church with nothing particularly special about it.  A few statues of saints.  The tour guide gave a brief history of the church and made a profound statement.  He said “I’m not Catholic, I’m Christian.”  I’m not sure if he meant to be offensive to Catholics on the tour, but I found it profound in my own little way.  And maybe I was the only one on the tour who thought this way.

We made our way to the US Post Office to mail postcards.  The post office is open until 12:15PM, maybe to accommodate the tour group, or maybe because no one in Kalaupapa has anything to mail.

Twice on the tour we passed by a church group described as cleaning up the park…i.e. restoring the graves, etc.  Did you know you can come to Kalaupapa and work for a week as a volunteer?  Contact the park rangers for information….Something I thought about for a hot minute, but figure I could do more good for less money at a church camp I volunteer at.

Next we drove deep into a wooded area.  Our tour guide pointed out that this was teaming with ancient artifacts as this was the place early Hawaiian had lived….even in the area of the extinct volcano.  He also pointed out that this was an area where human sacrifices could have occurred.

We drove past the protestant church and Catholic church where Father Damien is buried.  At this point we weren’t going to stop.  Instead we drove to an area with picnic tables where we were going to have lunch. But lunch would wait for us to take a photograph at one of the most iconic areas in Hawaii with lush forested area with a teardrop shaped island nearby.  I see this area in Hawaiian calendars all the time.  It was great to be able to see it in person.  Our tour guide played his ukulele and sang a song one of the residents wrote about the island.

The mule ride tour company provided us with snacks, while others in our group had their own.  There were two extra lunches which the mule company had made and the tour guide gave it to a couple of guys who did not have a lunch.

Next was onto the churches which we had passed.  We drove up to the church where Father Damien’s hand was buried.  A cat hung around the church waiting on the catfood the tour guide had brought with him. I had hoped to hear the long story about Father Damien, but this was not the case.  It was a short photo op and then walking up to the protestant church to ring the church bell.

Next was on to a burial place for one of the nuns which worked on the island.  We heard a brief story about how this nun had predicted that none of her sisters would get leprosy.  Also this nun had to be excavated and taken back to her convent in Pennsylvania, but since she had osteoporosis, they could not get all of her bones.  The tour guide pointed out that the residents rejoiced when they found out part of her bones were still buried here.  I think this might be a Catholic thing…that is to find solace that old relics of past nuns and priests’ body parts are buried in a particular grave yard.  Why can’t believers rejoice just by remembering their religious leader, rather than looking for tangible object to (almost) worship?

Next we drove to the airport and saw the area’s lighthouse along the way.  The tour guide reported the light house had been automated in the 1960s.   He also stated that he stays in a house near the base of the light house.

The Kalaupapa airport is a general aviation airport which was not staffed, nor had any TSA agents along the way.  We used the restrooms and got some water and left those who were flying back up to topside Molokai.

We got back to the mule stable and said our goodbyes to our tour operator while he gave us his card promoting his music on iTunes.

The ride back up with much easier than the ride down.  The mules are on sure footing going up.  By contrast going down put their weight on unnatural positions and are likely to slip.  My mule slipped at least once coming up.

We let our mules rest along the way.  I could tell they were tired as sweat was coming off of their heads and necks and they seemed out breath.  We saw a handful of hikers along the way who were originally with our tour group.  One group of hikers had to make it back in time to catch their flight back at a particular time which had them rushing a little bit.  We made it back up the hills after the 26 switchbacks.  We were given a bumper sticker rather than the promised certificate.  The bumper sticker reads “Wouldn’t you rather be riding a mule on Molokai?”

Next was onto Kanuakakai, which his the heart of Molokai…that is where the restaurants and shops are.  Is also where the ferry comes to bring cars and passengers from Maui.  I stopped by an ice cream shop and got a banana Icee and rested.  I was pretty hot from the mule ride and just needed to cool off. Next it was time to try to find supper.  Things work very slowly in Molokai.  I figured it was best to order early and then do exploring, rather than order late and miss my flight.  In true Jeff fashion I found the nearest (and in this case only) pizza place – Molokai Pizza Café.  I waited at the counter.  The waitress asked if I was eating here or to go.  Since I was eating there, I was told I should just sit at a table and someone would be with me shortly.  “Table!” she loudly remarked at the waitress.  The waitress was an older lady, missing some teeth.  You should tell she probably had lived a rough life and was just making it at the pizza place.  I ordered a glass of water which I immediately drank.  I then ordered a small sausage pizza.  When it came out it was much larger than I expected, but I was able to eat it.

Next I drove around Kanuakakai and took some photos of their business district.  I was wary of leaving my car (locked) but unattended as I had been told rental cards are a magnet for thieves.  But luckily nothing happened.

I then drove around some more and found an (almost) deserted beach.  The trade winds were blowing hard which made for a nice breeze to cool me off.  It was at this point I noticed the sole of my shoe had come loose.  I could attack this one of two ways – I could try to repair it using whatever Brad and Rebecca had at their house….or I could buy new hiking shoes in between tomorrow and Thursday night…the night of the lava tour.  I did message Rebecca to ask if they had anything, which she said she would check.

At the airport I returned my rental car and walked back to the terminal.  Surprisingly I was told there was no boarding pass, nor security for this flight.  I waited around writing this blog post via Google voice to text before being called to board the plane.  It was only me and one other passenger.

I do believe that “Auntie” must be the equivalent to “Honey” or “Sweetie” on the mainland.  The airline workers made note to call the fellow passenger “Auntie, that’s the wrong plane,” when she tried to board a plane bound for Maui.

I managed to get some selfies with the plane and a video of me going into the plane with my Gopro (something I should have done this morning).

Tomorrow I’ll be flying out to Kauai, exploring a canyon and hopefully finding some hiking shoes.

I was on my own today.  First step of the day was to get me a vistor’s pass to Hickam Joint Military Base which would allow me to get back into the base without having to call Brad or Rebecca to come to the gate to vouch for me.  We drove to the appropriate building and signed our name on the clipboard.  Much like the DMV we waited (very briefly) for our name to be called.  After filling out minimal paperwork I was set.  I dropped off Rebecca at the house while I set off to explore.

First I decided to try to get into a tour of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.  New interest in the attack had occurred since the 70th anniversary in of the attack and the contemporary movie.  More and more people were wanting to see the iconic memorial.  I attempted unsuccessfully to find a parking space at the official parking lot of the memorial.  I ended up parking a far bit down near a marina in an area I wasn’t even sure was legal.  This was making me more concerned that there would be a huge backup of visitors and a tour could be hours away from me.

Word of advice, if you are coming to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, do not bring a backpack or purse.  They will not let you in.  Luckily I didn’t bring my backpack and had handheld cameras including my Nikon and Gopro.  I checked in at 9:15AM and got the 9:30AM tour.  I waited with about 70 other guests under the partial shade of a canopy.  The park rangers show you a short movie about the attack which gives somewhat a sobering reminder of the horrors contrasted with the acts of bravery which happened on that day of infamy.  This set the tone of the tour…a reminder that were visiting a tomb of young men who gave their lives for their country.

For those of you unfamiliar with the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, it lies in Pearl Harbor and can only be reach by boat.  We were shuffled into a medium sized boat which would take us to the memorial.  As we arrived we were reminded no photographs on the pier…we were only allowed to photograph inside the memorial.  I used my Gopro to capture my view as entering the memorial.  Just as I had seen 8 years ago on my last visit, I saw oil in the water – the battleship is still leaking oil to this day.  Along the back wall was an engraving of all the men lost.  I had heard that a lady from my church had lost a brother, but I had forgotten the name of this family, and therefore could not find it on the wall.  After a while it was time to line up as there was another boat coming with another tour group and sub sequentially take us back to the port.  I managed to grab a seat in the back and got some good shots exiting the memorial.

Next was Ford Island to see the Pacific Aviation Museum. I had to take a bridge to Ford Island, which must be off limits to civilians.  I remember my host, Brad, who is in the military said that I could show my vistor pass from Hickam to the gate and get onto Ford Island, which I did.  I drove up to the Pacific Aviation Museum.  There seemed to be some confusion on the ticket booth’s part because I asked for a ticket and he gave me an audio guide.  When I asked if I needed a ticket he directed me to another area where I could buy a $25 ticket….and he forgot to give me a wristband to show I had purchased a ticket….and seemingly no one asked why I didn’t have a wristband.

The initial exhibit had half a dozen WWII planes which were nicely featured with appropriate mannequins wearing period clothing.  The audio guide was not available with every exhibit, but it did come in handy if you didn’t want to read each placard.

I saw the remains of a Japanese Zero plane which crashed on Niihau during the Pearl Harbor attack.  I had read about this strange occurrence as a footnote to the attack.

As I went to return my audio guide, the museum worker asked if it worked in both buildings…to which I responded “I didn’t know there were two buildings.”  I then asked for my wristband to make sure the museum workers knew I had paid to get in.

An older man on a golf cart offered to take me up to the next hanger 47 which housed a majority of the aircraft.  I figured I could walk, but I ended up giving in after this gentlemen insisted I ride on the golf cart.

This hanger housed many of the aircraft from other eras including helicopters of the Vietnam War and jets from the Korean War.  What was unusual is that it did have Russian and Vietnamese aircraft.  What was most intriguing was the “The Swamp Ghost,” a B-17E which crash landed in Papua New Guinea and was found decades later and moved to the museum.

Afterwards I figured I might just have enough time to visit the U.S.S. Missouri before lunch.  Google Maps seems to want me to drive back to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, however I found my own way there, bought my ticket and waited for the tour.  Our tour guide was a retired English teacher.  During the first stop she gave the usual specs of the ship; how the guns are fired, etc.  During the 2nd stop we found out about the surrender of the Japanese in Tokyo Harbor.  Flashbacks to high school with AP US History occurred when I realized this was THE SHIP which was the setting of the war’s end.  As the tour guide pointed out, you can see the beginning of the war from the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, and the end of the war from the U.S.S. Missouri.

During the 3rd stop we were told of the Kamikaze incident which caused virtually no  damage to the ship but left us with a reminder of valor and acts of love.  After a 19 year old pilot struck the ship and died on desk, the ship’s captain decided it was appropriate to give this Japanese pilot a proper burial at sea…after all…he did give his life for his country…something the sailors on the Missouri had committed to do as well..  The sailors of the ship took an old bedsheet and sewed a Japanese rising sun on it to make an appropriate flag for the burial.  It was very touching to hear of the dignity which the American sailors treated the body of this pilot who tried to inflict harm on them…something rare to find today.

I then went downstairs to the maze of rooms and exhibits.  I saw cafeterias, dentist examination rooms, legal offices, captain’s quarters, showers…and most intriguing of all, sleeping quarters.  The bunks were stacked in top of each other with very little room for movement….and very little privacy.  If someone was being loud in the area, you could hear it.  I’m certain I could not make it as a sailor on the Missouri.

It was getting late…around 2:30PM and I was getting hungry for lunch.  There was a souvenir stand on the North Shore I wanted to visit (about 30 minutes away) and I figured now was the best time to visit.  After taking the interstate and country roads, I found that this particular vendor was no longer there.  Disappointed I decided to go to the nearest pizza place Pizza Bob’s where I could engage my disappointment in a slide of sausage pizza.

Half of a pizza was somewhat expensive – $9.85 + $1.80 / topping.  I think my total came to about $12 and tip made it to be about $15.  Hawaii can be very expensive!  I asked the waiter if there was any good beaches nearby.  He said all the debris from Tropical Strom Darby had been stirred up making the ocean brown.  Sure enough I found my way to the beach and it was brown.  So no swimming for me today.  I walked along the shore and on some of the rocks dodging trash along the way.  Why do people leave so much trash on the beach?

I decided I should head back, but I’d probably want to get some gas first.  I managed to pull the large Dodge Caravan I was driving to the pumps.  Did I mention Hawaii has a parking problem…which makes larger cars an even more hassle?  Not that I’m complaining, but I am used to my Volkswagen Beetle.

I accidentally left my gas cap off which a nice teenager or 20something pointed out to me later on just a few blocks away.

I decided to head back to Hickam base.  After about 30 minutes of driving I made it back…this time to the commissary.  The Hickam Commissary has a Subway, Papa John’s, Popeye’s and Baskin Robbins, which comes in handy if you don’t want to leave the base. If there is any doubt, this base is huge.  It takes a good 15 minutes driving at 15 MPH to get out of it.  There is a beach on the base, but it was a bit far away and it was getting late, so I eventually found my way back to my hosts’ house, but not before calling them as all the houses look the same, and Google Maps doesn’t give accurate directions to their alley where they park their cars.

Tomorrow I have a full day ahead with a visit to Molokai.  It should be interesting seeing Kalaupapa, where those with Hansen’s disease were committed.

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.

The last time I visited Hawaii…my first time…was in October of 2008.  I fell in love with the islands, its people, and natural beauty.  I found myself intrigued by the demographics of the island.  There were the native people, tourists, military, and retirees.  There were surfers who would work nights as waiters at restaurants and then surf during the day.  The interisland airlines had special handling for surfboards.

Homeless people lived on the beach.  There was talk about giving the homeless people a one way ticket back to the mainland, but somehow I believe that never materialized.  A friend told me about a fellow soldier who lived on the beach.  There were showers available on the beach which is where is cleaned up.  He must have saved alot of money that way.

And now I’m going back.  I’ll see some things I’ve never experienced before, like a mule ride down Molokai to a former leprosy colony.  I’m also booked to go on a volcano tour on the Big Island.

I don’t really consider myself a beach person, although I see myself going to the beach for at least a few hours during my stay.  I’m more of a historical type person hence the trip to the leprosy colony.

I hope to take lots of photographs while there.  Looking back on my 2008 trip, I find my trip terribly lacking.  Perhaps I was just learning how to take photographs.  I plan on taking many more while there.

It will be a true blessing to worship at Pearl Harbor Church of Christ.  There you find all sorts of people, just like the demographics of the island.  I remember being in a young professionals Bible class and thinking these fellow Christians are all in some sort of transit in their lives and we’ve all met at this church at this particular time.  We had one thing in common…that is we believed in the one true God which brought us all together.  It was amazing to see God’s handywork while worshipping with fellow Christians from all over the globe.

From reading the web, I found several things that you should not say to a Hawaiian resident.  Something to say “You must love living in paradise!”  Hawaii has its own set of problems of theft, drugs, violent crime, etc…just like the rest of the country, so please don’t call it paradise.

And yet it’s difficult not to call it paradise when you see the beauty of the islands.

I’m looking forward to my trip in 1 week and will try to post more once I arrive.