public transportation

hawaii is great for a variety of reasons. one is public transportation.

growing up where i did, we had to drive miles and miles to find any semblance to civilization. upon arriving at the age of 16 there was no question, you were going to acquire a car- this was vital to survival. here in the islands of aloha, this is not necessarily true. one can be fully mobile and not own a vehicle.

because of my penny-pinching and commitment-phobic tendencies, public transportation has been an easy choice. easy except that i’ve never done it before.

there is a very steep learning curve when one decides to learn the bus system. one must determine where to get on and off, and how to connect to other busses going other places. it is utterly confusing to me. i really only know two things: bus 23 stops across from the safeway and goes to ala moana, and bus 1l loads at my corner and goes downtown to a variety of places like chinatown and the art museum.

although it takes twice as long to get places, i am learning to love public transportation. you see, i enjoy listening and observing. this is why i read nonfiction- i must know what other people are thinking (who cares what some fictional character thinks or says- they are not real!). my agreeing with them is not the point, hearing their stories and thoughts and ideas is. so i sit there on the bus and traverse oahu, watching the scenery roll by and listening.

today there was a 20 year old guy on the bus who is working a landscaping job (he loves it), spent half of his life in new york, and had some pretty distinct opinions regarding each and every war the united states has every been involved in. i think actually talking to him would drive me up the wall. but listening to him carry on with the dear soul he was sharing a seat with, was fascinating.

there was a girl with thick, black hair down to her knees.

and tourists, who generally have no idea where they are going. they all wear very overtly hawaiian clothing and travel in herds. they have children- too young to endure flying all the way to hawaii with in my humble opinion- in tow.

today i happened to be on the right bus at the right time for all the high and middle school students to be going home. middle school boys are the same no matter where you go. this one boy was carrying around this large metal pole (read: potential weapon) that was bent at both ends (i think it may be a skateboard jump of some sort). their laughter and body language reminded me distinctly of many middle school boys from the burg.

the busses are a favorite for the elderly. i have decided that i would like to age into an old asian woman. they are just so tiny and thin but sturdy and most caucasian women don’t stand a chance at ever being that put together in old age. i estimate that these women are no less than 10 years older than they look. the fact that they run to catch the bus is very admirable as well, something to strive for, should i not come down with alzheimer’s by age 50.

someday, when i win the lottery that i don’t play, i’ll buy a car. until then, i’ll just sit and listen and watch oahu roll by, thanking God for this beautiful, rectangular creation: the bus.