Underway September 17 2009 Honolulu, Hawaii

Chronicles of an Insane Sailor – September 17, 2009

Underway! Leaving Ford Island through the channels ships tried to escape during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Whenever we start to get underway, it re-enforces my reasons for liking this job, besides the pay that leads to the hefty amount sitting in the bank. Unfortunately, that disappears quicker than I make it. However, there are times I would like to walk away and quit this while I still enjoy it.

Starting to feel the ship roll fore and aft and announcement made that people stay inside for photo ops from a helo. I recall the last photo op in October 2004 with that photo used on every web page related to this ship.

This past week has been busy with pre-sail, turnover preventive maintenance actions and inspections. It is common to work long days but try to limit to ten hours. Climbing masts, inspecting, maintenance and making sure gremlins did not crawl into any equipment during the turnover to cause mischief. Afterwards, go to a local restaurant and grab a bite. Usually I avoid the chains you can find on the mainland and settle for ethnic flair. My favorite is Taiyo Noodles located in a strip mall next to Ale Moana Shopping Center. I have been going there for nearly six years. The portions are huge; the price is small and the taste authentic.

I have the good fortune to be working with a veteran partner who is a plankowner of this ship so things are always in good shape when I get it from him. I wished I could say the same when I turn it back to him. I seem to have bad luck this year when it comes to major equipment. In many ways, I miss my old ship Ka’imimoana, especially when I hear that she is on her way to Western Samoa or French Polynesia. This ship goes to Samoa but the other one that is part of the United States. However, unlike the Ka’imimoana, Hi’ialakai makes some interesting stops from Hawaii to American Samoa along the way as well as the return trip to Hono. On Ka’imimoana, after a port call in Apia she heads straight to Kwajalein and then the long trek back to Hawaii crawling up the International Date Line. Nevertheless, I still miss the old girl.

Regardless of that, this lady is my ship now and I am obliged to be part of the crew that will bring her back home. I came back from dinner in the galley and returned to the stateroom via weatherdecks. I could tell we are in the open seas. Rolling waves and winds with no resistance as she howls across the sea. Tonight after everyone is in his or her racks, I am going to reset the telephone PBX so we will have VoIP line open for use. Oh well, just did a channel check and no audio on one of the movie channels. Look like back on the clock and put in some OT to get it working. Such as a day in the life of an ET on board a NOAA research vessel. Tomorrow brings another day and different issues to resolve. Oh yes, I did get the audio back on the affected movie channel. The agile modulator blew out while we were in port, or it seems that way. The gremlins did find something to break.