Landing in Honolulu (HNL) 19 October 2018

UA 1431 LAX-HNL 757-300 on Rwy 8L FINALLY, on my third flight to Hawai’i in the previous year and a half, we took the traditional approach into HNL from the leeward side of O’ahu directly to the east onto 8L. This is my favorite approach as it takes me right over the towns and neighborhoods where I grew up in the early 80s. After the turn into final approach, we pass over the old Barber’s Point Naval Air Station (now Kalaeloa Airport) before passing over Ewa Beach, my hometown. Just past the town (I remember when all those houses were sugar cane fields as far as the eye could see) we see the distinctive “hills” of the Puuloa Rifle Range before passing right over my old house on East Elua Way at 13:35. It’s from here where I would watch airplanes land all through the day; the loud screech of 747-200s and DC-10s beckoning me to the outdoors to watch. This was the basis of the love of aviation that I enjoy to this day. After a quick jaunt over the mouth of Pearl Harbor we cross the threshold of 8L and before long I'm once again glad to be kama'aina back in paradise.