A Little Aloha

It's been so cold lately, that I could use a little aloha. So, here's a photograph from our recent getaway to remind me summer is on the way- and to remind me how good God is to give my wife and I such an incredibly blessed time away!

"Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them." (Isaiah 42:10)

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

No Man's Land for Locals

Waikiki is one of the first destinations for most visitors and tourists. And understandably so. Its mythical allure was reinforced by Hollywood in movies and tv shows. Postcards and advertising also added to its status as a destination spot.

The reality is a bit different for local residents. While the city and county has done much to improve the area in the last 20 years, parking is still tight and costs a small fortune. Stores and restaurants are resort level prices, making it a poor value for a night out with the family. Even in my earlier years, the only time I would head into this tourist zone was to watch a movie (this was before multiplexes popped up on every corner).

But there is a lot to love about Waikiki, it's where Duke Kahanamoku rode the waves on his surfboard and the pink majesty of the Royal Hawaiian still sits elegantly on the edge of the shoreline. It's with this in mind that I decided to break my own rule and get out there to take some photos.

Hope everyone is having a blessed weekend!

              (Photographs Copyright 2017 Len Yokoyama)

Time Passages

Aloha Airlines just let its employees know it will no longer continue operations. Really too bad as almost 3,000 people drew their income from this inter-island Hawaiian carrier. Families are in shock and trying to reevaluate their lives and their future.

This closing impacts two good friends of mine, pilots who have served this airline and its passengers for many, many years. I do not know what they will do and how this will affect their families in the long term. I do know this, the God they serve will be present in this hard time and will give them hope and direction in the midst of it all. They have placed their faith in Him long ago- and now, again, it is time to have this faith tested- and for it to be proven true.

The promise of life in Jesus doesn't mean things are easy. It just means He is true when He says He will never leave us or turn away from us. That is where our peace and our comfort remains, not in the circumstances in which we find ourselves.