Kaneohe Marine Base: Officers Club

Keep a camera handy to take pictures of the flyers distributed during the class that display important landmarks for navigating to the sandbar; this was a huge help for me, as I would have likely gotten lost without these markers. Also, be mindful of the coral and shallow water signs! The sequence is simple: first, get your boating license, check for low tides, and then rent your boat (I chose a pontoon boat, and it was fantastic). The staff at the Marina at MCBH are incredibly friendly and helpful—they even assist you with docking the boat! They provide all the adult life jackets on board, so you only need to bring the Coast Guard-approved vests for children, which they also provide at no cost. Don’t forget to bring floating toys or chairs if you want to relax on the water. Watch out for the beautiful, blue, jellyfish-like creatures, as they are poisonous! During our outing, we were fortunate enough to see about five sea turtles swimming by—so close that you could almost touch them (but please don’t!)—it was such an incredible experience! Sea turtles are my favorite; they surface for air and munch on the sea grass at the bottom of the sandbar. The staff at MCBH Marina are always super helpful, the facility is spotlessly clean, and everyone is friendly, which contributes to unforgettable experiences. Living at MCBH in Kaneohe Bay is a dream! There are numerous playgrounds, surfing beaches, a secret beach, and a low tide north beach that's perfect for collecting glass seashells. Plus, there’s a water playground and is close to many beautiful gardens and beaches. I truly love this area! Lastly, the only highway we take to explore the south, west, or north parts of Oahu is absolutely stunning, surrounded by mountains along one stretch—it's such a surreal experience!

My first memories was here at this base even though I was born on Pendleton. I had a wonderful time here with my friends and family. Growing up in Hawaii I will always love bananas, pineapples, the ocean, seafood and spam. Kaneho Bay will always be my home and yes I do get home sick. Which is why I will plan a trip in the near future. I went to Mokapu elementary and had fun there even though I didn't stay long. I've lived on a few different bases that have beaches but this one is definitely the best.

USMC: masters of inefficiency The process to get a vehicle pass just to access base is asinine and unnecessary. Every military installation on Oahu from all other services allows access with just a military ID. The Marine Corps has elected to require everyone to register their vehicle before access is granted. Even a day-pass requires an excessive wait in the Pass and ID office. To register a newly shipped vehicle here, you have to go through the process twice! Highly recommend that active duty personnel show up in uniform to get to the head of the line. It is currently a Saturday afternoon and there are 22 people in line. Three clerks are working the desk and the line is not moving. Luckily I caught up with some light reading of the wall posters that warn all what proper USMC civilian attire and grooming standards are. Apparently a haircut inspired by Last of The Mohicans, high-water Dockers khakis, and a generic polo shirt is the birth-control ensemble recommended by Uncle Sam. Speaking of, the dependent woman in line in front of me was three weeks pregnant when entering the line, and now her water just burst and she is delivering an eleven pound baby. Unbelievable. Life is hard for Marines and anyone who has to associate with their ridiculous rules. Raaah. Kill........Time......Maybe myself before this line moves.

It's essential to recognize the exceptional behind-the-scenes teamwork that goes into creating the flight line show for everyone to enjoy. Observing the pre-departure procedures, dispatch, and retrieval of these state-of-the-art aircraft on the ground truly emphasizes the spectacular performance that takes place in the air! A huge thank you to Mario Garcia, the manager at Windows Hawaii, for the VIP ticket to this incredible show! From my viewpoint, the sights, sounds, smells, and overall atmosphere of the event were astounding. I wholeheartedly give five fabulous stars to our US Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, and Marines! We salute you and thank you for your service!

The show was excellent! My only issue was the disorganization of the program. As it was my first time on base, I felt a bit lost. There weren't many signs to indicate where to go or where to park, which made things quite challenging. Despite the confusion, I managed to find my way and really enjoyed the show.