My Thanksgiving break has, for the past two years, been split into two parts. The first part of the weekend starts off back in Honolulu for me, where I get to spend time with my family in the place I love.
This year, I was able to spend 3 nights at home, which is more than my average weekend trip back to Oahu. My first day was pretty chill, didn't really do much except sleep and eat. On the second day, I was on a mission to take Popo to get her new State of Hawaii ID card, since her driver's license recently expired. And what an adventure that was.
I first went to pick her up at home, and we had to go into Kaimuki to stop at her bank to pick up relevant documents that she needed in order to prove her identity and get her ID issued. Finding parking in Kaimuki is always a pain, especially since they took out the meters in the public parking lots and replaced them with tickets. I was only there for 20 minutes and had to pay 75 cents! Guess that goes to show how bad the financial crisis is in the State of Hawaii.
Once we picked up those papers, we drove downtown to the Territorial Office Building at the intersection of S. King and Punchbowl. I had forgotten how impressive and historically rich that intersection was: across of King stands the State Library, across Punchbowl is Kawaiha'o Church, and diagonally across the intersection is Honolulu Hale, not to mention the old Territorial Courthouse and the King Kamehameha statue down the street from the Territorial Office Building and Iolani Palace down the street from the State Library with the State Capital in the background. As I pulled up into a parking stall facing the Library, I asked myself how so much culture and history could be contained within the distance of one city block, and why I had never come to explore this area before. Although there was no time that day, I plan to go back to the area to visit some of these sites over the winter holiday.
Popo and I walked into the Territorial Office Building, and we were greeted with a long line of people waiting to get their State IDs. We went up to the desk, filled out a form, then proceeded to stand in line as well. There was such an interesting mix of people at the office...an elderly Korean woman with her son stood behind Popo and me, and I listened as they criticized the heavily tattooed local couple standing in front of me. Two Japanese girls quietly entered the office, and asked the assisting police officer to help them with their forms. Several Micronesian families were waiting in line patiently, as well as some recent Filipino immigrants who needed to process their IDs so that the young girl could enroll in public school. I'm always so amazed at how we (people of Hawai'i) can coexist with such a diverse range of people living on small volcanic islands that comprise what is considered to be one of the world's most isolated population centers.
Sadly, my amazement didn't last very long as Popo began to get a little cranky from having to wait in line. It took us about one hour to wait in line just to get her documents reviewed. While we were in the back of the line, I wondered why the process was taking so long. But as we moved up, I started to see the processes taking place within the office. This first process, document review, took such a long time because there was only one employee reviewing documents.
After the document review, we were instructed to wait for our number to be called so Popo could finally get her ID issued. We received ticket #90, and I looked towards the machine and shook my head at the pixelated "78" that was on its display. The second process we needed to go through was the ID production and issue. There were 5 booths where ID applications could be processed, but that doesn't necessarily mean there was an employee at every booth. As a number was called, the person would approach the booth, have their paperwork reviewed, pay the ID processing fee, and sit back to take a picture. Then, the person would leave the booth and be called back 5 minutes later to pick up a brand new state ID. I noticed that during that 5 minute wait for the ID to be printed, the employee at the booth would just sit there, despite the large crowd that needed to also get IDs. This totally inefficient process irritated me to oblivion (and still does, actually). We had to wait another hour before I heard an employee yell "Number 90!", and by that time, I was fed up.
After we got her ID, we drove back into Kaimuki for lunch at Happy Day at the intersection of Waialae and 11th. YUM. Then more errands before dropping Popo off and heading home.
Thursday was Thanksgiving, which was spent in a Star Wars marathon (and I only watch the original trilogy...the new movies are just horrible). Then, as tradition dictates, my family and I headed down into Kaimuki to our cousins' house for a Thanksgiving potluck. All of my relatives mistook me for Lauren originally, which was pretty sad. But good food and good people always make for great times. Every Thanksgiving, I realize how much I take my family and my island home for granted. Its kind of sad, but I guess that's what happens when you tend to over-analyze situations.
Our family woke up extra early to go Black Friday shopping at the Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange...and I had another revelation while sitting in the car on the way to the store. Its so disgusting how we (as a collective society) tend to place so much emphasis on material goods, like they add value to our quality of life or something and make us better than other people. I don't even think I have that much...no texting, no car, no concrete way to pay for my education. But still! The amount of "stuff" I possess could probably be sold to feed a small village in some developing country, no joke! And when I think of the fact that most Americans have even more "stuff" than I do...it almost makes me want to puke.
Basically, I put these thoughts out of my head as I went on to buy a couple of dresses, several tops, a pair of heels, a Hawaiian music CD, and some gifts for friends. But still, I think I want to find a way to reduce the amount of "stuff" I have. Its just crazy.
Then I flew back to Los Angeles, and here I am.
Today, I was able to sleep in since I stayed up late watching the documentary "Crossing the Line" about American military defectors and their lives in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or for those of you less socially-conscious readers, North Korea). I could write an entire essay about the film, but if the Korean conflict interests you I'd strongly recommend it. Then went to tailgate (sushi bar!) before watching my beloved Trojans lose to the freaking Irish of Notre Dame. In the rain. My USC hoodie is still completely soaked, so I've resorted to wearing an old Iolani cross country sweater that Lauren got from an athletic department clearance.
Since I'm tired and its past midnight, I'm going to call it quits for now. I can't believe that Thanksgiving weekend is almost over, and that I'll be back in Hawaii in 17 days!
Isn't it crazy how time just seems to pass us by?
