Politics in the 50th State

Our Hawaiian Airlines flight touched down shortly before noon Hawaii time yestday. My mom and dad were waiting for the Mrs. and I at the airport with leis and big hugs. Every large airport has that familiar car exhaust smell, and Honolulu International is no exception, but the sight and smell of tuber rose makes all that disappear in an instant.

From the airport we took a roundabout drive to Kaneohe, where my parents live, via Waikiki -- yes, quite a detour -- and drove past the brand-spankin' new inter-island ferry, a huge catamarn-style ship set to begin taking tourists and locals to and from the islands of Maui and Kauai this August.

We parked along one of Waikiki's many side streets, stripped off the long pants and tennis shoes in the back seat of the car and pulled on the proper Hawaii attire -- shorts and slippers. Then it was off to lunch at Duke's on the beach.

Mr. Steel's dad asked how the website was coming along. He's my biggest fan. I said, "Fine. Still chugging along." Over bottles of Corona and fish sandwiches a few feet from the ocean we recapped the nation's political environment: Harry Reid is a wuss, Barack Obama is from Hawaii too, the Republicans are doing their best to blame George Bush for years of failed leadership, and our education system is why Fox News exists.

It has been great seeing the family. Parents are doing well. Yesterday I met my new nephew, Mr. Steel's sister's baby. He's six months old and has chubby arms and legs. Either he's a sumo in training or it's just a phase. Only time will tell.

Today, Mrs. Steel and I plan to be somewhere in the ocean as soon as possible. Beyond that, who knows?

• July 02, 2007

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