私の海外旅行・ハワイが好き！/ Traveling overseas - I love Hawaii!

*Please scroll down for the English version.

私が子どもの頃、憧れの海外旅行はとてもお金がかかりました。「兼高かおる世界の旅」というテレビ番組があって、いつもワクワクしながら見ていた記憶があります。そのうちだんだん海外旅行の敷居も低くなり、グアムや香港、ハワイなどたくさんの日本人が海外を訪れるようになっていきました。その頃は外国を旅慣れない日本人のマナーの悪さもよく話題になったものでした。

大学職員だった若かりし頃、私はどうしてもエジプト旅行に行きたくなって予約しかけたのですが、そのタイミングで水疱瘡にかかって諦めたことがあります。その翌年、人生初海外旅行の行き先はアメリカ本土でした。映画みたいな風景や人々の生活を目の当たりにして、とても興奮したのを覚えています。それからしばらくして、太極拳を含む中国武術がアジア大会で初めて正式種目になった時、オープニングセレモニーに参加する大勢の中の一人として中国・北京に行きました。日本とは違う場所を旅することはとても刺激的で、全てが思い出深いですよね。

幸運に恵まれて私はその後もちょいちょい海外に出かけることができました。その中で、私が行けるものならもう何度でも行きたいと思っている場所があります。それはハワイです。日本人の海外旅行と言えばハワイ。そのハワイは芸能人や新婚さん達がたくさん訪れる場所で、なんで皆んなそんなに行きたいんやろと不思議に思っていました。ところが、小学生だった娘の通っていた絵画教室で応募してもらった作品がコンクールでグランプリをいただき、副賞がなんと「親子でサマースクール・ハワイ旅行」だったのです。小学生各学年からひとりずつに親がひとり、スタッフさん達も入れて総勢２０人足らずのツアーでした。行き先はハワイ初心者定番のオアフ島で、私はくっついて行っただけでしたが旅の企画は観光地巡りはもちろん、子どもたちが喜びそうな楽しみが満載でした。初めてのハワイはとても魅力的で驚くことばかり。自然や歴史の事も何も知らずに行ったことが後になって悔やまれるほどでした。
今でも覚えているのは、車道の両脇が花盛りの木々で、その花びらが道路一面に降り積もって舞っていたこと。海はどこまでも青く、空気は乾燥していて日陰は快適でした。また海外での買い物がこんなに楽しいものなのかと、この時初めて知りました（笑）。バスでワイキキから海岸沿いの道路をずっと行った所にほとんど人のいない砂浜があって、そこは一生忘れないほど本当に美しい場所でした。ここの空気や風や音や匂いが、体に染み込んでいきました。また来たいと本気で思いました。だから帰る時にはもうハワイロス（笑）。飛行機に乗って窓に日本の景色が見えてきた時には悲しい気持ちに。日本の空気は重く感じて体が沈み込みそうだったことを覚えています。以来、私にとってハワイは格別の場所となりました。

実はその17年後に、今度はとうとうハワイ島に行くことができました。年月を経てそれなりに大人になった私はこの旅行を心底楽しみました。ハワイ島の自然はオアフ島ともまた違って、奥深くエネルギッシュで素晴らしかったです。この島の魅力は次回にまた書いてみたいと思っています！

南国の楽園とは言え人の生活に変わりはなく、病気や死もある。みんながみんな一日中、バーベキューやサーフィンを楽しんでいるわけでもない。と、映画「ファミリー・ツリー」でジョージ・クルーニーがそんなふうな事を言ってました。それを聞いた時、そりゃそうだろうともと妙に納得もしましたがそれでも、あの南国の地は私を魅了して止まず、いつだって、おいでおいでーと誘い続けてくれています。今この瞬間も。

あー、ハワイが好き！

When I was a child, it was really expensive to go overseas. I remember I was getting excited every time I watched a program named "World travel with Kanetaka Kaoru" on TV. Gradually, it became easier for Japanese people to go on a overseas trip and many people started to visit places like Guam, Hong Kong, and Hawaii. At that time, the bad manners of Japanese travellers in foreign countries were often reported as well because they were not used to traveling overseas.

I really wanted to go on a trip to Egypt and was about to make a reservation when I was young and working as a staff at the university, but had to give up because I had chiken pox at the timing. The next year, I experienced my first oversea trip and the destination was America. I remember that I got excited to see the landscapes and lives of people which was like a scene from a movie. A while after that, I visited Beijing as a member of many people who were participating with the opening ceremony of the Asian Games on the year chinese martial arts including Tai Chi became the official event. It is always exciting to travel different countries, and the memories are unforgettable.

Fortunately, I had opportunities to visit overseas occasionally since then. There is a one place I would love to visit as many times as possible, and it is Hawaii. When it comes to overseas travel as a Japanese person, the typical destination would be Hawaii. I was not sure before why many cerebrities or honeymoon travelers would choose Hawaii. However, when my daughter was a elementary school student, she won the Grand Prix at the art competition and the sub-prize was "Family summer school in Hawaii". One student each from all grades at elementary school with a parent were invited, so the members of the tour were a little less than 20 including support members. The tour took place in Oahu, and I was just coming there in addition to them, but the travel plan was great as we had plenty of sightseeings and fun activities that children really enjoyed. My first visit in Hawaii was wonderful, and there were lots of surprises for me. I regretted afterwards that I visited there without knowing any history or nature of Hawaii.
I still remember the scenery which flowering trees were standing on both sides of the road, and the petals were covering all over the road. The sea was blue over the distance, the air was dry, and it was comfortable staying in the shade. Also I learned how fun it is to go shopping overseas at that time. There was a deserted beach along side of the coastal road where you can go by bus from Waikiki, and I will never forget how beautiful it was. The air, the wind, the sound and smell of Hawaii soaked into my body. I seriously thought that I wanted to come back again. I was missing Hawaii already when I was on my way home. I was so sad to see the sight of Japan from the window of the plane. I remember feeling like my body was sinking as I felt the air of Japan was too heavy. Since then, Hawaii became a special place to me.

Actually, I managed to visit Hawaii island 17 years later. This time I was a certain level of grown-up adult as the long time had passed since the last time, and I truly enjoyed the trip. The nature of Hawaii island was quite different from Oahu, and it was deep and energetic. I am planning to write about its attraction next time!

In the movie "The Descendants", George Clooney said something like; Hawaii is maybe the tropical paradise, but there's no difference in people's lives so there would be illness or death. Not everyone is enjoying BBQ or surfing all day.
When I heard it, I strangely understood that it totally made sense. However, that tropical island just doesn't stop fascinating me and always calls me to come, at this moment as well.

Aah I love Hawaii!