The Adventure Begins

Aloha from Hilo! I’m here and happy. Cool temperatures, breezes at night through open windows, and breathtaking views from any point of view. I believe I have, indeed, landed in Paradise!

So, how do you learn your way around your new Paradise?? Now, with a cap tip to Sir Shakespeare, THAT is the question. How about using maps? Sounds logical; gather several versions of the said map that covers desired radius of need (city of Hilo) and set out in your newly rented car. Maps….hoooey! no help whatsoever! Some have too many streets with odd names and similar spellings; some are too vague with only small snippets of area shown or major roads indicated. And finding a main road in the general vicinity of desired destination while driving and hoping to cross it is not a satisfactory compromise either, believe me. Calling your friend, Bev, however will get you out of that mess and allow you to arrive almost an hour later than had been generally agreed upon….but arrive you did. Mean time I’ll let you explain to Bev how you got all the way into downtown Hilo instead of about 6 or 8 miles west from the Bay where Hawaii Community College was located.

I suggest the best way to at least START learning your way around is to ‘get lost’ as kids say today! I took that retort literally yesterday, and had a most lovely 2 hour drive over an area no more than about 10 miles by 10 miles – actually 3 hours if you count the morning sojurn. Luckily I had my camera. Stopped periodically to get pictures of the bay, the statue of King Kahmehameha which is covered in gold, and beautiful trees and flowers. Saw many of the same areas and buildings that Bev had shown me on Sunday when she was driving, so I knew I was still in Hilo…..you never know when I’m behind the wheel if the location of destination is still an option. Thank goodness for hazard lights and designated uncurbed areas on the sides of most streets that allowed me to pull over and fruitlessly peruse the said maps before blindly heading off again.

Some observations that I made while driving in my new city of residence from about 3pm to 5pm include:

Their idea of a rush hour traffic problem is waiting for 2 minutes at a STOP sign so a line of about 6 or 8 cars from the light up the hill can pass you.

The people of Hilo are patient people. There were no friendly single finger waves like in Texas from those who finally saw a chance to pass me while I rubbernecked and drove slowly. (I really am becoming an old lady driver….gasp!)

Pedestrians have complete and non-debatable Right of Way. Bev mentioned it on Sunday, but I saw it in practice on Monday. Drivers stop and allow folks to cross the street at any point in the street and particularly, allow for pedestrians in and around parks, stores, or other community gathering locations.

There are wonderful community resources here. I found the YMCA, the Hilo Hospice Association, Community Centers scattered over much of the town with signs about classes and activities. Many open parks and soccer or baseball fields are available. Family picnic areas in and near these parks are also available. There is a new Veterans Retirement Facility next to the Hilo Medical Center, and the community is very proud of it. I also drove by the Public Library which has two massive ancient volcanic rocks in front of it that are said to include the one King Kahmehameha turned over to be declared King (think Arthur and the Sword in the Stone test). It’s just down from the United Methodist Church where I will visit soon. There is no Presbyterian USA church in Hilo, so it’s back to my childhood roots as a Methodist. On Monday, there was a group of kids doing a game on the front lawn….maybe Bible School?

One last observation is that the people of Hilo are just as friendly as I have read and been told they would be. One stop in my meandering adventure was a 7-11. There I got a “real” Coke (the Pepsi obsession here is for another posting) and visited with two nice Hawaiian gentlemen manning the check out desk. They looked at my maps, discussed between themselves my location in relation to Bev’s house/my lodging site, and then gave me very specific directions to follow. With a profuse mahalo (Thank you) to them I again set sail in my intrepid little car. I was able to follow their directions fairly well, and got to the point where they told me to turn left, and I did so. Continued a while but just wasn’t sure I was where I needed to be to get home, so I stopped again for directions. This time the poor unsuspecting victim of my naiveté was a lone Firefighter who happened to be out by his truck when I pulled behind the station and parked. Fortunately I have never met a Firefighter I didn’t like, and this continued in that tradition. He knew immediately where I was headed and where I was in relation to that destination. Anyone surprised? No, turns out Bev’s home was in this station’s ‘area’ and he knew exactly how to send me on my way with simple instructions (emphasis on ‘simple’). He also took time to go into the station and retrieve a spiral bound book of detailed maps of the East section of the Big Island. A West Island version also exists he assured me, and told me where I could get the latest copies of these two Rand McNally-type references. I will do so today.

So, I did make it back to my temporary home; exhausted and excited and very happy to be here in Hawaii. This morning is absolutely gorgeous, my lanai ( luh-neye or deck) overlooks the Bay and lots of tree tops which gives me a wonderful breeze and view to sit here and type by. Who needs Air-conditioning???

Oh, and by the way, my visit to HCC yesterday was a great start to my faculty experience. Got HR stuff done, and headed over to the Nursing Dept. which is 3 blocks away. The Program Director was there, and she gave me a tour of the nursing area, found my office with the three cubbies that I could choose from for my own area, helped me rearrange furniture to get the pieces I wanted from the other cubbies and get them set in a layout that would work for me. She then took me to lunch and I was able to really learn about the program during the time I was eating Chicken with Papaya Soup. Later she took me along to tour the new classroom and lab facilities being completed on the main campus. Many things are different from ACC, and many things are the same. I am very excited about being part of a different program and different atmosphere. This is a small program with 30 students in Level 1 (first semester) in Hilo and about 8 in Kona via teleconference. Once more, friendliness is a clear requisite for employment at HCC.

Enough for today.

I bid you Aloha nui loa,

Aloha with love, Janene