Today we were off to the airport early.  My wife is Alakaʻi for Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea whose Kumu Hula is Kapua Dalire-Moe.  Weʻre very proud of our Kumu and all of their accomplishments.  Iʻm part of the "husbands club" for the halau, better known as "kokua", or "yes kumu, right away kumu"....for my wife that would be "yes dear, right away dear"!

Last year we had a 5:20am flight, so to have a 7:25am flight this year was a relief.

This morning at Honolulu International Airports was nice and orderly...

There were lots of Hawaiian Airlines staff to help what would be the "crowds" later on in the day, trying to get flights to where ever they're going.  After all, it was at 4:45am in the morning.  We didn't start checking in until 5:30a, but it was obvious that Hawaiian Airlines was preparing for what they expected in the wake of the closing of Aloha Airlines.  From Hawaiian Airlines, looking towards the Aloha Airlines area, not seeing Aloha next to Hawaiian on the Big Boards, it was unnerving.  Even Hawaiian noticed us looking.  One of the people looked with us and said, "Sad yeah?  *sigh*  I feel so bad for them.  I wish they were all there next door." refering to Aloha Airlines.  "The other guys suck.  I cannot believe."  It was obvious she was not speaking of Aloha or Hawaiian Airlines.

The flight over was beautiful.  I have to admit, it had been awhile since I've sat and enjoyed an inter island flight.  Usually I'm trying to catch up on sleep, or talking story with the person I'm traveling with.  I had recently done some announcements for Hawaiian Airlines, and it was played while the plane was at the arrival gate.  My son looked for me as he was sitting behind with the halau girls.  He knew it was my voice :)

It was straight to the Edith Kanakaʻole Tennis Stadium and the halau went in to practice.  I went to take pictures for the halau.  I was proud to see them dance and to see all their hard work payoff.  I guess they were doing well cause Kumu wasnʻt yelling.  Iʻve worked around enough hālau to know that if the dancers arenʻt performing up to par, the kumuʻs voice usually comes up in volume.  No matter what hālau :)

From there we were off to the volcano.  Usually Kapuaʻs halau would head over to the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.  But  lately Madame Pele has been active up at the site, so that meant lots of smoke and ash.  There were reports out from the news, and we knew from experience that it wouldnʻt be comfortable there with several people in the halau having asthema.  So kumu decided we would head over to the steam vents where they would do their chanting and offerings to Tutu Pele.  As we got to the place where they have the ranger station/tourist stop, our driver went to check conditions.  The park rangers found us and asked about our activities and how they could help.  They offered to escort us past the public roadblock to a secluded place near the Jagger Observatory where the halau could be close enough, but safe enough.  We learned that the Park Service has offered this to the halau that were coming to visit Pele.  We were happy to go and be escorted.  Some of us that were kokua were also happy and proud that our National Park Service were taking special care of native and cultural needs.  Theyʻve been doing it for years, but unless youʻre part of it, you usually never think about it. 

After Volcano we went over to ʻOnekahakaha Park in Keʻaukaha to eat lunch because it was a nice area with picnic tables, but also because Arnottʻs Lodge was just a couple of blocks away.  This is where we would call home for the next couple of days to rest, rehearse, recuperate and to get ready for the competition or the next day.  Weʻre also putting a review of Arnottʻs Lodge online in a little while.

We checked in, and as usual everyone went exploring.  They have a video area here....gathering area there... We went up to our rooms where itʻs a 3 room with living room/small kitchen and there are 5 adults and one child.  Once we figured out who was where, it was pretty relaxing since hālau does not have a Miss Aloha Hula entrant this year.

I had a difficult evening though...I couldnʻt get internet.  They have FREE wifi here, but they needed to rebootf their router.  It made it very difficult to get things ready for tomorrowʻs radio show live from Hilo.  Hawaiian 105 KINE staff and producers had sent me a lot of things by email that I couldnʻt get till late.  I finally got it, but I wasted 3 hours that I could have slept.  Iʻll have to find a way to make it up tomorrow. 

When ever we broadcast live from anywhere but the studio, there is quite a bit of stress, until we ACTUALLY get on the air.  There are too many variables to broadcast that I canʻt control from our broadcast lines (Hawn Telcom) to other things....meaning until I hear my voice live on the radio, Iʻll be a little stressed and nervous.  Iʻll be better at 5:05am tomorrow.