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| Just trees and blue sky near Alawai in Honolulu |
My journey started from Hawaii this month. I had visited Hawaii one and a half years ago. So, some parts of the Honolulu town changed. In Waikiki, there were many constructions maybe because old buildings should be rebuilt.
On May 3rd, I arrived at Honolulu. When I checked in the hotel, I found the newspaper saying the first train arrived at Honolulu and people celebrated it. I couldn't really believe it because it was very big issue in Honolulu and people seemed not to desire to have the train in Honolulu when I lived there. However, I think this is a good chance for Honolulu to be a comfortable city.
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| Waikiki beach |
For my life, this visit to Honolulu was a bit bitter. Blue ocean comforted me in my grief. I have many good friends in Honolulu, and so I was not so so sad at that time.
The wave of real grief hit me after I came back to Japan. However, I didn't have much time to feel sadness as I had to present my work in the conference.
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| Makuhari beach |
The Makuhari town which was the conference site is also along the coast. The color of the ocean is different from Waikiki beach, but there is a beach. I was not so sad anymore as I saw many old friends and researchers. I enjoyed presenting my study, chatting with my friends, and discussing with other researchers. I felt strong bond with my friends and this working field. I think one of the reasons why I continue to work for volcanology is that I like talking with these people.
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| A hamburger at KUA`AINA in Maihama, Japan |
Strangely, I went to Kua`Aina not in Honolulu but in Maihama near Makuhari. I ate a big avocado hamburger with my friend from my university days. I think the hamburger is the best at Kua`Aina in Haleiwa, Oahu Island. Unfortunately, I couldn't go there this month... I am sure to go there next time!!
The last moment in Makuhari, I received an email saying that my paper was published.
I desired to publish this paper after Ontake eruption in 2014. When the eruption started, I was in Honolulu. Since then, I came back to Japan and had worked for this topic with a feeling of my destiny. "This is my mission as my numerical model of ballistic trajectories in volcanic eruptions is unique to estimate the energy of blocks which killed many people", I thought. Now, I am feeling that I can step forward.
