Hawaii [antikvár]

Chapter 1 The Land hawan has a history. More than that, Hawaii has a distinctive history. The Islands are much more than a fabled vacation land. They are, and have been, the recipient and carrier of vigorous historical movements. Hie net result is not only the fiftieth American state, but a community which, in reflecting the main vital tendencies of the globe-encircling past, makes a unique contribution to American civilization. Going to Hawaii for the first time is a memorable experience. By air, Honolulu is only a few hours from the West Coast. The plane ride high above the cloud line is smooth and uneventful, almost boring because it is so serene. Despite excitement among the newcomers (malihinis, strangers), the old-timers (kamaainas, native born) ignore the unchanging vista of clouds and bright blue sky. They read, or doze a little, and wait for the passage of time. Toward the end of the journey the captain announces the arrival over the loudspeaker. Reshuffling of possessions begins, along with craning of necks. The aircraft slants downward. A few clouds brush its sides and wings, but the sunlight persists. The engines change tone, and the ship of the skies seems to coast along without effort, occasionally shuddering slightly as it slices through minor turbulence. Glimpses of land flash by, soft green and brown, edged by a white and blue ribbon of beach and sea. It is hard to see much as the plane banks and turns for the landing. Seconds later the white runway of the airstrip is rushing by. In minutes the passengers file down the stairway toward the terminal building of Honolulu International Airport, which is west of Waikiki Beach and near Pearl Harbor. The newcomer walking in the brilliant sunlight notices at once the soft and persistent blowing of the trade winds, their force broken by the jagged green hills—much higher than those of San Francisco—which lie across the island like a verdant spine. As the days pass he deludes himself into thinking that he can forget the trade winds, as they ceaselessly agitate the leaves with a sound that is a combination of a hiss and a murmur. They are as much a part of Hawaii as the sunlight 13