Honolulu, HI (USA)

[Inspection Trip] Woke early (0530) and drove over to pick up Keith - he had flown previously the plane we were going to use for our trip and had left it at Alliance Field. I've often driven by there, but had never used it for a mission before. We were the first ones there, so I had a chance to check out the Gulfstream IV that was going to fly us to Hawaii. We took off around 0900 - weather was rolling in and we had some bumps on the way to 45,000 feet (my first time that high - in any aircraft!). Not much scenery on the way, but when we got to San Diego, I was really glad for the executive size windows (big!). On the ground for about an hour - had a chance to pick up some food and visit with some old friends who live there. Back in the air again, hooked up my computer and was able to play my video games for about four of the five and a half hour flight. Our arrival in Kane'hoe Bay was breathtaking (mountains, beaches, Gilligan's Island!) - now I know what Floyd (our neighbor in Virginia) meant when he used to come back from Hawaii... We are on an inspection visit, but that didn't stop our hosts from treating us like tourists to the islands - we received warm Alohas and flower leis. My favorite, though, was the very fresh pineapple! After some paperwork, Keith and I ended up being the last to leave for the hotel - and we didn't have a map. We explored a little around the base (not on purpose) but eventually ended up on HI-61 (the correct one, we learned later). At the end of that road (the Pali Highway), we ended up driving in Waikiki looking for familiar landmarks. I had never even looked for Chinatown, but it would be worth it someday... We arrived at the hotel (this time, the Hale Koa) and found that we had actually beat a few from our group! Check in (to room 666!) was easy and I had to kill about two hours before meeting up with everyone for Happy Hour at the Barefoot Bar (on the beach). I've had a drink at this place almost every time I visit the island, but it was usually a small group. After several hours of introductions from our hosts and at least one mai tai, a smaller group of us (including a few guys with their wives) walked over to the Outrigger Reef (one of the hotels I stayed in many times before) and had dinner in the Shorebird Restaurant there. Everyone else grilled their own kabobs - I was already full (and eating my fourth meal with the five hour time change!). Instead, I enjoyed a salad and we chatted for several hours. Back to the hotel around 2200. Keith and I had a great debate on the way back - too bad we had to go to sleep already. Time awake since this "morning": 22 hours...