12/16/2020
Since 2020 has been one helluva year, it's good to reflect on the happy times. For many, none were more joyous than our time on the Rock.
Remotely from KJVR 96.1, Charlie Ono in Florida, broadcasting memories submitted by Karin Demko...
Mele Kalikemaka!!
Written by Karin Demko.
Call me a bit sentimental these days, but I would like to believe that all Johnston Island residents have this one thing in common—it’s called “The Bond”. Even if you were there for just a few hours, a day, a week, or for several years--it’s the one strong invisible grip that binds us all together.
For many (who didn’t know everyone on “The Rock”), we had these things in common--we all lived there to work, play, laugh, and love. For some people, it was just a passing hello while walking down Arnold Avenue, or a nod to each other as we got on and off the bus. Possibly for others, it was an exchange of words as we waited in line at the Chow Hall, or it could have been meeting up at the Outdoor Theater to catch a flick under the stars. Certainly for many, it was every Saturday night playing bingo at the Wak, or afterwards heading over to the Tiki, Uncle Joe’s, the Golf Shack, or the Island Club just to name a few. For quite a few, it was going to the Bowling Alley to bowl on a league, or maybe it was finding your way to the Chapel for some fellowship and puzzle madness. For many, it was hanging down at the Boat House as often as you could to partake in some excellent water sports like paddling, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or just watching others. For a ton of us, it was the weekly Wednesday gatherings at the Terminal to drop off and pick up folks on the Aloha flights while catching up on conversations because that was the only time you saw them. I know for many, it was behind Buildings 16/18 or in between the Redwoods for some good food and socialization. For scores of others, it was hanging out between the 250 Series at the local parties or better yet, if you were fortunate enough, watching some hula dancing, ukulele playing and singing—not to mention eating some of the finest food ever made during those wonderful “Ohana” events. Eventually, for us all though, it was heading out to the Terminal one final time to say goodbye to those departing one way while exchanging addresses and phone numbers promising to always keep in touch.
Inevitably, as the years come and go, and as we share the pain and loss from friends who also have come and gone, perhaps we can still be reminded of a life that once was lived on a tiny speck of land in the middle of a vast blue ocean and recapture ‘the Bond” that forever ties us together.
(I hope you didn’t mind me sharing my memories while rediscovering “The Bond”. I know I left many out—for it’s impossible to recollect them all. Please feel free to share yours with the group; hopefully, it will allow other memories to resurface in “your” mind to share with us all.)
