Got Uke?? Will Travel!

Sparky and Skipper....wondering...

Hey!  What's going on here?  Travel duffel bags are rolling out...and where are those two going with ukes in the car?  And what does "Aloha" mean?

So, Saturday we say Aloha to folks and dogs at home and leave the island on the afternoon boat.  Two duffel bags, two carry ons, and two ukes....two printed boarding passes for Hawaiian Air flight #21, boarding at 8:00 a.m. Sunday.  That means an early morning airport arrival.  All so much more complicated than the RV or Amtrak, but no way to drive or ride the rails to the Big Island!  

We haven't flown in three years, so complying with all the details of one carry on (all containers with only 3 oz. of liquid in clear plastic bags, only 3 per bag, and what needs to be in the checked bag and what needs to be in zip locks in there....and how not to take too much of anything...(pack and then take stuff out...and then add something else...like that)...leaves me liking road trips and rail trips.  We make it through checking our duffels, and the counter clerk says: can I see your carry ons?  We hold up our small cases, but, um, leave the uke cases on the floor...out of sight.  "Great!" She says...and off we go.  We are counting on the boarding area letting us take the ukes aboard as the one "personal item" even though it is 7 inches too long to qualify as carry on.  ( over the phone they said we should buy a seat for each ....hum...$600 per seat....nooooo). 

At rhe gate desk they announce there is very limited overhead space on this aircraft.  If anyone will volunteer to give up personal items or carry ons to be taken as gate check items, come to the desk.  So we do, and they see the instruments and say...well maybe, but we don't want to handle your instruments, so let's see if they fit in the overhead areas first.  If not bring them to an attendant.  Perfect!  And, yes, they DO fit!

So, now, the six hour flight is almost over.  I note early on that 8 of the 12 children on board are in seats surrounding us.  Into the 5 th hour they are getting antsy.  The attendants are passing out welcome to Hawaii drinks (with alcohol) and I'm thinkin' the kids need two each.  Or maybe I do!  

Tomorrow we will be arriving at Kailani Retreat Center, near Hilo for the West Coast Ukulele "Camp Uke-Ooo-Lay Lay Hawaii" first annual retreat.  The schedule for the next 6 days looks awesome, with fabulous instructors, special events and jams.  Won't it be fun to find out??