Two days ago our time in Hawai’i came to an end. After four spectacular years, the powers that be within the Air Force decided to have Jenny and I pack up all our stuff and head to Wyoming. We are both excited for this change and the new opportunities the change of scenery will bring, but we will miss Hawai’i.
To be sure, living on a tiny rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean comes with its challenges, but it also comes with some wonderful opportunities. We traveled to six of the eight major Hawaiian islands and did our best to explore them. Whether it was under the sea during SCUBA and snorkeling expeditions, or all the way at the top of Hawaiian mountains, we tried to see it all.
I think we came pretty damn close too. The only two islands we didn’t go see, Ni’ihau and Kaho’olawe, are off limits for most everybody anyway. We made up for it with a life-changing trip to New Zealand instead. A campervan trip around New Zealand should be high on everyone’s bucket list, especially for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, hikers, and outdoorsmen.
In addition to amazing adventures, Jenny and I made some amazing friends as well. Both of us had the opportunity to work with wonderful people, and we formed lifelong connections that we are sure to cherish. We also made friends with people out in the community, which was a welcome change from the locked-down COVID times we experienced living in Boston.
One of the fun surprises of Hawai’i was being able to jump back into USPSA after a seven year hiatus. Due to the deteriorated condition of my ankles and my lack of practice, I wasn’t as good as I once was, but I had a blast getting to know the folks out at the range. I eagerly joined one of the local clubs, the Mid-Pacific Pistol League, and had the opportunity to shoot in the Hawai’i state shoot in 2025.
Even though the opportunities to hunt in Hawai’i are pretty limited compared to Mainland, USA, I was lucky enough to go out on four separate hunts, plus a deep sea fishing excursion. Twice, I hunted pigs on Oahu, hiking through the jungle behind a pack of pig-hunting dogs. On my first excursion, I skewered a small sow with my Ka-Bar in my most visceral hunting experience to date. On the second, my guide, dog-handler, and I hiked for almost a dozen miles and turned up nothing. Such is life, such is hunting.
I also ventured to Molokai twice to hunt Axis deer. The first time, I went with my little buddy, Bret, and we had great success hiking all over the mountains. We did have to borrow rifles from our guide and his apprentice/nephew, which resulted in some poor shooting on our part. The second time, I went with two other friends, and we all brought our own rifles. My trusted .30-06 did the trick, and you can watch the full-length YouTube video I made during the trip here.
While I was busy hunting and putting up mediocre hit factors at local matches, Jenny found a new hobby for herself: SCUBA. She earned her Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification, and went for a bunch of dives. She dove at Electric Beach, Sharks Cove, and shipwreck dives and boat dives off Oahu, with Manta Rays off the Big Island, around Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand, Jeju Island in South Korea, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Hawai’i definitely spoils a SCUBA diver! Jenny’s favorite dives of all those were the ones she went on off of Electric Beach on Oahu’s West side. During those dives, she saw tons of sea life, such as Honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles), Eagle Rays, pods of Dolphins, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, and too many fish to name! Whenever I went with her, I just snorkled above or snoozed on the boat.
In addition to traveling around the Pacific Rim, Jenny and I made frequent trips back to the mainland for work and to visit friends and family. Flights to and from Hawai’i can be brutally long, but the long flights were worth it to see our loved ones. Flying everywhere meant we had to leave Calvin and Zander behind on all our off-Island adventures. Returning to the mainland means we will be road tripping a lot, and we are glad to be able to take the dogs with us on our upcoming adventures.
Traveling around the Pacific and the mainland really hammered home the need for a real camera. The cameras in our smart phones have gotten crazy good over the years, but there is just no real substitute for a dedicated camera with an actual zoom. I tried to buy a camera this past Black Friday, but the model I wanted and could afford was all sold out by the time I shambled into the store.
I was eventually able to procure the camera I wanted, and have had a blast learning how to take decent photos. One of our good friend pairs, Reggie & Jenna, started a photography business, Lossless Lens. Reggie taught me quite a bit about working with my camera settings and helped boost my skills. He also took an amazing set of photos of Jenny and I to cap off our time in Hawai’i, including the featured image and the closing image of this article.
Of course it wasn’t all fun and games in Hawai’i. Jenny and I did both have to work. I finished my Air Force service at the end of July, 2025 and rolled right into a job working with small tech firms doing business with the U.S. military. My new job was a soft landing, with full time telework and something like 97% veterans, which helped ease the transition back to civilian life. Over the next few months, I will put out a few more articles about my last assignment in the Air Force at AFROTC Det 175.
As we move ourselves to Wyoming, Jenny and I are looking forward to new adventures. I have missed the Rocky Mountains, easy access to hunting, and the concept of “being cold” since moving to Hawai’i. Jenny is looking forward to the next step in her Air Force career, serving and leading Airmen in a new environment and role.
Our time in Hawai’i came to a close and our adventure in Wyoming begins. We will miss our friends and look back fondly at our adventures in Hawai’i. I’m sure Jenny and I will visit Hawai’i again
For now we say Thank you and Goodbye.
Thank you for reading! Be on the lookout for our future adventures in Wyoming. The Norseman Creative shop is still offline until we can get situated in our new location. If you enjoy Norseman Creative, I would be honored if you “liked” the post and shared Norseman Creative with your buddies.