From Hawaii To Makuhari, Japan

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.

The train of Honolulu Railway by Railway Age (http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/rapid-transit/prototype-hart-trainset-unveiled.html?channel=)

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Please visit my paper at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40623-016-0463-8?view=classic

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.