Stories from Hawaii - Day 1

11:30am CST - Secret (Madison to Detroit)

Michelle welcomed us to our first flight with a traveled Eastern European accent that added a K at the end of "Good Morning". Her warmth even made the floating "kooshin" sound like a comfortable option in case of a water landing. After announcing our destination as Detroit California or Detroit Nebraska, she stopped silent.

"I'm going to tell you a top-knotch government secret" she whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear. "This plane is equipped with a sophisticated new technology." Her eyes darted left and right.

Plunging her hand into the overhead compartment, she pulled out buckle and looped its ends like a bracelet. "It is called seat belt. This technology is so complicated it can be found in child seats and all cars." She unclasped the ends dramatically and proclaimed a miracle.

"I tell you this secret because in Detroit Michigan they make a lot of these."

2:30pm ET - Timezone Shuffle (Detroit Airport)

We arrived safely in Detroit (having lost an hour to the Eastern timezone) and realized we we'll be traveling a quarter way around the world in one day! Such a modern marvel. We'll experience every US timezone today - including Alaska for a bit.

As we waited at our Detroit gate, a soldier de-planed and was greeted by two women, presumably his mom and sister. Upon seeing him, their screams echoed in the terminal and they ran to embrace him... but he pushed them away with a tense "Don't do that." Watching it was really surprising and a little sad... we questioned each other what may have caused that reaction.

On our flight to from Detroit to Los Angeles, the Delta in-flight safety video features the sexiest no-smoking finger-wave imaginable (watch at 1:50).

We flew right over Suzanne's birth state and the grand canyon... the dramatic views and shadows were the highlight of the day for me so far. Luckily, we arrived in LAX early and our arrival and departure gates were super close - so we skipped the planned "Home Alone airport scene" and even had time to grab a few California sandwiches and a slice of sun from the windows.

Upon boarding our final leg of the trip from LAX, we taxied to the runway but then returned to the gate for "non-mechanical reasons". A policeman boarded to remove two passengers from first class, we're not sure why. Let's pretend they were wanted criminals trying to flee to Hawaii... or maybe they just got on the wrong flight.

10:30pm HST - The Island Is Calling (4:30am CST)

We're here. Dreary, but anxious to explore. Little confusion over Maui Beach Resort vs. Maui Seaside Resort was quickly remedied. It's a very quaint motel-style layout on the beach. We arrived after dark so I still don't realize I'm on an island. As Alan put it, wait for the "Christmas presents in the morning".