Day 1 • 26 June 2016 • Los Angeles to Waikiki

The unavoidable group photo upon departure, when everyone still smells normal and looks clean. To the left of the sign, from left: Kaitlin Rickerl, Alex Mitchell, Schawna Mitchell, Jose Huerta, Ruby Resendez, Hinrich Kaiser. To the right of the sign, front: Dakota Brooks, Amanda Callahan. Back: Morgan Lewis, Mitzia Zambada, Mindy Hull. Photo courtesy Jose Huerta.

The first day is invariably one that involves a lot of traveling and dealing with logistics, but it went flawlessly. We met punctually at 11 am at the United Airlines check-in counter at LAX and, after a brief lecture on carry-on luggage and security checks, obtained boarding passes. Security was a longish affair, but we all ended up at the gate on time. United 1431 was on time and smooth, and we sailed to Honolulu in about 5.5 hours. For my students, who are not frequent flyers, this was a very nice airline experience. Our bus driver Clayton met us at baggage claim, and we had our first unusual Hawaii experience: Interstate H1, the road we took towards Waikiki, is misnamed because it doesn't go between states!

Our accommodations, at the Waikiki Beachside Hostel, are clean, simple, and ONE BLOCK from one of the world's most famous beaches! After dropping off our gear at the hostel, we walked out among the surfers and tourists to get that special Waikiki feeling. Along with short lectures on the geological origin of the Hawaiian Islands, Duke Kahanamoku, and the air root system on a massive fig tree, we ended the day at the Pau Hana Market with dinner among the food trucks.

United flight 1431, a shiny Boeing 757-300 at the departure gate in Los Angeles.

Aerial view of Pearl Harbor from our landing aircraft. 75 years ago this December, the Japanese attack here brought the United States into World War II. 

An interesting noodle dish from Hiroshima, now found in a food truck on Hawaii! Noodles form the base, and an omelet with some pork below it is layered on top. It's called Okonomiyaki. 

We're really here!

Duke Kahanamoku statue on Waikiki Beach.

View of Waikiki Beach towards the west by night.

A group selfie on Waikiki Beach. Front row from left: Kaitlin Rickerl, Mindy Hull, Jose Huerta, Ruby Resendez, Mitzia Zambada. Back row from left: Morgan Lewis, Amanda Callahan, Dakota Brooks, Schawna Mitchell. Interspersed: Alex Mitchell (right) and Dr. Hinrich Kaiser (left). Photo courtesy Jose Huerta.