As I pulled into the Volcanoes National Park yesterday on the Big Island, the park ranger indicated that there were high amounts of sulpher dioxide in the air and that I should keep my windows rolled up. Some trails were closed, but the actual crater roads trail was opened. Got to see most of the park with all the lava flows from the past several years. Many times it seemed like I was in another world….the surface of the moon if you will. From a distance I could see the steam coming up from the lava flowing into the sea.
My regret is that I didn’t plan ahead to walk a 3 hour round trip trail down to the bottom of the surface of what a lava lake was. It was 2PM by the time I discovered it and I didn’t feel like I would get back in time. And after walking about a 1/4th of a mile on a road, I’m not sure I could walk a 4 mile moderate hiking trail. My other regret was not seeing the lava flow at night. I hear it really puts on a show.
The Big Island of Hawaii is more rural oriented. Got to pass through some small towns. I’m not sure what these small town residents do for a living. But I find myself asking myself the same question when I pass through rural Kentucky.
The funny thing about Hawaii is that I’m halfway expecting to be harassed by shopkeepers to buy stuff. In China I was constantly given the “hard sell” with a “buy this” mentality. Hawaii is not like this. I haven’t had a bad experience with shopkeepers, never been pressured to buy anything. I keep having to tell myself “This is America,” even though everyone looks Asian, but speak perfect English.
Today (Wednesday) we visited the North Shore of Oahu where all the surfers go for the big waves. Lots of good views of the island. More on that later…
The Big Island
I had always wanted to go to Hilo. Somehow when you look at a map of Hawaii, the city of Hilo is always on the map, isolated from the rest of the islands.
Hilo is the 2nd largest city in Hawaii. It’s airport? The smallest airport I’ve been to while here. I can only guess that if I do go to Kauai, that its airport will be smaller still. Hilo International Airport is open air. Meaning you can feel the breeze while sitting at your terminal waiting for your flight. I found it unusual because Hilo is supposed to be a very rainy city.
What I have come to realize that the airports all remind me of Walt Disney World’s Tiki Room with their dark wood and Hawaiian motifs.
I got a 6AM flight to Hilo and was in my rental car at around 7:30 AM. The post office by the airport wasn’t open so I decided to head toward the nearest McDonald’s, which just so happened to be in a Walmart. The lady at the rental car place had asked me if I had eaten breakfast. “No,” I told her. “Well, there’s only one place that is open and that’s this pancake buffet.” I kinda gave her a funny look expecting more things to be open. She strugged and said “Welcome to Hilo.” What she meant to say was that the pancake buffet was the only “good” restaurant open.
I had always heard that Hawaiians were found of Spam, but I had no concrete evidence. Yet on the menu board at the McDonald’s – Spam and Eggs. I would have taken a picture of it if I had my camera.
On to Ka Lae, the southern most point of the United States. Here is the map of my route in case you’re keeping track.
Ka Lae is at the end of a one lane country road, much like my maternal grandparent’s farm near Sparta. At one point I wasn’t even sure I should be on the road as there were signs posted about it being government property yadda yadda yadda. But I forged ahead. I expected to see a marker, like the one in Key West, but there was no such one. “Is this the southernmost point?” I asked a fellow tourist couple. “We think so.” It was a bunch of rocky cliffs that looked like any other rocky cliffs on the island.
Onward to a black sand beach. Just like regular sand, only with black sand. A sea turtle was there too. Signs posted along the way said “Do not take sand.”
I’ll post more later on…
Island Hopping – Maui
To answer the question, yes it is possible to fly into an island in the early morning, rent a car, see some sights, and then fly back that evening. This may not be the most economical way to see the island, but it does allow for you to experience many of the island in a short part of the day.
Flew to Maui yesterday (Monday October 27). I hadn’t ever tried flying into an island in the morning and departing same day in the evening. But everything worked out as best as could be expected. I got everything I needed to get done. This includes driving to the top of a volcano, and finding a specialized shop which sells reproductions of antique maps.
My first objective was to drive up Haleakala National Park to the summit. A long and windy road. Smiliar to Short Mountain, but paved. There is a patch of highway from Holland, KY, to Fountain Run, KY, which is very similar to this. But much longer. Along the way up the hill you see the environment change from tropical to temperate to evergreen to tundra. The summit is above the clouds and cold. I think it was the wind that really made it cold. I came prepared with a jacket.
On a side note the rental car company in Maui gave me one of these as they were out of the compact car I had requested. I didn’t complain but grew increasingly apprensive about manuvering this big boat in and around the miniature parking lots and streets of Maui.
After discovering what the surface of Mars really looked like (it just so happens to be at the top of Haleakala), I decided to drive to the westward side of the island to check out a deli I had read about. I know, fly all the way to Maui for a ham and cheese sandwich. But it has always been my style. Kinda like Elvis and him flying to Las Vegas or wherever for a peanut butter and banana sandwich. And after further searching I found the map store I had been looking for. Trust me, I could have spent thousands of dollars in there, but I held myself back and only bought 2 maps suitable for hanging.
After getting the map there wasn’t too much more I wanted to accomplish so headed back to Kahului where the airport is. Stopped by the Queen Kaahumanu Center which is the mall where locals shop. The locals have a funny way with the number 808 which just so happens to be the area code for Hawaii. Seems that natives are really proud of their 808 phone numbers, as I’m guessing that both the military and tourists are so transiet, that the 808s never really matter much to them. Then come the shirts with “808 All Day” printed on them. I’m not sure what this means. Kinda like me having “615 All Day” printed on a set of shirts. But apparently the locals indentify with their area code.
I’d love to write more, but my head has a date with the pillow. The Big Island will be addressed tomorrow.
Also here is a map of my route.
Aloha Time
There’s a expression in Hawaii known as “Aloha time,” which basically means that 9AM church services could start at 9:05 or 9:10 depending on when everyone gets there. Worship was very laid back. Hawaiian shirts were applenty. I think I saw only one shirt and tie. Some wore shorts.
The Pearl Harbor church of Christ remains a transient church for those in the military. There’s always people coming and leaving. Most people don’t stay for more than 3 years, just enough time to get acquainted and then say goodbye. Folks were very friendly toward visitors and I really felt welcomed there. They give visitors all lei’s and announce the visitors by name at the beginning of service. Just a small thing that makes everyone feel welcomed.
Tomorrow my hosts will be working, so I will have to rent a car to see anything tomorrow. So why not rent a car on another island? I’m thinking Maui.
Jet lag hasn’t been too difficult. I pretty much made myself stay up until 9:30 PM (2:30 AM CST). Woke up at 3:30 AM Hawaiian time (8:30 AM CST). Still sorta tired, but that should wear off in a day or so.
Goodbye for now. I may write more later… Meanwhile here are more photos of the church.
Hawaii
In a little over 1 week I’ll be leaving for Hawaii. I’ll be staying with a some friends in Honolulu. As with any vacation, I often turn what should be a relaxing trip into a rush rush rush thing which causes worry and stress. What if I don’t see everything I want to see? What if I fly to another island and get stranded and have to spend the night there? You only live once, that’s what I keep telling myself. Relax and enjoy it.
Some of my biggest stressors right now is which other island(s) to visit and what to do once there. I’m being told that inter-island flights are kinda like a bus service. Car rentals are cheap. And yet part of me thinks that once I get flown to an nearby island, situated in a rental car and drive a few hours, it’ll be time to go home again, a wasted day.
Watch this space. I’m taking my laptop so I’ll be able to post pictures and other noteable points here. Not that it matters, but it always helps to keep family and friends in touch with what’s happening here or there.
Of Pain and Beauty
Today I was reminded about how precious life is. I heard a father speak of the pain he went through (and is still going through) due to the loss of his son 9 years ago. Suicide. What a waste! The survivors are left thinking if there was anything they could have done. And in many cases the victim hides his pain so well, there may not have been warning signs.
I saw the beauty of God’s workmanship in a little known ridge in southern Kentucky. I hiked along the interior into wooded areas I hadn’t seen before. Managed to catch sight of a deer before it ran away.
Saw the artifacts of a previous church camp when I came across a rusted shaving cream can from a past prank. No word on how old it was. Tossed in the woods and forgetten, I stumbled across it and re-tossed it in the trash can this time so that it could be buried once again, this time in a landfill.
Caught a sunrise at Taylor Christian Camp, one thing that I had managed to miss on consective years due to laziness and lack of motivation. The fact that the sun rose at 7AM helped a bit.
Can there be a better place than this? For me the answer is no. It always reminds me of things that really matter. It reminds me of the friendships that were forged there. The relationships that were strengthened. The commitments which were established.
Day 12 without refridgeration
My fridge went out 12 days ago. After some very obvious missteps by D.T. McCall and Sons (“Heyyyyy! Carthage, Cookeville and Lafayette), I finally got a temporary replacement to have until I get mine fixed. Note to self, even if you *think* it might only be a day without a fridge, ask for a “loaner.”
This loaner variety looks like its right out of the ’70s. What is especially quaint is the way they wrote “Loaner” on the freezer portion in black sharpie marker. Makes me feel like real life white trash.
As you can see I’m keeping my drinks cold. That’s cola in case you can’t tell.
Shall we rejoice in sin?
Sarah Palin. The very name leaves some of us scratching our heads. Was this the best the Republicans could come up with? Or was the the last wimper of a fading campaign?
Much of what the media has focused on is the pregnancy of her oldest daughter, Bristol. The commentators aren’t necessarily focusing on the shame of sexual relationship out of wedlock. After all, everyone does it, don’t we?
Instead the media instead focuses on the perceived hypocracy of Mrs. Palin. Teaching abstinence and not safe sex.
And yet we as a society seemed to have glossed over what we somehow need to be reminded of over and over again. Sex outside of marriage is sinful. David and Bathsheba is an example.
We hold elders to a much higher standard than that of Vice Presidental candidates. Consider one of the qualifications of an elder:
“He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)”
1 Timothy 3:4-5.
If an elder’s daughter were to get pregnant out of wedlock, the elder would likely resign, if he followed the Bible.
Replace particular words with the previous scripture.
“Vice Presidents must manage his/her own family well and see that his/her children obey him/her with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he/she take care of our country?)”
What has gone wrong with our country? We rejoice in sin, or at the very least don’t condemn it and say it is a personal family issue.
Drug abuse is rampant in today’s youth and parents don’t say a word to their kids about it. Parents rely too much on schools and youth ministers rather than trying to actually act on their own.
If we are to overcome this sin, we must urge our parent to act like parents. Don’t be afraid to shell out discipline because in the long run it will make your child a better person and in turn a better society.
Religious Roadside Signs
I’ve made it a hobby of mine to photograph religious roadside signs. The vast majority of them I’ve taken in rural Allen County, Kentucky. I have been told that most of these signs are the result of the activities of a religous radio broadcaster.
I guess I have to question it. Even this one with the message “Mommie! Thank You For Not Aborting Me!” with a thumbs up sign from the non-aborted child. This “in-your-face” Christianity will hardly gain followers, especially from couples who made the mistake of choosing abortion. I’ve been through this type of hard-lined anti-abortion preaching in the ’90s. It typically divided folks rather than united them.
Then there’s the idea of reminding people of the Ten Commandments…. in case you had forgotten them.
Of Gospel Meetings
We don’t do Gospel Meetings anymore. In fact it’s been probably 5 years or more since the church I attend had a Gospel meeting, and it was more of a homecoming for a former preacher.
Gospel Meetings, for those uninitiated, are a half a week’s worth of Sunday night’s evening service replayed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. During my elementary school years I can remember having to rush to get my homework done to attend each evening service. My family was still is a good family and would faithfully attend each evening service whenever the church doors were open.
I think that what church leadership has found is that Gospel Meetings don’t convert people. It might be a way to reach out to get potential converts. But it is very rare that lost soul will wander into a church during a Gospel Meeting who will then automagically make their life right with God.
The bottom line is that conversions are made through, say it with me: R-E-L-A-T-I-O-N-S-H-I-P-S. Which is why it is so important to invite your unconverted friends to both religious and social activities where they are surround by Christians. It’s not just Friends Day or a Gospel Meeting. It’s ski trips, retreats, scrapbooking night and the like.
Faithfully attending church should be easy in this day and age. And please note I’m not discounting the contributions and hardships of early Christians. I’m just saying that in this day and age when people are earnestly trying to provide for their family, working late and missing a Gospel Meeting shouldn’t make one a less than spectacular Christian.
One has the look at the fruit of a Gospel Meeting vs. the fruit reaped by other means. Which is why things like small group meetings should be implemented by church groups.