My trip to the islands over the last two weeks included a major bonus for me in addition to the military history, hiking, great foods, and great friends. The visit to Hawaii means that I have now visited all 50 states. Indeed, I have now hit most of the territories with the exception of American Samoa (which is long over due for a constitutional lecture).
Category: Travel Blog
Day 12 is my final day on Oahu and my departure to the states. I spent the hours before my flight in a mad search for gifts. It tried last night without success but had more success today. The last roughly two weeks have been an amazing experience in visiting Guam, Saipan, Palau, Tinian, and Hawaii. My greatest hope is that the travel blog might inspire some of our readers to travel this far into the Pacific. It is worth it. Trust me.
Day 11 was my hiking day in Hawaii. In the morning, I did one of Hawaii’s famous waterfall hikes followed by a second hike to a crater. I then climbed Diamondhead overlooking Honolulu. I ended the long day by going swimming at Waikiki. I did not wait for changing into a swimsuit. After the three hikes, I was dying to go into the warm green waters and dove in as soon as I made it back. It was great to float in the surf as the sun went down over Waikiki. After cleaning up, I then went back to Waikiki to watch the evening fireworks. They were awesome. You can just lie on the beach and they fire off truly impressive fireworks from a small lagoon. I loved it. It was a great way to spend my final night on the island.
Day 10 was spent immersed in my passion for military history at one of the world’s most historic sites: Pearl Harbor. After arriving the night before, I set out for Pearl Harbor by public bus. The public buses on Oahu are wonderful. The Hawaiian bus drivers are incredibly nice and helpful. Just tell them where you need to go and they are full of suggestions and will often call out to you to make a transfer. I have been taking buses all day and found everyone of the drivers to be hugely helpful and kind. Trips cost only $2.50 and you get to see more of the island (including areas with large numbers of homeless people).
Due to the lack of internet access during the trip, I was not able to post Tinian pictures of our exciting day exploring the runaway for the Enola Gay, the historical site of the Taga Latte stones, and the wonderful feast on the beach with the mayor and others from this island.
Day 9 was spent back on Guam. After a brutal 2 am flight (flights from Palau take off at ungodly hours to make connections), I made it to Guam and was reunited with my brilliant young hostess, Karen Quitlong, who had already planned a hiking trip to the Spanish Steps, a famous snorkeling area on the island. While the steps were turned out to be closed that day, the backup plan proved incredible.
My eighth day was spent enjoying the unique islands of Palau. I have heard my whole life how pristine and gorgeous these islands are, but nothing prepared me for encountering the lush jungle, turquoise blue waters, and rock islands. After torrential rains on the first day on Palau, the skies suddenly cleared in the morning and a perfect blue day emerged. With the help of our hosts, Judge Watford, his wife, and I went on a snorkeling trip that offered multiple stops in the rock islands. We then finished the day at a remarkably good Indian restaurant with Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong.
My seventh day was sent on Palau, a true island paradise. The first day was spent in three lectures to the Palau bar with Ninth Circuit Judge Paul Watford. The day was a good time to be indoors. A tropical storm moved in with torrential rain.
The sixth day was just about as exciting as it can get. Our hosts in Saipan knew of my love for military history and Chief Justice Alexandro Castro said that he would be happy to take my to Tinian on his fishing boat. With Ninth Circuit Judge Paul Watford and his wife joined us, it became quite an adventure after he hit unpredictably rough seas in the small boat. It only added to the exciting day, however, as we visited one of the truly most unique places on Earth.
My fifth day was spent giving three lectures to the bar of Saipan. It was a fascinating day with the judges and lawyers of this beautiful island. Tomorrow Judge Watford and I will be going to Tinian Island where the B-29s took off to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These islands are steeped in the military history of World War II. Having read about the battles for years, it is amazing to be here and walk along the beaches of the invasions. Saipan was also the scene of one of the most horrific moments of the Pacific war when 1,000 Japanese civilians committed suicide by jumping off the cliffs on the Northern part of the island. They believed the propaganda about the Americans and took their lives rather than be captured. It is hard to imagine such horror on an island that is indescribably beautiful and peaceful.
My fourth day in the Northern Mariana Islands was spent on Saipan. As a military history buff, Saipan has been a dream of mine to visit for many years. The battle for Saipan remains one of the most important and brutal battles in U.S. history. The island itself is a jewel of crystal blue waters and lush jungle. Like Guam, the Saipanese are incredibly generous and warm with visitors. While I was distressed to see a massive, gaudy casino being built for Chinese tourist (a monstrosity that dominates part of the island), the rest of the island remains wonderfully understated and tranquil.
I arrived on an early flight from Guam (which is only 40 minutes away). I then went on a wonderful hike through the jungle with Chief Judge Ramona Villagomez Manglona, Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy and Jim Benedetto, Assistant U.S. Attorney. Behind Jim’s house in Saipan is jungle that he routinely explored with machete in hand. Years ago he discovered the remains of a B-29 that crashed after a return from a bombing raid on Japan in World War II. It took three weeks for Jim and his friend to cut a path into the jungle but he took us to see the wreckage in the dense jungle. It was an amazing hike and Jim could easily find a calling in the outback should he abandon the whole legal gig.
Continue reading “Day 4: Saipan”
My third day in Guam was spent giving three speeches to lawyers and judges on the island. It was an extremely interesting exchange with the bar here. I am speaking at the conference with Judge Paul Jeffrey Watford of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Watford was on the short list for the Supreme Court for President Obama and was viewed as a leading contender for the Court for Hillary Clinton if she were elected. This is a fascinating bar with some of the truly nicest people I have ever met in my life. This is a vibrant bar with unique elements for lawyers in dealing with cases on the various islands. There is a deep civility and mutual respect that permeates the place. Indeed, what really comes through for visitors is the sheer sense of joy that everyone seems to have in working and living in this paradise.
Today was a conference day so I am sharing some of the pictures taken on the hikes by Karen Quitlong, Law Clerk to Chief Judge Frances Marie Tydingco-Gatewood. This is a picture of all of us cooling off on one of the amazing waterfalls in the jungle. With us in this picture is Senator and attorney Therese Terlaje and our extraordinary guide. What is amazing is that after one of our more grueling hikes, Therese went straight to a hearing for veterans. It is not uncommon for lawyers and legislators to pop off for some scuba or hiking in the midst of their days. There remains a profound connection of everyone here to the island and a continual level of delight in everything that the island offers.
For someone who loves military history and hiking, Guam is a paradise found. My second full day on the island highlighted those famous draws of Guam. I began with a bucket list item: I went scuba diving for the first time. We then went on a tour of the military history and World War II battlefields. It was an another awesome day spent again with Karen Quitlong, Law Clerk to Chief Judge Frances Marie Tydingco-Gatewood, and Senator and attorney Therese Terlaje.
Continue reading “Day 2: Guam”
I arrived in Guam around midnight to begin my visit to the islands. I was met at the airport by some of the judges and lawyers who invited me and was bestowed with a beautiful lei. It was the first demonstration of the super friendly environment of Guam. My first day involved a challenging hike arranged by Karen Quitlong, Law Clerk to Chief Judge Frances Marie Tydingco-Gatewood, United States District Court for the District of Guam. Karen knew I was an avid hiker and arranged to have two friends accompany us on a hike through island to see waterfalls and breathtaking views of the South of the island.
My travel blog to Orlando was interrupted this weekend by flight problems that resulting in our getting back on a United flight after 1 am. We spent a full day at the new Harry Potter areas of Universal as well as the other Universal parks. The final day was spent at Epcot and Hollywood Studies back at Disney. We went to five parks in all between the Disney and Universal properties and had a ball. Despite the long delay at the Orlando airport (which had a security line that is a TSA disgrace and resulted in many missing their flights), the trip was awesome.