Stacy, Lianne and I at Honolulu International circa 1985
Like most of the world, I have been riveted by the trickling out of information about the demise of public enemy number one this week. After visiting the International Spy Museum in DC with my son, the details of the operation are not surprising but nonetheless, breathtaking. I found the articles in TIME this week to be particularly fascinating. I don’t want to diminish the profound nature of this event and it’s meaning to all of us especially those who lost someone. However, on a lighter note, I did want to blog about something that just popped in my head. While watching a particularly hilarious segment on Jon Stewart, I was reminded of pre 9/11 flying. It’s crazy to think of our collective naivte just ten short years ago. Much in the same way our collective “innocence” was lost after Kennedy’s assasination, everything changed that September day. Jason Jones was joking about getting ready to get on a plane with his Big Gulp, his nail clippers, his big bottle of shampoo wearing his high, lace-up boots! Hysterical. Yep, our kids will never know what it is to board a plane like that! With all the traveling we’ve done lately, I have that little plastic baggie of liquids down to a science! Having an 11 year old harbor a second magic plastic baggie in his backpack of toys is a special bonus, right? “No, it’s not for your shampoo, it’s for Mama’s skincare products!” It just got me thinking about all those changes and what I was most wistful about… and, for me, it’s the cute, tropical terminal at Honolulu International. There was something that tugged at your heartstrings every time you arrived or left Hawaii. Upon arrival, a relative might meet you at the gate. You’re looking for them and you finally spot them, standing there with a lei or two, tanned and smiling, so happy to welcome you home. Or when leaving, noticing people with many leis around their necks, some leaving for college or a job or going back to their new home in the mainland….the aroma of plumerias and gardenias and pikake filling the air…the blue lights out on the runway, the balmy air….the wiki wiki buses that take you to baggage claim. I guess those days are gone. How about you? What do you miss?
me and my Dad, same day
Dispatches from Mayberry 
Lianne and Stacy, can you feel me? Also, nod to the 80s, please take note of the gold pinky fingernails…not painted gold, mind you, but rather 14k nails that are glued on. Ghetto fabulous.
Oh, how beautiful, those pictures of yesteryear, the Aloha’s at Honolulu International, complete with Big Gulps in hand…imagine when I first arrived there in 1959 with no such thing as jetways, ( or jets for that matter),where hula dancers met you at the bottom of the stairs on the tarmac.Wow , THIS brought mega flashbacks for me. Thanks.
Not all changes are good, thanks to OBL…glad you are gone!!
Cassy Marnet
oh yes, you guys had it the BEST….the beachboys with their ho o mali mali 😉 I actually remember the tarmac from when I was little. You can smell the flowers as soon as you leave the plane. Good memories.
beautiful!
Holy Cow!! Who are those girls?!……… Ahhh,yes. I remember well. Blue shave ice at Koko Marina, Hanauma Bay, The A-list of Waikiki, walking around in the clouds (fog) at the top of Wilhelmina Rise, chili and rice, Rhoda scarves, “clown day” at John Brown’s house, Mohala Pua playground after school let out, baked la souris anyone? Saturday Matinees at the Kaimuki Theater and who could forget the 30″ deep canal? Those were the days…………hanabaddah days fo’shua. It’s sad to think that today is the “simpler times” for our babies. I love and miss you!
Oh man, Stacy, you bring it all back!! Each reference had me reeling right back to those days…so many good times!
I used to know a Lianne (chang..?) that looks a lot like her (right side in photo.) went to manoa elementary and met her again at HCC. would like to catch up w/ her and son. -dan-
you can find her on facebook as Lianne Blas.