Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

Mt. Kilauea

　　Our major reason for visiting Hawaii Island was to get a close look at the active volcano, Kilauea. I was also looking forward to climbing Mt.Maunakea, the highest mountain in the State of Hawaii; yet, I decided against it after we took into consideration that there wasn't enough time for us to get into top shape. We were still suffering from jet lag. Mt.Maunakea is higher than our own famous Mt.Fuji. I wanted us to be fully prepared to stand on its summit.
　　Shortly before noon, we left our condominium on the West Coast of Hawaii Island for Hilo. We enjoyed a lecture from our tour guide about the formation and the history of Hawaii Island. It was a very informative lecture. On the way there, we saw a vast maneuver area of the U.S. Army. Apparently, Japan's military personnel exercise there.
　　We took a short stroll around the city. The route of our tour began on the West Coast of Hawaii Island, moved on to Hilo on the East Coast, and then we climbed Mt.Kilauea. Despite our tight schedule, which didn't give us too much time to explore Hilo's city center, I managed to get a cool aloha shirt at a famous aloha shirt shop.
　　Viewing Mt. Kilauea and its crater had been a longtime dream of mine. While viewing the Halemaumau Crater directly, I imagined the grandeur of its actual eruption. I wished I had been there when it happened. We walked through the volcano-made tunnel called the lava tube and watched some fumaroles.
　　On our way back, I did some stargazing from a mountain pass located around the center of Hawaii Island. There was no light around us, so we were able to admire the brilliant starry sky.

(Nov. 9th)

Trip to Hawaii

　　On November 8, my wife and I left for Tokyo before noon. After we whiled away some time at the ANA lounge, we headed for our gate, No. 45. Shortly before embarkation, an announcement informed us of some discovered mechanical problems, resulting in a flight delay. They repeated the announcement several times, and finally, the the flight was delayed for three hours. I felt a bit hungry so staff members of Air Nippon Airways set a few tables in front of us and started delivering snacks and water bottles. I wished for more filling food, like sandwiches, but they would do for the time being. It would have been impossible to prepare them so late in the evening. Anyhow, after our three-hour delay, our plane took off. We were changing planes in Honolulu on Oahu Island, where there was going to be a four-hour layover. I thought that four hours would be more than enough in a not-so-huge Honolulu Airport, yet, catching our reserved flight bound for Hawaii Island proved an exercise in futility. At Honolulu Airport, an assistant was ready to help us with immigration control and to take us directly to the gate of Hawaiian Airlines. Moreover, another arrival delay delayed our flight to Kona. We finally boarded our scheduled flight and arrived on Hawaii Island on the 8th, as scheduled. The laid back atmosphere at the airport felt like we were at a farmer's market. We called for a taxi to take us to our condominium.

(Nov. 8th)