Have You Tried A Ford Lately?

Day Two in Waikiki and we are off to see the Ford Island Air Museum. This is the museum on the island in the middle of Pearl Harbour. It opened to the public in 2006, and we have not seen it. Oddly, since we now both volunteer at the BC Aviation Museum, we look at museums through the eyes of the operators of the Musem, rather than as a patron.

The air museum occupies a former Army air-force base and currently has two hangars in operation; the original tells the story of the Pacific War from before WW-II, to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and on to the turning point of the Battle of Midway and Guadacanal. It has excellent aircraft from the period, all displayed with a great deal of effort to be authentic to the times. For example, there is a Japanese Zero fighter, sitting on the deck of an aircraft carrier, about to launch the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Hangar two is more contemporary, with many jets and helicopters from the Cold War era. It also holds the restoration shops, storeage area, and a very interesting collection of partially restored aircraft.

The hangar doors even bear battle damage from that fateful day of 7 December 1941.Harbor. Others include a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber as a participant in the Doolittle raid on Japan, and a Grumman F-2F Wildcat on Guadacanal. We got many good ideas on how to present displays from the visit.

stored vintage aircraft.

Even more interesting is the boneyard of stockpiled restoration projects out behind the hangar, which I inspected by tip-toeing into an out-of-bounds area. There I discovered many American and Japanese hulks; all awaiting restoration.

Signs of Confusion

Right; An authentic, unrestored sign from the base in World War II.

You might think that this is a typical information sign, (you know, no food or drink, no smoking, etc), but close inspection reveals a remind

er that this is America, after all!

Below: Me, bestriding Ha

wa

ii.

My Close Brush With Fame!

So I am hanging out in the hallway just off the lobby of the Mariott, Waikiki Beach while my wife is trying out some clothes in the dress shop, when who walks by but some tatooed Dude carrying a box of Carona Beer, accompanied by two young women.

And I think to myself, 'Hey, I know that guy from somewhere'.

So I am trying to remember from where I have seen this guy, and suddenly I remember, this is the big guy from the show Auction Hunters. Now if you don't know this show, don't fret; it is a low-life reality show about two guys who go to auctions where the contents are up for grabs to the highest bidder. I am embarrassed to admit that I have watched the show.

I am looking at the big guy when he walks about 5 feet in front of me, lifts his head, meets my eyes, and nods.

So, I casually say as he strides by "Out here to do a shoot, eh!"

This was, I thought, a clever bit of deductive reasoning, since he was followed by an entourage of about 12, including two men lugging those elaborate shoulder-hoisted cameras and a Sound Man [are rest unsound in some fundamental way?] with one of those fuzzy, shag carpet boom mikes. The Sound Man swept by soundlessly, the Video Guys were a sight to see, the Key Grip had the room-key, the Grip had a firm grasp on another box of beer, the Director pointed out the way to the elevator, the Stuntman slipped on the carpet, the Extras just shuffled along and awaited instructions, and the Best Boy.... well, I hope that someday he grows up to become the Best Man.

'Yep' the Big Dude elaborated.

And then I remember, when in the States, do not use the 'eh' in conversation; it's a dead give-away. Just like asking for vinager for the fries, a double-double in the coffee, saying 'sorry' when some rude lout cuts into line ahead of you, using the word 'nickle' when referring to the price or a denomination of change, or mentioning hockey of any kind.

'Well, good luck with it.' was my snappy rejoinder.

'Thanks', he intoned, and was is gone, making a beeline for the elevator.

Right behind him was the other, cleaner-cut dude in the program, who made no eye contact. Therefore, no witty exchange exchange ensuedwith him.

There it was; another chance encounter with celebrity. I can hardly wait to catch the Auction Hunters, Hawaii episode on a channel near me.