Beep, Beep, Beep.
It’s 3 o’clock in the morning. I wake up to the annoying sound of my alarm clock after an hour-long nap. It’s my own fault. I didn’t finish packing for the week-long journey to Hawaii with the NCCU women’s basketball team until around 2 a.m. I have to hustle to make it to campus by the designated time of 4:45 a.m.
The bus pulls away from campus at 5:30 a.m. to catch an 8:30 a.m. flight. While waiting in line to check in at RDU airport, I ask the Lady Eagles who has never flown before. Surprisingly, only one – Bria Byrd, a freshman from High Point, N.C. She seems pretty cool with it, though. Not the same can be said for sophomore J’Mia Pollock or freshman Justyne Sublett. While they have flown before, they are not fans. When asked in the preseason what they fear the most, J’Mia said “flying” and Justyne said “airplanes.”
I don’t remember much about our short jaunt to Atlanta, as I slept most of the way. I check in with Bria about her first airplane ride, and the rookie flyer wears her wings proudly. Of course, she admits that she too slept most of the trip.
One flight down, one flight to go. And it’s not your routine flight. Nine hours and 13 minutes, the voice on the plane intercom announces. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Thank goodness for technology. We all have viewing monitors in the back of the headrests in front of us, complete with movies, music and games, all controlled my individual remotes. I squeeze in four-and-a-half movies – Salt, Robin Hood, Death at a Funeral, Grown Ups and part of Predators. Working on only two hour-long naps and fading in-and-out of consciousness, I’ll reserve my expert movie critiques. Heck, I am just glad the flight is over.
Aloha!
No, we’re not greeted by native Hawaiians with leis, as is often depicted in the movies as visitors arrive on the island. Just your average walk through a jetway and a stroll to baggage claim. A bus greets us and takes us to the hotel. Finally having access to my Blackberry, I check e-mail messages. Still a little groggy from the flight and lack of sleep, I forget about the five-hour time difference and respond to folks at NCCU as if they are still at work. Nope, as it’s already 9 p.m. on the east coast. Good thing I didn’t call.
As we get our first glimpse of Hawaii, I am struck by the lush green mountains stretching to the high rises of downtown Honolulu, which rests on the shores of the Pacific. The comfortable 80-degree weather with a cool ocean breeze and the relaxing tropical atmosphere is something I could get used to.
We check into the beautiful Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa in Honolulu. As I open the door to my 13th-floor home for the next six days, I am immediately drawn to the balcony. Wow! Stunning views of homes buried into mountainsides and sailboats cruising on the evening sun-drenched water, peeking through the soaring palm trees that dot the beach.
As a team, we walk across the street to a Tiki restaurant for dinner. I order the salmon, which is recommended by the waitress and does not disappoint. The fresh, moist fillet is served on top of a type of mashed Hawaiian sweet potato which is a deep, rich purple. Yes, I said purple. I think about taking a picture of this unique plate presentation, but I am just too darn hungry.
Back to the hotel. The clock in my room shows 8:30 p.m., but my body is telling me that it is 1:30 a.m.
Good night.
