Random Thoughts of Hawaii in Days Past

I’ve lived in Hawaii for over 50 years and I do think sometimes about how much has changed. Back then, we were really aware of being separated from the rest of the country. After all, Hawaii was and still is the most remote populated spot on the globe. Once you leave here, you have to travel at least 2300 miles to get anywhere.
Fifty years ago, mainland people knew very little about this place. I remember being asked how I was able to get a job if I didn’t speak Hawaiian … and what kind of money we used … and what was it like having to do without television. 

Of course, we hadtelevision, but there was no live TV from the mainland. All the network shows were recorded in New York or Los Angeles and the tapes flown out here for rebroadcast … sometimes days later. Whatever Walter Cronkite had to say on the CBS Evening News was at least six or seven hours old when finally aired here and we never gave it a second thought.
Sports on TV was a problem, because the game was long since over by the time it was finally broadcast here.

The very first live sports event telecast here was in 1966 …  a football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State. Both teams were undefeated and a local kid, Dick Kenney, did the kicking for MSU. He was a sensation on the mainland because he kicked barefoot. There wasn’t a car on the road while the game was on that morning. It ended in a 10-10 tie.
I don’t think life here was better then, but it was quite different.  Less pressure. Slower. More relaxed. Still, I can remember thinking back then, “Boy! I’ll bet this place was reallywonderful in the 30s.”