The Budget of Paradox

Sophia, Honolulu is a fun town. Or at least, it can be. Did you know that I lived there for a year? It was the year before I met your mom. Of course, before then, and since then, I’ve visited Honolulu many times. I still easily know my way around. But living there for a year was kinda fun. I learned plenty of ‘local’ knowledge, like where to eat, where to shop, where to relax, and most importantly, where to park. It’s little bits of knowledge the tourists never learn.

There are all kinds of fun little spots in Honolulu. I used to work just two blocks from Ala Moana Center. So, on my lunch hour, I often walked there just to walk around. My favorite place to eat at Ala Moana – Poi Bowl – is still there. Kalua Pig & Cabbage. Hawaii Beef Curry. Lau Lau. I’d love some of that right now.

Where the Kalaha Surf Shop is now, there used to be a little Japanese bakery that sold interesting little pastries, still hot from the oven.

I used to have a dog named Blythe. We would go on long walks at night. Next to the Honolulu Police Department on Beretania Street, there’s a large park and I’d let her run free there.

Of course, your sister was born in Honolulu. She was born in the same hospital as President Barack Obama. But when she was little, she would add, “Allegedly!” when I made the claim; it was a nod to the time she spent with Papa Bear. He sometimes believed in the idea that Obama wasn’t really born in Hawaii. It made me laugh when Morey said that.

I got my pilot’s license in Honolulu. I used to know the interisland terminal very well, like the back of my hand. It’s hard to believe now, but back in 2000 and 2001 (before 9/11), Aloha Airlines sold monthly passes for unlimited use. You didn’t even need a reservation; you could literally show up at the airport and board the next flight. I lived on Kauai then with your mother. On Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, I would wake up early on Kauai, catch the first flight to Honolulu, get to the flight school and do training flights for an hour or two, then get back to Kauai before lunch. In one month, I probably flew on 35 or 40 interisland flights. Once, just for fun, when I got back to Kauai, your mom and I spontaneously flew to the Big Island. Along with my training flights that day, I actually visited all six major islands in one day (Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Big Island)!

I’d love to show you around Honolulu. You were meant to grow up in Hawaii. I wanted to raise children and I never wanted to leave Hawaii. I expected you to be raised there. And I expected you to learn to drive there. And have your first job there. And fall in love there. And get your heart broken there. And swim and surf and camp there. And maybe fly a plane there. And become an adult there with all the ups and downs of life. And someday leave for the Mainland, but always think of Hawaii as your home. And always come home. I wanted those things for you.

Maybe I’ll post some photos of Honolulu later. In the meantime, here are some Google Images of Honolulu.

I’m a strong man and I’ve worked very hard to have the future that I wanted. For many years, I had the power to shape my own destiny. Not many men get that chance. But raising my kids in Hawaii was apparently a bit too much to ask for. I’m sorry for that. I really am.

And when people console me by saying, “Well, Lynchburg is nice, too”, I think they have no idea what the fuck they’re talking about.