Remembering Hawaii back in 2001...

I still remember the last time I came to Hawaii, September 2, 2001. For a couple of days I lived out of a hotel room, then I picked up my car that I had sent to Hawaii by boat from the mainland. I lived out of that car for a few days until I got an apartment. Sleeping in the car at parks and taking a shower at the beach, avoiding trouble with the police. I had set up some interviews for the coming Tuesday. That early morning I got a call from my Mom, it was still 5 or 6 AM Hawaii time. As soon as I picked up the phone Mom told me to turn on the TV, that each of the World Trade Center buildings had been struck by planes flown by suicide terrorists. Mom said even the Pentagon had been struck.

It was only a year and a few months earlier that I had been at the World Trade Center getting training for the company I worked for. I knew the buildings, they were huge. I knew some people who worked there. I had eaten a hot dog at the foot of the buildings and had a drink on the bar at the the top of one of the buildings, called the highest bar in world. From the windows of the WTC even the Statue of Liberty was the size of a paper clip in my outstretched hand.

Then on TV, to see the buildings collapse in front of my eyes was more like watching a Hollywood movie than a real life event. I couldn't swallow what was happening.

Airplanes all over the US were forced down, including Hawaii. The Hawaiian economy which relies heavily on tourism nose-dived. Fortunately, I was able to get a job, but the general mood was grim. Surprisingly though, tourism from the US eventually increased as Americans felt safer traveling to the west than the east.

Now, back in Hawaii 6 years later after September 11th 2001, the feeling is different, the mood more lively.

On a lighter note, today I went to the store to buy groceries. I was at the check-out line and said to the clerk, "Wow, what a beautiful day it is!" Then I said, "Just like yesterday, and the day before that too!" The joke was that its beautiful here everyday, so I don't think people around here often say, oh what a beautiful day, because its always nice!